Soddie or Opinel?

[ziptrickhead]

My vote goes for the sodbuster. While I do have an opinel 6 and love it, the blade and rign have gotten loose. I've had the tip of my opinel expose itself in my pockets a few times and after that I stopped EDCing it, considering how sharp it is, if my finger ran across that tip I'd get a nasty cut.

Because the sodbuster is a slipjoint, it won't be opening in my pocket accidently. While its not as thin of a blade as the opinel, it still cuts very well. It's harder to sharpen that the opinel, but not really that much harder. The only issue with the sodbuster is the tip. Not much of a pointy tip to work with, but thats both a plus and a minus. Sometimes I want a pointy tip to do fine work with. Other times the tip on the sodbuster is great because i can almost use it like chisel.

So for me, sodbuster in the pocket, opinel on my desk where it's in reach for whatever I need to do.

 

[Lycosa]

B117---That works!
But don't let Blues see it!

 

[Blues]

B117---That works!
But don't let Blues see it!

Rolf, you're starting to scare me!

While it's not my idea of what a sodbuster should be, all that matters is that it works for its owner. (And I know it's right up your alley too...)

 

[Andrew Colglazier]

I have an Opi #8 and large and medium Soddies. The Opinel is, for me, easier to sharpen as its edge geometry is better. My Soddies both had very thick edges which needed to be reshaped on my belt grinder, but once that was done, I liked them very much.

My Opinel swells sometimes and becomes hard to open. For uniform, trouble free performance, the Soddie is my pick. I think I will also reshape the handles on mine to smooth them out and thin them down, some.

I also don't care for the grindy feel of the Opinel action after it has ridden in the pocket for a while...

Andy

 

[sixgunner455]

I stopped carrying my opinel after I cut my finger reaching into my pocket. Bothered me that it wouldn't stay closed. I haven't tried a Soddie. But after seeing how someone thinned out the handle on one, I'm tempted to run down to Lowes and grab one to give that a try.

 

[Bob W]

Opinel would be my preference. Longer personal history with them. More traditional (?). More unusual / exotic. Thinner blades for better cutting and easier sharpening. More size choices. Locking blade. Lighter weight. Natural handle materials (most sodbusters on the market are plastic).

Still, there's no real reason why I wouldn't carry a Sodbuster sometimes too. I have a couple, and I do like them OK.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

I think of my GEC #73 Beaver Tail Scout as my Sunday-go-to-Meetin' Sodbuster. Does well in that role.

Though I dearly love my Opinels I prefer carrying a flatter knife than their round barrel profile. Though I suppose it wouldn't take much to sand it down flat...

-- Sam

 

[jpvjr]

Soddy, no doubt. If you ever go to central PA ask the Amish what they use on the farm, in the lumber mils, or even as a loggers knife. They'll pull out a Soddy.
Personally growing up I've used mine for a butcher knife since its easier than lugging a 7" Old Hickory.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I picked up a blister pack Case Sodbuster Jr after reading an article on sodbusters in Tactical Knives (yes, in there ). Carried it for a while, wish I would have kept it, its long gone. A nice little knife, something nice to carry around the house etc. I think it was around 20 at the hardware store, but I have seen them at flea markets for about 5 to 10 bucks, used, and in fair to pretty good condition. I almost picked one up at 5 bucks, but the blade was one of those 360's (swung all the way around ). Anyway, if I could find another one super cheap and in good condition, I would get one.

I've only seen Opinels a few times. At the knife club I belong to, we were pulling out our EDC's. Case knives, Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, Kabar Doziers etc. One guy pulled out his Opinel, and his edge was claimed to be sharper than any of the knives we carried. My other experience with them was this past weekend when I saw them at a kayak shop. Some dive knives and Opinels, right on the Susquehanna River. Walk out the door, down the porch steps, across the two lane road, and right to the water. They said they sold the heck out of the Opinels. I didn't care for them much, but saw no reason for anyone else to pass them up.

A vote from me for the Sodbuster.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Picked up a Sodbuster Jr while I was out this weekend. I'd forgotten how sharp these little wonders are. Much sharper than the other Case knives I have gotten brand new.