The Sodbuster - Why Doth It Bust Sod?

ffiw- I love to see a modern Sodbuster with screw construction and a Strider pivot screw.
 
My father-in-law, in Scotland, carried a knife very much resembling what we call a Sodbuster and what Case calls a "Sod Buster". I used to go to the cattle auction shows/sales with him and many of his friends, and other farmers carried them.
 
knarfeng said:
Interestingly enough, the pattern predates the name.

BRL says that the Case Sod Buster pattern is based on the German folding butcher knife, which dates from the late 1800's.
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trevytrev said:
Everything I've come across says this is correct, that the sodbuster pattern we know derives from the German folding butcher knives, also called clasp knives. The pattern goes by different names in other parts of the world. The Germans call the sodbuster pattern Hippeknieps, which I believe translates to pocket knife. The French call the Mineurs which means miners knife. And the Spanish call them Navajas de campaña, which means knives of campaign and they also refer to them as pastor knives. It's a simple pattern and it makes sense why it's been around for so long and used by so many different cultures and workers throughout the world.
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Both is correct - in Germany these knives are called Hippeknieps or at least Taschenschlachtmesser (pocket slaughter knife), which might come to the time when a cattle or a pig or whatever had to be slain immediatelly to prevent further pain and letting the meat be "eatable".

A lot of names in different cultures at different centuries. A very interessting topic.
 
RedLynx said:
5-Shot, you should design a Corporate Farmer prototype. ;)
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There's already a "Corporate Farmer" design in the works. It's currently pending approval from the project gateway group before going to executive committee for a final approval to be turned over to the design analysis team for feasibility studies, an environmental impact plan, contingency plan, etc. From there it will go to the engineering group for technical design, build, and testing.

Product roll-out is expected on or about November, 2042.
 
Humppa said:
Both is correct - in Germany these knives are called Hippeknieps
---snip---
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As far as I could find out the term "Hippekniep" is trademarked in Germany and belonging to "Robert Herder GmbH & Co. KG, Solingen, Germany". They are also known for their brand "Windmühlenmesser" (wind mill knives) and are one of the traditional manufacturers in Solingen.
 
addylo said:
There's already a "Corporate Farmer" design in the works. It's currently pending approval from the project gateway group before going to executive committee for a final approval to be turned over to the design analysis team for feasibility studies, an environmental impact plan, contingency plan, etc. From there it will go to the engineering group for technical design, build, and testing.

Product roll-out is expected on or about November, 2042.
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What about the risk analysis? Can't do a project like this without one! :D

SCNR!
 
I just found this Case Sod in a little hardware store and had to snag it up. What does this mean "2137"?
 
Xdm9mili said:
I just found this Case Sod in a little hardware store and had to snag it up. What does this mean "2137"?
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Handle Material = 2 (Smooth black synthetic)
Blades = 1
Pattern = 37 (Sod Jr)
SS = Super Stud <smirk>
 
if ya ask me my favorite knife id say my yeller medium stockman, but my secret favorite is my yeller sodbuster jr, just something about that knife... ive got fancier and whatnot but that knife is special, no regrets buying it using the snot out of it and coveting it:D
Gene
 
Ok this is the coolest thread. I love the Sodbuster pattern and always wondered the history too. Thanks for the info :)
 
Jack Black said:
As regularly as it comes up, this is always an interesting discussion :) I'd really like to know what kind of laundry powder these guys used to get their shirts so white! ;) :D
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Shirts probably pounded in a washtub by The Wife, using local stream (or rain) water and animal fat cooked with lye as "soap" and perhaps caliche as a whitener.

The women, they died young out there. Kids, too.

In the overland migrations — which sodbusters weren't a part of, once they got to their homestead — the most common cause of death was cholera, drowning (streams, folks, but no bridges and few ferries), and accidental gunshot wounds. Many, many stories of people pulling a loaded, cocked long gun out of the back of the wagon by grabbing the barrel and pulling and....BOOM. One more trailside grave.
 
Modoc ED said:
My father-in-law, in Scotland, carried a knife very much resembling what we call a Sodbuster and what Case calls a "Sod Buster". I used to go to the cattle auction shows/sales with him and many of his friends, and other farmers carried them.
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here in the western isles, if you asked to borrow a sodbuster you would most likely wind up with one of these:

(shot with a vic farmer for scale)





peat irons. They must be soaked in water for about a week prior to use - hence the rust.

edit: oops, sorry about the sideways pic.
 
Nobody over on the East Coast of Scotland in the Dundee, Montrose, Edzell, or Aberdeen areas called their knives sodbusters either. As far as I recall, they just called them a knife. Besides, their pockets weren't big enough to carry those peat irons.:)
 
AreBeeBee said:
Shirts probably pounded in a washtub by The Wife, using local stream (or rain) water and animal fat cooked with lye as "soap" and perhaps caliche as a whitener.

The women, they died young out there. Kids, too.

In the overland migrations — which sodbusters weren't a part of, once they got to their homestead — the most common cause of death was cholera, drowning (streams, folks, but no bridges and few ferries), and accidental gunshot wounds. Many, many stories of people pulling a loaded, cocked long gun out of the back of the wagon by grabbing the barrel and pulling and....BOOM. One more trailside grave.
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Very interesting, thanks for the info. Hard times for sure.

pmew said:
They must be soaked in water for about a week prior to use - hence the rust.
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Do you know why they have to be soaked Paul?
 
trevytrev said:
Everything I've come across says this is correct, that the sodbuster pattern we know derives from the German folding butcher knives, also called clasp knives. The pattern goes by different names in other parts of the world. The Germans call the sodbuster pattern Hippeknieps, which I believe translates to pocket knife. The French call the Mineurs which means miners knife. And the Spanish call them Navajas de campaña, which means knives of campaign and they also refer to them as pastor knives. It's a simple pattern and it makes sense why it's been around for so long and used by so many different cultures and workers throughout the world.
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Campaign as in military expedition, and pastor as in shepherd?
 
Humppa said:
Taschenschlachtmesser (pocket slaughter knife)
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Someone should register Pocket Slaughter Knife, I'm sure it would carry cachet with the zombie-slaying crowd! ;)
 
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