The Ultimate Work Knife - Stockman, Sodbuster, or Jack Knife?

[Snow Walker]

Lately, I've been thinking about getting a new work (work as in outside on my acreage…not in the office cube) pocket knife. I live in the rural Midwest U.S. where pocket knives are part of life, although some are more accepted than others. Techno-tactical folders are way out of place as are most fixed blades (unless you're hunting). Opinels get odd looks, though I do keep one in my lunch box since they are excellent food knives. Trapper patterns don't get a lot of use because the blades are too long and thin. Stockmans, jack knives, and sodbusters are the norm around here.

If you had to pick the ultimate work knife, which would it be…a stockman pattern, a jack knife, or a sodbuster? Any specific models? I currently don't fit the norm since I carry a fixed-blade hawkbill knife (I do a lot of plant work, so a hawkbill is useful to me at times), but I'm trying to move more toward the norm!

 

[jackknife]

For me, it would be a hard choice between a Buck 301 stockman or a Case sodbuster in CV. Both are built like tanks, both will do a heck of a lot. Comes down to personal taste in the end.

 

[black mamba]

A large stockman. The Queen #49 Cattle King is a LOT of knife for the money, with beautiful zebrawood covers and D2 steel. 4¼" closed.

 

[bdev]

Not a specific knife brand but my choice would be a 4" stockman with a punch blade.

 

[arizonaranchman]

I'd say a Case large Stockman... It's a full-sized (4.25") knife that gives you an excellent, full grip and in reality it's THREE knives in one. It's a BIG robust knife and fully up to anything you can reasonably ask of a folding knife.

The Sodbuster Jr is a durable and simple knife for sure, and at $20-something dollars is one you don't have to pop a nitro pill over if something happens to it. As a single blade it's probably the stronger of the two in outright abusive circumstances. But then again the Stockman has two other blades on tap for different applications.

 

[Pjake]

Stockman for its versatility for sure.....Sodbuster because they are stout & bad a** (love my Bull Nose).....jack knife because I LOVE the pattern. Take the Jack to town on a date, or special occasions...but carry either the Sodbuster or the Stockman when you're doing the heavier duty acreage stuff. So, I guess I am saying...all three! If I could get my rotation down to three I would kiss the sky!

Sorry....no help, I know.....
Peter

 

[Brisket]

Stockman, Jack and Sodbuster are all great patterns but I am partial to the Sodbuster for a work knife. Since you like hawkbills, and whats not to like about that, you might want to look at the GEC #47 Hay-N-Helper shown below. I don't have this variation but I have a #47 with a sheepsfoot blade and some #71 Bullnose knifes both shown in the 2nd photo.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

For me it would be hard to decide on which I liked better for a work knife between the stockman and the soddie. For the ultimate, I'd just have to pick the stockman based on all the blades.... one for each need in a working knife, or having something sharp available when one blade gets a little dull.

Love all three types though. They are all like ice cream... one strawberry, one vanilla, one chocolate..... I might like one better than the others, but they are all still ice cream.

 

[trevytrev]

That's a tough one! I'd probably go with soddie just because it's easier to access one blade. Most of the soddies I own I don't even have to use the nail nick, I just pinch open. That might make it easier to open one with gloves on or when it's cold. Most stockmans I've handled take a little more finesse to open one of the blades. That said, the added two blades has it's benefits when working out in the field or hard use places.

 

[Arredondo]

My head says stockman, my heart says jack, but my hand always reaches for the sodbuster. GEC Bullnose for choice but when I need something a little bigger I reach for the old Case 2138 in CV; it goes in a belt pouch and is an old dependable friend.

Tom

 

[556hunter]

I'd have to say stockman. I used to only carry jack knives, but recently I've grown to really love the stockman. In fact, I carry an uncle Henry stockman at work and an old timer 8OT in carbon steel at home. I finally see what all the buzz is about.

 

[RobbW]

Stockman. If I had a hawkbill, that would take care of the sodbuster-size category for me. Assuming I'm wearing workpants so size/weight are not an issue, the stockman would give me three sharp blades and even let me specialize each blade with different sharpness for different tasks (example: dull spey for scraping, sharp obtuse sheepfoot for clamshell packaging and rough poking, sharp acute for food and detail slicing). I agree with the above member, the Jack could be seen as more of a town/gentleman's knife compared to farm work.

 

[deskil]

From the three choices you mentioned, I'd choose the sodbuster. I only have these two, and the Queen has seen much more work than the Bullnose, but the tool steels (D2 & O1) are what makes them so tough, for my uses.

However, the two below are carried for work far more than either of the soddies.

 

[Rsmith_77]

ok cause i was bored
At THIS point

Sodbuster - 3.5 (see Carl's reply for the .5 lol)
Stockman- 7.5 (again see Carl's reply for the .5)
Hayen helper hawkbill (Triple H) 1

 

[jkulysses]

I'd have to go with a good 4" stockman.

 

[garddogg56]

AT WORK IT'S ONLY A LARGE LOCKBACK IN A SHEATH ie Buck 112,110 or an lb-7 but a stockman in the pocket ie Buck 303 or a Schrade 34ot.Always a one-hander in LFP

 

[TLARbb]

All are good choices, but I have to opt for a larger jack knife. Something on the order of the 2012 Bladeforums knife:

or this sowbelly trapper (from Duncan):

This despite the fact that I carry smaller knives as my EDCs.

Ed J

 

[Beard&Owl]

I love a good sodbuster but I'd have to go with the stockman. I think the sheepsfoot on the stockman really makes the deal for me. I also really like a big clip blade as well.

 

[pinnah]

Pick what makes you happiest and most comfortable in your environment. I have XL sized hands and find normal sized slip joints too small for outdoor use. I just can't get a good enough grip. But, I don't like holster carried knives. Too much attention where I live. So I prefer a large pocket knife.

I love the Opinel n9. It stands up to everything I do, the flat convex blade handles wood really well and the friction/lock ring design doesn't get fouled with dirt and sand like lock backs and slip joints do.

If I had to replace the Opinel 9, I might look at a full sized Sodbuster but would also consider a horizontal carry sheath for it.

As much as I love lock backs, I no longer rely on them for ongoing hard work. They loosen up on me and my Opinels don't.

 

[Snow Walker]

Thanks for all the input guys! Lots of good opinions/information. Personally, I'm more partial to the jack knife (because my grandfather always carried one when working on his farm), and the sodbuster (because it works a lot like an opinel…without the quirky handle-swelling problem). Brisket…I REALLY like that #47! It reminds me of the knives we used when I was a kid to unclog combines and bailers. Unfortunately, GEC is usually out of my price range, but Christmas is only 5 months away so thanks for the hint. I've never carried or used a stockman…they just look neat in the forum pics I see.

In order to do a little more researching, I ordered a Case Sodbuster Jr in CV today. Thought I'd try it with a Case horizontal sheath and see how that goes. Toss in a Pocket Pal sharpener and I got free shipping. Can't beat that! Since I carry a Peanut during my regular job, that kinda takes care of the jack knife category. May have to research a stockman in a few months when the $$$ regroup.