Case. Sod Buster.

[wingriderz]

Hey all I was in Tractor Supply the other day and saw they had the Case Sod Buster Jr. On Sale for $ 27.00 dollars . I never have had a Sod Buster before so I went ahead and went back yesterday to pick one up. Only thing that held me back was it was only in the Case yellow . Got say not a big fan of that. But it is in the C V blade which I really like over the stainless. Got say for a small knife and affordable its a keeper for sure. It rides in front pocket like a champ. It almost feels like a lock blade knife which its not but its a real keeper in my view. If you never held one go check them out . They are also made in Stainless but Tractor Supply only has them in C V.

 

[Muley Gil]

I have looked at the Sod Buster for years, but have never owned one. Having had a few knives close on my fingers over the years, I only buy and carry lock blades now.

 

[JayFramer]

My paw carried a full size black handle Case sodbuster when working on the railroad from 1970 to 1991 when I came along and he broke his back from jumping off too many train cars. Always said he loved the knife but wished it were a bit smaller and in a more visible color as the black was hard to find if dropped.

Well he bought me a yella sodbuster jr. just like that a few years ago and said that was the knife he’d a preferred. Well, thanks to the scum of our society, it was stolen out of my car (along with the car) a couple years back.

I was devastated, but thankfully, Dad is still around and we’ve since bought each other different knives and you can better believe they’re locked up safe.

In a word, you own a perfect Case EDC knife. The CV steel is great and should take a crazy sharp edge. The size is perfect IMHO and like dad said, if you drop it the yellow handle will be easy to find. I think the yellow is the “iconic” Case color and enjoy it on its own, almost like aged ivory in a way.

 

[wingriderz]

Thanks for sharing JayFramer glad your Dad is still here. Miss mine for sure

 

[Marshwheeling]

Without trying very hard, I have accumulated a few knives of this classic pattern. “Sodbuster” is Case’s name for a pattern that originated probably in Europe years before Case started theirs. In Germany, it is called a Hippekniep. In other countries it is usually just called a work knife. These days, most people use “Sodbuster” generically, although manufacturers usually come up with a different term for their knives.

It is not too hard to accumulate knives of this pattern. My first one was a Loewen Messer Hippekniep that I bought in Amsterdam in 1970. A Case CV in yellow delrin was my first Case knife. It was followed by a Kutmaster Hog Knife, an inexpensive yellow lockback, and an Orange Sodbuster Jr. in stainless.

I have somehow managed to pick up three examples of the Maserin Plow, a medium-sized knife that falls between the larger and smaller Sodbusters in size. A U.S. dealer, Collector Knives, commissioned a couple of runs of these from the Italian manufacturer, in D2 steel.

No collection would be complete without at least a few examples of this pattern made by GEC. However, I am no collector, and don’t have any of those, yet.

There are many other manufacturers who offer knives in this pattern, which is naturally comfortable in hand. The design of the iconic Buck 110 obviously owes a debt to this now nearly universal pattern.

 

[Richard Simmons]

A very under appreciated design in my opinion. I’ve got several raniging from a relatively inexpensive Boker Tree Brand made in Argentina to an older Case 3” a Queen Country Cousin in D2 to a GEC Bullnose to a Rough Rider with a liner lock. I think I may have another GEC model that’s a smaller version of the Bullnose but the name escapes me at the moment. It and the Bullnose are part of their “Farm & Field” series. Ok the other GEC model is the Bull Buster and it’s larger not smaller than the Bullnose.

The GEC is without a doubt the best built and the Queen, once you get the right edge on the D2 is a laser beam cutter that carries all day in the watch pocket of your blue jeans.

The Boker has been my junk drawer knife in our kitchen for a decade or more and while not the best made or best steel, (just marked “high carbon”) it just keeps on doing what ever we ask of it.

The traditional pattern has a very rounded tip but you can find a variety of variations with some much more pointed in shape.

Everyone should have a sodbuster but they’re a lot like potato chips, you pretty much end up with more than just one.

Queen Country Cousin

Boker

Rough Rider

 

[shouldazagged]

I haven't owned a Case Sodbuster, or any other of that flavor, for years. Not sure why, really--it's just about an ideal all-purpose working knife. I would love to find a full-sized one in CV, black or yellow, though I really don't need it.

I believe I had a CV Case with a liner lock, many years ago. I wish I knew what happened to it.

 

[Richard Simmons]

I’ve got another Rough Rider with jigged bone scales. While the liner lock isn’t true to the sobuster design it does provide that security that some folks may find lacking in a traditional slip joint design. IIRC the Rough Riders were stupid cheap, I’m thinking $10, maybe $12 a piece. Quality wise they’re $40 blade.

The GEC Bullnose runs or ran, nor sure if they’re still making them around $60-$70 as I recall and worth every penny. The Case models, I prefer the CV are perhaps the best balance between price and quality but for a handy dandy knock around blade the Rough Rider is worth a try if you just want to test the waters.

 

[Broke Hoss]

A Case Sod Buster Jr is part of my everyday carry & has been for years. I carried a full size in a belt sheath way back in high school, but prefer the handiness of pocket carry the Jr allows now-a-days.

I lost this one for almost a year a while back. I think I set it on the bumper of my pick-up after cutting the netting off a round bale of hay. My son found it in the area I was feeding while he was dove hunting. The grips have several nicks & gouges from being stepped/driven on from that time.

I have some ironwood blanks that I want to use for grips for some fixed blade knives. My plan is to have the maker to basically use the pattern/size of an open Sodbuster Jr.. My dad planned on using the blanks for pistol grips. I want to give each son a knife with the grips made from them.

 

[Drm50]

Sod Busters are good knives if they have chrome vandium blade. The case surgical SS is dissapointing. So are SS blades from other big names. When buying knives if it's SS it's a deal killer for me.

 

[diyj98]

Sod Busters are good knives if they have chrome vandium blade. The case surgical SS is dissapointing. So are SS blades from other big names. When buying knives if it's SS it's a deal killer for me.

There's some very good stainless out there depending upon your needs as far as ease of sharpening vs. ability to maintain an edge. VG-10 is a good affordable stainless steel, as well as CPM 35vn, and some more expensive steels. But I agree in the lower cost steels many folks prefer carbon steels for general use. Some just love the patina look as well.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Sod Busters are good knives if they have chrome vandium blade. The case surgical SS is dissapointing. So are SS blades from other big names. When buying knives if it's SS it's a deal killer for me.

The D2 Queen uses in their Country Cousin is pretty decent. Don’t know what their RC on it is but mine holds an edge for ever and a day. The only issue I really have is the same one I have with all their blades, they come about as sharp as a butter knife.

Since I sharpen my own knives and probably end up reprofiling a lot of them anyway it’s not a deal breaker but if you’re expecting a useable edge out of the box, don’t.

 

[foxy320]

Bought a sod buster junior in the early 1970's & been carrying it forever. Cleaned a lot of rabbits, squirrels & fish with it. Liked it so well bought 2 more going by the old adage if you like something buy 2 cause they'll stop making them. Didn't know they were still making them.

 

[Sistema1927]

My first Case CV knife was a Sodbuster Junior with the yellow scales.

I pick up a couple of Case CV knives a year, but the Sodbuster is the one that gets carried most.

 

[Texas Star]

Carl Schlieper/Eye Brand made good knives of this sort. I like that brand and Puma, but don't recall Puma making that pattern, which isn't my favorite.

I never bought a Queen knife. Feel knives should come sharp.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I didn’t know what a Sod Buster was until I read this thread and searched on Amazon. Pretty sure I’ve got an old black handled one in a drawer somewhere. Gonna look when I get home . . .

 

[alwslate]

I've owned a full size one with the black handle and SS blade for many
years. The Sodbuster always has seemed like a work knife to me and mine
stays out in the garage in my roll around tool box. The Jr might be ok for
a pocket knife but I would still want the SS blade. Patina AKA rust,
doesn't do anything for me.

 

[wingriderz]

I haven't owned a Case Sodbuster, or any other of that flavor, for years. Not sure why, really--it's just about an ideal all-purpose working knife. I would love to find a full-sized one in CV, black or yellow, though I really don't need it.

I believe I had a CV Case with a liner lock, many years ago. I wish I knew what happened to it.

Sheppard Hills Cultery has the Sod Buster in full size too. Very afordable

 

[wingriderz]

My take on the Sod Buster is its very affordable very solid. It a working knife for sure and came out the box very sharp in C V blade.

 

[Highhawk1948]

Bought a sod buster Jr. For $9.98 in 1974 and carried it for my first 10 years as a Forest Ranger. Good all around folder