Boker and Case Sodbusters

[mikeymoto]

Permit me to allow the photos to do most of the talking. I've had a black Case Sodbuster Jr. going on a little while now and I like it very much. I've added a little clip on the blade to make it more useful to me. I bought a couple more Soddies recently, one Boker Gaucho Jr. with yellow handles and another Case Sodbuster Jr. with chrome vanadium steel and the yellow delrin handles.

I don't think the quality is really so great on either of them, but I guess that's what one gets with a ~$20 knife. Looking back on my purchase of the black Soddie Jr. I think I was quite lucky because its quality is overall very good. Keep in mind when looking at the pictures below that both yellow-handled knives are brand new today and have not been handled or used beyond taking these photos. I did wipe the blades down though.

Here are the two Cases, the bottom being the one I added the clip on. The finish on the CV blade of the yellow-handled one is much more polished and doesn't have the etch on the side of the blade. I personally do not prefer a polished blade, so score one for the black Soddie for me.

Following are some close-up comparison shots of the Boker Gaucho Jr. (always on left) and the Case Sodbuster Jr. (always on right). The Boker is ground off-center at the tip. I can fix that but it's annoying. The Case blade on the other hand is quite off-center when closed. I don't think I can fix that. I know the knife works fine, but it's annoying nevertheless, and the blade already shows marks from rubbing the liner on that side. Also note the liner/handle fitment on each.

Here are some close-ups of the tang stamps on each:

Not only is the blade of the Case very much off-center, but the grind isn't so good on it either. Here's its tip on the left side:

I vastly prefer the delrin handle material to Boker's polypropylene; the delrin has some warmth to it, a little more heft I think, and most certainly some rubber-like grip.

I'm looking to get a Queen Country Cousin in D2 sometime so I can compare with that as well.

 

[JAlexander]

I like what you did with your original sodbuster - how did you do it, exactly? It looks almost like a spey blade.

James

 

[mikeymoto]

I took it to my 1x30 belt sander and took my time with a 9 micron Silicon Carbide belt and lots of dunking in water. I also took the sharp corners off the top of the sides of the blade at the spine.

 

[Helle]

The mod you did looks sweet.

As for the fit, I'm kinda shocked. But like you said, "I guess that's what one gets with a ~$20 knife."

I have a large Case sodbuster from 86, and I don't remember it being that ruff. I'll have to look.

Great pics and review, thanks
Helle

 

[yobbos1]

I have the same 3 soddies and I agree with your assessments my CV Case is much better quality than the one in your pics. Maybe you should consider sending it to Case for a refit. They do great work. The grinds on the Boker are awful aren't they? I use my Boker for nasty work and it holds up really well to abuse but it is UGLY and a little cheap looking. Love both of my Case Jr's and the nod goes to the stainless more often than the CV for EDC. Cool mod by the way.:thumbup: