Carbon Steel Sodbuster: Decisions Decisions

M

Moccasinman

Joined
Apr 18, 2004
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I am looking to get a carbon steel sodbuster for general EDC use, preferably in yellow handle, but not exclusive.

I was wondering about the opinions of people who have used any of these:

Kissing Crane Brown Mule
Boker Gaucho
Case (CV)
Boker Cinch
German Eye
Queen (D2)

Preferably a comparison between several if that's your experience. Thanks a lot. Issues of fit and finish, blade hardness, edge geometry out of box, handle, etc.

Thank you.
 
Actually, I have been thinking of the same, and have been looking at the Moore Maker Sodbuster Jr. in 1095. I will be interested to see opinions on these knives.
 
The Case CV seems to be the most popular around here, but that may just be due to their easy availability. There is nothing not to like about them, though. Fit and finish are first rate, solid lockup, very sharp out of the box. Not spendy. And CV takes a good forced patina. :)

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powernoodle said:
The Case CV seems to be the most popular around here, but that may just be due to their easy availability. There is nothing not to like about them, though. Fit and finish are first rate, solid lockup, very sharp out of the box. Not spendy. And CV takes a good forced patina. :)

jan052009002.jpg
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Yup, that about sums it up for me. :thumbup:


But if you can try a Eye-Brand too, I'd really recomend them as well. Great slicers.:thumbup:
 
I think part of the reason Case Sodbusters are so well regarded here is because they have the best overall package. They have quality steel, good finish, and are easy to sharpen. It doesn't have as pointy of a tip as some of the others do so it isn't the best at piercing cuts though.

The Queen has the best steel in terms of edge retention, but it comes at the cost of being difficult to sharpen for some people. Queen knives are also notorious for being dull out of the box. It's a great value though, as I don't know of any other knife in D2 that can be had for under $30.

If you want a large soddie your best bet is the Boker Gaucho or the large Brown Mule. The fit and finish may not be as good, but they are easier to find than the large Case in CV. My large Boker has a slight gap around the pivot on one side but it doesn't affect the use in any way. It sharpens up great and has a solid snap to it when opened.
 
Böker Gaucho JR is not bad for its price but its fit and finish is not as high as Cases. I am happy with mine though. Solid knife.
 
eyes produced before 1995 were king of the soddies.at austin gun shows many times i ran into city workers & electricans looking for eye soddies proclaiming "best knife i ever had lasted 12 yrs."i keep one of the old soodies above sink to open packages.the carbon steel is world class.
 
i got (was gifted) a new cv sod jr. years ago that i don't use because it will patina...i dislike it for the very reasons everyone likes it...i don't care if i'm a minority of one, carbon steel staining is ugly...

next time i pass by a knife store i'll get the ss version...
 
pilote said:
i got (was gifted) a new cv sod jr. years ago that i don't use because it will patina...i dislike it for the very reasons everyone likes it...i don't care if i'm a minority of one, carbon steel staining is ugly...

next time i pass by a knife store i'll get the ss version...
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Add me to your minority. I do anything possible to keep my blades from discoloring. Even if I did like the patina, I think "forcing" it is like those who buy new jeans, bleach, fade and cut holes in them so they look "used".:thumbdn:
 
I've got a few Cases and German Eyes (recent production). The Cases are great, good fit and finish, and take a great edge (the CV ones are my favourite, I don't like the stainless Case uses).

The German Eyes I've got have excellent carbon steel blades, thinner than a Case sodbuster blade, that take and keep a wicked edge, but fit and finish is really sloppy. There are gaps between the handle scales and liners, the nail nick is kind of uneven, etc. After getting the first one I ordered another one hopping that the first one was the exception rather than the rule, and the second one was just as bad. If shipping them wasn't more expensive than the knives themselves, I'd return them.

My experience with Queen hasn't been good. Great fit and finish, but they forget to put an edge on their knives. I don't mind having to sharpen a new knife, but spending a month grinding new edges on D2 is ridiculous (and I bought expensive limited edition Queens). They weren't just a bit dull out of the box, they were blunt. I'm not buying another knife from them.
 
CASE is all round decent and reliable, you won't go wrong with it.

Böker is a bit crude, not at all bad though and gives real value for money and good steel. A rough worker alright, borderline beater if you need to hand out some unpleasant tasks...Worth it.

Haven't bought a Queen sod as D2 is a steel that I'm beginning to have reservations about in a pocket knife.
 
I've got both Queen and Case Sodbusters. I carry the Queen more because my Case has such a blunt tip. I never realized that I use the tip of my knives until I had a knife without one.

The Queen is a bother to put an initial decent edge upon. And I can't get the D2 as razor sharp as I can CV. But once the Queen D2 is working sharp, it stays working sharp a LONG time.
 
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My carbon Eye Brand 'buster has more than a few miles on it. It's a real work-horse. The steel is a touch harder than Case's CV and holds an edge a touch longer.
 
Part of the question for me is if Case is al it's cracked up to be--I got a medium stockman with sharp edges everywhere and gaps between the bone and bolster, the liner and the spring, and a very obtuse initial edge angle.
Want to get the best blade including initial grind or easily reprofiled (#1 importance), best fit/finish (#2) for a reasonable price (#3).
 
Hi,

I think you can be pretty sure that Case will provide you a good one. The Case knives I have came at least working sharp. And most of them were shaving sharp. CV is relatively easy to re-profile. At least compared to more "modern" steels.

dalee
 
The Kissing Crane Brown Mules are all about a low price, good blade profile, wood handles and very decent steel that takes a nice dark natural patina. But the Fit and Finish is pretty poor, scales are poorly hand sanded/profiled, and the pinning isn't done very pretty. Still I find this guy seeing just as much pocket time as my Case knives. The blade shape is great, just enough point (A bit pointer than the Case version) and the carbon steel takes a great edge and holds it longer than CV. I really like these for a working knife, which is what a sod buster aught to be. They aren't too pretty, but they show their mileage well.

canond20photos2-20-10049.jpg
 
Eye Brand have rougher finish than Case, but the blades are thinner, come sharper, and keep an edge longer. They are wicked slicers.

I've never had a pre-1995 Eye Brand. How would I recognize one?
 
robbw the recoginition of older quality brands is about the only good thing about being old.i guess the best thing for yourself is to go to some shows & buddy up tp some old timer knife guys.some of the oldies are astounding in cutting ability. i remember years back my knowledge allowed me to buy a henckles stock made in 50s for 12$ i could'nt make a call on baseball cards but i get lucky on old knives some times.
 
pipedreams308 said:
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My carbon Eye Brand 'buster has more than a few miles on it. It's a real work-horse.
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There's a lot to like about the Case sodbuster junior, but its blunt-ish tip is one thing I didn't like about mine. This Eye Brand has a blade shape more to my liking. Pretty sweet.
 
Thanks, Dennis, I guess I just need to get some experience. I like Eye Brand and the old Henckels.

DennisStrickland said:
robbw the recoginition of older quality brands is about the only good thing about being old.i guess the best thing for yourself is to go to some shows & buddy up tp some old timer knife guys.some of the oldies are astounding in cutting ability. i remember years back my knowledge allowed me to buy a henckles stock made in 50s for 12$ i could'nt make a call on baseball cards but i get lucky on old knives some times.
Click to expand...
 
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