Sod Buster/Dirt Buster- How Did the name come about?

T

tom19176

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I have several knives from many different makers both locking and non locking. They are all of the sod or dirt buster style. I always wondered how those two name came about? I know they are well designed work knives, but to a guy who grew up in a city, I never understood why those names were applied to this style of knife? The closest I could come was the cutting of sod for lawns, but I don't feel I am correct. Can anyone tell me how in knife design history those two names came about? thanks all!
 
My gut feeling is that it's an old term for "farmer", referencing plowing. That's just a guess though, so take it with a block of salt.
 
I don't know but my impression is that it is a relatively modern term as applied to a knife pattern. Historicly it was a derogatory description of poor subsistance farmers. It was commonly heard in movie "cowboy lingo" in the 30's, 40's and 50's. I guess use of the term was an attempt to link the pattern to an occupation like Cattleman/Rancher, Electrician etc. It is a bare-bones pattern with usually one blade, no bolsters, no lock, usually no shield. And likely an adaptation of a horticulture pattern. First use by Case?
 
Thanks!! I did a search but must have missed that thread....That did a lot to clear my understanding of the term. I remember watching Chuck Conners as the Rifleman as a kid and thinking the guys who called him a Sod Buster, did so in a mean spirited way. I like the style and find them very useful.
 
leghog said:
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=Sodbuster

First used in 1897 to describe a farmer in a cattle grazing region. Wasn't a compliment.

The Case Sod Buster and Sod Buster Jr. are workhorse versions of a traditional farmer's field knife, so perhaps that's why Case chose to call their patterns that name.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/479705-What-is-the-origin-of-quot-Sodbuster-quot
Click to expand...


This is consistent with my understanding of the term growing up as a kid in Kansas. "Sod" is a part of the pioneer culture in Kansas and growing up there, you learn about soddies (sod houses) and the importance of the steel plow and "sod busting" in opening up the prairie to farming. The John Deere plow was a big deal. I also recall going to an agricultural museum in eastern Kansas that had an impressive display (to a kid) on barbed wire and it's history and implications on the dispute over free grazing. Big distinction between ranchers and free grazers and farmers but yes, as suggested above, the role of the farmer was at the low end of the totem pole and more linked to the settling of the prairie by families (living in soddies).

Now.. what would be super interesting would be to find out more on the history of GERMAN settlers of the prairie and west in general and the degree to which they were associated with farming. Somewhat related, Shiner Bock is famous beer in Texas and, of course, there is the polka infusion of the accordion in what we now call Noteno or Tex-Mex music.
 
If I'm not mistaken. the etched logo on the blade of Case's Sod Buster depicts the original plow by the same name. In that context, it's not hard to see what Case had in mind, in naming theirs. See article linked below, regarding the plow as invented and named by John Deere:

http://bolivarmonews.com/n2bolivar/...cle_464989ba-bd76-11e2-9592-001a4bcf887a.html

(Quoted from above-linked article) :
"John Deere, an Illinois blacksmith, designed and manufactured the first case steel plow, “the Sod Buster,” in 1837, paving the way for farmers all across the Great Plains to plow through tough prairie ground."
Click to expand...

The wording there, referencing 'the first case steel plow' is very interesting, considering the context of this thread. :)


David
 
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Obsessed with Edges said:
The wording there, referencing 'the first case steel plow' is very interesting, considering the context of this thread. :)
Click to expand...

That would have been Jerome Increase Case (of J.I. Case company), who I don't think had any connection to the WR Case co. His company dealt mostly with harvest machinery.

Sod busters (the farmers) were very proud of the work they had done to make the soil workable, and would have greatly appreciated a farmers knife named after them.

Most dug their initial furrows with an axe, the prairie grass was so tough with roots.

A special "sod axes", in several varieties were made to attempt to make the work easier

Often with a long thin, but broad blade
fig024.jpg


Tough tough work, that the sodbuster knife is well named after.
 
Kadmos said:
That would have been Jerome Increase Case (of J.I. Case company), who I don't think had any connection to the WR Case co. His company dealt mostly with harvest machinery.

Sod busters (the farmers) were very proud of the work they had done to make the soil workable, and would have greatly appreciated a farmers knife named after them.

Most dug their initial furrows with an axe, the prairie grass was so tough with roots.

A special "sod axes", in several varieties were made to attempt to make the work easier

Often with a long thin, but broad blade
fig024.jpg


Tough tough work, that the sodbuster knife is well named after.
Click to expand...

^^I knew the wording was purely coincidental, but contextually interesting at the same time. Thanks!! :thumbup:


David
 
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