Sod Buster style knives

Jakeywax31

Jakeywax31

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Just starting to dip my toes into traditional slipjoints. For some reason I have been drawn to the sod buster shape and profile. I am intrigued by the no bs utility that I think the knife will provide. Started doing my research and I am quickly drawn to the gec 71 model. Along with my research I have learned about the demand for gec. I went into slipjoints because I was tired of the spyderco sprint runs and looks like gec knives are harder to obtain. Hahaha 😆 just my luck.
I would appreciate it if some of you fine people could direct me to another brand with equal fit and finish, preferably with a carbon steel blade, and about the same pattern. Thanks for your help.

Paul
 
Hello,

Of course the known brand for the sodbuster is Case XX.

In germany, this traditionnal peasant pattern is named Hippekniep.

Otter Messer a German knife cutlery made one.
Good quality.
take care of the model, i have a big older one, good quality but the line is not beautiful and modern.
I have seen newer (maybe the smaller) that are great.
You should ask additionnal pictures, some of the hippekniep design are older design but not easy to compare on the website : large handle, thin blade.

www.otter-messer.de

HIPPEKNIEP SMALL

The Hippeknieps (goat knives) were once produced as robust working knives. Anyone holding one of the OTTER Hippeknieps in their hands today will…
www.otter-messer.de www.otter-messer.de

In France, this pattern has been named "mineur".
"mineur" means a digger (like coal digger).
The industrials at the Thiers city tried (maybe 70/100 years ago) to attribute patterns to regions without traditionnal knives, it was a good idea for business:
Le Mineur for north of France.
Le Massu for Alsace.
Le Vendetta for Corsica,...

Le Mineur was certainly just called "the folding knife" before 😊.
And i am quite sure that diggers in the north of France have never used any knife with this pattern 😂.

Some cutlery still make this pattern, unfortunately mainly in Stainless (inox).

Chevalerias : recommanded cutlery for traditionnal knives

www.couteaux-berthier.com

Couteau de poche Mineur Ebène - Couteau LE FIDELE - couteaux-berthier

Couteaux Régionaux-LE FIDELE - Couteau de poche Mineur Ebène - Couteau de poche régional artisanal . Livraison offerte à partir de 79€ d'achat - couteaux-berthier.com
www.couteaux-berthier.com

Un couteau pour le Nord : le Mineur en pointe de corne blonde

Créé à Thiers pour la région Nord, le couteau Mineur est un couteau de poche simple, léger et rustique, imaginé par les artisans couteliers de Thiers pour les Gueules Noires. Avec cette version ELEGANCE en pointe de corne blonde blonde, le couteau Mineur allie à la fois la noblesse de ce vieux...
www.hommedesbois.fr www.hommedesbois.fr

Since few months (maybe years) we can easily find many "mineur Parapluie à l'épreuve" for around 30€ on E-bay.
I don't even know if the company "Parapluie à l'epreuve" still exists but the knives are correct.
The horn is always beautiful and the blade is carbon.
I have purchased one last two years (i think there's only one seller) and i'ts nice. Old and traditionnal.
The finitions are not the same as GEC at all, but it's traditionnal and cheaper.
Daily usable, require some use to be softer.
 
Two Sun TS161 with white bone, M390 steel
TQDfY0w.jpg
 
Thank you for such an in depth reply. Very interesting on the many different takes on this knife pattern. Seems like this style of knife has been used in many places around the world. I will for sure be on the look out for both.

The two sun seems interesting, although not sure if i like the screws instead of pins. Probably a very dumb take on my part. M390 is a great steel and have plenty of knives that have it. A part of me wants a traditional knife with patina like the knives that my dad and grandfather carried. But the other part of me wants the latest and greatest steel.
 
Jakeywax31 said:
Just starting to dip my toes into traditional slipjoints. For some reason I have been drawn to the sod buster shape and profile. I am intrigued by the no bs utility that I think the knife will provide. Started doing my research and I am quickly drawn to the gec 71 model. Along with my research I have learned about the demand for gec. I went into slipjoints because I was tired of the spyderco sprint runs and looks like gec knives are harder to obtain. Hahaha 😆 just my luck.
I would appreciate it if some of you fine people could direct me to another brand with equal fit and finish, preferably with a carbon steel blade, and about the same pattern. Thanks for your help.

Paul
Click to expand...
You might find this thread of interest:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/sodbuster-and-lots-of-them.970292/

- GT
 
I think the GEC #71 is the cream of the crop for standard production Sodbusters. It'll be hard to find another with equal quality for the same price. However, Sodbusters are supposed to be inexpensive and sturdy working knives, and if that's what you're looking for then there are a lot of different brands available. I am personally fond of the Case Sodbuster Jr. While maybe not on par with the GEC #71, it's still a solid knife at a value price. If you want Carbon steel, search for one with CV marked on it. They can be had with thick wood or Delrin handles, or nice thin jigged bone handles. Kinda wish they'd make a thin Delrin handle, although I find the jigged bone super attractive.

Case Sodbuster Jr with jigged Delrin handles...
 
Just ordered the case jr in cv. I will likely order a few. The maserin looks like a winner for the price as well. I will own a 71. Just have to find one not marked up 150%. Thanks for the help. I will for sure check that other thread.
 
Will absolutely be scouring the marketplace often in search of one. 100 dollars is perfectly fine with me.
 
The GEC versions of the Sodbuster are probably the cream of the crop right now - but hard to find. I was lucky enough to get #71 in orange delrin and muslin micarta at retail prices back when GEC knives didn't sell out within minutes.

I have picked up a couple German Eye Brand knives and have been impressed with the quality and fit/finish. They are sort of hard to find in stock but a few places in the US currently have their small and large sodbuster model (Clodbuster) in stock for under $50.

Here is a review from a couple years ago on the smaller "Jr" sized one:

 
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Eye brand is not a bit "random" quality, as no real Solingen manufacturer is identified behind this brand (Carl Schliper, hen and rooster, others) ?

I have removed Hen and Rooster from my list since long time as sometimes it's made in germany, sometimes in Spain, sometimes with Asian blades.

I am more confident with a brand like Otter Messer who i can send an e-mail for information and the manager himself answers.

Some of you certainly knows the Mercator, this famous german knife manufactured by Otter Messer since 1995 (after the original manufacture Kauffmann stop and sell rights and machines to Otter).

In germany, there is also a Boker-Solingen named Rangebuster, but 130€.
 
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