Soddie or Opinel?

Morablades

Morablades

Joined
Dec 29, 2007
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Which do you prefer as a EDC or working knife? Your Sod Buster or Opinel? The reason I am comparing these two traditionals is that they are easy to find, have a basic design and are very inexpensive. I have carried Opinels' 6-8, Case Sod Buster, Sod Buster Jr. in CV and SS, Kissing Crane Brown Mule (older German made) and would have to say that the Opinel #6 I prefer over them all. It has held the best edge in my opinion. Also, I can't even feel the Op. 6 in my pocket it's so light, but I do wish they would make Opinels with black delrin handles. Oh, feel free to show off your preference.
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I like my Opinels but prefer the sodbuster. For me they carry better and are more convenient to use.
 
They are both terrific knives at a price point that should make them easily available to most budgets.

If I had to pick one, I would go with the Case sodbuster jr I have been carrying lately. I just like the way it feels. I doubt that anybody could prove any significant difference in general performance between the variations of sodbusters and opinels. It's great to have options.
 
It is great to have options. I will admit that sometimes I have trouble choosing between the two in the morning.
 
Opinels were my first picnic knives and I grew up to respect them well enough.
Then I matured to preferring the way more expensive Chambriard Corkscrew knife. Principally cause I now drink a lot of wine to wash down my picnics ;)
 
No contest. The Sodbuster. The Opinels are good knives, but I like something with a stouter feel to it.
 
I've owned an Opinel, and liked it quite well. I have been missing it since I gave it to a guy I went hunting with who needed a knife, but haven't replaced it as yet. I've got lots of knives, so I can't say that I really need one.
 
I'd go wth a Case Sodbuster Jr. A stouter knife, more convieniant, totally waterproof with no stiffening up when wet. Not to mention classic yallar handle. Lots to said for a "yallar handle knife".:D
 
My full sized Case Soddie all the way. (black handles of course) I have had it since '79 and it snaps as good today as it did when I bought it. It is a classic design that no one has been able to improve on.
 
I'd rather carry a sodbuster as a general-use knife. I like Opinels as picnic knives and fussy slicers, but would be much more inclined to put a sodbuster to work, as it feels more substantial and sturdier.

JR
 
I like the opinels and they are a great value but i'll pick the soddy just about every time.
 
I guess in spite of my love of Opinel's slicing and dicing ability, I have reservations about it as a sole carry edc knife in case of unexpeted heavy duty use. I saw my old friend Danny break one off where the wood handle is stepped down for the steel bolster under the locking ring. It was a number 7 or 8, I don't recall exactly. Now I'll grant the Danny Being 6'4" and about 230ish in pound weight is a big guy, and he was a little exited because it was his wife that we were making a litter for, to carry her out of the wooded gorge she had broken her ankle in. But while he was notching a sappling around the base to break it off, he leaned a bit too hard on his Opy and it snapped off. We finished the job with me loaning him my Eye-brand yella handle soddie and I just kept notching away with my Victorinox Pioneer.

This was many many years ago, on a hike in a wooded area of suburban Montgonery county, not 10 miles from our home, so we were not carrying much in the way of fixed blades or emergency kits. Never made that mistake again. But the point of my rambling is Danny broke his Opy, but he leaned on the Schleiper soddie with no ill effects. And Danny always carried a sak with a saw blade after that.:D
 
I prefer the sodbuster too, the Opinel is good for slicing just about anything, but its just not stout enough to be used as an edc. Jackknifes tale just convinced me even more of that.
I never had any problems with the wood swelling up on my Opinel, but why take the chance, I'll take the Opinel on any picnic with me, but not without a sodbuster jr., a stockman, or more likely my sheath knife.

Peter
 
This is truly a difficult decision. The soddie is better looking, higher quality, and the handle won't swell when wet. The opi has the locking ring (albeit a sometimes fussy one), is wicked sharp and easy to keep that way (even for myself, the world's worst sharpener). For me, the small soddie blade is a little short, and the large soddie is a little too bulky and heavy for the pocket. An Opinel No. 8 is slightly bulky but seems weightless.

Has anyone used the Boker soddies? I don't see them referenced as much as Case and Kissing Crane? How do they compare?
 
Well, I like the grind on the Opinel a bit better. And the handle feels better in my hand. I guess they aren't really tough knives, but I haven't had any touble with them so far. It's probably because I carry lots of knives on a daily basis and I've always got a fixed blade in my pack.

I still like the soddie pattern, though. In fact I've got a new one (CV Case soddie jr.) on its way.
 
I really do not understand what is about the Opinel not being 'tough'

What do you want from a knife?
A good blade that cuts well.
What is there to push a knife farther than the cutting ablity of its blade?
It is easy to break any tool with misuse.

The Opinel has a thinner profile blade and can be sharpened with ease to wicked sharp.
A great working knife.
 
neeman said:
I really do not understand what is about the Opinel not being 'tough'

What do you want from a knife?
A good blade that cuts well.
What is there to push a knife farther than the cutting ablity of its blade?
It is easy to break any tool with misuse.

The Opinel has a thinner profile blade and can be sharpened with ease to wicked sharp.
A great working knife.
Click to expand...

I was wondering the same thing. Nothing against the Soddie, but what make the Opinels so weak? Mine has never swelled. I put weight on mine all the time and the lock-up stays strong.
 
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