I'm one of those guys who carries a pocket knife every day. Since high school, I've had a knife in my pocket. Back when we were living on the farm, it was necessary for cutting baling twine and opening feed bags. I still open the occasional feed bag, for the cats or the dog, but today my knife is more often used to open Amazon boxes.
The knife I have carried for the past 15 years was getting worn. The spring had broken out of the bolster and opening it was sometimes an iffy proposition. It was time for a new knife, so I went to Amazon because I knew what I wanted.
A Case Sod Buster. It's a good knife with nice steel, easy to sharpen. The handle is as smooth as a lightly used car of soap, no sharp edges to damage the pocket. At this stage of my life, it is the perfect gentleman's pocket knife. Nothing fancy, nothing outrageous, just a simple bit of steel to open bags and boxes. The price is right, too, at about $35.00.
It's a great design, it's been in production for over 50 years, and there is a reason for that.
9 comments:
I worked at Case from 77-82, my everyday carry is Case canoe
carried a Swiss army knife for years while in the army.
kind of funny really, had a lot of people ask what I did carry back then and they where always amazed when I told them Swiss army was my main knife. kept a Gerber mark 1
and a A.G. Russel stinger as back up though.
my kid lost" the Gerber and stinger, but I still have my old Swiss army knife.
1/503 PIR a long time ago.
Still made in USA? I am still carrying my Old Timer 194 lock blade because it has those magic runes on it (Made in U.S.A.)
ihave carried a sodbuster every day as my extra sharp knife along with a buck as my working knife both made in usa hard to beat the feel of that little yellow knife oldvet
Are you ever concerned about your grip slipping on a handle that smooth? I don't lose sleep over it, but when I'm shopping for a knife, I like something with a bit of a guard, a finger groove or at least a bit of texture for grip.
I always have visions of stabbing or cutting something tough and my hand slipping up onto the blade. Ouch.
To be fair, it's never happened to me, so it's probably silly, but then again, I buy knives with features that prevent it, so there's that.
I like cheap knives for EDC because my knife is a tool and I use it. I beat the heck out of my knives and I'd be heartbroken if I broke the tip off my $300 fancy knife using it as a prybar or screwdriver.
Or lost it somewhere. I travel a lot for work and I can't tell you how many times I've ended up in the TSA line with my knife still in my pocket. "Crap...another one in the trash".
So I buy cheap Kershaw knives for everyday use. My really nice knives are for admiring, not beating up.
I grew up with Case Sowbellies in my pocket. Still have one when I need a 'dressier' knife. EDC now is a Kershaw.
Had one for about 60 years. Stays relatively sharp and easy to sharpen. Excellent for small gentlemanly knifework, I'd select something else for EDC or work. One complaint - they don't sit well in the pocket and poke mercilessly.
Sodbuster pattern is an old European laborer carry. The oldest I remember here were the German Eye- Carl Schlieper knives sold in the 60's. Wood handles, thin blades that take a wicked sharp edge.
Case makes a good blade. Chinese Rough Rider makes a liner lock if you like that feature. .
I have had my sodbuster jr since I was 11. It only came in black in those days. I think I got it as LL Beans in Freeport Maine back when they were still an outdoors store. My Jr has had a rough life but is still tight. The giant hinge pin and the thick blade make it really robust. Takes a good working edge but it’s not made of any magic wonder steel you can put a 12 degree edge on.
The full size sodbuster is one darn big pocket knife. Unless you’re quartering hogs there’s nothing the big one can do that the little Jr can’t.
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