Case Sod Buster Jr

[Todd A]

Had to run out to Lowes to pick up a few things this afternoon. So there I was just minding my own buisness in the tool section when this clampack caught my eye. Case sodbuster jr,black plastic handle with stainless steel,$17.95.

So I start to thinking on how many of you here like this knife style,and even though it is stainless how can a guy go wrong for 18 bucks?

So....


Case knives better not be addictive.

 

[sm]

Case knives better not be addictive.

No more than watching a pretty girl walk down the street in a mini-skirt.


*gotcha*

 

[Pax Jordana]

I have one like that!

and for $18 I'm gonna have another like that!

Lowes, huh.

Though I think to really see the beauty in sodbusters you gotta love minimalism.

 

[Todd A]

I've been thinking as I've been playing with this knife.My user drawer holds 11
USA Schrades plus a Tough Tool . Three are Schrade+ stainless the rest carbon. Not that many,but more than enough to last my lifetime as users.

I'll carry this soddie for a month,with a Old Timer stockman as back-up , to see how it performs.If it does well just maybe I'll pick up some more entry level Case knives,not so much for me..but to stock up for giveaways for family and friends.

I am sorta young but I can remember being able to walk into a store and buying any USA Schrade or Camillus I wanted. My son and daughters can't.


ps......sm I blame you for this purchase....

 

[Sistema1927]

Case knives are extremely addictive.

The sodbuster is even better with a CV blade.

 

[sm]

Sodbuster, and Sodbuster Jr. are proven knives, and keep proving.

These knives surprise folks, as they do not lock, or have opening assist.
They can be opened one handed, even with gloves.
Back springs are stout, not too stout where one cannot open them, still stout to "resist" closing.

Just pinch the blade, catch handle on jeans pocket (anything) and knife is open.
To close, fingers stay away from blade as we that come up with pocket knives know to do, and the blade close by various means like using a leg, or door facing, or saddle or...
Fingers never have to get near the edge, like a frame lock/liner lock to release lock.

Other countries have "penny knives" or "peasant knives" that are simple knives that the folks that actually did/do the work use.

Sodbuster Jr, will fool folks as to how it disappears in a pocket, and is comfortable to carry.

Next one, I recommend the Yellow Handle Case with Chrome Vanadium bladed in the Sodbuster Jr size.


Congrats, and enjoy, knowing this knife has been used on farms, ranches, timber country , hunting, fishing, camping , hiking , and survival use, be it training or real serious...and who knows what else?



Blame Steve...
Yeah, everyone else does, why not?

 

[Todd A]

I hate yellow Now Amber bone in CV...well

Gotta stop looking at online knife dealers :banghead:

 

[Rupestris]

The week before last I was at Lowes picking up some goods as well. I couldn't pass up the Sodbuster Jr. either.

I had to spend last week in the Atlanta, GA area on business and usually pack a knife in my checked bag. Most of the time its a Wenger SI SAK. Since the SB Jr. was new and inexpensive I thought I'd carry it exclusively for the week. If the baggage gnomes at the airport made off with it, I wasn't out too much.

sm is right. It dissapears in the pocket. Several times I reached in my pocket to get my full sized Bic lighter and grabbed the smooth slabbed SB instead.

After a week of use I noticed some very faint rust on the blade at the transition/tang. Didn't bother me as I thought these were a stainless steel, not an HC stainless.

The grinds were clean but a bit uneven. The pile side was cut a bit deeper at the spine as seen here:


Overall, its a workhorse of a knife. Still carrying it today even though I have a couple dozen pocket knives in the drawer to choose from.

If anyone is on the fence about going to Lowes for one of these cheap Case knives, go get one. You won't regret it. Worth every bit of $17.95.

Chris

 

[Todd A]

I noticed some minor issues with the fit and finish.Blade had some burrs,couple quick passes with medium sticks and a stropping on my belt solved it.

Edges of the spine were sharp,not polished at all.A little rubbing with 2000 grit sandpaper solved that.

So far its cut everthing I could think of to cut I am very impressed considering its price point.

I might be able to get used to yellow to pick one up in CV.

 

[Sniper X]

I have a few Case pocket knives and a bunch of other quality pocket knives. I love all of them! But yes, they are all adictive, especialy the Case's and Schatt & Morgans/Queen cutlery.

 

[Cougfan2]

I had an old original SodBuster that I left on the back bumper of my truck after doing some chores. Forgot I had left it there until half way to the recycling facility. Bumbed me out. I think I'll be checking Loew's out pretty soon.

 

[Zeke/PA]

The Case Sodbuster Jr. is indeed a lot of knife for the money.
Case knives like U.S. made Schrades are certainly VERY addictive.
My daily carry is a Case Trapper in a belt sheath or sometimes a large Sodbuster in a belt sheath.
A sodbuster Jr. or a Slimline Trapper fills the bill for Sunday "go to meetin" etc.
Have fun.
Zeke

 

[Todd A]

Today was my first full day of carrying this knife.Brought it to work and abus...I mean used it alot.

Cut bale straps,tape,single and double wall corrugated,I run a machine in the corrugated (cardboard) department of container manufacturing plant. I really wanted to dull this blade so I sliced up some triple wall scrap I had laying around. That finally dulled the blade to equal a butter knife, it will do that to any knife even my S30V Native,so it isn't a knock on this little Case.

Whatever stainless they use is pretty decent,for my taste. It held an edge a little better than 1095 carbon and was almost as easy to re-sharpen.At lunch I just used a Rapala pocket sharpener (fine) and my leather belt and had a paper slicing edge in no time.

Not a stainless super steel,but thats not what I like anyway. I don't know what type they use but it isn't to far away from carbon for edge retention or ease of sharpening in my opinion. I like it Of course your milage and opinion may vary.

 

[sm]

*grin*

Having a good time are we?

*snicker*

 

[Todd A]

Ummm.....no.....


OK,OK,Fine....But I ain't never gonna buy a peanut!!



Closest Im gonna come to that is this...Arrived today

2 3/4" 108OT "Junior"



Cute little bugger.

 

[sixgunner455]

But I ain't never gonna buy a peanut!!

Sure, that's what I always said.

Yet here I sit with one in my watch pocket. And it's Steve's fault. Hehe. Cute, too. Yellow CV goes real well with my yellow CV Slimline Trapper (in the back pocket).

Bit me a bit on Saturday -- pen blade slipped off my right thumbnail, snapped back closed, and put a shallow bleeder cut in the pad of the left thumb. Little bit of Crazy Glue and back to work.

 

[Pax Jordana]

this:

Just pinch the blade, catch handle on jeans pocket (anything) and knife is open.

I feel is just barely beyond me. Maybe somebody can explain it differently, or perhaps recommend a cosmetic surgeon willing to give me thin fingers

Ah, well, if all else fails it's back to the buck 110 or *gasp* something with thumbstuds.

Yet here I sit with one in my watch pocket. And it's Steve's fault.

Six, you're only going to encourage him!

not that there's not one on my list too.

 

[sm]

I feel is just barely beyond me. Maybe somebody can explain it differently, or perhaps recommend a cosmetic surgeon willing to give me thin fingers

Pax Jordana,

Please understand I am not being disrespectful, instead quite serious.
If you have fat, stubby fingers allow to me share an old tip:

Notice how the Sodbuster, and Sodbuster Jr. handle is shaped; Just a very gradual and smooth curve.
Also not how high above the handle the blade is - this area is what gives one "purchase" , meaning something to get a hold of, or pinch.

Just remove some of the handle, to allow you more "purchase".
Delrin and brass are easy to remove, going slow, using a file and then smoothing with grits of emery paper, then Happich Semichrome to smooth even more.

Open blade, and insert into a piece of cardboard to protect yourself and you do this.
Cardboard allow you to more easily remove the blade to check "purchase" as you go along.
Tape can be used, just sometimes it will have be removed then re-applied, so a sleeve from cardboard is just easier.


Hands and fingers vary, and one can have hand and finger problems, and not just due to age .

Kids , teenagers, young adult are afflicted with arthritis, and injuries as well and this removing handle to access nail nicks easier goes way back, and the principle works for just getting a purchase on the blade not using a nail nick.

Single blade knives such as Sodbusters, make this fitting easier.
That said, many SAKs are done this way, just a gentle curve to allow nail nicks easier.

Stockman pattern is another knife pattern this is done on quite a bit, as Ranchers, Farmers and others really do use Stockman and Cattle knives, and hands get to where they don't do as they once did.

One has to be more cautious with multi blade knives and only remove that side of the handle to access nail nick for that blade and not get into the liner.

 

[sm]

Now I am dead serious with what I am about to share.

The folks that work cattle, ranchers and farmers use pocket knives (slip joints) or fixed blades.
They do not use a locking knife in my parts, or other areas I am familiar with.
Fixed blades are in saddlebags or trucks, or in/on tractors.

These folks will only use Case Chrome Vanadium, or a 1095 Carbon Steel steel.

Case Sodbuster, Sodbuster Jr, Trapper, Mini Trapper, Barehead Slimline Trapper and Stockman are the knives by Case, and even the Peanut is in a pocket for many, darn knife is proven.

Case quit making the large Stockman with CV blades and really ticked off these folks, I mean they really did!
Quite of few of these had the handles altered to allow easier access to nail nick.
I mean at 87 years of age - one old boy that still works cattle has hands and finger that won't do what they when he was younger.

Old Timer knives were used, Such as Stockman, Gun Stock Trapper (the only exception to a locking knife I can recall) and these too were altered along with some other OT patterns.

Camillus was used as well.
Old Timers and Camillus were put up out of respect for the companies that closed.

Boker with Carbon Steel, Case with CV are used.
Boker still makes that big Stockman, and not long ago about 8 of these were bought, and most had the handles tweaked to allow nail nick access.

Sodbuster Jr, Slimline Trapper , Mini-Trapper were bought as well.
These fit pockets, and a cowboy, rancher, farmer, in jeans, will tell you a lighter knife, is more comfortable to carry , especially in the summer with heat and humidity.

I am serious, they empty pockets , and carry a bandanna, knife, and that is about it.
Keys in the saddlebag/ truck and wallets too, if they carry one, as many just stick a paper clip / binder clip around DL, CCW permit and money .

Timber workers, especially those that mark timber, also travel light.

Now these folks are real deal, and may be out for a bit, timber markers for sure are.
The use magnesium starters to make fire, during hunting season take small game, and sometimes fish.
These knives mark cattle, timber,and all the chores, some which many say are "bushcraft" or "wilderness" , even "survival" .
Heck these folks were actually doing this long before many were born that post this stuff, older than their parents too!

I assisted with tweaking some of these knives.
Sodbuster Jr was for a fella with short, fat fingers, that would not what they once did.

My Barehead Trapper was done this way for his wife, with smaller hands, more slender fingers, that were having problems.
She used my knife to mark cattle,and that is tough on a knife!
She wanted to try another style that was lighter and slimmer for her to carry, as she was ticked at Case for not making the big Stockman in CV and then had to admit at her age, and body not doing what it once did, a lighter knife would be best.

She replaced my Case Barehead Slimline Trapper , yellow handle and CV blades when the feed store got some in.

I lost my Sod Jr , yh cv during tornadoes ( I didn't the person using it did).
My Slimline I do have, has marked a lot of cattle , and whatever else a cowboy /rancher does.

These are sharpened freehand, with a Norton stone, sometimes a Hard AR, and stropped on saddles, boots, jeans and belts.

Todd A getting a Sodbuster - was a no brainer for me.
He likes the Gunstock Trapper, that tells me what he is about in using tools for task.

I just grew up around real deal folks doing real deal tasks, this what how I was mentored, and why my take on matters is what it is.


Marketing: If I can tell you how many head of cattle you have, can I have a cow?

Rancher: How many?

Marketing: 637

Rancher: Go pick out your cow.

Rancher : (tapping on glass of Lexus) Can I have my dawg back?

*evil snort*

 

[sixgunner455]

Steve, I love the cow joke.

Your commentary on old farmers and ranchers hit a sensitive spot. A few weeks ago, my uncle's father was "supervising" the boys while they dealt with a problem bull. Started having more trouble than the number of "boys" in the corral could handle, so he jumped in to help, just like he promised momma he wouldn't, cause he couldn't move fast anymore. Got knocked down and stomped good, didn't make it. Was what he wanted to be doing, though.

Kind of a sad time in the family.

A few years ago, my wife's grandfather sold off all his livestock. His wife insisted, cause he was slowing down and she didn't trust him not to do exactly what happened to my relative. I didn't understand why she'd do that to a man who spent his whole life working stock, but it makes a bit more sense to me now.

Still. I can't feel too terrible about the old man and his bull. He lived and died on his terms.

Melancholy. Rubbing my thumb slowly on a slim yellow knife in my pocket, thinking about him. Rode my first horse on their ranch, when I was eight.

 

[sm]

sixgunner455,

Sorry for your loss my friend.

Brotherhood is earned, one cannot buy it.
Your friend was part of a brotherhood and went out the way he wanted.

Case Sodbuster is part of a brotherhood as well, as the men and women using that knife earned being in that hallowed place.
Ranchers, farmers, warehouse workers, construction, electrical, plumbers, box factory, factory and plant workers and even LEOs, and Military folks amongst others did not name.

Do not tell me to my face a Sodbuster, or Sodbuster Jr, and a Model 10 is not part of a brotherhood as I will call you a Liar to your face!
Cops carried these two tools as did Army Rangers, Special Forces and other real deal folks I know - some where my Mentors!

I have earned the right to say, just because someone has a Glock 26 and Griptillian - does not make them a warrior.

Give me the person with a Model 10 and Sodbuster to watch my six!
They know something, from real life experiences they earned!

 

[sixgunner455]

Thanks, Steve.