This is a Sodbuster thread

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Already, I got rid of the shiny finish on my Soddie Jr. It had some discoloration already, and I patina'd it fully. I used Arfs method of heating some pomegranate-cranberry cocktail (delicious) and soaking it in it. Has a kinda "rainbow" look to it.
For those of you who don't know, patina is a kind of matt grey/black. You can get in quickly by soaking in an acidic mixture, or it will just be aquired through hard use. It helps protect the blade, kind of like seasoning a cast iron piece of cookware.
 
I used Arfs method of heating some pomegranate-cranberry cocktail (delicious) and soaking it in it. Has a kinda "rainbow" look to it.


<shakes head>

Huh?

What am I going to do with you folks?
Arf especially.

Buy 'em books and send them to skool and ...

Dr. Pepper , or RC is what you do.



*grin*
 
I just think the old-timey knife makers would reach a lot more market, if they incorporated some of the very practical features of the "tactical folder."

Near the end the Imperial Schrade Corp tried that with the X-Timer series.They didn't sell well with their original customer base or the general public.

To little to late perhaps,but sadly we will never know what could have happened if they tried the "tactical" market sooner.
 
X-Timers are not what I had in mind, at all. Those look like all the other silly "tactical knives."

I am talking about knife makers such as Case taking a pre-existing knife, such as the Sodbuster, and adding a lock and thumb stud, perhaps a clothing clip. Also producing larger versions. For example, I would love to have a Canoe with a four-inch, locking blade with a thumb-stud, and smaller, non-locking blade with a nail nick. Scales, bolsters, blade shape, would all be retained as original. And again, I'm not saying that these updated versions should replace the originals, just that they should be offered in addition to them. I have seen some knives like this, but unfortunately, they were not the patterns that I liked.

sm does have a point about the expanding product line being a hazard, of course. However, I am talking about modification of existing products, not entirely new knives, except in the case of the larger versions that I would like to see. That would seem to keep re-tooling costs to a minimum.

But of course, I'm neither a businessman, nor a knife-maker.
 
Kershaw makes the double cross and double duty , for those who like traditional but want a lock and thumbstuds.

I would however like a SODBUSTER lockback.... I have been playing with a design in the shop of just that , just aint had the time to get it 100% yet.
 
Thanks, I was trying to remember where I had seen a knife like that somewhere. It's a little small for me, and not quite my favorite pattern, but I think I might like to have one of those anyway. Should a' bought one when I had the cash. You know, before I got married. :)

And if you can put a lock on a Sodbuster, I'd probably buy one from you. Especially if you can arrange a thumb stud.
 
Unfortunately, she's got a bunch o' big knives in the kitchen. And frying pans. And if I run away, she's got the .22. NEVER teach your woman how to shoot. :eek:
 
Sodbuster 2138LSS Question

Hello fellow sodbuster lovers!

I am new to the forum, but I can already tell by reading your posts that I am among friends.

I should tell you a little about my collecting.

I collect Case XX U.S.A. Sodbuster pattern 2138 and 2137 exclusively. I do not collect nor am I interested in: boker, kissing crane, german eye, german bull, mule skinner, or any other imitation sodbuster. Maybe one day I will widen my scope, but not until I have completed my collection of mint condition sodbusters (in both colors of course).

I am currently looking for the entire range of 2138LSS knives. For those of you who are a little less familiar with the sodbuster, those are the knives made with the brass liner lock. As far as I can research, they were never produced later than '79. I can find very little information about the knife, and I want find any info on the history of this knife.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks.
 
I find the full size Sodbuster a little too big and the Jr a little too small. My Kissing Crane is in between and fits me just right. (I feel like a fairy tale now..Goldilocks and the three knife knuts?)

Ennyhoo, I got the KC used and had to tighten up the blade play and scale fit. That done, though, it's a great work knife.

Probably not the same basic quality as Case, although my new Case Jr came with the blade way off center closed.

BTW, you can get a Case Soddie Jr for about $17 at Lowe's, which is a heck of a deal.
 
I was browsing around my local hardware store, when I noticed a display case of Case brand knives. I had no intention of buying one, but a particular knife caught my eye. It had an engraved plow on the blade, and it read "Sod Buster Jr". What caught my eye was the shape of the blade, which just seemed to have a very functional shape. I hadn't ever heard of a "Sod-Buster" before, and just assumed it was a generic name on the knife. I bought it for $30, and I like it very much. I've since done some reading and have found that the Sod-busters have been around for a while. It has the black handle, and stainless blade. I haven't had much opportunity to use it yet, but for now it has replaced the Vic SAK, and Spydercos I've been carrying.
 
I'm a little surprised that nobody has mentioned Queen's sodbusters. They call them "country cousins." The blades are made of D2, and they can be found new for ~$30. Definitely worth looking at, especially if you're hooked on soddies.
 
a little proud

Garry - Thanks for the heads up. You can count on me being aware of the knives on ebay, I have seen this knife, and even got the seller to update the description to include the number of dots.

Anyway, I wanted to bring up the trend that I have seen among sodbusters on ebay. Guys who obviously are good ebay sellers must follow the auctions and get an idea of their prices, and then you get stuff like this

0a5f_1.jpg

with a startig bid of $14.00 - I wouldn't give this guy five bucks at a flea market...OK, well maybe at a flea market.

The other disturbing trend is when sellers use incorrect descriptions to gain attention. Recently and ebay seller posted his item with the description - "Vintage CASE XX Sod Buster 2138 SS Lock Blade Knife" However, from the pics, it was clear that the knife was made in 2005. Here is the message I sent him:

"As far as any of the pictures show, this is NOT a 2138 LSS. All 2138 LSS knives I have ever seen have been produced prior to 1979.[Actually I should have been inclusive of '79] By the tang stamp on your knife I can tell that it was produced in 2005. If you are going to say that it is a 2138 LSS, you should have pictures that show the liner lock. I really do not think you have an LSS."

There should be some way of informing ebay about this kind of thing. The knife didn't fool anyone and only sold for about $12.00 anyway.

It is just annoying.
 
I'm new to the "Sodbuster" design. I've been trying to find information on it, but haven't found much. Can someone tell me when the design originated? Does it have a history, or is it a modern design? I've seen them called a Skinner blade. Thanks for any info.
 
History

Very fuzzy.

The best I've been able to come up with is early 20th century.

They were in manufacture in the 1930s, and possibly the 1920s.

The Germans referred to them as "folding butcher knives" which makes sense, given the blade profile of German butcher knives of that day.

I haven't been able to find any pre-1900 references to them.

The basic style, which I will broaden to include things like the Opinel locking-ring folders, has been around for much longer, but the thing that we, today, call a "sodbuster," having a single straight-back or slight trailing-point profile blade with a straight, plain edge and a substantial curve to the edge near the point, and having a simple backspring and (typically) no lock, seems to have originated in the early 1900s.

I generally tell people that the pattern has been in use "at least a hundred years," but it seems that may be an exaggeration.

I'd be pleased if someone can direct me to documentation showing pre-1920 sodbusters. Since the pattern is made virtually everywhere (USA, Germany, France, Argentina, Italy, etc.) it's quite possible that what we now call the sodbuster may well have existed under such a name as "clasp knife" (which is the generic term) for some time prior to the adoption of the "sodbuster" name.

 
So, is my 2138 LSS Sod Buster valuable? I didn't realize it was so old. The blade is a little loose, which I assume is why they quit using brass liner locks.
 
uh...wanna sell it? It would be valuable for me if it was in mint-very good condition. i really don't know anybody else who collects them...although I'm sure someone does. Even so, I've never paid more than $40.00 for one.

Post some pics of your LSS.
 
JTW Jr. wrote:
Yup , couldnt pass up another one today... I don't think I could ever have enuff of these.

Sure, rub it in. Oh I bet you make a nice slip for it too! *neener*

I do not have a Sodbuster Jr, with yellow handles, and CV, but darn it!
The more I check this thread, the more I want one again.

I mean this ain't fair!
<finger hovers over "report to moderator" button>

Yes I know I stay in trouble around here, still I am the one getting folks into trouble and this being on the other side of the fence...ain't fair!

*sticks tongue out*
 
I've owned several over the years and I could not agree more that they are great knives. I have had two Case Sod Buster Jr. and currently have the full size Kissing Crane with wood handles.

Also ditto the Opinel, they are great working knives, hold a terrific edge. The Opinel is a light knife, hardly know you are carrying one. I really like the locking blade on a working knife.
 
sm turned me on to Case Sodbusters a while back in one of his threads. So I ordered one, Sodbuster JR with the CV blade. I haven't looked back since.

I have not carried any other knife since then, the soddie has done everything I need in my daily routines and outings. I've enjoyed the CV blade so much that will most likely stay with CV and carbon steel blades. I have nothing against a stainless blade, but I like the ease of sharpening that CV and carbon steel blades offer. It's very easy to keep my knife sharp.

JLaw
 
@ JLaw:

You see, the beauty is it has ONE blade. It is a solid, simple, smart knife. I never have understood the idea of multiple blades. I mean, I've heard all of the reasons...but none have made enough sense to me to convince me.

As as for the carbon, any serious collector knows that the carbon is preferred. The only stainless sodbuster that I will own is the 2138 LSS, and that is because it is not made in carbon - as far as I know.

Rupestris - nice knife. I will have to post some pics of mine some time.
 
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