Sodbuster comparison pictures, for fun

dks · **on:** January 22, 2013, 05:55:51 PM

I got a Queen Country Cousin today.

It was pointed to me that I have a few sodbuster type knives by a member here

, so I decided to write a couple of things about some to help people decide, with the aid of pictures.

So here they are in order of blade size:

Note that all have SS blades apart from the GEC which has an 01 steel blade and the Queen that has a D2 steel blade.

On the subject of blades the two black Kissing crane ones have an unusual shape of blade, with a clipped top, though they are commonly sold as sodbusters.
The Queen too has an unusual blade as it is less wide than the rest, proportionally.
The Black Kissing cranes are Italian, the Buck Creek German, the Case XX's, Queen, GEC U.S. made, and the RR, Coloured Kissing Crane and Schrade Chinese.
The RR locks.

Other side:

Note the GEC steel pivot pins.
From the front:

Notice that the only one with steel liners, instead of brass, is the GEC. This, for me, makes the overall construction stronger. (I can not see the black Kissing Crane liners)

And the back:

The Queen has a nicely rounded top of the blade. The GEC also has slightly round top too.
The rest have a squared top which is sharp in the Case's.

Closed:

Blade centring:

The ones with x are nicely centred… Go RR and Schrade!

In price groups:

The Queen competes with the GEC on price and for me the GEC is a much better knife. Bad pricing, irrespective of the fancier steel.

The Buck Creek looks expensive but is only a bit more than the Bucks…

In order of how nicely they open and feel:

The GEC is in a different class.
The larger Case loses a bit by having slightly proud pins.
The schrade is noticeably the worst.
The kissing crane (coloured one) is very nice for the money.
The Queen despite all the cleaning and oiling still feels like it has some grit in. The backspring is also a bit stiff.
The Cases and the Schrade have soft feel handles.
The Rough Rider has bone and the Buck creek Stag. The rest have shiny composite, Derlin I think.

Their weights are:

RR: 115g
Case large: 93.4
Kissing Cranes (Black): 75.5 and 76.9
Buck Creek 75g
GEC: 70g
Schrade: 59.5g
Case Jr: 57.1
Kissing Crane coloured 56.7g
Queen 56.4g

All, apart from the RR and the large Case, only fit 3 fingers on their handles.

With another contender, the Opinel 8, which has a similar style locking blade, for reference:

My choice is still the GEC, though I intend to use the Queen too, once I sharpen it.

All knives feel solid enough and I would not hesitate to buy and use any of them, even the Schrade.

I think the Queen is overpriced and the RR and Kissing Cranes are priced just right.

The Buck Creek shows that you can get an expensive looking and nicely finished (polished round headed pins, stag) sodbuster for not that much.

enki_ck · **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2013, 07:16:27 PM

Very nice comparison there, DKS.

nuphoria · **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2013, 09:37:06 PM

Everything you wanted to know about Soddies, but were too afraid to ask

Very useful thanks, and now I want a GEC even more (the glow in the dark one of course).

dks · **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2013, 09:43:58 PM

I feel stupid as I ordered the orange one quickly since I though it looked fantastic.... then the day it was posted I realised that they came in "glow" too.

But it was too late. I am trying to get a cheap Victorinox stayglow to get my fix.....

Yes, the GEC feels the niche between too big and too small and has a decent price too.

nuphoria · **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2013, 09:47:21 PM

I wonder if they were aiming for that - lots of others around so they had to offer something worth having.

They do look great and I hear nothing but good stuff about them

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2013, 11:09:54 PM

Nice write up D

I particularly like the Buck Creek one

jerseydevil · **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2013, 12:06:51 AM

Very nice! I have a couple of Case Sodbuster Jrs, one in stainless and one in CV. The CV one takes such a beautiful edge..... I'm thinking I'll have to grab a couple more of this pattern from a couple other manufacturers. Thanks!

Gareth · **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2013, 12:31:02 AM

You're not helping me resist the call of the sodbuster.

Very nice mate.

jerseydevil · **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2013, 12:48:17 AM

Quote from: Gareth on January 23, 2013, 12:31:02 AM

You're not helping me resist the call of the sodbuster.

Go for it! Maybe a nice Case Jr - non-locking, UK legal size, CV steel that takes a great edge and develops a lovely patina...

dks · **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2013, 01:41:00 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on January 22, 2013, 11:09:54 PM

I particularly like the Buck Creek one

Exchange??

Quote from: jerseydevil on January 23, 2013, 12:48:17 AM

Quote from: Gareth on January 23, 2013, 12:31:02 AM
You're not helping me resist the call of the sodbuster.
Go for it! Maybe a nice Case Jr - non-locking, UK legal size, CV steel that takes a great edge and develops a lovely patina...

I am trying to increase the demand, so that my stash goes up in value

Quote from: jerseydevil on January 23, 2013, 12:06:51 AM

Very nice! I have a couple of Case Sodbuster Jrs, one in stainless and one in CV. The CV one takes such a beautiful edge..... I'm thinking I'll have to grab a couple more of this pattern from a couple other manufacturers. Thanks!

I wanted a CV but I was worried a bit as I use my knives for food too. I was happy that the the 01 steel did not seem to blacken food as much as an old 1095 knife I use, so maybe I will get one, if the price is right. (Still looking)
It may surprise people but I am not too keen on the sodbusters as I find them either too large to carry in my pocket or too small for my hands. The GEC works for me for some reason.

I was surprised, in a way, when I realised that the opinel 8 is really the same as a Sodbuster. It shows the usefulness of that blade shape, worldwide.

Sparky415 · **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2013, 02:17:12 PM

Nice pictures and review

I only have the one Sodie now, I like the look of that orange one

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2013, 02:28:57 PM

Quote from: dks on January 23, 2013, 01:41:00 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on January 22, 2013, 11:09:54 PM
I particularly like the Buck Creek one

Exchange??

(more details on it in my for sale thread

)

dks · **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2013, 02:45:59 PM

I was thinking more of this...

The Buck Creek is worth about 60 pounds, by the way..

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2013, 03:11:50 PM

Ahhhhh ... I see

I've done a heck of a lot of spending already this year (plus I've got to reserve some funds for other stuff) so I can't help on that one I'm afraid

dks · **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2013, 03:24:33 PM

Joking, as I do not actually ever sell anything for some reason...

By the way, they can be had from around $30-$40 as shown here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Buck-Creek-Dirt-Buster-Sodbuster-Pocket-Knife-stag-handles-BUC107DS-/260759736408

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GERMAN-BULL-SOD-BUSTER-HEAVY-STAG-KNIFE-/150983359596?pt=Collectible_Knives&hash=item23274f3c6c

Buck Creek, German Bull, Bufallo Creek are all the same company, by the way, as far as I know. I think they are all Frosts brands.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2013, 03:41:42 PM

Tease

I have a suspicion one of those might make it into my possession later in the year

Grathr · **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2013, 08:27:04 PM

And now I need a sodbuster too...
This place is no good for my wallet

MultiMat · **Reply #17 on:** January 25, 2013, 03:04:34 PM

That is a lot of Sodies

I do like the look of those GEC's

. The GEC's handle looks a bit bigger than the small Case , which I personally find too small , I wonder if the GEC is big enough though

.

Great comparison mate

dks · **Reply #18 on:** January 25, 2013, 05:36:06 PM

Quote from: MultiMat on January 25, 2013, 03:04:34 PM

That is a lot of Sodies

I do like the look of those GEC's . The GEC's handle looks a bit bigger than the small Case , which I personally find too small , I wonder if the GEC is big enough though .

It depends.
GEC has a comfortable 3-4 finger handle, depending on your hand.
The smaller ones are really only 3 finger wide and really feel small.

The bigger ones are perfect for 4 finger grip but are quite big.

I am quite happy with the GEC and have largish hands.

I think GEC thought quite a bit before they produced this knife as it really fills a niche, being both small and comfortable to handle.
A knife like this is designed for work, thus you need to have a good comfy grip to use it well.

MultiMat · **Reply #19 on:** January 27, 2013, 02:06:31 AM

Quote from: dks on January 25, 2013, 05:36:06 PM

Quote from: MultiMat on January 25, 2013, 03:04:34 PM
That is a lot of Sodies

I do like the look of those GEC's . The GEC's handle looks a bit bigger than the small Case , which I personally find too small , I wonder if the GEC is big enough though .

It depends.
GEC has a comfortable 3-4 finger handle, depending on your hand.
The smaller ones are really only 3 finger wide and really feel small.

The bigger ones are perfect for 4 finger grip but are quite big.

I am quite happy with the GEC and have largish hands.

I think GEC thought quite a bit before they produced this knife as it really fills a niche, being both small and comfortable to handle.
A knife like this is designed for work, thus you need to have a good comfy grip to use it well.