sm
member
Case Sodbuster Jr.
Yellow Handle, Chrome Vanadium Blade.
Lady bought one after "someone" said she needed one.
Read : "She will take this one".
Purchased at a local mom and pop feed and seed store.
Fit and finish is great!
Everything lines up, finished out, and as it is supposed to be.
Walk-n-talk is superb!
Sharp out of the box, and the edge is congruent on both sides, from tang to tip.
This knife, often called a Clasp Knife pattern, fits her hands as it does most hands.
It fools people as to how it disappears in a pocket. Blue Jeans or dress casual, even a skirt, blazer, or jacket pocket.
Under magnification, the knife was inspected, and again, no flaws.
Now I don't normally use compound to strop, still the lady wanted to see and learn.
Semichrome by Happich is the best polish, I have used this all my life,as I was raised with this.
I applied a wee bit to the back of a legal pad that was going to be tossed.
Pulling spine back, it did not take long for that edge to have a mirror finish.
Final strop using a dab of Semichrome on newpaper, again, she wanted to see this done.
Knife was washed with Lemon Joy ( I like the lemon smell, and it matches the knife) and the blade was placed point down into a glass and Dr. Pepper was added just up to the tang.
Errands run, and about 3 hours later, this blade had a nice patina.
Now this patina includes the edge, so a few strokes on that newspaper and the edge was mirror polished.
Clean, a drop of Kleen-bore formula 3 gun oil on pivot, and a drop on a pipecleaner for inside handle wipe.
Quick review on how to open this knife safely with only one hand.
Blade is above handles and just pinch it.
She put on work gloves and practiced this a few times.
Now she is going to use this knife, and I suggested back pocket for what we were going to do next.
She understood why, as it is hard to get a knife out of a front jeans pocket with leather work gloves on.
*duh*
I showed her how to overcome that and to using the knife she went.
She cut some branches, some as big around as my thumb. Just using proper technique got a nice stack of branches.
She made fuzz sticks, shavings, and kindling.
Made a nice tee pee and with the blade closed, struck a magnesium fire starter with the spine, and tossed some real nice sparks!
Chrome Vanadium tosses real nice sparks as does 1095 carbon steel - make a note of this.
While the fire was going, she make some hot dawg forks from branches, broke down some cardboard , cut twine, ski rope, 550 cord, leather (old football) and got used to the knife.
Hot dawg roast, and the Sodbuster Jr did a mighty nice job of spreading mustard , relish and other food prep one needs.
Some of the branches she had make a lean-to with, just a small one, for just doing, and this was later added to brush fire.
Now the edge was still sharp, all it needed was stropping, and using my jeans, on pants leg, it sharpened up nice enough for field use. I could have used my belt.
Now my recommendations are the Norton India Combo Sportsman stone, coarse/fine and it is just a smaller IB6 / IB8, at ~ 3"x1" inches.
With this stone, one can sharpen anything - period.
She also bought the Case Fine Hard stone, in the plastic box that is 2 7/8" x 1", This often times is all one needs to touch up a Case knife with CV, that needs something more than just a strop.
DRY Hones, I do not do oil and I do not do water.
Lessons continued with me showing her freehand sharpening with the Case Fine Hard stone.
Stone in weak hand, knife in strong hand and in a few minutes, sharper .
Since were still outside, just as one would be hiking, camping and such, I just stropped on blue jeans.
I did use the Norton small stone to sharpen an Old Hickory Utility knife, for lesson purposes, just as one might have to do afield or in an emergency situation.
Sodbuster Jr. She has used for everything from food prep, outdoors, around the house, in the garage, - for any task.
She is going to get another one or two, for emergency kit, and back ups for whatever situation may arise.
Back spring is strong, she knows the proper way to use a knife, still that spring is "that" resistant to closing.
She really likes the size, weight, how it pocket carries so well, and ease of care, and that edge and patina, she really really likes!
While she has a Norton IB6, she has gotten to only using the small Norton and Case stone for all sharpening jobs.
Portable, and easy to have when outdoors, down on the property, hiking, camping , canoing...anything.
Yellow, just proven to be easy to see and keep up with.
Case Sodbuster Jr., Yellow Handles, CV blades - Proven, and Highly Recommended!
Steve
Yellow Handle, Chrome Vanadium Blade.
Lady bought one after "someone" said she needed one.
Read : "She will take this one".
Purchased at a local mom and pop feed and seed store.
Fit and finish is great!
Everything lines up, finished out, and as it is supposed to be.
Walk-n-talk is superb!
Sharp out of the box, and the edge is congruent on both sides, from tang to tip.
This knife, often called a Clasp Knife pattern, fits her hands as it does most hands.
It fools people as to how it disappears in a pocket. Blue Jeans or dress casual, even a skirt, blazer, or jacket pocket.
Under magnification, the knife was inspected, and again, no flaws.
Now I don't normally use compound to strop, still the lady wanted to see and learn.
Semichrome by Happich is the best polish, I have used this all my life,as I was raised with this.
I applied a wee bit to the back of a legal pad that was going to be tossed.
Pulling spine back, it did not take long for that edge to have a mirror finish.
Final strop using a dab of Semichrome on newpaper, again, she wanted to see this done.
Knife was washed with Lemon Joy ( I like the lemon smell, and it matches the knife) and the blade was placed point down into a glass and Dr. Pepper was added just up to the tang.
Errands run, and about 3 hours later, this blade had a nice patina.
Now this patina includes the edge, so a few strokes on that newspaper and the edge was mirror polished.
Clean, a drop of Kleen-bore formula 3 gun oil on pivot, and a drop on a pipecleaner for inside handle wipe.
Quick review on how to open this knife safely with only one hand.
Blade is above handles and just pinch it.
She put on work gloves and practiced this a few times.
Now she is going to use this knife, and I suggested back pocket for what we were going to do next.
She understood why, as it is hard to get a knife out of a front jeans pocket with leather work gloves on.
*duh*
I showed her how to overcome that and to using the knife she went.
She cut some branches, some as big around as my thumb. Just using proper technique got a nice stack of branches.
She made fuzz sticks, shavings, and kindling.
Made a nice tee pee and with the blade closed, struck a magnesium fire starter with the spine, and tossed some real nice sparks!
Chrome Vanadium tosses real nice sparks as does 1095 carbon steel - make a note of this.
While the fire was going, she make some hot dawg forks from branches, broke down some cardboard , cut twine, ski rope, 550 cord, leather (old football) and got used to the knife.
Hot dawg roast, and the Sodbuster Jr did a mighty nice job of spreading mustard , relish and other food prep one needs.
Some of the branches she had make a lean-to with, just a small one, for just doing, and this was later added to brush fire.
Now the edge was still sharp, all it needed was stropping, and using my jeans, on pants leg, it sharpened up nice enough for field use. I could have used my belt.
Now my recommendations are the Norton India Combo Sportsman stone, coarse/fine and it is just a smaller IB6 / IB8, at ~ 3"x1" inches.
With this stone, one can sharpen anything - period.
She also bought the Case Fine Hard stone, in the plastic box that is 2 7/8" x 1", This often times is all one needs to touch up a Case knife with CV, that needs something more than just a strop.
DRY Hones, I do not do oil and I do not do water.
Lessons continued with me showing her freehand sharpening with the Case Fine Hard stone.
Stone in weak hand, knife in strong hand and in a few minutes, sharper .
Since were still outside, just as one would be hiking, camping and such, I just stropped on blue jeans.
I did use the Norton small stone to sharpen an Old Hickory Utility knife, for lesson purposes, just as one might have to do afield or in an emergency situation.
Sodbuster Jr. She has used for everything from food prep, outdoors, around the house, in the garage, - for any task.
She is going to get another one or two, for emergency kit, and back ups for whatever situation may arise.
Back spring is strong, she knows the proper way to use a knife, still that spring is "that" resistant to closing.
She really likes the size, weight, how it pocket carries so well, and ease of care, and that edge and patina, she really really likes!
While she has a Norton IB6, she has gotten to only using the small Norton and Case stone for all sharpening jobs.
Portable, and easy to have when outdoors, down on the property, hiking, camping , canoing...anything.
Yellow, just proven to be easy to see and keep up with.
Case Sodbuster Jr., Yellow Handles, CV blades - Proven, and Highly Recommended!
Steve
