Rough Edge EDC: Letting go of a grudge, taking plunge for new gear
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Psst! Come here. Yes, you. Yeah, you.
I got a secret. You better not tell.
I’ve had a longstanding grudge against Case Knives, dating back more than 50 years from when I was a kid. When I was 11 or 12, I saved up every penny from mowing lawns and returning pop bottles (soda for the uninitiated) and bought a Case knife.
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Boy, I was disappointed as only a 12-year-old boy full of big dreams can be when the world’s reality comes crashing in. The craftsmanship was lacking to say the least. I have used much harsher language when telling this story over the years, but alas, this is a family publication.
I have held a burning grudge against this American knife-making company ever since, like only someone of Irish descent can do. (Here’s a little joke: What is Irish Alzheimer’s? You forget everything but a grudge).
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Anyway, as I’ve gone down this EDC rabbit hole in the past year and a half, I have made friends far and wide across the country.
A couple of my YouTube content-creating friends are big on Case Knives. After seeing some of the knives they were showing off, I began to soften and thought, “It’s time for a little forgiveness” and I made the plunge.
So, I bought a Case knife.
This company dates back to 1889. Even after all these years, Case still has a reputation for uneven workmanship. If you get a good one, they are beautiful. But the bad ones, well, they don’t come close to being worth what you pay for them.
As my new friend at Baxter’s Blades likes to say, it’s the Case lottery. If you win, you get a great knife. If you lose, well, not so much.
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Anyway, I pulled the trigger and bought a Case Sod Buster Jr. from Shepherd Hills Cutlery, a Missouri-based knife retailer that specializes in Case. Shepherd Hills also have a great reputation for working with you if you get something you aren’t happy with.
My Case Sod Buster, which is a homage to a farmer’s or workman’s knife, arrived in the mail this week.
Have to admit: It is a beaut. It came with purple bone handles with barnboard jigging. The blade was centered nearly perfect (which can sometimes be an issue with Case) and its fit, finish and craftsmanship are gorgeous, just like Case fans point to when you get a good one.
There is a small line or scratch across the back spring, but it doesn’t extend into the bone handles. You really have to look for that imperfection.
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The blade action was a little stiff at first, but I gave it a soak in some soapy water (Dawn dishwashing soap) and gave it some mineral oil into the hinge area, and it has loosened up quite nicely.
The price tag was $49 on sale, including shipping. A Case Sod Buster with bone handles normally runs $60 to $70.
So it all added up to an excellent addition to my EDC rotation/collection. Right now, it might be the nicest knife in my collection.
But I’m still not sure I will be buying another Case. Even with the knife being on sale at Shepherd Hills, it is still pricier than my normal budget ($30ish).
But I am glad to let go of an old grudge and gain a nice new addition to my daily carry.
Here is link to learn more about Shepherd Hills Cutlery.
Here are some links to some useful YouTube channels that specialize in EDC gear and/or knives.
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