I don't own either, yet, but I just got accepted for the test team Regulator model, so I will have this soon. I am kind of torn on recommending one versus the other. I think that the masses have spoken about the chopping of the SOD, but the Regulator will be no slouch on this front, and will have some piercing versatility to its advantage. Both would be well suited around a camp, I think, and perform beyond most of our typical needs. If you want a knife to work over lumber, it would be the SOD. If you are taking survivability to more of an extreme, and want a knife to dig into a tree, skin or process game etc. and also process wood well, the Regulator would be the one that would shine.

Hi all,
New to the forum and Scrap Yard Knives. Have some Randall, Reeve, couple other handmades. Currently using a Ontario RAT-7 but want to get a couple SOD's for backpacking/camping after seeing SYK reviews on knifetests.com Don't see how to order them - nothing on the order page - so sent mail to Patti. What is the process? These look like what I need. Thanks, JD

Welcome to the Yard JavaDog. You will probably have to goto the Secondary market to find a SOD. You can try ebay or BladeForums.

x2 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to the yard Javadog. Sods are currently only available on the secondary narket!!

Reading this thread it seemed people were still ordering them. Was that on the seondary market? Why don't they put a note on the list of knives saying which are currently available? Very confusing process.

So, where is the best secondary market? Don't want to pay a fortune for a using knife that we're (my son and I) are going to put to the test, i.e., beat the crap out of during our trips.

Blade Forums is the best as well as the bay. Confusing process when you start out but it gets easier to understand.

J/d - Howdy and Welcome to the Scrap Yard! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to the yard JavaDog - I agree, with all three Busse family companies, it can be a bit confusing to figure out how to actually BUY the things. My one complaint when I came around here was that the business model wasn't explained clearly on the website - having to read forum threads to figure out how to buy a knife is kind of a pain in the butt. Once you DO figure out how to buy these things, though, you will see it's well worth the initial hassle!


Lucky for you, right now it's very much a buyer's market - there are LOTS AND LOTS of knives being sold on the bladeforums exchange, so there is a ton of stuff available. Your best bet is to check the exchange at least twice a day, and you can snag some really good deals on some really nice steel.


http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=804

Very crazy process. So, I see an announcement that Regulators have shipped. I guess from reading the forum that this is the Test Team run? Can't tell otherwise. Not terribly fond of a bowie for my needs, but that Regulator sure looks nice! Too afraid of breaking the tip when prying, which I've done before. Will a production Regulator be offered and if so does an announcement go up, and email sent to members, or it just gets listed on the order form one day? Impossible to watch this forum constantly (too many forums, too little time) though there is some good reading here for sure.

In fact, I've been selling off all my collector knives, because it is just such a waste to have good knives sitting around not being used. I'd get a busse, but have a hard time justifying that kind of money except for a safe queen. Kind of like the guy who drives up to a car show towing a trailer to unload his pristine vintage pony car that never gets driven. What a waste. Some things are just meant to be used!

SOD looks like a real winner and should be a standard item if there ever was one. Checking Bladeforums, but doubt I'll be paying scalper prices. No need. My Rat-7 serves well, though some days I wish it were slightly longer and better steel. The 1095 is good for chopping but edge retention lacks. The D2 stays sharp but is too brittle for abuse.

The 10 inch blades (Mistress, Dog Father) would be great for chopping but impractical for carry. Just too big. My ideal backwoods carry chopper and all around everything is a meaty slight drop point with 7 1/2-8 inch blade. That with a Leatherman Wave, and what more do you need? I see that SYK doesn't like an exposed tang through the handle, but they are GREAT for banging and punching without doing damage to the blade tip. Something to reconsider for a working knife. Maybe a "Working Dog" in the making?

Wow, sorry for the brain dump. Got to run...

Later amigos!

While prying with the tip of most knives can be risky, I really wouldn't worry too much about breaking the Regulator Bowie tip.