Finch Knife Co., makers of modern takes on traditional patterns, turned to the time-tested sodbuster pattern for their latest model, the Chernobyl Ant. Named after a fly fishing lure, the Chernobyl Ant alters the blade shape, and adds a liner lock and flipper deployment to the sodbuster format.
One of the most popular single blade traditional patterns, the sodbuster’s history goes back at least a couple hundred years, but it really came into its own with the Case Sodbuster and Sodbuster Jr. models, which are still available to this day. Designed as a daily carry working knife, the sodbuster knife is distinguished as much by its lack of standout features as anything else; but somehow its bullnose-style blade and bowed handle combined to make an enduring, always-useful classic.
Finch talked to us in November ’21, telling us about their commitment to fresh takes on traditional knives, as well as their intent to build their brand around a core lineup of flipper models. The Chernobyl Ant checks both boxes, and in terms of its relation to the classic sodbusters, it falls right in line size-wise, with a 3-inch blade. However, the bullnose blade shape has been revised into a more conventional drop point – a bit narrower, but with a similar overall edge geometry when it comes to how it will approach cutting chores. The flipper is present and accounted for, and the blade steel is 14C28N, a solid budget-friendly performer.
The Chernobyl Ant’s blade may differ a bit from traditional sodbusters, but the handle certainly does not; if you’ve ever used one before you’ll be familiar with this arching, unadorned shape. There are steel liners beneath the scales, the off-side one housing the locking liner leaf. The scales are made from three different synthetic materials: G-10, Micarta, or a glow in the dark resin. In another nod to traditional knife construction the G-10 model sports some jigging. All three knives have the same sculpted steel clip and a listed weight of 2.6 oz.
Knife in Featured Image: Finch Knife Co. Chernobyl Ant
