- Joined
- Oct 23, 2011
- Messages
- 199
This is the knife I got:
I apologize for no actual photos, my camera is on the fritz. I will post some ASAP.
I paid 17.70
The KABAR Dozier is a line of folders which were apparently designed by a guy named Bob Dozier. To be honest, I was expecting a bigger knife. This little guy is only about 4'' closed, and the blade is about 3''. This is a lockback knife and so it's very tight when when locked up. Comparing it with the only other lockback knife I have, the Cold Steel Lawman, I can say that the pressure require to unlock this little knive is much less than the Cold Steel Lawman. You can actually close this with one hand and not be worried that it's gonna come down on your fingers. I'm a huge fan of lockback knives, I like the tight lockup that it provides and it's never let me down before. I have had liner-lock knives get loose on me after 6-months, but never a lockback knife. That's just my personal experience though.
It's made of AUS8 japanese steel, which I've had a lot of luck with. I have no complaints with the metal used. Just like the Cold Steel Lawman though, there are no liners in this knife. It's just made of kraton... and this is probably the best AND worst aspect of this knife. The kraton scales mean that the knife is EXTREMELY light in the hand. Holding the Cold Steel Lawman and this next to eachother, you realize the weight difference immediately. Unfortunately, the KABAR Dozier feels rather cheap. When it's open, the handle feels hollow (because it is) - It's my own personal preference, but I like even a small pocket knife to feel like it has to weight to it.
The clip is, just like every knife I've ever owned except the KABAR Gila, entirely too tight and needs to be broken in. It just baffles me that they make these clips so tight. That's no real surprise to me though. This thing is so small and light that I could see just throwing it into your pocket and not worrying about it. The deployment hole in the blade is just fine, you can flick the knife open very quickly and it doesn't tear up your thumbs like a stud. I like the fact that the blade is not teflon-ized or blade, so after heavy use it's not going to chip off and look crappy.
Despite feeling a little cheap (What can you expect for 18 bucks?) this knife is very solid. It was hair-shaving sharp out of the box, and I've been using it for day to day stuff... opening boxes, etc. There is no blade play, and despite my the lightness of the kraton handles, they do not flex. They are solid... they just FEEL really light. I almost wish this thing had some steel liners just to add the impression of some weight in your hand, but I'm sure that would bump the cost well over 18 bucks.
What do I think this knife is best suited for? Everyday stuff. It's small enough so that you can carry it in your pocket, and light enough that you won't notice. The blade is razor sharp, and the AUS8 holds an edge pretty well. I could see throwing this into a tacklebox for fishing, or just an everyday pocketknife. The design is not really threatening, and it's so small that you could probably use this in the workplace (I used to work at a shipping place opening boxes) without customers on the floor freaking out. (The same probably can't be said for the larger Cold Steel Lawman)
Overall I would definitely buy more of these for my friends. They're cheap, they're VERY solid... I like the design, and other than feeling really light in the hand I don't have any real complaints with them. Mine came absolutely hair shaving sharp out of the box, which I've come to expect from KABAR folders. It's a very useful and the price point means you won't cringe when you have to actually use it. I'm sure the blade will need sharpening soon, but so far it's been performing really well. Ultimately, I think it's always a good idea to have a smaller knife to choose when you don't necessarily need to carry something big. If I'm working or out taking a walk, I'd just as soon throw this into my pocket than the larger Cold Steel. However let me be honest - the Cold Steel design feels much more expensive than this KABAR Dozier. They both are really tight, but there is a noticeable difference between a 20 dollar knife and a 50 dollar knife. That's just the name of the game. I'm always looking for high-value knives, and the KABAR Dozier is really high-value. I was surprised at how good it was.
Anyway, lemme know what you think of this knife (If anyone else has it) - It's growing on me more and more everyday.
I apologize for no actual photos, my camera is on the fritz. I will post some ASAP.
I paid 17.70
The KABAR Dozier is a line of folders which were apparently designed by a guy named Bob Dozier. To be honest, I was expecting a bigger knife. This little guy is only about 4'' closed, and the blade is about 3''. This is a lockback knife and so it's very tight when when locked up. Comparing it with the only other lockback knife I have, the Cold Steel Lawman, I can say that the pressure require to unlock this little knive is much less than the Cold Steel Lawman. You can actually close this with one hand and not be worried that it's gonna come down on your fingers. I'm a huge fan of lockback knives, I like the tight lockup that it provides and it's never let me down before. I have had liner-lock knives get loose on me after 6-months, but never a lockback knife. That's just my personal experience though.
It's made of AUS8 japanese steel, which I've had a lot of luck with. I have no complaints with the metal used. Just like the Cold Steel Lawman though, there are no liners in this knife. It's just made of kraton... and this is probably the best AND worst aspect of this knife. The kraton scales mean that the knife is EXTREMELY light in the hand. Holding the Cold Steel Lawman and this next to eachother, you realize the weight difference immediately. Unfortunately, the KABAR Dozier feels rather cheap. When it's open, the handle feels hollow (because it is) - It's my own personal preference, but I like even a small pocket knife to feel like it has to weight to it.
The clip is, just like every knife I've ever owned except the KABAR Gila, entirely too tight and needs to be broken in. It just baffles me that they make these clips so tight. That's no real surprise to me though. This thing is so small and light that I could see just throwing it into your pocket and not worrying about it. The deployment hole in the blade is just fine, you can flick the knife open very quickly and it doesn't tear up your thumbs like a stud. I like the fact that the blade is not teflon-ized or blade, so after heavy use it's not going to chip off and look crappy.
Despite feeling a little cheap (What can you expect for 18 bucks?) this knife is very solid. It was hair-shaving sharp out of the box, and I've been using it for day to day stuff... opening boxes, etc. There is no blade play, and despite my the lightness of the kraton handles, they do not flex. They are solid... they just FEEL really light. I almost wish this thing had some steel liners just to add the impression of some weight in your hand, but I'm sure that would bump the cost well over 18 bucks.
What do I think this knife is best suited for? Everyday stuff. It's small enough so that you can carry it in your pocket, and light enough that you won't notice. The blade is razor sharp, and the AUS8 holds an edge pretty well. I could see throwing this into a tacklebox for fishing, or just an everyday pocketknife. The design is not really threatening, and it's so small that you could probably use this in the workplace (I used to work at a shipping place opening boxes) without customers on the floor freaking out. (The same probably can't be said for the larger Cold Steel Lawman)
Overall I would definitely buy more of these for my friends. They're cheap, they're VERY solid... I like the design, and other than feeling really light in the hand I don't have any real complaints with them. Mine came absolutely hair shaving sharp out of the box, which I've come to expect from KABAR folders. It's a very useful and the price point means you won't cringe when you have to actually use it. I'm sure the blade will need sharpening soon, but so far it's been performing really well. Ultimately, I think it's always a good idea to have a smaller knife to choose when you don't necessarily need to carry something big. If I'm working or out taking a walk, I'd just as soon throw this into my pocket than the larger Cold Steel. However let me be honest - the Cold Steel design feels much more expensive than this KABAR Dozier. They both are really tight, but there is a noticeable difference between a 20 dollar knife and a 50 dollar knife. That's just the name of the game. I'm always looking for high-value knives, and the KABAR Dozier is really high-value. I was surprised at how good it was.
Anyway, lemme know what you think of this knife (If anyone else has it) - It's growing on me more and more everyday.
