Are 3 fingers enough for a bushcraft knife handle?

115Italian said:
Tops MSK ( mini scandi knife). Ive been messing around with this little guy. Great for fine detailed work.
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haha I just went to Smokey Mountain Knife Works yesterday and picked one of these up to try it. It looks like an amazing little knife and I'm excited. I also bought a Bark River mini bushcrafter and expecting it later this week. Plan to try those two and a fixed blade larger one in the 7" range and see what I like best. It seems like it's about 50/50 with regards to preference on here.

22-rimfire said:
They make a nice knife. Generally D2 is used. I have a Personal (sheepsfoot blade desgin) in CPM154. Look at the Canoe model and the Personals. The Canoe model is the smallest of the Dozier models I believe but I don't really look at the "urban" defense oriented models. I have a couple Personals. Generally speaking they have about a 4" handle and 2.5-3" blade. They vary of course and they make an excellent EDC type fixed blade that you don't want to broadcast "knife" but remain highly functional. They come with a very well made kydex belt sheath that clips versus running your belt through the loop type. Great for cross draw carry and easy to slip onto the belt.
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Will look into these thanks!
 
MisterZ said:
A quick and admittedly crappy couple of shots to illustrate some of the smaller working knives from Dozier from the top:
K- 12 Small Game Skinner
K-20 Canoe
K-13 Whittler
K-31 Arkansas Traveler
View attachment 995517
In my experience the shorter handles (the "sub-compacts" from the Dozier shop and others ) don't provide enough to hang on to. I am a fan of having a larger knife for bigger chores and a smaller knife for detail work. For me the extra inch of handle is unnoticed when carrying but really makes a significant difference in use. All of these provide a full 4 finger grip.
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Great advice thanks! So how much for the canoe or whittler? =)
 
letsurf said:
Great advice thanks! So how much for the canoe or whittler? =)
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The basic models (D-2, black micarta scales and alloy pins/lanyard tube) run around $225 - $250. Custom options drive up the price but they stay pretty reasonable.

The hard part is finding them. Limited production and high demand means you have to look hard at the secondary market and auction sites and jump quick if you find what you want. A.G. Russell usually has a few models in stock. An order placed directly with the Dozier shop currently has a thee year wait for delivery.
 
Even delica has room for all your fingers...
As knife digs into the cutting medium a lever is observed with two forces (arrow up) into the cutting edge, (arrow down) the handle is being pushed into your fingers. The pivot point is the web of your hand.
We have 4 fingers and it's easier when you recruit the help of all them to work that lever.
Don't grab the short end of the stick.
Anything with 3 fingers should sport a lanyard imo
 
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MisterZ said:
The basic models (D-2, black micarta scales and alloy pins/lanyard tube) run around $225 - $250. Custom options drive up the price but they stay pretty reasonable.

The hard part is finding them. Limited production and high demand means you have to look hard at the secondary market and auction sites and jump quick if you find what you want. A.G. Russell usually has a few models in stock. An order placed directly with the Dozier shop currently has a thee year wait for delivery.
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Holy smokes! I was asking how much you wanted to sell urs for ;)
 
I'm gonna hang on to 'em ;)

I did just look and A.G. has Canoes in stock. Just sayin :D
 
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I think you would be pleased with a Canoe model for your purposes. Some wear them as neck knives, but that mode of carry is not high on my list except when I am in a kayak or canoe. I call Bob Dozier's handmade knives "working man" knives as they are not extremely expensive. In recent years you have a lot of folks making small fixed blades that aren't real expensive.
 
I haven't read through the thread yet, but for me, I don't generally like fixed blades I can't get a full four-finger grip on. I was brought up old school. Having a live edge on something that might get away from you if you had wet hands or something like that is a straight no thanks for me. Getting a hand injury out in the green is definitely not a situation I want to find myself in. So, for detailed wood-carving, I tend to use a folding pocket-knife and relegate my fixed blades to wood processing and food preparation. It works for me.
 
So I purchased a Bark River Mini Bushcrafter which allows 3 fingers and it felt awkward. I decided to sell it. I think I'll stick to a 4 finger handle with 2.5" blade around 6.5-7" overall.
 
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