Bob Dozier Knives?

[extrastout]

I have the KS-3 Dozier with the wilderness on the way, it will be here this summer.
My thoughts~ If I had only one knife, it would probably the the Pro Guide Knife (KS-3) I have had that knife in on a lot of animals, gutting, skinning, breaking the briskets, boning and cutting meat. It preforms amazingly! Bob's legendary D2 and his heat treating is untouched by anyone else. The blade will hold an edge over any other knife. I also use the knife as a survival knife, I can baton it through wood to make kindling, or to build a shelter. This is a high carbon, high chrome knife, it is almost stainless, but not quiet. So it does need to be cleaned after use to ensure it will last generations.
A friend of mine has the Wilderness knife already, it is one heck of a knife. You don't need to baton it, it will cut like an axe.
You will not go wrong with these knives. I currently have 3 on order and will be placing an order in another couple of days for one more. The Arkansas Traveler which is a great EDC.
There are many options to choose from, if you want any more advise on which knife to choose, let me know, I am happy to help. I have a few! Depending on your uses, I may suggest the K-19 Pro Skinner or the K-16 Yukon Skinner. Both are great. If you are looking for a hunting knife, the Wilderness is not a hunting knife in the fact that it isn't designed for use on animals unless you have to. The S in the KS-3 stands for Survival, but it is designed to be the one knife you pack into back country if your hunting deer/elk and that one knife will do everything.

Listen to Oregon....I think this guy might know what he's talking about ^^^^

 

[extrastout]

You can score a lot of knives on Bob Doziers website at cost, in featured inventory section throughout the week. I had and loved the grind and feel of my Buffalo River hunter, but didn't want to deal with buying diamond stones for sharpening 1 knife. Thats the only reason I returned the knife. I'm a water stone guy

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't see that model on the Dozier website. I'm not a big guy so for EDC I'd need something like the Whittler or Personal, no bigger. Those horizontal sheaths tend to stick out on me. But for outdoors I like bigger and the KS-7 is awesome, damn near perfect, but I still am interested in trying the KS-3. I also plan to order a Murray Carter camp knife of the same size. I can never have just one...

Thought you said it isn't a good slicer and wasn't impressed with it? I have a KS-7 (Wilderness Knife) that I bought at Blade a number of years ago at their tables. It IS meant to be a do all knife in the woods with thicker steel (0.2") and withstand some abuse. I would prefer a sharper point (sabre shape). That's why I got the Pro Guides Knife (KS-3). It is my go to woods knife.

MisterZ, those C-tek handles are really sharp looking and very durable. Not familiar with "vintage knives".

I tried to edc the KS-3 and was a bit uncomfortable with that. My go to edc type fixed blades are the Dozier Canoe, K-6 Companion, and a wharncliffe/sheepsfoot Personal that is a little smaller (blade wise) than the current K-32. This one is done in CPM 154

 

[MisterZ]

22-rimfire - thanks for the kind words.

Billy Cochrane owned and operated Vintage Knives for almost 20 years and was one of the few dealers who maintained a semi-regular inventory of Arkansas Made Doziers. Sadly he just recently closed up his shop to pursue other opportunities. Billy is a great guy and I will miss the opportunity to chase after new Doziers with him.

I agree with the choice of the Companion for EDC, it was one of the first Dozier knives I purchased years ago and it remains in my fixed blade EDC rotation after a LOT of experimentation with other knives. For anyone considering a Dozier the Companion's combination of blade length, handle shape and horizontal Kydex sheath make for a very functional EDC package that you forget you are wearing:



I have carried many different Dozier patterns and along with the K-6 I favor the models that have an OAL of 7" like the Arkansas Traveler and Whittler. To me these models have enough length to be functional yet carry easily:





Any of Bob and Daniel's knives are good choices though and it comes down to personal preference.

That said, I also prefer the K-2 General Purpose over the Pro Guide. Not that there's anything wrong with the Pro Guide, there is just something about the K-2 that becomes an extension of my hand and I know exactly where every inch of it is when working inside an animal. I took a K-2 (D2 with bead blasted Micarta and stainless furniture) and a Whittler (D2 and shop standard black Micarta/alloy hardware) on a Kodiak bear hunt a couple of years ago and these two knives saw work doing the skinning chores on a big boar. The K-2 did the hide removal and separated the head and feet for the pack back to camp, the Whittler did all the detail work on the feet and head. Both could still shave hair when done.



One thing for sure, Bob and Daniel's knives are like potato chips - its real hard to have just one.

Z

 

[22-rimfire]

22-rimfire - thanks for the kind words.

Billy Cochrane owned and operated Vintage Knives for almost 20 years and was one of the few dealers who maintained a semi-regular inventory of Arkansas Made Doziers. Sadly he just recently closed up his shop to pursue other opportunities. Billy is a great guy and I will miss the opportunity to chase after new Doziers with him.

I agree with the choice of the Companion for EDC, it was one of the first Dozier knives I purchased years ago and it remains in my fixed blade EDC rotation after a LOT of experimentation with other knives. For anyone considering a Dozier the Companion's combination of blade length, handle shape and horizontal Kydex sheath make for a very functional EDC package that you forget you are wearing:

View attachment 821663

I have carried many different Dozier patterns and along with the K-6 I favor the models that have an OAL of 7" like the Arkansas Traveler and Whittler. To me these models have enough length to be functional yet carry easily:

View attachment 821664

View attachment 821665

Any of Bob and Daniel's knives are good choices though and it comes down to personal preference.

That said, I also prefer the K-2 General Purpose over the Pro Guide. Not that there's anything wrong with the Pro Guide, there is just something about the K-2 that becomes an extension of my hand and I know exactly where every inch of it is when working inside an animal. I took a K-2 (D2 with bead blasted Micarta and stainless furniture) and a Whittler (D2 and shop standard black Micarta/alloy hardware) on a Kodiak bear hunt a couple of years ago and these two knives saw work doing the skinning chores on a big boar. The K-2 did the hide removal and separated the head and feet for the pack back to camp, the Whittler did all the detail work on the feet and head. Both could still shave hair when done.

View attachment 821668

One thing for sure, Bob and Daniel's knives are like potato chips - its real hard to have just one.

Z

It is very hard to only own one Dozier fixed blade. I have six now. I love the K-6 companion in Stag. Mine has yellow rosewood burl handles and is real purty. The first Dozier I purchased was a K-4 straight hunter. It works well for that purpose. I agree that the Pro Guide's knife might be a tad long for hunting chores unless it is your do it all knife and you make do. Frankly, the K-20 Canoe can do it all as far as regular carry and hunting chores. I've had my Canoe model for about 10 years now. I generally bought "something" from Bob just about every Blade Show that I attended once I discovered Bob Dozier knives. The first was in 2006. Most of my early ones are Desert Ironwood.

 

[MisterZ]

Found a Canoe on the Bay this past week. What a great pattern.

Wasn't my intention, but I'm getting closer to meeting Failbot's request for a side by side picture...



Z