Bob Dozier VS Ontario RAT 1 folders

i have the dozier folding hunter, love it, it has been in my pocket for about 2 months now as my work knife. i work with alot of chemicals so there is not much on this knife that can be ruined, unlike my benchmades or sebenza. can't speak on the rat except that i almost bought one as well but a little too big for my taste,have heard nothing but good things about it though. can't go wrong with that dozier for fit and finish for the price. i would put it up there with a spyderco delica, but most would disagree. not bashing spydy, just complimenting ka-bar. hoped this helped
 
My girlfriend has one of those pink Ka-Bar Dozier folders with the spyderco hole, and it's freakin' awesome. Whenever I see it sticking out of her pocket I always have to grab it and play with it. I might get one for myself... very solid build, decent steel, comfortable design. I would definitely recommend it.
 
Here's another vote for the Dozier. I gave one away (that I liked a ton) and replaced it within a week with the folding hunter. Cut up some inner tubes last night to make ranger bands and it still shaves.

That's one heck of a folder for the price.
 
My vote goes to the RAT 1. Quality made, feels good in the hand, easy on the wallet (not that the dozier isnt)
 
No personal experience with the Dozier, although I have never read a bad remark about the knife.

However, I have been beating the snot out of my RAT 1 as my EDC for my construction job for just a little less than a year. Still remarkably tight, sturdy, and a great design for heavier work. The steel is a bit softer than I am used to (love good D2), but the nice thing is a couple of licks on the diamond rod - about a minute a week - keeps it in fine form.

Robert
 
Thanks for the input guys - I did a lot of surfing about these 2 knives last night...and then I came across the Joe Pardue Utilitac II - now I can't make up my darn mind (if I had the spare cash laying around, heck I'd buy all 3 - LOL).
 
Bob Dozier. He makes a great folder.


If your talking about a production knife with his name on then I'm not sure which I would pick, never had one. I've had 2 Rat 1's, and liked the older ones. Picked up one of the newer ones and gave it away.
 
I just bought both recently and you can't go wrong with either. My only regret is that I waited so long.
If you can only afford one right now it's gonna depend on whether you want a bigger knife or smaller/medium one. KaBar does make a larger (3.66") Dozier but it has the lock release at the end of the handle like the Buck 110 which I don't like. Although given the quality at the price I plan on trying it soon.
So if you want smaller get the Dozier which has several options on oval or thumb stud openers, colors, blade shapes. My only real complaint is they only have certain color handles with the black spray painted blade.
It you want bigger, which it sounds like you do since your entertaining the thought of buying the Utilitac, then get the RAT 1, you won't regret it, it really is amazing how much knife you can get for $26.95 or less. The kooks on the forum who rave on and on about these knives were right. (I have a couple of Mora's on the way too :p)
 
Good input guys - and you're right Gollum, I like a beefier knife, both blade and overall, so I've been looking at that Large Dozier real serious like.
 
I've got the large Dozier folding hunter with the thumb hole blade. It's a nice knife for the money. I do wish that it had steel liners instead of just the zytel handle scales though. It's got a bit of flex in the handle if you put a good amount of lateral pressure on the blade. Blade it pretty thick too, it's about twice as thick as the blade on my Mora Clipper's.
 
The biggest reason I'm looking at these - the price. My biggest concern with the expensive knives is losing them, any of these not-so-much.
 
Halfbreedinkc said:
The biggest reason I'm looking at these - the price. My biggest concern with the expensive knives is losing them, any of these not-so-much.
Click to expand...

Then go with the Dozier because you can get it with a blaze orange handle. Bright yellow or blaze orange reduces the chance of losing a knife.

I have both a KaBar Dozier with the thumbhole and an Ontario Rat-1 with nothing bad to say about either. However, they fill vastly different niches. The Rat-1 is much beefier, much heavier, and barely qualifies as a pocket knife. I pull mine out when I have heavy work to do, but the Dozier is better suited to my normal needs. Your needs may differ.
 
I have the Ka-Bar Dozier folder with the thumb hole and orange handles and it is my current favorite for EDC. It is a great knife.

I don't have the RAT-1, but based on all the positive feedback it receives it will most likely be my next purchase.

I think it is a matter of buy one today and the other the next time. A win-win situation.
 
I'm going to Tenn. this weekend & I'll be stopping by Smokey Mountian Knife Works...I'm gonna check out the RAT-1 myself:p Last time I was there I looked at 'em & ended up bringing home a Buck/Strider 889SBMF :rolleyes: & a Kershaw/ZT0350 :D
 
I owned both til a couple weeks ago when I traded the Dozier off....I won't let go of the Rat-1 however.....it just felt like more knife in my hand.
 
I'm as poor as anybody but I think a good idea with these knives would be to purchase both of them - use them lightly for a couple days, fondle them, get a good feeling of how they are in hand, in pocket, etc. After that give the one you least like to a friend or family member as a gift, it will still be a great, serviceable knife.

I think this is win, win for only $20 extra out of the piggy bank. You will know without a doubt that you have the one you prefer and give a nice gift to the friend/family member.

Good luck with your decision
 
Well guys, I popped for the Rat-1...and will probably pick up the Dozier on the NEXT paycheck, LOL!

Found a really good price on the Rat;

http://buymilspec.com/okc-8848.html

Spoke with Steve there at Mil-spec, heckuva nice guy. Knowledgeable, friendly, informative and great prices (S/H might be high to some, fyi), so I went ahead and pulled the trigger. Probably gonna buy the Utilitac II from him when he gets them back in as well.

Thanks everyone for your input, it really did help me make the decision.
 
Well, received my Rat-1 today. I'm impressed. Good quality and stout, a heavy knife that looks able to withstand some abuse...think I'm sold on Ontario/RAT knives.
 
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