Buck Strider Solution -vs- Dozier Professional Guide's knife

Buck or Dozier?

  • Buck Strider Solution

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Dozier Professional Guide's knife

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
Michael_Aos

Michael_Aos

Joined
Jan 25, 2001
Messages
1,639
The Bk&T Utility 7 is just too big. I have my MoD Trident & Rinaldi TTKK for around camp, but need a large-ish knife for my gun belt when exploring.

The Buck seems like a no-brainer, but the Dozier is awfully nice for the same $$$.

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Dozier%20Pro-Guide%20hunter.jpg

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Michael,
First let me say that I admire your collection.
Of those two knives, there really is no contest, the Dozier is simply the better knife. Dozier's D2 is superb, his hollow grinds are awesome and the edge will be wicked.
The B/S will have a nice SOE sheath, but Dozier just does great kydex.
There has never been a bad word written about Bob Dozier or his work that I have read, and a Ton of great stuff.
You may also want to consider the Busse BA3 in that same size and price range or the Livesay Air assault in either D2 or 1095.

Chad
 
Thanks! I've gone through so many knives over the last couple of years, I have no IDEA how many I've actually had.

Thanks for the tip on The Busse. Looks like an ambi sheath -- big plus.

It's definitely under consideration.

Any thoughts on that "SnakeSkin Nukarta" stuff?

Mike
 
The Buck knife seems to have a nice useful design. But if you have a chance to get the Dozier for close to the same price, I'd agree it's mostly a no-brainer for the Dozier. My only concern about the Dozier might be the small front guard -- how concerned you are about that depends on what you're doing. But otherwise, having a blade from the guy who is reputed to do D-2 better than anyone else, would be pretty great. I'm sure Buck's ATS-34 and BG-42 are fine, but, we're talking about Dozier D-2 here. Dozier's handles are incredibly comfortable, I've found Striders boxy and uncomfortable for me.

Joe
 
Having never handled either knife in question, take what I say with a grain of salt:

I'd take the Dozier. I find it hard to imagine that (even with the Strider name on it) the folder is going to outperform the fixed blade. I also find it hard to imagine that the Buck/Strider will be up to the quality of the Dozier.

That said, I'm guessing you'll have no cause for complaint with either of those knives.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Any thoughts on that "SnakeSkin Nukarta" stuff?"

I have a Busse knife with a "SnakeSkin Nukarta" handle. The material is regular canvas micarta, with the different layers of the micarta in different colors (camouflage colors). Jerry Busse finishes them in a way that really brings out the colors and patterns. It's beautiful.

It offers no utility advantage whatsoever.

Only you can decide whether the aesthetics make it worth the extra thirty or so dollars.
 
The choice here seems obvious - Dozier is clearly my pick (I actually own 2 of the pro guides).

A more comparable choice would be the Livesay as mentioned above. The Air Assualt is a darn good knife that just doesn't get enough press.
 
I haven't handled these knives either, but if I could afford either one, I would buy the Dozier first. I don't think you would go wrong with either one.

I have a couple of Newt Livesay's smaller knives. They are probably the best (although not the most expensive) knives I currently own.

My $.02 :)

Dan
 
This is really easy. The Dozier, of course.
My better half doesn't know it yet, but when we get to the Guild Show, I'm bee-lining it to Dozier's table and getting one of those puppies!:D

I have a large Elk Skinner and a Dozier kit knife(small drop point hunter from Masecraft) and the D-2 on his knives just flat out ROCKS!
 
Evolute - talking fixed blade buck/strider here.

I have one in BG-42 and it rocks. Just remember that it is a 1/5 of an inch of steel. But it comes with a great edge, and with the Paul Bos directed heat treat, is still very good.
 
They both look like fine knives but for different cutting chores. The buck looks more like a hard use on any kind of material and the Dozier looks more like a knife you would use on a game or for finer cutting, hence the name Guide---Hunting guide I assume. I wouldnt feel so bad opening a can of beans with the Buck but I couldnt bring myself to sully the Dozier that way. Also for hard pushing use the Buck looks like it will give you better purchase while I can see my hand slipping onto the edge with the Dozier during such activities. As a collecter I say Dozier, as a camper I say Buck.
 
Michael,

It looks like the last knife you added is a Ka-Bar D2 Extreme. I have one of those. It is a well executed knife at its pricepoint but, I like a more traditional grip. The whole grip area is very round with part by the guard being very small and swelling back into your palm.

I certainly like a palm swell but, not to this extreme and not in a totally circular format.

I should also note, that the Newt Livesay knife (as pictured) has one of the most comfortable hard use grips I have personally thrashed. It certainly isn't the only good grip I have used but, I picked my knife up second hand because I just wasn't worth the price to me at retail at the time. That knife has taught me a new respect for good ole' 1095, proper heat treat and, great execution. Newt's sheaths still seem a little rough/crude but, they are certainly functional, durable and, appropriate for the primary intended consumer/market. In all fairness, I have gotten spoiled by the excellant sheaths made by custom knifemakers and/or their sheath makers and highly levels of fit and finish they provide.

If you want something to bash in the woods - Newt Livesay. If you want something that will perform better at more delicated cutting chores - Dozier. One is more of a hard use military support knife, the other is a hunting and camping knife. Both will perform well in the other role but, that is not what they were originally designed for.
 
I haven't handled all the knives in question, but from the pics, Sid's analysis seems right on to me. I love that Simonich chute knife; it looks like more a competitor to the Livesay than to the Dozier.

Joe
 
Well, I own a Air Assault, and have handled Hoodoo's Dozier PGK. The PGK is an incredible knife. As much as I like the AA, the Dozier is simply a better knife, it has a much more acute edge, the handles are equally good (which is saying something as the AA has an excellent handle design). The Dozier hollow grind is just deeper, the edge more acute. The AA may be more robust, but the Dozier is gonna slice and cut better.
For a one knife scenario, I don't think you could do much better than the Dozier PGK, it is on my short list as well.

Chad
 
I'm not sure that a Buck / Dozier compare is apples to apples.

The Buck (and many of .the other chioce's you've shown) are
knives / pry bar in design intent. As such the knife will do neither
function exceptionally well. The Dozier ,on the other hand, is an
excellent cutting tool for the experianced woodsman. (they seldom
need to pry)

For my money the Dozier would win hands down as field cutting
tool. For anything else I'd pick something more disposable.

For the money a Buck Nighthawk is hard to beat for a do anything
field knife.
 
Ahhhh! I see you've sweetened the pot since yesterday. I have the Kabar D-2 Extreme and it is a very nice cutter for the price, but that handle definately needs a bit of getting used to. It's workable, but Sid Post's comments on it in the above post have a ring of truth to them.
The good thing about the knife is the handles appear to be removable. When I get the urge, I'll probably switch them out.
 
I'm a big Buck fan, but the nod goes to Dozier. I've got a lot of knives, and my Dozier is about the most efficient cutter of the bunch. Bob puts a VERY deep hollow grind on his blades. He doesn't build folding prybars, but instead makes knives that cut and cut and cut and cut........ Mr. Dozier's handles are also just about the most comfortable I've come across.

My only remotely significant dislike on my Dozier concerns the vertical sheath. It just rides a tad too high on my blue jeans. It's fine with kakis, but too high on blue jeans. Other than that, the knife is pretty close to perfect.

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PS - I just love a reason to post a picture of my Dozier. ;)

Let's all kick in and chant the magical words of knifedom!!!! Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier.... Dozier....
 
If you will be doing a lot of cutting, get the Dozier. I have owned several Doziers and they cut like no other.

If you will be doing a lot of prying/abusing the knife, get the Buck/Strider. I have one and it is a really nice knife for the money.

I also own a WKC Air Assault. It has a very comfortable handle and good edge geometry. The Dozier out-cuts it though.
 
DOZIER DOZIER DOZIER!!!
I too will chime in with the Dozier crowd. I own two, and they are far and above the best cutters I have. I do not have the professional guide model, but I know that it will cut anything you need to. In fact, I have my Dozier straight personal in my pocket right now.(and I AM happy to see you too;) ) I cannot imagine life without a Dozier knife.
So, do the right thing.....


Mongo
 
Perhaps preaching to the choir, but I'll have to say the Dozier.
Just my thought- the handle ergos on the Buck/Strider are somehow "bitier", that is, they stick in the hand- the G-10 & the edginess of the handle really grab. The Dozier handle ergos are a bit "kinder" if that makes any sense. If I had to do extended work (game cleaning, etc) I would want the Dozier. I've handled both knives (the Strider version of the B/S anyway) & I understand & appreciate Strider's approach to handle ergos: A knife that stays in your hand. That being said, I own a Livesay Air Assault & it's a super outdoor knife. Beat the poop out of it & not feel bad about it.
 
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