Dodo blade shape

D

daverave999

Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
231
Having been playing with my new black handled Dodo for a few weeks now, it occurred to me that a different blade shape may work for this knife. Something like a dragonfly blade. Anybody else thought this?
 
Of course. Many knives are variants of others, with a different blade or handle.

But the DoDo handle is specifically made for the kind of grip that enables us to pull down with that short hooked blade. Imagine a long tapered stick of a handle, like some kitchen knife -- it wouldn't work as well. Then imagine a chopping blade on the DoDo handle -- why bother with all that fore-and-aft grip strength when what you really need is a padded backstrap.

So it's a well-designed whole. A short slicing blade would be a good variant, though.
 
I think that the Dodo handle would be great with either a wharncliffe or a hawksbill blade. I love the Dodo, but don't find the short "belly" section all that useful.

Thom
 
The Dodo is a unique and special one-time design triumph. That is why it won an award. Dont mess with perfection. No deviant "variants" of the Dodo -do something new and different with your ideas.
 
For me, the only way the Dodo could possibly be improved upon would be the addition of a lanyard hole, and thats no big deal.
If I wanted a different blade, I'd carry a different knife :)
 
Well, I don't see how offering the Dodo with another blade shape takes anything away from the original. If anything, it would increase the appeal, and use, of this great little knife. Lots of folks don't feel confident sharpening the radical reverse S blade shape, but would love to try out a knife with great ergos, lock, blade steel, that is legal most places.

Thom
 
I agree that the back of the blade doesn't see much use. The tip sees LOTS of use for fine work, including clipping stuff out of the newspaper and finishing off anything I'm slicing. (Including my finger - burried the tip in the last finger of my left hand. Still sore after 6 months. The Dodo is quite bloodthirsty!!!! Then again, it's probably not the best idea to slice watermelon with a 2" blade!) It's easy to hook something and pull through it. Most slicing happens on the front curve. I do use the back for fine, highly controlled cuts. The handle adds a whole new level of control.

Sharpening isn't bad, so long as you have a rod-type sharpener. Wouldn't know how to start with a stone or anything more than a quarter inch wide.

Overall, very functional design. I'll hedge and say a pure hawksbill might be a bit more useful, but I'd need to compare head-to head with the current design to see how the advantages and drawbacks balance.
 
Thom Lambert said:
Well, I don't see how offering the Dodo with another blade shape takes anything away from the original. If anything, it would increase the appeal, and use, of this great little knife. Lots of folks don't feel confident sharpening the radical reverse S blade shape, but would love to try out a knife with great ergos, lock, blade steel, that is legal most places.

Thom
Click to expand...
That was partially my point, about the ease of sharpening. Don't get me wrong-I love the blade shape on the Dodo as it is, but offering it with other shapes could increase the marketability of it and also the practical applications as a general user. Try peeling then slicing an apple with it.

dojimbo.jpg


Here is a badly mocked up 'Dojimbo' - note blade is deliberately at that angle to the handle.
 
You're convincing me :)

Perhaps the blade is a little long?? Don't know... like the train of thought :D
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one that would like to see the Dodo handle with a more conventional blade shape. I'd love to see one with a wharncliffe blade like the Ronin or the Yojimbo. I think it would work well with the handle design.
 
99% of the time, I'd rather Spyderco put their effort into bringing new knives to market, rather than minor variations on current knives. In the case of hte Dodo, though, I'd personally love to see some variations, and in particular a wharncliffe (or, secondarily, a slight hawkbill). The Dodo concept is awesome -- strong enough for several variations, assuming sales justify it.
 
daverave999 said:
That was partially my point, about the ease of sharpening. Don't get me wrong-I love the blade shape on the Dodo as it is, but offering it with other shapes could increase the marketability of it and also the practical applications as a general user. Try peeling then slicing an apple with it.
Click to expand...

OTOH, the current Dodo is absolutely fantastic when eating pomegranates (we have a tree in the back yard). No other blade I've tried works as well.
It's probably great with oranges, too, but I haven't tried that, yet.
 
daverave999 said:
Having been playing with my new black handled Dodo for a few weeks now, it occurred to me that a different blade shape may work for this knife. Something like a dragonfly blade. Anybody else thought this?
Click to expand...


I am right there with ya, buddy. I LONG for a Dragonfly blade (or Calypso Jr. blade) on a Dodo handle! (I like my blue G-10 handles, though).

I guess I'm still waiting for that perfect mating of lock, blade and handle that I still have not seen come together yet. I think that when those three meet, it'll be like in the third "Omen" movie, and the second coming of Christ will happen or something! LOL! :P

-Jeffrey
 
bell said:
The Dodo is a unique and special one-time design triumph. That is why it won an award. Dont mess with perfection. No deviant "variants" of the Dodo -do something new and different with your ideas.
Click to expand...


Forgive me, I think that sounds like a dogmatic, non-rational doctrine that presupposes that just because you are satisfied with the overall Dodo design, others are not entitled to feel that improvements could be made to suit their preferences. What is so special and sacrosanct about the Dodo design that it could not be made in other variants to please a wider spectrum of knife users?

The current Dodo blade is not nearly as versatile as, say, a Dragonfly blade would be. The handle is ideal. Why would you want to deny others the pleasure of having that same great handle and lock setup mated to a different blade design?

-Jeffrey
 
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