Dodo First Impressions

Chiro75 · Jul 12, 2004

Got my Dodo today! Yippee! I will complete a thorough review with lots of photos to explain my take on the ergonomics of this knife, but here is a quick snapshot of my first impressions (subject to change over time):

1) This is not a small knife. It's a small blade attached to a pretty big handle. If you're thinking this is a cute little keychain knife you'll be as surprised as I was when you get it.

2) If you've stayed away from small-ish (the Dodo's is only 1.75", not counting the effective length created by the curves int he blade) knives because you're afraid the handles are too small for you, try a Dodo. The handle is almost too big for my mid-size paws!

3) Ergonomics. The unusual handle configuration is pure ergonomic engineering. I'll go into this in detail later, but I'd say this handle locks into my hand as good as anything I've felt before. The wide scales also keep the handle from wanting to twist in your hand. Excellent.

4) I'm not a huge fan of blue G-10 myself. The checkering is comfy but will tear up your clothes in no time flat. VERY grippy! My first project is going to be trying to make my own set of scales for this. You'll know if I'm succesful if I put pics here!

This knife will not slip out of your hand.

5) The clip, even though it looks wimpy in pictures, is very stiff and firm. Between the tight clip and the emery board texture of the scales this thing isn't going to slip out of your hands!

6) Lock: I am having a lot of trouble unlocking this knife. It's almost a two-handed knife for me. It might need some lube or just may take time for me to learn the correct movements, but I bit my index finger bad once already and otherwise I can't seem to move the ball easily enough to unlock the Dodo with one hand. I'll keep working on it!

Overall I'm very impressed with the knife. The lock is of some concern for me, and I hope I can make some other scales for it just to see if adding contour to them makes the ergonomics better or worse. Overall I'm happy with it. We'll see what I think in a few weeks!

edb · Jul 12, 2004

I would be particularly interested in your impressions of the clip after
some use. I traded away a Native III just because the wire clip turned
out to be so flimsy. It got bent with a simple "got hooked on a pocket"
encounter, so I had it fixed, then traded it. It completely turned me
off to those wire clips.

Give me the heavy-duty Endura/Delica/etc. barrel clip any day...

Chiro75 · Jul 12, 2004

This is my first experience with a wire clip. We'll see! I have relatively bad luck with clips. I've bent the crap out of a few and I tore a clip, screws and all (stripped right out of the aluminum) on an old CRKT Apache. My most recent conquest was busting the clip off my Wegner, although that just needs a replacement (getting around to it is tougher than you'd think). So, I look forward to trashing the Dodo's clip as well.

One thing that I was surprised to see was the little channel in the inside of the scales machined back out of the oval the ball sits in. I asked in another thread about there being any machining of this type and I was assured there wasn't any, so that will make my replacement scale project a lot tougher. I may be getting some carbon fiber in soon, and I think the Dodo would look incredible with a new suit of CF!

The machining involved with the clip is totally out for me, so I'll go clipless. About the only other solution would be to drill for a standard clip and mill a metal plate recessed into the back of the inside of one of the scales that the screws can thread into. SOmeone trying to do aftermarket scales for this knife would have to charge more than the knife cost to begin with! But, may be fun for a "one off" project. We'll soon see!

DeadManWalking · Jul 12, 2004

Chiro75 said:
Got my Dodo today! Yippee! I will complete a thorough review with lots of photos to explain my take on the ergonomics of this knife, but here is a quick snapshot of my first impressions (subject to change over time):

1) This is not a small knife. It's a small blade attached to a pretty big handle. If you're thinking this is a cute little keychain knife you'll be as surprised as I was when you get it.

2) If you've stayed away from small-ish (the Dodo's is only 1.75", not counting the effective length created by the curves int he blade) knives because you're afraid the handles are too small for you, try a Dodo. The handle is almost too big for my mid-size paws!

3) Ergonomics. The unusual handle configuration is pure ergonomic engineering. I'll go into this in detail later, but I'd say this handle locks into my hand as good as anything I've felt before. The wide scales also keep the handle from wanting to twist in your hand. Excellent.

4) I'm not a huge fan of blue G-10 myself. The checkering is comfy but will tear up your clothes in no time flat. VERY grippy! My first project is going to be trying to make my own set of scales for this. You'll know if I'm succesful if I put pics here! This knife will not slip out of your hand.

5) The clip, even though it looks wimpy in pictures, is very stiff and firm. Between the tight clip and the emery board texture of the scales this thing isn't going to slip out of your hands!

6) Lock: I am having a lot of trouble unlocking this knife. It's almost a two-handed knife for me. It might need some lube or just may take time for me to learn the correct movements, but I bit my index finger bad once already and otherwise I can't seem to move the ball easily enough to unlock the Dodo with one hand. I'll keep working on it!

Overall I'm very impressed with the knife. The lock is of some concern for me, and I hope I can make some other scales for it just to see if adding contour to them makes the ergonomics better or worse. Overall I'm happy with it. We'll see what I think in a few weeks!

I've been EDCing a PE Dodo for some time now. For those of us who want a high performing knife in a small P.C. package it's fantastic.

1.) I completely agree.

2.) I have good sized mitts and the Dodo fits me almost perfectly. I think the secret is that each one of your fingers has somewhere to go in either forward or reverse grip. I like the way it fills up my hand.

3.) Yes absolutely.

4.) I like the blue color because it enables me to carry the knife and expose it without drawing the wrong kind of attention. I do agree it makes for a bit of a rough draw but for such a small knife I feel the need to maximize "grippy"-ness. I don't think this design would work with say stainless or micarta handles.

5.) I agree completely. The wire clip on mine is still very tight and plenty stiff. I like how they mounted it too.

6.) The lock is great but it does take a little getting used to. My method is to depress the ball one handed and then close it against my leg.

It's not my dream Spyderco but it's by far the practical tactical folder style knife for me.

Chiro75 · Jul 12, 2004

I don't think the color of the scales makes a difference to sheeple. If I saw that knife and didn't know knives, I think the blade would scare me.

But whatever. It's probably legal everywhere and it's a great knife for a lot of things. Also, it is as comfy in reverse grip as in forward grip. Very good, very very good!

DeadManWalking · Jul 12, 2004

Chiro75 said:
I don't think the color of the scales makes a difference to sheeple. If I saw that knife and didn't know knives, I think the blade would scare me. But whatever. It's probably legal everywhere and it's a great knife for a lot of things. Also, it is as comfy in reverse grip as in forward grip. Very good, very very good!

Actually I EDC mine around some very sensitive people and the weird shape of the blade puts them at ease as it doesn't look like your traditional knife blade. These same people react very negatively to black handles, even on SAKs. But YMMV

donutsrule · Jul 12, 2004

Chiro75 said:
6) Lock: I am having a lot of trouble unlocking this knife. It's almost a two-handed knife for me. It might need some lube or just may take time for me to learn the correct movements, but I bit my index finger bad once already and otherwise I can't seem to move the ball easily enough to unlock the Dodo with one hand. I'll keep working on it!

Overall I'm very impressed with the knife. The lock is of some concern for me, and I hope I can make some other scales for it just to see if adding contour to them makes the ergonomics better or worse. Overall I'm happy with it. We'll see what I think in a few weeks!

Hold knife out in right hand, edge and hook tip face to the left, thumb on top scale, fingers underneath.

To unlock/close using one hand:

Thumb on top of ball lock -- this is not so much to unlock as to give a firm platform for the middle finger on the other side to push against.

Middle finger(nail) pushes ball lock back (open) from underneath.

Index finger pushes blade closed.

try that.

Sal Glesser · Jul 12, 2004

I use the tip of my thumbnail to pull the ball back. Only works if you have fingernails.

On the + side, the ball bearing lock is probably the least likely to be accidentally unlocked of all locks. Yet it still provides for smooth action, reliability and strength.

I'm sure we'll continue to evolve the concept as time goes on.

sal

Neko2 · Jul 13, 2004

Sal Glesser said:
I use the tip of my thumbnail to pull the ball back. Only works if you have fingernails.

On the + side, the ball bearing lock is probably the least likely to be accidentally unlocked of all locks. Yet it still provides for smooth action, reliability and strength.

I'm sure we'll continue to evolve the concept as time goes on.

sal

Same way I unlock it and I must be right if Sal does it that way

I usually pull the ball back and close it against my leg. Never had an issue with closing on this knife and I love the ball lock.

Neko2

Chiro75 · Jul 13, 2004

Well, after playing with the knife for some time (also see my other post "Uh Oh does my Dodo have a problem?) I've gotten the hang of unlocking the knife. I have no thumbnail to speak of, but I can get my thumb in the slot pretty good to get the ball out of the way. I'm still not liking the heavy texture on the scales (I need a crane to pull this thing out of my pocket) but that's simply a compromise: more texture = better grip and better pocket security, but it also means rougher on your clothes and less smooth draw from your pocket. I can live with it!

Ritt · Jul 13, 2004

I had the same problem with the Dodo holding onto/tearing up my pocket. Simple solution is to sand down the clip-side scale a bit. I took the clip off (two T10's needed here) and wet sanded the half of the scale that the clip sits over. Works best if you sand well beyond where the clip actually makes contact. Wet sanding is best, my understanding is that G10 dust should not be inhaled. Scrub the whole thing off with a brush, put the clip back on, and your draw will be much easier. I don't notice any loss of grip in terms of holding onto the knife. At least you won't give yourself a half-wedgie every time you draw your knife