Dozier Thorn: A different type of liner lock

bladeprince

bladeprince

Joined
Jun 12, 2006
Messages
956
I just received a new Dozier Thorn. Very light weight but strong. Aluminun handle and D2 blade. What surprised be about this knife is something I have never seen before. The liner lock goes trough the entire handle and contacts the the full width of the rear of the blade. This design gives this little knife a stronger, more dependable liner lock than knives twice its size. I had no idea that this knife would be so sturdily built. But hey, it's a Bob Dozier design so expect the best. Here's a few pics for easier understanding.

Click on picture to enlarge.
Dozier Thorn.jpg
IMG_0014.JPG IMG_0011_2.JPG
 
Yep, thats Bob's tab lock design. Its a lot stronger and better from Bob but I've had one of the Kabar Thorns for years and really like it. Carrying it is like having a pocket scalpel on you as thin and sharp as that blade is. I haven't had it out in a while but I do still plan to always keep that one unlike others I've owned. I took the top wing off my blade because I found it was right where I wanted to place my thumb all the time.

STR
 
is that the ka-bar model in the picture? or a custom from bob? i like that little knife its got d-2 steel too, found it for 60.97 online. if the ka-bar locks like that its a good buy.
 
That's the Ka-bar version he has there. I've got a Black Thorn and have been very happy with it.
 
I bought this little knife for my girlfriend for christmas....I love the hell out of it, and had a hard time giving it away. lol. Everytime i see her i do a little babysitting.

I'm gonna buy one for myself. This knife is the sharpest factory knife i personally have ever seen.
 
hm, I am thinking about picking one up. Not the D2 version though. Does the normal version have that same type of lock? And it is good to here it is a good cutter, that is one thing I was looking for.
 
Brutus013 said:
hm, I am thinking about picking one up. Not the D2 version though. Does the normal version have that same type of lock? And it is good to here it is a good cutter, that is one thing I was looking for.
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This knife only comes in D2. You may be referring to the Dozier Folding Spear in AUS-8A. That's not the same model we are discussing here. Different lock, different handle, different steel, different design, different knife. It will cut because the blade design is a hollow grind and they take a great edge but it will get dull much faster because it's not D2. Go with the Thorn if you possibly can.
 
Ah, where I was looking it was labeled as a Thorn. I found a Thorn for $55, seems like a good buy to me.
 
Bob Dozier has created a fair number of very innovative knife ideas. In addition to being an excellent knife designer, he is an excellent custom knifemaker and sheathmaker.

sal
 
Plus he's just a cool guy.

I was at bladeshow this summer when he stopped by the a grinder sales booth and gave a small audience of about 6 people a 30 minute demo of grinding. (I'm not sure the grinder guy thought his display model was gonna actually get used. :eek: But he was an excellent sport about it)
 
Sal Glesser said:
Bob Dozier has created a fair number of very innovative knife ideas. In addition to being an excellent knife designer, he is an excellent custom knifemaker and sheathmaker.

sal
Click to expand...

Agee, of course. I have to admit to having more Doziers than I need. His horizontal cross-draw sheath it the most comfortable and compact design I've seen yet. I don't even know I have it on most of the time.

A great compliment coming from another great knifemaker and designer. Just another example of "class" that we always see coming from Sal Glesser.

Regards
 
I have a couple of Dozier's Tab Lock Trappers. They lock up solid. It is a great lock.

I really like his blade grinds-they cut like crazy. It is unfortunate that he doesn't take orders on his folders, now.
 
The Thorn is one of the few knives that I have had real trouble with.

The problem is that when I tried to open it one handed by flicking (not hard), the blade continued past the 180 degree angle and folded back on my fingers (not hard enough to do damage).

I called Kabar, and they were not only unhelpful, but rude to boot.

OK, live and learn--I wrote off the money to experience, and will NEVER buy another Kabar. I feel that this knife was a lemon--so I do not fault the Dozier design--and could have lived with a repair. The rudeness threw me off. I am sure that Kabar will not miss my business--and, as for me, there are a lot of other companies out there.

(By the way, I have hundreds of knives, and am not known for complaining about them--or their manufacturers.)
 
That lock looks impressive to me. I was on the verge of buying one of those a while back, but didn't take the plunge. (Never actually held one.) I think I'll give it a try after seeing those close ups though. Looks like a real quality knife at a good price.
Was wondering what you mean, Shaldag. -That the blade bounced off of the stop pin and came back at your fingers? Or does that knife not have a stop pin?
Looking at those pics again I don't really see a stop pin or anything similar. If that's the case, I don't know...
 
shaldag said:
The problem is that when I tried to open it one handed by flicking (not hard), the blade continued past the 180 degree angle and folded back on my fingers (not hard enough to do damage).
Click to expand...

Siggyhk said:
Was wondering what you mean, Shaldag. -That the blade bounced off of the stop pin and came back at your fingers? Or does that knife not have a stop pin?
Click to expand...

The tab lock serves as a lock and also as a stop bar. There is no other stop, so if the tab is defective, the blade will simply continue until it impacts fingers or handle.

I've got 2 Thorns and never considered this, since both of mine are fine. There is no excuse for rude customer service, though.
 
shaldag said:
OK, live and learn--I wrote off the money to experience, and will NEVER buy another Kabar. I feel that this knife was a lemon--so I do not fault the Dozier design--and could have lived with a repair. The rudeness threw me off. I am sure that Kabar will not miss my business--and, as for me, there are a lot of other companies out there.
Click to expand...

Bad customer service, especially someone that's being rude, it never taught or condoned by a company. It's the person one happens to get on a particular day. Maybe their mother died or they broke up with their boy friend. Maybe they are just a jerk. Whatever the reason, there is still no excuse for it. I feel you should have asked to speak to their supervisor. No repsonse, then maybe a VP. No reason to not buy a good knife from Ka Bar just because some jerk pissed you off. Fight back, then buy any knife you want. Just my opinion.

And I would have sent it back to get it fixed. It's your right.

Regards,
"Take it to the limit, one more time." The Eagles
 
bladeprince said:
Bad customer service, especially someone that's being rude, it never taught or condoned by a company. It's the person one happens to get on a particular day. Maybe their mother died or they broke up with their boy friend. Maybe they are just a jerk. Whatever the reason, there is still no excuse for it. I feel you should have asked to speak to their supervisor. No repsonse, then maybe a VP. No reason to not buy a good knife from Ka Bar just because some jerk pissed you off. Fight back, then buy any knife you want. Just my opinion.

And I would have sent it bacl to get it fixed. It's your right.

Regards,
"Take it to the limit, one more time." The Eagles
Click to expand...

Actually I did ask to speak to a supervisor. After a considerable amount of time on hold, I just wrote it off.

Unfortunately I had bought it in a shop while visiting another state--so I couldn't return it to the shop. So I just wrote it off. I am sure that yoiu are right --saying that one bad employee does not a bad company make---
but that, combined with the defective knife--just made me feel that I don't want to deal with the company any more. Like I said--I am sure that they can live with the situation--and so can I.
 
On this particular knife the lock is both the blade stop and the lock. It does both jobs. Personally I don't think they are the strongest lock available in a production folder but can suffice for most users. This lock is thin so its important to keep the pivot pin tension such that it doesn't allow the gap between the blade and the handle scales to expand out. If you do and you open the knife hard or if the knife is well worn so the lock travels freely out across the interface and leaves the blade then what you can see happen is the lock leave the blade which with this style folder means that when there is no lock there is no stop either. So you end up with the blade coming back around on you with the spine side down on your hand vs the edge.

Keep the tension of the pivot tight and the lock/stop should not be able to fit between that space even if it does leave the blade. I have suggested to Kabar that they use an oversized washer on the non lock side to fill that gap the lock/stop can fit into between the blade and scale so that it can come out far enough that it can physically prevent the lock from even entering into this space but as to if that has happened or not I don't know.

A thicker lock like on Bob's customs would be a solution also but due to the design that is not really possible unless thicker scales were used.

STR
 
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