Dozier

AF

AF

Joined
Jan 14, 2000
Messages
6,016
I am becoming more aquainted with Dozier's knives daily as I read old posts and peruse his website.
He appeals to me greatly because his work seems first rate and his prices are low.
The only other custom maker I've found that offers the same combination of quality and value is Livesay. Are there others?
I sent a couple of emails to information@dozierknives.com but received no reply. So I thought I'd post here.
I am interested in the K-6 Companion model. I think various models may have shared this name. I am referring to the Companion as featured on Dozier's website.
I would not use the Companion for hunting, but for general utility. Because the tip is dropped so much, there is little belly. The tip appears to be very sharp. Can anyone comment on this model? What is the thickness of the stock? Is it likely that Dozier has this knife in stock, and if not, what would be the approximate wait?
Thank you,

Andrew
 
Andrew - Dozier's knives are a favorite of several forumites (as you have no doubt seen in your reseach of archived posts). Bob and Linda are excellent folks to work with but I'm not sure if they check their email regularly. Since they have a Toll Free number I recommend calling them with your Order or questions. I recently Ordered some customized versions of Bob's work and the wait time was approx 3 - 4 months. Standard models may be available faster but Linda could tell you that.

A note about Bob's work, IMO it greatly surpasses the work of Newt. Bob has dedicated the past 30+ years of his life to the art of Knifemaking and in doing so he has perfected several styles of knives that meet almost every outdoor cutlery need. The steel alone that Bob uses, not to mention the exceptional Heat Treatment, is a step above for almost all blade applications. I have owned several knives from both Makers and still own approx 12 Doziers. The high level of fit and finish that you receive from Bob is indeed a bargain that is very hard to beat. However, there was a thread in the Custom forum earlier this year that dealt with identifying Makers whose work was an exceptional value, check it out http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/001641.html


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Marine Sniper Motto:
There's no use Running, you'll only Die Tired!
 
Call. You'll reach Mrs. Dozier. You will enjoy her competent assistance. I had trouble emailing also. The phone experience works wonderfully.

Mrs. Dozier often has the model you are interested in in stock or can direct you to one of her dealers. The Doziers were by far the best in customer service and knife availability I have dealt with.

I have and Agent, neck knife and a one of a kind New York Special modification. They are the sharpest knives I own. I easily get them to shave without touching skin.

Mr. Dozier has made 16,000 to 18,000 Kydex sheaths and takes particular pride in crafting his sheaths to do what you want them to.

The Companion is 7" overall with a 4 3/4" blade. It weighs 3.6 oz. I do not know the thickness.

I have never seen one spot of rust on any of my three Dozier's. They cut like a razor.

bug
 
Talked with Linda Dozier the other day, the computer is in the shop getting repaired so they are down, and no doubt will be flooded with the long line of emails when it gets back up!! Very nice lady, apprecaited her kindness in taking my call and working things out with me...

G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...
 
G2 is correct. Their web and e mail addy really needs a bit more attention. But that aside, Bob and Linda, Daniel and more recently Wendy are some of the nicest folks in the knife industry I' ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.

I' ll definitely go with Hillbillenigma concerning quality and fit and finish of the Doziers over the Livesays. IME, D2 is a much better steel overall for the my particular needs. Bobs prices are a real bargain if you are going to really use your knives. That' s what they' re made for.

The Companion is actually 7" OAL with a 3" blade length. The blade shape is indeed suitable for utility purposes. But the handle shape I could not figure out after so many years of owning and using Bobs knives. It is stepped on the underside where the fingers rest.

Although I have never been a big fan of finger grooves, my favorites are the Personal Utilty and the Strait Personal for a small fix blade carry. Their grooves are subtle and work quite well. For slightly bigger jobs, especially when limited to what I can carry on any particular time, I' d go with my Agent model. It is MORE than a utility knife. Bob labels them as his tacticals. The upswept blade models are for hunting purposes. It may not be what you want for a knife geared towards utility use. Which ever model you choose, ask for the scales with a blasted finish. Their standard smooth finish simply drives me nuts! Bobs hands must have the texture of sandpaper after all those years of knifemaking!

Get a Dozier. Well worth every dollar.

L8r,
Nakano



 
Thanks for all the replies. Very informative.
Nakano- what do you mean the Companion is stepped on the underside where the fingers rest? Like finger grooves? Or the opposite? I'm confused.

Is the blasted finish an extra charge?
Does everyone agree that the standard scales are too smooth?

-Andrew

[This message has been edited by AF (edited 12-25-2000).]
 
I received an email reply from Linda Dozier. In addition to answering my questions, she informed me of a price increase effective January 1, 2001. I think I'll send a check out on Tuesday to lock in the old price on the Companion. The new price is $145. She estimated the delivery time at 12 weeks.
 
Everyone talks about how great Bob's knives are and I have to admit, fit and finish are awesome. But I also want to say that his kydex sheaths are the best I own. They are a cut above many others in that the knife moves in and out with incredible smoothness yet locks up very securely. I've decided to get most of my other kydex sheaths replaced with his. It just goes to show you that Bob pays attention to every detail, including the sheaths.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM

[This message has been edited by Hoodoo (edited 12-25-2000).]
 
AF, Nakano 2 is correct and I am wrong. The blade length of the Companion is actually 3".

bug
 
Here is a scan of my Special Companion....slightly longer blade than the normal Companion, blade is 3 1/2" long...

<center><A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1378321&a=10285466&p=39060012&Sequence=0&res=high" TARGET=_blank>
Thumbnail
</A></center>

Here you can see the step that Nakano is talking about, the back half of the knife is stepped up so your fingers fall into that space when gripping, works well and a nice overall blade shape too!

G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...




[This message has been edited by Gary W. Graley (edited 01-24-2001).]
 
Thanks for the pic Gary.

Bob has never charged me for a blasted finish. In fact it would take a bit more time and work to polish the scales. I have even given Bob and Linda more than one of my blades (his make of course) at recent shows and they gladly took it back to have it blasted without requesting a charge. They' ve also gone as far to not accept my offer to cover shipping costs. Can' t say more than that they are very nice people and will work with you to get you your knife.

L8r,
Nakano

A Happy and Safe New Year to all!
 
I don't think you can compair Dozier to Livesay. I own several Livesay knives, but only one Dozier at the moment, his Master Hunter. The MH is the only knife I've ever bought whose edge geometry alone makes it a highly specialized tool I wouldn't dare use for any task other than that for which it was designed, in this case skinning.

Newt and Bob's knives are similarly priced, with Bob's being a little more expensive on average. On the other hand, Newt's knives are rough, rugged, and ready for anything you might have to throw at them (or for that matter throw them at), while Bob's appear (to me) to be more refined, and precise, more elegantly executed, but as a result, possibly not as ready to shake off abuse.
 
I just received a folding hunter from the Doziers, in very nice brown canvas micarta. I spoke with Linda Dozier on the phone, very pleasant lady. She told me the micarta used in my knife was very old, that Bob thought it was some of the best he's seen. That kinda made my knife seem a little more special ! I have to say, this is one precision cutting instrument, it is scalpel sharp. I'm glad I decided to contact them, very gratifying.

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Buck Collectors Club Member # 572
Dedicated ELU
Knifeknut(just ask my wife)
 
Brian said,

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">(T)his is one precision cutting instrument, it is scalpel sharp.</font>
Click to expand...

Don't they really cut! I'm sending my custom NY Special back to the Doziers today after having the handle checkered by CheckerMarx. Getting an extra sheath fitted and having my Gerber Bowie re-ground. Its blade geometry is too thick and hard to sharpen.

Take care,
bug
 
Brian, any pics of your new folding hunter?

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by bug:
...I'm sending my custom NY Special back to the Doziers today after having the handle checkered by CheckerMarx...</font>
Click to expand...

Bug, can you post pics of the checkering you've had done? I just posted a thread on this subject in the general forum. I opted for diagonal lines, sort of half a checkering pattern, on my Arkansas Toothpick & here's how it came out:

<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=185132&a=10260871&p=35801777&Sequence=0&res=high" TARGET=_blank>
Thumbnail
</A>

I'm wondering which to have checkered next.
cool.gif



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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
Brian, I'll email you a scan, I have not figured out how to post pics here yet. (lazy)
You can post it then if you want.
Brian

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Buck Collectors Club Member # 572
Dedicated ELU
Knifeknut(just ask my wife)
 
Here's Brian Lavin's Dozier folding hunter:

<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=185132&a=1430535&p=37233800&Sequence=0&res=high" TARGET=_blank>
Thumbnail
</A>

Follow this link and then click on the pic to be taken to a full size pic. It's a BIG file but, IMO, it's a beauty & worth the download time.
wink.gif


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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.

[This message has been edited by bcaffrey (edited 01-06-2001).]
 
Thanks Brian, guess I need to learn how to make things a bit more compact. You should have seen the scan I couldn't send, it was WAY too big to send !
Anyway, this Dozier is very neat, only problem so far is the worn spot on my thumb from opening it over and over - man that thumb stud gets sharp after awhile; but I don't think it was designed for constant use at the level it's been getting for the past couple of days
wink.gif
.
I was thinking of getting a small Sebenza (after finding out how nice the large is),
but this Dozier will, I think, fill that spot very nicely.
biggrin.gif


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Buck Collectors Club Member # 572
Dedicated ELU
Knifeknut(just ask my wife)

[This message has been edited by Brian Lavin (edited 01-06-2001).]
 
Boy those scales are mighty pretty. I have the same ones on the Personal Utility that Bob custom made for me.

Did you know that the Folding Hunter can be stripped down completely via the 2 scale screws with only one driver? Bob displayed this in front of all the attendees at his table at the NY Show s a few years ago. While he makes no recommendations to take it down on a regular basis, it is good to know that you can if you require immediate troubleshooting.

I' ll get one of his folders one day...

L8r,
Nakano
 
Nankano,
I've got one of the folding hunters, was called the Buckhunter. Also have a Folding Dagger. Both of these can be taken down the same way. I was not sure that two screws holding these knives together was going to be a strong system but it is very strong. There is no flex in these folders at all and lock up is as tight as my Sebenza. If you have the oppurtunity to get one of Bob's folders you will not be sorry, especially if you like big beefy knives!

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Art Sigmon
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Php. 4:13

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword"
Heb. 4:12
 
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