Field Sharpening a Dozier

R

rckendall

Joined
Oct 26, 2006
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I recently ordered a Dozier Master Skinner as a gift for a good old friend of mine. He is a hunter and fisherman, not a knife junkie like some of us. He says he likes carbon steel because he can sharpen it better.

I am not a hunter, and I thought that starting with a good blade maybehe wouldn't have to sharpen it in the field. But without knowing his abilities, what is a good sharpening method/tools for the field.

I emailed Dozier and only got a general direction to a folding DMT and 17 degree angle, and to ask on their forum. Since this is where I hang out, I'll ask here.

I'm not very good at sharpening myself and I want my friend to enjoy this knife. I was hoping a that a V shaped pocket gadget would work, but ???

Thanks for your help,
Richard
 
I use a DMT diafold red/blue, and it works great. The problem with V sharpeners of a pocket size, you are sharpening almost parallel to the edge, rather than almost perpendicular to the edge as with a stone. Actually, with a stone, it's more like 45 deg, but you get the idea. For a V to work well, it can't be pocket sized. By sharpening almost parallel, you will get a weak edge that won't last nearly as long.
 
It's highly unlikely that a "V" shaped pocket gadget will work on the high quality, extremely hard D-2 steel of a Dozier.:eek:

It's also highly unlikely that a Dozier will ever need to be sharpened in the field. :):)
 
Thanks to both of you for your response. I now see that there is a difference in the direction of movement between a pocket V and a large one. A point I will have to think about awhile, I guess.

But, you both agree that the gadget is not the tool to use, and I'm very happy that it probably won't need sharpening in the field. That was my goal and I'll carry on with that basis.

Thanks again, both of you,
Richard
 
Any knife that is used enough in the field will need to be resharpened. Resharpening is not difficult, even with D2. DMT folding hones do an excellent job, as sodak notes.
 
D2 is hard to sharpen without diamond hones. I maintain my Doziers with a Sharpmaker because they don't get dull before I touch them up, and they do respond to the coarse stones well. More important is technique. No sense sending someone with a DMT double-sided diamond hone and no idea how to use it right. Practice at home on a paring knife to get the idea.
 
Esav,
I think you hit my area of concern directly. Technique. My friend does sharpen freehand but I'd guess the handheld DMT would be used differently. I like the idea of practicing at home first. That makes perfect sense.

What grit DMT is the one to get? I think there is a course/fine, and a fine/extra fine?

Thanks to all, & any other comments will be appreciated
Richard
 
If your friend gets good results by sharpening freehand I doubt whether he would have any difficulty with a small diamond hone like the DMT's. Field sharpening is unlikely to need anything coarser than the fine/extra fine (unless he bangs it on a rock!).
Doziers cut a long time in the field before a major re-sharpen is needed, and often can be touched up with a small leather strop. My field toucher-upper is an old EZ lap extra fine with a leather piece glued on the back.
Greg
 
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