Good Overall 3" Fixed Blade, need advice

You can't go wrong with a Dozier. I have a K-1. Very similar, just a little longer with a slightly smaller radius to the belly curve.

I didn't know Bob offered different blade profiles. He likes a strong spine at 1/8" and a deep hollow grind making for a wicked edge. A flat grind with that much spine thickness would be too heavy IMO. If I could have gotten a flat ground K-1 with a 1/16" or 3/32" spine I would have gotten it...

Anyway, I love my K-1, and I'm sure the K-6 would be a very good general purpose and ad-hoc whittling knife!
 
K6 would make a great knife for all around use. But if you are serious about whittling, the K-9 personal utility is a better choice, having a slightly shorter clip point blade with a much sharper tip. If you are planning on doing skinning work alot, then K6 might be a better choice. The K-7 slim outdoorsman is another nice design for general use, fishing, whittling, etc.

So I would personally prefer the K9 over the K6 just because it should be a much better whittler, splinter-picker, detail oriented knife.

Para
 
I just sent my Murray Carter off to River City Sheaths for a horizontal kydex sheath with a mini Tek-Lok.

murry_carter_neck_ironwood_.jpg
 
You might want to look at ragweedforge.com. Ragnar has a pretty good selection of Scandinavian and Finish fixed blades that might meet your needs. Also, check out Roselli at Roselli.fi; their little carpenter's knife might be the ticket. Good steel in all of these.
Another thought is Lee Valley Tools (I think it's leevalley.com), which carries Frosts laminated blades and knives and others as well (also, at LVT you will pay in Canadian pesos, currently about 63 cents to the US dollar).
 
See these AG Russell "Loveless designed" whittlers:
http://www.agrussell.com/agrussell/agwh.html

...and "splinter pickers":
http://www.agrussell.com/agrussell/agsp.html

...and "Caper Finn" styled Loveless designs (a great bird/small game knife):
http://www.agrussell.com/agrussell/ag200.html

...and "Gents hunter", again Loveless designed drop point at 3":
http://www.agrussell.com/agrussell/gents.html

The Dozier "Canoe Knife" is basically a small straight backed bird/trout knife:
http://www.agrussell.com/dozier/dk-k20.html

...while the "Straight Personal" is a kind of modified straight backed hunter style, really a utility knife:
http://www.agrussell.com/dozier/dk-pesym.html

Dozier's "whittler" is fine too, has no belly and a sharp point:
http://www.agrussell.com/dozier/dk-wh1b.html

On Dozier's page, confined to 3" length, a number of choices, you trade pointiness vs. belly in most cases, but all would work based on what you described as desired:
K-6 Companion
K-8 semi-skinner
K-9 personal utility
K-7 Slim Outdoorsman is neat too, but up to 3-3/8".
 
Doziers are excellent as are the Russells', albeit a bit pricey.... you can get a Fallkniven WM1 for around $60, you can find a custom Gary Bradburn for under $100 and I just picked up a Ray Kirk custom just-under 3" for $82 delivered. Viable options crafted with quality materials (and love :) )
 
Another vote for the Dozier Personal Utility.
Those fingergrooves work!
 
You can' t go wrong with any Dozier fix blade. No matter the model you choose, it will serve you well. Backed by many decades of knifemaking experience, Bobs excellent heat treat in his D2 steel blades are made to be used. For an average range of $150 you will get a handmade blade backed with a lifetime warranty and one of the best and friendliest customer services in the industry. Wait time is usually no more than 2 months max in my experience. And a good supply of his catlaloged models are usually on hand.

My personal (no pun here!) choice among my various 4 finger grooved models would be the Personal Utility. I have a few of Bobs other 4 finger grooved models which include the Strait Personal and an
uncataloged Drop Point Personal. And really do prefer the clip point shape of the K-9 Personal Utility. It is a bit more versatile (i.e. as a thruster for personal protection!) with its pointier tip and a functional set of finger grooves as our own Paracelsus and Ebbtide has already stated.

Notes: when requesting a blade from the Doziers, you may want to ask for a bead blasted finish on the micarta scales as they all come with a standard smooth finish. In my experience, if I am intending to really use my blades, I find that a smooth/ polished finish just won' t do it for me. Better yet, have it checkered afterwards! :)

Also, the bar stock of D2 which is used in all of Bobs blades do vary in thickness from batch to batch. Not all the time. Nor a whole lot but something worth inquiring about.

Good luck with your Dozier!

Nakano
 
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