How the $20 KaBar Dozier folder ruined other FRN knives

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
12,249
I purchased one of those $20 FRN dozier folders a while back. Seemed like quite a good deal for $20. In fact, afterwards I bought a different company's FRN folder that should have been markedly superior for $45.

Unfortunately it really wasn't that much better, at least not $25 better. So i sent it back. I don't bother looking at FRN knives now because the $20 dozier is that good.

Similarly I have handled the Byrd line of folders. I probably now won't bother paying more then $20 for a stainless steel handled knife. They are good enough that the next jump to a better knife will have to be big.

Similarly, the Ritter Grip is so good, that I probably won't bother buying anything in G10 or $100 range any more.

Basically for me, those three knives have wiped out all my choices in the $0 - $100 range.

Does that make sense to anyone other than me?
 
I have been a Spydie fan a long time but that Dozier has me thinking twice. It is one heckuva knife for double the price. It is hard to pay $40+ for a Spydie when I can get the Dozier for $17.
 
i know exactly what you mean. i've gotten in similar situations in my other hobbies. the only reason i'm getting a mini tsek or an afck (if i can find one) is because of size. also, IMO the dozier is kind of ugly. and i've always wanted a BM 710 but couldn't afford one at the time (with my bali addiction going wild) so now this is my chance to get something similar :D
 
I follow your logic, but I don't necessarily agree. Sure the KaBar Dozier knives are a good value and have received tons of praise on the various knife forums. Sure I want one, but I don't find them that 'interesting'. And a single knife can't possibly satiate my knife-buying cravings.

I have several plastic-handled knives in the $20-$30 range that I wouldn't give up. The Gerber Gator, BuckLite, and Gerber Magnum LST Jr. for instance. Moving up to the $40 - $50 range, it seems the knives become much more interesting. The Spyderco Endura/Delica and the AG Russell Featherlite come to mind.

Just because there's an additional knife that I want, doesn't make all other knives junk.

Just my thoughts,
Bob
 
i also agree with you bob, and if i were say older or more affluent maybe i could follow that kind of philosophy. but at this point i'm looking for things that are a great value for the price that will last me a long time and do everything i need it to do. maybe in a year when i start making some dough i can buy knives on a whim and all the ones i really want.
 
I have expensive knives and I have my Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunter. They are all excellent in their own ways. Striders, Sebbies, Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunter. All have their place, all have pride of ownership built in. Nothing cheap about any of them, much to admire in all of them.

When I gave my folding hunter to my nephew I had to get another. I just love this knife. It is a well-kept secret.
 
When Snap-On tools purchased Sioux and started producing their own cordless drill/drivers they cost a hundred dollars more than the comparable DeWalt and Makita models. They proved to be a hard sell for some time. Our Snap-On district rep realized the problem and went to Lowe's (incognito of course) and purchased a DeWalt. He took it apart at the next big meeting along with the Snap-On counterpart and showed the dealers in his district the differences in each component of the drill. The trigger, the overheat cutoff system, the one-handed keyless chuck, on and on. Much more than a hundred dollars worth of difference to say the least. Even the plastic case is different. Almost indestructable. It can withstand some serious falls from ladders too. And after the warranty expires on the Snap-On, you can send it back for a complete overhaul on the flat-rate program. No matter what's wrong with it, they will totally restore it for a set price. Shipping is included in the flat rate price, turnaround time is reasonable, and loaners are available while the drill is gone. That's service.

Nowadays they have DVDs that they'll loan you if you're thinking about buying their drill/drivers or cordless impacts. They go head to head against other brands and you wouldn't believe the difference in performance. The cordless SnapOn 1/2" impact gun is a BEAR. Nothing else even comes close. Now, years later, the Snap-On stuff isn't as tough to sell. There's enough of them out there and folks have been exposed to them enough to realize that there really IS a difference.

Is there enough of a difference between the Dozier and the Delica to justify the extra dollars? In my opinion, yes. Others may not think so but its my money and the difference in performance is worth it to me. The little details add up and value isn't always expressed in the least amount of dollars spent. :)
 
The kabar Dozier is a nice knife...but I don't like the single thumb-stud and I hated the pocket-clip design.

Now, the Spyderco Native III, that is the knife that has me forsaking all other plastic handled folders.

At least until I get my hands on the Spyderco plain-edge Atlantic Salt in yellow FRN.

And the Benchmade 551 is really so good that I'm not sure that I can justify the price difference for the Ritter-Grip.
I even like it better than my Benchmade 722.

Allen
 
That's what's so great about the available variety. I think you're all saying the same thing DaveH is, you just clicked at a different place on the knife spectrum :D

Somewhere out there is a knife or two or three that really will do the jobs you need done day by day. Anything else is for fun, pride of ownership, or checking out how your tastes might have changed.
 
The great thing about the KBar doziers is that you can get into a very good knife for 20 bucks and see what a good knife is actually like. Then you can decide if you want to get "more" knife. More stylish, more heavy duty, more tactical, more size, more high tech steel. If you do, great, thats why we are on this forum. If you don't, you still have got a safe, sharp knife and you haven't spent much money.

I'm just starting out in collecting and using knives, but the lower priced quality knives have definately been a good starting point. I'm starting to lean heavily toward HI khuks and knives, just because. Just like some folks lean toward Sebenzas, strikers, spyderco, etc. Being able to buy some good inexpensive knives let me kind of find out what I liked and was interested in.
 
The dozier's OK, but it certainly not a spyderco. The serrations and VG10 of a spyderco are alone worth the price difference. The best thing about dozier's FRN line is that now when you're tapped as secret santa, you can give a decent outdoors folding knife for the $20 price limit. The knife is even available in stores, so you don't have to wait for delivery.
 
The only thing I don't like about the Doziers is the AUS8 steel .Never had much use for it ,I think it's just too soft at 56-58rc IMO.
 
I don't find serrations or improvement in steel anough to justify the greater cost, if I'm want to spend more, then why not just get the Ritter mini grip?
 
well i agree but to be honest with you, i think that the mini pika and full size pika are a lot better for just a few extra bucks (literally less than ten). First of all, the pin holding the backspring to the handle on the benchmade is a rivet rather than just a cylindrical pin like in the kabar (i trust a rivet to hold better than a pin just shoved into place). also the fit and finish is significantly better. also, there is significantly less blade play up down or side to side on the benchmade. I do like both knives however.
 
metacarpels said:
well i agree but to be honest with you, i think that the mini pika and full size pika are a lot better for just a few extra bucks (literally less than ten). First of all, the pin holding the backspring to the handle on the benchmade is a rivet rather than just a cylindrical pin like in the kabar (i trust a rivet to hold better than a pin just shoved into place). also the fit and finish is significantly better. also, there is significantly less blade play up down or side to side on the benchmade. I do like both knives however.
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Interesting. I played with both the mini-pika and the dozier at cabellas side by side. The dozier felt like a much better knife. Although the dozier was too loose and the mini-pika too tight. Perhaps cabellas display junkers are not necessarily the best example, but I thought the dozier was way above the mini-pika in fit and finish.
 
i guess my biggest thing was the pin in the handle... i just feel that the rivet will hold better. plus, im a fan of a tight lockback as well. But were two different people and thats why theres two different knives were talkin about here, we each can have our favorite! :D
 
I just received one of these and was somewhat apprehensive because of some comments that have been made about the clip but for the life of me can't find anything wrong with it.The tension seems perfect and it functions as it should.It's nice to see an inexpensive totally ambidextrous knife....score one for us lefties. :D
 
Harry Callahan said:
Is there enough of a difference between the Dozier and the Delica to justify the extra dollars? In my opinion, yes. Others may not think so but its my money and the difference in performance is worth it to me. The little details add up and value isn't always expressed in the least amount of dollars spent. :)
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If the Delica had a pivot instead of a rivet - I'd be with you...
 
I have been interested in the Dozier for some time, but have no excuse to buy it. It reminds me of the ongoing opinel debate-if I can buy a great knife for 8 bucks, why bother buying a $50 knife?

Harry-are you a mechanic or a Snap-on rep? My dad sells Matco tools.
 
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