In praise of the Kabar Dozier lockback

cchu518

cchu518

Joined
Mar 6, 2013
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This is one of my all time favorite knives in any price range.

If you like lockbacks you need a few of these cheap little folders lying around.

I'm re-tiling my bathroom and this weekend and this evening after work has been filled with scoring/cutting sheet rock and concrete backer board.

The little Dozier took it like a champ some slight edge deformity here and there but considering that I've been using it for heavy duty work for the past three days I have to say I'm really pleased with it!

Who else here puts their little budget folders to work?

 
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They are excellent knives for the money. I had an orange one and it was very well made. I gave it to my sister because she needed a camping knife, but now I'm thinking about getting a blue one.
 
I don't own the Kabar Dozier lockback. I do, however, own it's distant cousin. The Cutco 1891 lockback.

As much as I love the ergonomics of the 1891, the Kabar IMHO is a much better knife. When you factor in the price difference, the Dozier is a great knife.
 
Here's the final tally scored and partially cut through half a sheet of sheet rock and a whole concrete backer board.

I just wiped it with a bounty towel and 10 swipes on each side 40 inclusive on a Lansky ceramic turnbox and it's back to cutting paper. I was prying with the tip and doing some non knife things with it while installing the sink as well. I think for $22 it's hard to go wrong. Going to order some mini's this week! Have to check if they have them in blue or not!



 
I recently acquired a 722 Buck Spitfire. My first one hand opener. I have to say for such a low price I think it's excellent. I've got more than enough experience with Buck's 420hc, this blade doesn't let down and actually excels.
 
No question that it is a great little knife for the price if you like lock backs. I do.
 
Never tried one, but like the style. Figured I'd grab one if I found a deal on one of the D2 variants since I've never tried that steel.
 
I have 2 minis and one if the large sized ones, both black handles. I had a mini that I gave to a guy at church, and I had a mini zombie green also that I gave to my brother in law as well. I thinned out the minis blade as I thought the grind was a bit thick on those versions, and I slightly peened the lockbar pin just to make sure it wouldn't back out on me. I also flattened the thumb stud slightly with a file for better purchase. I could have used them as-is from the factory, but my little mods made them even better IMO, and for such in inexpensive knife I wasn't even worried about messing them up! Very impressed at about $17.50 for the minis and around $22 for the large ones. While they are nothing flashy, I could honestly use just these models and be satisfied. Ka-bar does a pretty good HT with their aus-8 as well.Highly recommended.
 
I had one and used it for more than it was designed for and had some lateral movement that scared me (blade actually pried the scales apart until I released the tension on the blade). Sold it.
 
An old stanby for a looong time now :thumbup:

I suggest this to non knife guys all the time as it is priced at what they are willing to pay and it gets the job done.
 
suedeface said:
I have 2 minis and one if the large sized ones, both black handles. I had a mini that I gave to a guy at church, and I had a mini zombie green also that I gave to my brother in law as well. I thinned out the minis blade as I thought the grind was a bit thick on those versions, and I slightly peened the lockbar pin just to make sure it wouldn't back out on me. I also flattened the thumb stud slightly with a file for better purchase. I could have used them as-is from the factory, but my little mods made them even better IMO, and for such in inexpensive knife I wasn't even worried about messing them up! Very impressed at about $17.50 for the minis and around $22 for the large ones. While they are nothing flashy, I could honestly use just these models and be satisfied. Ka-bar does a pretty good HT with their aus-8 as well.Highly recommended.
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This is a true statement if I wasn't a knife nut for the purer purposes of just having a lightweight slim pocket knife and not a tank I could probably get by with just this knife alone and be happy.
 
I buy a lot of knives to give away to coworkers and friends and after purchasing many knives in this price range, I have found this Kabar Dozier Hunter to easily be the best designed and highest quality of all the ones I've purchased. I love the wonderful ergonomics, the efficient high hollow grind, the solid lock. The knife is very honest with no gimmicks--very practical and works. The simple design is, to me very aesthetically pleasing with great proportions and balance, and its genius becomes more apparent with use.

I just received this black one yesterday after giving away an orange one I had to a friend.

4E559EB7-BDE6-4D7F-AFA7-C26557D6C824.jpg
 
Has anyone tried the Dozier folder with a thumb hole rather than stud? As much as I like the Dozier folder,I'm not a huge fan of thumb studs.
 
tranders said:
Has anyone tried the Dozier folder with a thumb hole rather than stud? As much as I like the Dozier folder,I'm not a huge fan of thumb studs.
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Hey, for twenty bucks, what have you got to loose? The thumb hole version, in my mind, is the best out of the group. Just try the knife.
 
tranders said:
Has anyone tried the Dozier folder with a thumb hole rather than stud? As much as I like the Dozier folder,I'm not a huge fan of thumb studs.
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I have the thumb hole model as well as the thumb flip model on the blade. I favor the thumb hole model because it operates much like my Spydercos.
 
I don't mind the stud, it's easier on the thumb than a sebenza that's for sure! Pointy little sucker on that seb!
 
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