Is a Dozier More Knife Than I Need?

J

John E.

Joined
Sep 5, 2004
Messages
4
First of all hi to everyone. I've been reading through the forums for a few weeks now and you folks really know your stuff. I'm amazed at all the great information here.

So anyway, I'm a hiking/camping enthusiast and for the last few years have been using a Buck Special when out in the woods. I've been very happy with it but unfortunately lost it somehwere when I was out camping last time. So I'm now looking for a replacement knife and thought I would spurge a little. The Dozier Professional Guide Knife has really caught my eye but it is definately more than I was planning to spend.

I'm trying to decide if I should just go it or if it's more knife than I really need. I know that's not something that someone else can answer for me, but would it, in your opinion, be overkill for a solid camp/trail knife?

As an alternative I'm looking at the Swamp Rat Safari Skinner. I don't like the look of it as much, though I do think it looks good, but it's a lot closer to my target price range.

I'd appreciate any opinions of either knife or alternatives. Thanks
 
John, welcome to Bladeforums!

Any Dozier knife is worth the money. Especially if you don't lose it ... :( Swamp Rat makes tough, sharp knives, too, at great prices.

If you think you'd like to start off a spending little less, take a look at Bark River. Excellent knives at extremely reasonable prices. I've got a few.

You will get plenty of other good suggestions, I'm sure. Hold onto your wallet! :D
 
John, I too welcome you. I have a few of Bob Dozier's knives. They are indeed worth the money. Bob is the master of D2 as the edgeholding ability of his knives will easily attest to.

I love my White River Skinner. It is the best skinning knive I've ever used. Better since I rubber coated the handle because the micarta gets somewhat slippery when wet or bloody. I don't have the camp knife you speak of but I can assure you it will be a great knife.

One thing many people fail to mention about Bob's knives is the great sheaths that come with them. The Kydex sheath he offers is the best of the best and it will make the knife a very tactical weapon as well as camp chore king for splitting wood, cutting brush or dicing up some fresh veges to stir fry.

Look at the price thing this way. If you wait it won't be any cheaper. Just don't lose this one or you'll really be angry with yourself.
 
I really shouldn't joke about losing things, but I do find that the more valuable the item, the less likely I am to lose track of it.

I might lose a Bic pen, but I always knew where my Mont Blanc was. I never even loaned out my Cross pens!

There are so many great knifemakers out there, it's hard to say whose knives are the best. But I doubt there are any better than Doziers.
 
I'll join the welcome wagon, Hello John E :)

For this type of blade the Dozier is tops. Heck I want one tho don't have a Dozier as yet. hahaha

The BKT 7 is a fine camp knife for ~ $50 shipped.

But..ya know what...If you can afford it..
Get the Dozier..
You'll end up with it at some point in time and will save the $ on all the knives that lead up to it.

I'd caution against getting any blade that you don't like the looks of. They tend not to get used.
Tom
 
Welcome to the forum JohnE. Dozier made knives are meant to be used. That is their basic philosophy. And they have found their way into the hands of experienced outdoorsmen and workers all over. The outstanding heat treat of a Dozier made D2 steel blade is unmatched anywhere in the industry. Bob has been using D2 far longer than most any other makers or production companies have been as of recent. The price of a Dozier made is still a great "bargain" if you are going to use it. It is a tool you can always depend on. And what STR said about their kydex sheaths! In my experience, they are quite simply the best in the industry.

On several occassions when asked which model in the current line serves as a single best all around outdoor/ hunting knife, Bob has recommended the Pro Guide!

Go to the Dozier knife discussion forum at their website at www.dozierknives.com There you will find a wealth of information with active participation including the entire Dozier crew. Good luck on your Dozier made purchase.

N2
 
Well thanks for the welcome everyone. It sounds like the Pro Guide is the way to go. Guess I'll have to try and pick up an overtime day at work this month. :D

Any suggestions for a good online dealer?

Thanks again.
 
A Dozier is also the last knife you will need. (except more of them). The Pro Guide is one of the best modern hunting knives out there IMHO. Your best dealer on the planet is Billy ("pup") Cochrane at Vintage Knives. Billy is a pleasure to deal with and has a unique selection of Doziers. Knifeart also carry some Doziers. If you decide on the ProGuide, try and get one with the "Wilderness Sheath" style.
Also, head over to the Dozier web site & visit the discussion forum. Lots of useful info to be had there.
 
I've got several Buck 119's including one in BG42 and they are good knives in their price range and Bucks heatreating. But there is something about the Dozier in D2 that is definatly upbeat. I quit carrying my BG42 119 due to Texas length law and looked at the Dozier at the time. I got a Chris Reeve Sable IV, but it was a close choice.
 
A Dozier is as good as any knife you will get. Bob and Dan put their hearts into every thing they do.
 
John E. said:
I'm trying to decide if I should just go it or if it's more knife than I really need. I know that's not something that someone else can answer for me, but would it, in your opinion, be overkill for a solid camp/trail knife?

As an alternative I'm looking at the Swamp Rat Safari Skinner. I don't like the look of it as much, though I do think it looks good, but it's a lot closer to my target price range.
Click to expand...

The Dozier would be an excellent choice for your application. From what I have seen of Bob's knives, you will get great value from one. You will never regret purchaing the best tool for the job that you can afford. Just be confident that the price of the knife will not make you reluctant to use it. If that is not an issue, then I recommend you go for it.

you won't go wrong with the Swamp Rat either, but I think in the long run you will be more pleased with the Dozier.
 
You can't go wrong with any Dozier. I have a full tang Ranger, and I can tell you that my Ranger will be one of the last knives I get rid of.
 
The Pro Guide Knife is a good choice IMO. Be sure to consider a good sharpening system as well if you don't already have one. I think you'll find sharpening it a significantly different task than the 119 was.
 
I believe any Dozier knife would do you well in any situation. Well made, very sharp, good sheathwork. Can't beat it. A dozier knife would be a great choice of a knife.

Bruce
 
I don't think so. I have never used a Dozier, but I saw his table at Blade 2 years ago and walked away impressed. His sheaths were among there very best there, if not the best. A good sheath is worth more than most give it credit for, IMO.
 
Hi John,

I've never owned a Dozier, but from what I hear, they take an incredible edge and hold it extremely well.

However, you didn't say exactly what you do in the woods or how deep you get. Or if this knife will be use more for cutting meat or wood. If you're a hunter and you go out with several others on a given trip, go ahead and get the Dozier. I agree with the idea that you should find a knife attractive if you're planning to use it.

On the other hand - if you are potentially going to be backpacking/hiking by yourself, or going into a wilderness area with your family, then in my opinion you want a knife that you can survive with. This (to me) means a knife that you cannot accidentally break. While D2 is extremely good at holding an edge, it's less-good at prying. In other words - in an "extreme" situation, your D2 Dozier might break. On the other hand, the Swamp Rat Howling Rat (for $88?) can easily support the weight of an average/large man. Why is this important? Well, say you want to climb into a tree and you can't reach the lowest limb. With this knife, you could literally pound it into the tree and stand on it.

Now, I don't own a Swamp Rat either (yet). But before buying you shoud at least poke around the Forums a bit more - especially Swamp Rat.

Good luck!

Welcome to the Forums!

SCDUB
 
Doziers for slicing and dicing - note that too get that slicing superiority, the edge cannot be left too thick. I would also consider BRKT's rogue bowie for general all round use, or the northstar. A2 for toughness and Mike Stewart's know-how in the razor sharp convex edge.
 
That stuff about the pounding the knife in a tree is impressive when the knife can support your weight by standing on the blade pounded in sideways, Cold Steel has touted that feature too and being able to stick their knives, both straight and folding, in slots and do pull ups repeatedly using them as handles and all that but you know, in truth I don't know anyone that has ever had to do that in even the most extreme situations.

Knives are primarily for cutting and maybe for defense. The survival portion of a knife's use would most likely encompass cutting and chopping emergency shelter wood by chopping down small trees and brush, splitting small pieces of wood for kindling, skinning prey, maybe even killing prey by attatching the knife to a long pole, and cutting up and preparing the food you manage to dig up perhaps with the knife you carry.

These are the kinds of things that you most likely would be needing it for and if it came down to needing to pound the Dozier knife in a tree to get a leg up, just pound it in there with the edge down instead of sideways and stand on it that way so it doesn't break on you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top