Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunter

[blastjv]

I just received this knife in a trade, NIB. Wow, this is one NICE KNIFE!!! I haven't cut anything with it, yet (not even my fingers, thankfully) but I plan to use it as an EDC utility knife and will post more on it soon.

I remember reading a lot about this on the forums not too long ago and people wanted to see pics. I'm a basic member so I can't post but I'll email some to whoever wants them when I get some taken.

The FRN handle is of a different type of FRN as that used by Spyderco, it is harder and less flexible, if you tap it with a fingernail it sounds much differnt than if you do the same to a spyderco (how's that for subjective?). It seems like tough stuff, but I suppose it might also turn out to be a bit brittle (just some unfounded speculation) time will tell. I would have prefered a bit of a scallop to access the thumbstud, but I seem to manage alright with out it. (since this knife will be a 'user' I may just file one into the handle myself) Handle is very comfortable in my hand.

Blade shape looks very useful for an all-purpose knife.

The fit and finish are very good. The lockup is very tight. The blade is not terribly sharp out-of-the-box, but I'll work on that myself.

This seems to be a very well designed (what did you expect from Mr. Dozier?) well thought-out, well excecuted knife.

The best part is: You can purchase these for about $20!!! I may just buy a few more.

Thanks,

-John

 

[CH]

Hey John!

I love mine, too. Awesome knife, and a best buy at that.

Clay

 

[blastjv]

I can't think of another $20 folder that even comes close! Heck, you'd pay $10 or $15 bucks for the garbage import knives you so often see at knife and gun shows. For $5 or $10 more, you can have one designed by Bob Dozier and built by Ka-Bar! Not bad at all.

 

[Jason Burns]

I had two of them brought down here to Nicaragua to use as loaners to nationals who needed a knife for a few minutes . . . I know it is a shocker but I don't just hand them my SnG or a custom! Last week we caught an iguana and I loaned one of these Kabars to one of the workers to clean it for dinner. The knife performed well (Not a demanding task but the skin is tough) and came out still shaving sharp. I carry one in my bag daily with some keys on it so I remember to ask for it back when it is loaned and use it occaisionally. I cannot image a better knife for $20!!
Oh yeah . . . the iguana was good too!

 

[ColoradoDave]

Been reading and enjoying BladeForums for some time, learning a great deal from all of you. Hope you won't mind a few comments from a first-time poster.

Today I received two Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunters which I had ordered Tuesday from MidwayUSA -- $17.45 each, plus $2.56 S&H, for a grand total of $37.46. Having heard some excellent things about these very reasonably-priced knives, I thought it couldn't hurt to have a couple. I was also interested in seeing how they might compare with one of my favorite light-duty, lightweight EDC knives, a Gerber LST which was purchased for about the same price some 8-9 years ago. Between the full-size LST, and an Ultralight LST I've had even longer, I'm something of a fan of Zytel-handled lockbacks, and have demonstrated to my own satisfaction on more than a couple occasions just how tough these lightweight folders can be.

Digging down in the hugely oversized box full of packing peanuts in which Midway had shipped my knives, I was genuinely surprised by the heft of the Ka-Bars. Upon removing the first knife from its box, it was clear that the Dozier Folding Hunter is in a whole different league than a Gerber LST, with the blade being deeper and much thicker (1/8th inch stock; .118" finished) at the spine, and the handle significantly fuller, thus affording a much firmer purchase.

Taking both knifes down to the workshop, each was examined carefully under magnification. Both were found to be very well-finished -- exceptionally so, for knives of this price. Blade lock-up seems very solid, and, along with the ergonomic grip of the Folding Hunter, my impression is that these should be well-suited to heavy use. Note, too, that no unduly sharp edges or corners which might snag or damage clothing are found anywhere on these knives, including the metal pocket clip and exposed portion of the blade when closed. A very high overall level of quality control is evident.

The hollow ground blades of both knives received had edges that were nicely profiled and uniformly beveled at what looks to be approximately a 30 degree (inclusive) angle. Despite the Ka-Bar web site's indication that the Dozier Folding Hunter is shipped with an edge "honed to razor-like sharpness," neither blade was sharp in the sense that most here would use the term. Also, a bit of noticeable blunting (i.e. shiny area) was found in a small section of the edge near mid-blade on both knives -- possibly something related to assembly of the knife, I would guess, as there is plenty of clearance between the blade and the lock mechanism and frame when closed.

Nonetheless, despite these minor sharpness problems, the Ka-Bar blades as supplied are more than satisfactory, and with only 20-25 passes per side on fine ceramics set at 20 degrees (40 degrees inclusive) I was able to put a very keen working edge on each knife. (Note that the reversible thumb stud nearly interferes with sharpening at this angle; any relief beveling which might be necessary to repair the edge and restore the factory profile if damaged would probably require removal of the thumb stud, which is held on with a minuscule Torx screw.)

For now, these two sturdy, attractive, high-quality, bargain-priced folders have seen no harsher duty than push-cutting some newspaper into thin slivers, and being thumbed open a few times. While not as effortlessly smooth to open as a high quality liner-lock, the Folding Hunter is still an easy and reliable one-hand opener, and would likely serve the user well in tactical/self-defense situations as well as for general utility.

Bottom line: this is a lot of knife for the money!