Ka-Bar Dozier vs. Spyderco Endura

M

MrMojoRising

Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
263
No contest. My well worn Endura, and a few other Spydies, are back at the factory being serviced and sharpened. So I thought I would try a different brand for a work beater until the Endura returns. I've read all the praise the Dozier gets as a good cheap worker, so I bought one and gave it a shot. Summer is upon us southerners in a major way, 90 degrees with 90% humidity and scattered showers was my work detail yesterday. As soon as I got in my vehicle to head home I emptied all my pockets so everything could start drying out on the ride. After just a single day of use my brand new Dozier was covered in surface rust. Never had the first speck of rust or even discoloration on the Endura after much worse use and abuse. I'm working on cleaning it up now and will try to treat it heavily with some Sentry Tuff Glide, but it doesn't look to be much competition for the Spydie. ATS55 vs Aus8 is a big time KO.
 
Which Dozier and what steel was used in the blade?
 
I believe you. I have a Dozier Thorn by Ka-Bar that did the same thing. Serious pits. Bit hard to sharpen the D2 steel, too, but once it is there, it is awesome. I just took to wiping it everytime I put it away with a guardian cloth.
 
Wow. I'm bit surprised that the AUS8 in that blade is any different than what is used in an Endura.

It sounds like you need to look at the Salt H1 knives from Spyderco. Get you a Pacific or Atlantic Salt. About the same size as the Endura. I believe the handles are the same.

I ride my bike everyday for about 20 or more miles with my Salt and everyday when I get back home after the ride in 95 or more degree heat I can literally wring out my shorts. Everything on me gets soaked and it never hurts the knife at all. The Salt series are great knives for active outdoors type people, unaffected by salts, sweat, moisture, and just about anything and everything else. Doesn't keep an edge bad at all IMO. In fact I can't say I'm disappointed in that category at all. It dulls, but for a guy like me that regularly maintains his edge, it is no big deal.

The serrated H1s have a better hardness and cut up there with the exotic steels like S30V and D2.
 
STR said:
It sounds like you need to look at the Salt H1 knives from Spyderco. Get you a Pacific or Atlantic Salt. About the same size as the Endura. I believe the handles are the same.
Click to expand...

Remember though, he said he never had rusted problems with his endura, so no need to go the Salt. If anything, an upgrade to VG-10 endura is appropriate, just because ATS-55 is so 5 minutes ago.

I am also surprised the 8A in the kabar rusted so fast, though. Gotta be the finish -- is it bead-blasted or something? I find polished or satin-finished 8A resists rust very well.
 
Joe is correct, never had an issue with the Endura. I've got the Ka-Bar cleaned up now and coated well with the Sentry Solutions. It looks alot better but I can run my fingernail down the body of the blade and feel where the rust was. We'll see how fast it comes back. Pretty disappointing, I really like the feel and build of the knife but I can't abide a high maintenance knife for a work beater. Anything I have to carry that I rely on day in and day out I prefer to be a little more rugged and worry free. Which is why I carry a Glock. :)


(edited to add...the Dozier isn't bead blasted it's a bright shiny finish, well, a little less bright now but you get the point)
 
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