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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Mountaineer Pass around has begun
- Thread starter DPKnives
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2007
- Messages
- 1,402
I am really over due on my public review of this knife and I owe it to Doug for including me on this and for his fine workmanship. Unfortunately, this knife landed at a bad time due to my schedule and my schedule has not let up. My open apology to Doug and to my forum-mates on the lateness of this review.
When the box came, I couldn't figure out what it may have been because my inclusion on the passaround had completely slipped from my mind (yes, I'm that busy that knives have been out of a lot of my thoughts... (I also need a "loco" smiley here)). A quick open of the package brought the contents and purpose immediately back to mind.
When I received the package, it was nice and secure, wrapped in bubble wrap and nice and safe. There was a brown sewn sheath and just a little bit of the handle sticking up from it. The sheath didn't seem like my style - you see, I'm probably more of the "combat/tactical" style W&SS guy more than the traditional style - but owning knives made by Doug, Stomper, Landi, and an order pending from Nick with NWA Knives does change my mind at times. Taken in context of the passaround, the sheath is nice and functional. I would personally prefer a little more of the handle exposed but I didn't get to spend enough time with it to see if that would have reduced the security of the knife in the sheath.
This is the 5th knife of Doug's that I've handled. I own three and TonyM included me in on his passaround last year.
Initially, the blade did not "float my boat". The Purple Heart on the handle was absolutely nice and the pins and tubes were well done. The file work on the knife was very well done as well. The handle just seemed smaller in all than what I am used to or would seemingly prefer. The blade had a mirror finish to it - nicely done - but for a functional blade it wouldn't be my first choice. The carbon steel had some light staining on it from previous use but it wasn't a detractor. It handled ok but it just didn't seem to get me - initially. I put the knife back in the sheath and didn't think about it much the rest of that evening after the long day.
Then time to work with it came. I took it out and did a quick wash of the blade - mirror-finished knives in the leather sheaths and shipping don't always make for the best combo for the finish. Everything was good. I took the knife and photographed it and some of the details.
Great workmanship and a good quality blade.
Next to one of my DPs for comparison:
One of the things I noticed was the change in Doug's DP logo - subtle but I like it - you can see it on the Mountaineer.
Then I took the Mountaineer and my son outside and it was time to work. All of a sudden the knife really seemed to have a whole new "life" with me. The more I handled it during the initial photographing and moving it around the more it grabbed my attention.
I really thought the handle was "small" for me but what I came to realize that it was really fast in handling it. It could be grabbed and moved in the hand very quickly. Point of balance was just in front of the index finger in a standard grip and it felt pretty good. You can see from the pictures there's a little bit of a thumb ramp and it helped for some fine work.
I ran though some standards and everything worked well with the Mountaineer. Because I'm used to "sharpened pry bars" I would probably glove up if I was going to chop for any extended time but isn't that what axes are for too? It will baton, make notches, chop, and make curls.
The blade profile is one that I can't say I've used much before.
I didn't really get any action shots but here are a few with curls and check out the bite it got on a single chop into the wood.
Final thoughts:
Would I buy one? - Initially, no. After handling, yes. It was very fast in the hand and handled an array of tasks well. It would be a great camp knife and paired with something like a SAK I think anything could be handled that you need a knife for and a little more. It handled some fine food cutting well and it just worked.
What would you change? - I'd probably go a little more basic, personally. No file work, standard "rough" finish, and no decorative pins. I'd probably see if we could use a hollow tube in the back for a lanyard or locate a lanyard hole in it. I may even see if it could be a little taller in height at the notch towards the back of the handle but that is my personal thing - remember the "pry bar" thing... - a little modification/change to the handle, but that's my thing. Doug's design works.
If you have small hands or like smaller handles on a bigger blade you will like this one.
Overall - thumbs up! The handling of the knife went well beyond my initial impression and really became a quick, nice blade.
I'd probably get one in Blood Wood to match my other DPs.
If you've ever thought about a DP, contact Doug! He does good blades at great prices and is a really good guy to work with. With good products like this and my other DPs, Doug will just keep moving up. Get one now!
When the box came, I couldn't figure out what it may have been because my inclusion on the passaround had completely slipped from my mind (yes, I'm that busy that knives have been out of a lot of my thoughts... (I also need a "loco" smiley here)). A quick open of the package brought the contents and purpose immediately back to mind.
When I received the package, it was nice and secure, wrapped in bubble wrap and nice and safe. There was a brown sewn sheath and just a little bit of the handle sticking up from it. The sheath didn't seem like my style - you see, I'm probably more of the "combat/tactical" style W&SS guy more than the traditional style - but owning knives made by Doug, Stomper, Landi, and an order pending from Nick with NWA Knives does change my mind at times. Taken in context of the passaround, the sheath is nice and functional. I would personally prefer a little more of the handle exposed but I didn't get to spend enough time with it to see if that would have reduced the security of the knife in the sheath.
This is the 5th knife of Doug's that I've handled. I own three and TonyM included me in on his passaround last year.
Initially, the blade did not "float my boat". The Purple Heart on the handle was absolutely nice and the pins and tubes were well done. The file work on the knife was very well done as well. The handle just seemed smaller in all than what I am used to or would seemingly prefer. The blade had a mirror finish to it - nicely done - but for a functional blade it wouldn't be my first choice. The carbon steel had some light staining on it from previous use but it wasn't a detractor. It handled ok but it just didn't seem to get me - initially. I put the knife back in the sheath and didn't think about it much the rest of that evening after the long day.
Then time to work with it came. I took it out and did a quick wash of the blade - mirror-finished knives in the leather sheaths and shipping don't always make for the best combo for the finish. Everything was good. I took the knife and photographed it and some of the details.
Great workmanship and a good quality blade.
Next to one of my DPs for comparison:
One of the things I noticed was the change in Doug's DP logo - subtle but I like it - you can see it on the Mountaineer.
Then I took the Mountaineer and my son outside and it was time to work. All of a sudden the knife really seemed to have a whole new "life" with me. The more I handled it during the initial photographing and moving it around the more it grabbed my attention.
I really thought the handle was "small" for me but what I came to realize that it was really fast in handling it. It could be grabbed and moved in the hand very quickly. Point of balance was just in front of the index finger in a standard grip and it felt pretty good. You can see from the pictures there's a little bit of a thumb ramp and it helped for some fine work.
I ran though some standards and everything worked well with the Mountaineer. Because I'm used to "sharpened pry bars" I would probably glove up if I was going to chop for any extended time but isn't that what axes are for too? It will baton, make notches, chop, and make curls.
The blade profile is one that I can't say I've used much before.
I didn't really get any action shots but here are a few with curls and check out the bite it got on a single chop into the wood.
Final thoughts:
Would I buy one? - Initially, no. After handling, yes. It was very fast in the hand and handled an array of tasks well. It would be a great camp knife and paired with something like a SAK I think anything could be handled that you need a knife for and a little more. It handled some fine food cutting well and it just worked.
What would you change? - I'd probably go a little more basic, personally. No file work, standard "rough" finish, and no decorative pins. I'd probably see if we could use a hollow tube in the back for a lanyard or locate a lanyard hole in it. I may even see if it could be a little taller in height at the notch towards the back of the handle but that is my personal thing - remember the "pry bar" thing... - a little modification/change to the handle, but that's my thing. Doug's design works.
If you have small hands or like smaller handles on a bigger blade you will like this one.
Overall - thumbs up! The handling of the knife went well beyond my initial impression and really became a quick, nice blade.
I'd probably get one in Blood Wood to match my other DPs.
If you've ever thought about a DP, contact Doug! He does good blades at great prices and is a really good guy to work with. With good products like this and my other DPs, Doug will just keep moving up. Get one now!
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2007
- Messages
- 3,407
cmdr249 simply awesome. You brought out the good and the bad from a user stand point with larger hands. It looks to me that this knife is kind of surprising some of the users on how well it all comes together as a package. Nice job and worth the wait. Thanks. Doug
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2008
- Messages
- 9,491
Ok. where to start... I have owned quite a bit Dougs work in the past, but none of his recent work has made it into my hands. Doug has always made a solid knife with a solid heat treat. I am never worried about beating on a knife Doug made.
This Mountaineer interested me because of its size and the fancy filing and pins. The fit and finish of the knife were ok. There is some nitpicky stuff that I can pick on but the important parts were good. There are no gaps between the handle and tang, and the pins are flush to the handle.
The file work is nice. I liked it, but it should have ended where the handle ended. It looks kind of funky after that.
The bowie style blade was good. I wouldn't mind a lil more weight forward. I found the balance to be just after the handle.
Like Rockywolf, I also liked the handle. The thickness was good and it is rounded making it comfortable. The butt end looks cool, but I would prefer it thicker. This way if I was to slide my hand back to get more weight forward for chopping; it would give me more to hold on to.
The mirror polish was very well done. If you don't like it, it is easy to take it off. But it's a pia to put it on. So I appreciate when a maker does it.
Doug, I am pretty sure you like honest feedback, so I am giving it to you. I know you can make a helluva knife and I want to see you improve. The grind on this knife is a lil uneven. It is lower on the side with your mark and higher on the otherside.
You also took a lil more off on the side with the mark. It's visible here.
This won't hurt the function to bad, but its the difference between you selling 100 dollar knives and 200+ knives. I would like to see you getting more.
Your edge has improved. You always shipped me a sharp knife, but sometimes the edge was a lil thick for my liking. Nothing wrong with that, most makers do that. However this one is nice and thin. It worked very good with wood.
Here's some use pics.
Batonning was no problem.
With the thin edge it made great fuzzies.
I know, if its to thin it may not be strong enough. No worries on Doug's blades. Prying wood with the tip. It never felt fragile.
and drilled well for a non spear point.
It is also nice to see you making leather sheaths. I like them a helluva alot better than your kydex...
All in all it was a nice knife to play with. I won't hesitate to order more of your knives in the future. I think you should keep it simple, and when you master simple move on to the fancy stuff. In the mean time I will keep beating on the DP Knives that I own. They are great users.
This knife will ship tomorrow to the next guy. Thanks again for the opportunity to participate.
This Mountaineer interested me because of its size and the fancy filing and pins. The fit and finish of the knife were ok. There is some nitpicky stuff that I can pick on but the important parts were good. There are no gaps between the handle and tang, and the pins are flush to the handle.
The file work is nice. I liked it, but it should have ended where the handle ended. It looks kind of funky after that.
The bowie style blade was good. I wouldn't mind a lil more weight forward. I found the balance to be just after the handle.
Like Rockywolf, I also liked the handle. The thickness was good and it is rounded making it comfortable. The butt end looks cool, but I would prefer it thicker. This way if I was to slide my hand back to get more weight forward for chopping; it would give me more to hold on to.
The mirror polish was very well done. If you don't like it, it is easy to take it off. But it's a pia to put it on. So I appreciate when a maker does it.
Doug, I am pretty sure you like honest feedback, so I am giving it to you. I know you can make a helluva knife and I want to see you improve. The grind on this knife is a lil uneven. It is lower on the side with your mark and higher on the otherside.
You also took a lil more off on the side with the mark. It's visible here.
This won't hurt the function to bad, but its the difference between you selling 100 dollar knives and 200+ knives. I would like to see you getting more.
Your edge has improved. You always shipped me a sharp knife, but sometimes the edge was a lil thick for my liking. Nothing wrong with that, most makers do that. However this one is nice and thin. It worked very good with wood.
Here's some use pics.
Batonning was no problem.
With the thin edge it made great fuzzies.
I know, if its to thin it may not be strong enough. No worries on Doug's blades. Prying wood with the tip. It never felt fragile.
and drilled well for a non spear point.
It is also nice to see you making leather sheaths. I like them a helluva alot better than your kydex...
All in all it was a nice knife to play with. I won't hesitate to order more of your knives in the future. I think you should keep it simple, and when you master simple move on to the fancy stuff. In the mean time I will keep beating on the DP Knives that I own. They are great users.
This knife will ship tomorrow to the next guy. Thanks again for the opportunity to participate.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2007
- Messages
- 3,407
Tony Nicely done. I knew the grinds are off and I would not be able to sell it that way so it ended up here for a bunch to play with. For some reason I have not been able to get my grind lines where I want them, so as you saw in the for sale thread I went to a full taper or flat grind on that one. I am glad you got to play with this one and enjoyed it. thanks much. Doug
Alrighty folks, I have the knife laying right beside my computer. I actually received it last thursday but haven't had a chance to ring it out yet. I will over the next couple of days cut something with it, I promise.
Initial observations: This knife is not nearly as large as I thought it was in the pics. I think the shape and size of the handle makes it look like the blade is much bigger. Now don't get me wrong, it is no small pocket fixed blade but it's not some huge chopper either. At first glance I didn't think I was going to like the handle. I tend to prefer a bit broader handles. After handling it quite a bit I have just about changed my mind. It seems to sit nicely in both a hammer and a saber grip. Another initial observation was that it was not all that sharp. Again, seems that I was wrong. It cut paper very nicely. Now it will not shave my arm hairs but I'm going to strop it some tomorrow and I bet it just might when I get done.
Anyway, off to bed soon. I'll post more and ship it by Saturday, rain or shine.
Thanks so much for letting me in on this.
Charlie
Initial observations: This knife is not nearly as large as I thought it was in the pics. I think the shape and size of the handle makes it look like the blade is much bigger. Now don't get me wrong, it is no small pocket fixed blade but it's not some huge chopper either. At first glance I didn't think I was going to like the handle. I tend to prefer a bit broader handles. After handling it quite a bit I have just about changed my mind. It seems to sit nicely in both a hammer and a saber grip. Another initial observation was that it was not all that sharp. Again, seems that I was wrong. It cut paper very nicely. Now it will not shave my arm hairs but I'm going to strop it some tomorrow and I bet it just might when I get done.
Anyway, off to bed soon. I'll post more and ship it by Saturday, rain or shine.
Thanks so much for letting me in on this.
Charlie
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2005
- Messages
- 6,105
Alrighty, blade got to me finally! This was a real treat to find in the mailbox yesterday.
I've been looking forward to checking out Doug's work for quite a while now, and this is actually my first hands-on exposure to it. It's obvious from the get-go that Doug has put a lot of work into this blade and into the design, so let's start with that aspect.
This blade is kind of hard to peg down into a basic category; it's not quite a bowie/fighter and it's not quite a chopper. It ends up being a pretty healthy blend of both. It's fast handling overall but it's got enough forward balance that it'll still do some chopping when you need it to. It's got more chopping ability than my Kabar but isn't that much heavier. And of course, it's got plenty of length for a solid baton target.
The handle on this blade is thinner than I care for as far as carving is involved. It's pretty well rounded though so there's less of an issue with hot spots building up. For general chopping/slicing, the size isn't a source of discomfort (and obviously lends to the forward balance). It's also long enough that you can take a distal chopping grip without fear of losing control of it, or get high & tight for carving or better slicing control.
The slabs have an attractive, dark tone to them and the mosaic pins are a nice touch. But I've got a thing for mosaics I guess. The file work adds a lot of personality to the whole setup, classy! The grinds were a little off, as has been pointed out, but it's a small cost that let us all get a chance to play with some steel! It wasn't shaving sharp when it arrived, and I didn't want to mess with it further as far as removing any steel at the edge. Stropping left it serviceable. The sharpness has nothing to do with Doug, since I think every passaround knife I've gotten (where I've been a downstream player) has been a good bit less sharp than what the maker originally sent out. It's just the nature of the beast!
The leather, last but not least, was pretty attractive and had built up some character after visiting so many friends. The stitching was strong and even, and the leather cuts were pretty straight overall. A bit of sanding/polishing along the edges would really make it 'shine'. It's also pretty lightweight, which is a blessing. It's a bit frustrating to me to carry a knife that has a sheath as heavy as my canteen.
All in all, it's a solid blade. This size class isn't my usual style for a woods blade, and I knew that going into things. For those who prefer a midsize blade and have slightly smaller hands, I think this is a great contender in the custom realm. Thanks for letting me play!
I've been looking forward to checking out Doug's work for quite a while now, and this is actually my first hands-on exposure to it. It's obvious from the get-go that Doug has put a lot of work into this blade and into the design, so let's start with that aspect.
This blade is kind of hard to peg down into a basic category; it's not quite a bowie/fighter and it's not quite a chopper. It ends up being a pretty healthy blend of both. It's fast handling overall but it's got enough forward balance that it'll still do some chopping when you need it to. It's got more chopping ability than my Kabar but isn't that much heavier. And of course, it's got plenty of length for a solid baton target.
The handle on this blade is thinner than I care for as far as carving is involved. It's pretty well rounded though so there's less of an issue with hot spots building up. For general chopping/slicing, the size isn't a source of discomfort (and obviously lends to the forward balance). It's also long enough that you can take a distal chopping grip without fear of losing control of it, or get high & tight for carving or better slicing control.
The slabs have an attractive, dark tone to them and the mosaic pins are a nice touch. But I've got a thing for mosaics I guess. The file work adds a lot of personality to the whole setup, classy! The grinds were a little off, as has been pointed out, but it's a small cost that let us all get a chance to play with some steel! It wasn't shaving sharp when it arrived, and I didn't want to mess with it further as far as removing any steel at the edge. Stropping left it serviceable. The sharpness has nothing to do with Doug, since I think every passaround knife I've gotten (where I've been a downstream player) has been a good bit less sharp than what the maker originally sent out. It's just the nature of the beast!
The leather, last but not least, was pretty attractive and had built up some character after visiting so many friends. The stitching was strong and even, and the leather cuts were pretty straight overall. A bit of sanding/polishing along the edges would really make it 'shine'. It's also pretty lightweight, which is a blessing. It's a bit frustrating to me to carry a knife that has a sheath as heavy as my canteen.
All in all, it's a solid blade. This size class isn't my usual style for a woods blade, and I knew that going into things. For those who prefer a midsize blade and have slightly smaller hands, I think this is a great contender in the custom realm. Thanks for letting me play!
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2005
- Messages
- 6,105
Thanks Doug! This one is now on its way to the next gent, should be there midweek. Thanks!
MacHete
Hair Cropper & Chipmunk Wrangler
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2000
- Messages
- 2,559
Just checking in-
Spooky, the knife arrived yesterday right before I left for work. Thank you!
I'm working a TON of overtime this month, and maybe some of next month. -Good for bills and for Christmas, but bad for knifetime. The Mountaineer will see some kitchen duty tomorrow, but serious field time may have to wait until Sunday. I hope to get it out a little bit before then, because it's supposed to rain all weekend here. :grumpy:
Spooky, the knife arrived yesterday right before I left for work. Thank you!
I'm working a TON of overtime this month, and maybe some of next month. -Good for bills and for Christmas, but bad for knifetime. The Mountaineer will see some kitchen duty tomorrow, but serious field time may have to wait until Sunday. I hope to get it out a little bit before then, because it's supposed to rain all weekend here. :grumpy:
MacHete
Hair Cropper & Chipmunk Wrangler
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2000
- Messages
- 2,559
First of all, I am very sorry for bottle-necking this passaround. As I mentioned above, a whole bunch of unexpected (though welcome) overtime has come my way, and that, coupled with the fact that I work night shift, has made "knife time" very precious indeed.
On to the review!
When I first saw pictures of this knife, I was very curious about how it would perform as a "camp knife". I had doubts about the slight humpback profile, and I thought the handle- though beautiful, in fact downright elegant- looked a little undersized.
When I actually held the knife, I still thought the handle was a little small, but it was very comfortable and the knife was surprizingly nimble and wonderfully balanced. In fact, I think the Mountaineer handles more like a fighter than a camp knife.
I first used the knife in the kitchen to chop some bell peppers, celery and an onion. (Sorry for the lack of food-prep pics- they didn't turn out well at all.)
It handled the chopping tasks fine. I tried to see how thinly I could slice the onion with it, and it did reasonably well for it's blade thickness. My only complaint about it's kitchen performance is the very slight recurve at the base of the blade that forced me to chop with the middle of the edge or use pull-cuts.
On to the review!
When I first saw pictures of this knife, I was very curious about how it would perform as a "camp knife". I had doubts about the slight humpback profile, and I thought the handle- though beautiful, in fact downright elegant- looked a little undersized.
When I actually held the knife, I still thought the handle was a little small, but it was very comfortable and the knife was surprizingly nimble and wonderfully balanced. In fact, I think the Mountaineer handles more like a fighter than a camp knife.
I first used the knife in the kitchen to chop some bell peppers, celery and an onion. (Sorry for the lack of food-prep pics- they didn't turn out well at all.)
It handled the chopping tasks fine. I tried to see how thinly I could slice the onion with it, and it did reasonably well for it's blade thickness. My only complaint about it's kitchen performance is the very slight recurve at the base of the blade that forced me to chop with the middle of the edge or use pull-cuts.
MacHete
Hair Cropper & Chipmunk Wrangler
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2000
- Messages
- 2,559
I took the Mountaineer out to my fire pit for a little light workout. I found a small piece of pine sapwood (not quite fatwood- but it works) and started shaving some curls and fuzz.
The three curls on the tip each came from a different part of the blade- the tip the base and the middle. This knife is so well balanced that fine carving is possible along its entire length, and it is not a small knife. :thumbup:
I didn't have time for a big fire, so I just lit the small pile the knife had given me. It took a ferro-spark very easily.
With it's fine-carving abilities proven, I tried out some rough-carving on a bigger piece of wood. Here it turned the end of my current fire-pokin' stick- a fallen sycamore branch- into a pointed stake.
Next came some choppin'.
For a camp knife, I found the Mountaineer a little disappointing as a chopper. It's excellent balance works against it for this task, and the slightly undersized handle does not allow for a confident grip when swinging. If there were a way to magically enlarge the handle by about 15% while keeping the proportions exactly as they are, I think it would be perfect. As you can see, my "notch" is actually wider than the thickness of the branch, and -honest- my aim is usually better than that.
Finally, some batoning.
The branch was small and already a little punky, so I felt alright batoning across the grain. It cut clean and easily, except when I smacked my thumb with the baton.
Overall, the Mountaineer is solidly built, well-finished and could be tweaked into an exceptional performer at several diverse tasks.
Sixfooter- I really wanted to get the knife to you for the Labor Day weekend, but I obviously failed. I have it cleaned up, but have not had a chance to touch up the edge. I will do my best to get it on it's way to you by this weekend. Sorry again for the delays, and thanks again for the opportunity to participate!
The three curls on the tip each came from a different part of the blade- the tip the base and the middle. This knife is so well balanced that fine carving is possible along its entire length, and it is not a small knife. :thumbup:
I didn't have time for a big fire, so I just lit the small pile the knife had given me. It took a ferro-spark very easily.
With it's fine-carving abilities proven, I tried out some rough-carving on a bigger piece of wood. Here it turned the end of my current fire-pokin' stick- a fallen sycamore branch- into a pointed stake.
Next came some choppin'.
For a camp knife, I found the Mountaineer a little disappointing as a chopper. It's excellent balance works against it for this task, and the slightly undersized handle does not allow for a confident grip when swinging. If there were a way to magically enlarge the handle by about 15% while keeping the proportions exactly as they are, I think it would be perfect. As you can see, my "notch" is actually wider than the thickness of the branch, and -honest- my aim is usually better than that.
Finally, some batoning.
The branch was small and already a little punky, so I felt alright batoning across the grain. It cut clean and easily, except when I smacked my thumb with the baton.
Overall, the Mountaineer is solidly built, well-finished and could be tweaked into an exceptional performer at several diverse tasks.
Sixfooter- I really wanted to get the knife to you for the Labor Day weekend, but I obviously failed. I have it cleaned up, but have not had a chance to touch up the edge. I will do my best to get it on it's way to you by this weekend. Sorry again for the delays, and thanks again for the opportunity to participate!