Opinions Please! (Kabar Dozier Thorn)

W

wolfy

Joined
Jan 6, 2002
Messages
37
Hi, I was hoping to get some opinions from anyone who has one of these great looking knives. I just ordered one today and I think it looks like a great design. Thanks in advance! :D
 
a review I wrote for another forum in january

Well, mine arrived this morning, and I have a bandaged thumb this evening!

It is a beautiful piece of design and workmanship. Excellent fit and finish. RAZOR sharp. I've been playing with it all day, and after a bit of cycling, it snaps open very easily. Closing the tablock lets the blade drop partially closed, to the strong detente. The clip is very well placed, too.

Of course, I used it on whatever I could legitimately find to cut: another package, some envelopes. With the factory edge, it went through them with no drag at all. I cut off and sliced a chunk of sausage, too. Also, couldn't feel it going through. Yes, there's a new bald spot by my wrist.

(Unfortunately, I continued "playing" after I was too relaxed, too late in the day, and let the blade brush my thumb. Sliced off a thin layer, just enough for the blood to seep out. Didn't feel a thing, naturally.)

I am very pleased with this knife. I like it a lot better than the CS Ti-Lite, which is a nice piece of work itself. But the Thorn is a lot classier, very elegant.
 
No, but I might have to get one now.
 
For folks who might not know what this piece looks like: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=186564

I have one. It's very well made. Fit/finish is excellent, grinds are even, and edge quality is top notch. Lockup is perfect with no blade play at all. Though, the clip on mine has a few scuffs (as pocket clips sometimes get this way), but with the bead blasting, the scuffs really stand out. If it gets worse, I'll probably take the clip off and hand rub a satin finish on it. That's really the only complaint I have on this.
 
my brother has one...if you can,try to handle it before you buy.
dont get me wrong.
Great knife,very good QC,blade steel,grinds,etc etc.

But its not for everyone. Definitely not a 'me-too' knife.

Of course, my advice is only worth what you paid for it.
 
Originally posted by MAURICE
But its not for everyone. Definitely not a 'me-too' knife.
Click to expand...
Good advice, good advice,
Good advice costs nothing,
And it's worth the price! :D

He's right, of course. The Thorn is just about the same blade and handle length as a small Sebenza, 3", 7" overall. Unlike the Sebenza, it is not a classic work knife, it's a dagger, and small for self-defense.

Kind of a gentleman's knife with an attitude!
 
Looks good. I like spearpoints and a hollow ground D2 blade should get scary sharp quite easily.
 
Anybody have a pic of the lockup on one of these? I'd love to see how it looks. Thanks again to everyone!
 
Looks like a righthander's knife -- is lefthand opening an exercise in contortion? Also, will the blade "disappear" into the handle? That is, could the back be sharpened and still be pocket safe?
 
It is a righthander's knife -- lefthand opening would be an exercise in total futility. The blade disappears into the handle completely. You could make a double edge dagger out of it with no problem or hazard at all.
 
I just got one of these knives today..
VERY nice...
A little oil, a little practice and it flicks FAST, locks up tight.
Right hand flicks take only thumb effort. The knife can be flicked opened using the left hand, but it takes coordination between a quick push by the left forefinger and a downward snap movement by the left wrist/forearm.
The shape of the handle makes for a good, no-slip grip. Very light, very slim (excluding the clip, the handle is about 6.5/16th of an inch thick - 10 to 11 mm).
It makes a great pocket "shank." If you need a light low-profile folder to poke holes in things, this is it.
 
I know it's been a while, but I was wondering if it'd be possible to open the Thorn by wrist flicking the blade, without using the thumb stud. Would it open as easily as a regular liner lock folder?
This is important to me, since I'm left-handed.
 
wolfy, you can check out the Thorn in the current issue of Tactical Knives. They did an EXCELLENT review and article of the great 'little big knife'. ;)
 
Leo,

The Thorn has a small flipper, similar to some of the Onion/Kershaw models. It obviously doesn't have the Speed Safe mechanism, but you can give the flipper a little push at the same time flicking your wrist, and the blade will snap open. I'm a righty, and open mine with this method sometimes. I think it should work for lefties too. Maybe you can find one in a B&M knife store to try it first - if it works for you, you could even buy it there.

Ken
 
Well, I really like the look and feel of the Thorn, but mine had significant blade-play right out of the box. I'd love to use it as an EDC, but I'm going to have to send mine back to correct this problem. I probably just got a dud :(
 
I have a Thorn, and although I don't carry it much, I agree with everyone that the knife is extremely well made and sharp. The basic blade shape is that of a spearpoint dagger, not unlike the old Mel Pardue 350/3500 series. One could also think of the Thorn as a narrowere version of the Spyderco Native. Although the original conception behind the Thorn's blade shape is self defense, I think that spearpoints like the Thorn work well as basic utility knives. The Thorn also has the benefit of being very thin and light. It makes a great daily carry because it is so light that it is almost unnoticeable.
 
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