- Joined
- Apr 27, 2011
- Messages
- 3,202
Thanks to KA-BAR, Guyon, fire, steak, and cameras, I was able to win a Dozier hunter in a contest on this here forum. I've had it for a while and this was my first chance to use it, which was also a perfect opportunity to snap some photos and do a little review. My kids are fighting over this knife and there's a chance one of them will ultimately get it, but the thought kind of scares me... the damn thing is a razor, and my kids are none too smart.
First test: cutting open packaging.
In olden days men used their blades for things like killing yetis and winning their independence from legions of the King's swordsmen; today, when modern man can be bothered to put the chips down and step away from the computer, it's almost always to go buy stuff. In this context, opening factory packaging is a very common need for the modern pocketknife. I finally gave in and picked up a multitool, so I went to town on the multiple layers of plastic and cardboard. The hollow grind on what is still kind of a thick blade just absolutely destroyed this stuff.
Next, food prep. I wish my mom had cooked brussel sprouts when I was a kid the way my wife cooks 'em now; I'd probably be less messed up. Cutting food is an absolute dream with this insanely sharp knife.
I stabbed my finger when I was opening the package, so I'm starting to think KA-BAR should require people to take an IQ test or something before they are allowed to have one of these things.
Carving: Had some fatwood chunks that I wanted to cut into candles and matches, and the knife worked fine. Pitchwood is hard and not particularly nice to any knife when it's not being chopped, so the hunter did as well as anything else I've tried.
I had some real dry birch which I like for carving, and the knife was great! Lots of control, nice tip, good edge geometry. I carved a few lanyard beads, including one in the likeness of Arkanian on the boards here but I don't want to show that... what happens in chat stays in chat.
Other random stuff: It's nice that the thumb stud and clip can be reversed for those unfortunate enough to have been cursed by nature with left-handedness. The clip is really, really tight and I have a hard time actually getting it to open enough to attach onto my pocket edge. The pivot has a torx slot on one end which I'm guessing allows you to dismantle the knife and clean out all the cake that gets smooshed inside. Authoritative snap, no blade play, and the lock tightness is just right. The blade for me is a little hard to deploy using the stud. I had made some less-than-complimentary comments on the jimping earlier but in looking closer I now think it's implemented quite well. If I was going to improve anything about the handle, I'd have KA-BAR put a texture on the edges too and not just the sides. I have big hands and this fits really well. It weighs almost nothing and is undetectable in the pocket.
To sum up, this is yet another KA-BAR knife that combines great style and truly amazing design and performance in a ridiculously low price. If my heart wasn't already lost to the Phat Bob I'd carry a Dozier hunter all the time. As it is, I'll be picking up several more to scatter around so that there's always one close at hand. Thanks Guyon!
First test: cutting open packaging.
In olden days men used their blades for things like killing yetis and winning their independence from legions of the King's swordsmen; today, when modern man can be bothered to put the chips down and step away from the computer, it's almost always to go buy stuff. In this context, opening factory packaging is a very common need for the modern pocketknife. I finally gave in and picked up a multitool, so I went to town on the multiple layers of plastic and cardboard. The hollow grind on what is still kind of a thick blade just absolutely destroyed this stuff.
Next, food prep. I wish my mom had cooked brussel sprouts when I was a kid the way my wife cooks 'em now; I'd probably be less messed up. Cutting food is an absolute dream with this insanely sharp knife.
I stabbed my finger when I was opening the package, so I'm starting to think KA-BAR should require people to take an IQ test or something before they are allowed to have one of these things.
Carving: Had some fatwood chunks that I wanted to cut into candles and matches, and the knife worked fine. Pitchwood is hard and not particularly nice to any knife when it's not being chopped, so the hunter did as well as anything else I've tried.
I had some real dry birch which I like for carving, and the knife was great! Lots of control, nice tip, good edge geometry. I carved a few lanyard beads, including one in the likeness of Arkanian on the boards here but I don't want to show that... what happens in chat stays in chat.
Other random stuff: It's nice that the thumb stud and clip can be reversed for those unfortunate enough to have been cursed by nature with left-handedness. The clip is really, really tight and I have a hard time actually getting it to open enough to attach onto my pocket edge. The pivot has a torx slot on one end which I'm guessing allows you to dismantle the knife and clean out all the cake that gets smooshed inside. Authoritative snap, no blade play, and the lock tightness is just right. The blade for me is a little hard to deploy using the stud. I had made some less-than-complimentary comments on the jimping earlier but in looking closer I now think it's implemented quite well. If I was going to improve anything about the handle, I'd have KA-BAR put a texture on the edges too and not just the sides. I have big hands and this fits really well. It weighs almost nothing and is undetectable in the pocket.
To sum up, this is yet another KA-BAR knife that combines great style and truly amazing design and performance in a ridiculously low price. If my heart wasn't already lost to the Phat Bob I'd carry a Dozier hunter all the time. As it is, I'll be picking up several more to scatter around so that there's always one close at hand. Thanks Guyon!
