Some Dozier Questions

J

Josh Feltman

Joined
Feb 12, 2001
Messages
4,501
I've been looking at small Dozier fixed blades lately, and I have a few questions. I've pretty much narrowed it down to either the straight personal or the slim outdoorsman, and my main question relates to handle size. I have fairly large hands, and I am concerned that the handles on these knives might be too small for me. For reference, I just measured my palm across its widest point, and it is about 3.75 inches, or 9 centimeters. Anyone with a similar hand size use these knives? how do they feel in your hand? What about the finger grooves on the straight personal? I am also considering the pro guide, mainly for the larger handle. I am open to suggestions, so fire away.
Thanks,
--Josh
 
Josh, First of all I can just about assure you that you will not be disappointed with any knife you get from Bob Dozier. My hand measures about the same size as yours. I just received a Straight Personal that I ordered directly from Dozier and I love it! But then I am drawn to smaller things, knives included. It fits in my hand well and I like the finger grooves. I also recently bought a Straight Hunter from Dozier for a friend of mine. It is larger, but still a relativey small knife. I think probably the Straight Hunter actually felt a little better in my hand, but if I had to choose between the 2, I would still choose the Straight Personal.

It's a tough choice. I agonized over all of them on his web site. I want them all!

Darryl
 
I,too, own a Dozier straight personal and find it to be an
ideal everyday knife that cuts everything I've ever thrown
at it each day. I didn't care for the odd kydex sheath so
I made a simple fold over leather sheath that really solved
my concerns.

The interesting thing about the little personal is it doesn't
seem to know it's only 2 7/8" long in the blade dept. Mine
cuts like it's at least 5" long most of the time. No, I don't
chop etc. with it just cut and boy is it a dandy. Buy one,
mate and use it for a while .........you'll see what I mean.
 
The handles on both of those are not overly large. But yet feel good to me. I have medium hands.
I suggest that if your buying one, you get one from someplace like A.G. Russel, knifeart.com or bladeart.com so you can send it back if its not your cup of tea. No need to wait four months only to find out you dont like it. Bob gets the money either way. Some of his skinners have much bigger handles. Might be wise to check with Bob. See what he thinks. Cause he's DA MAN!!!! Love his work and own 4 of them.
 
Definately get in touch with the Doziers. Ms. Linda is real helpful and probably gets asked this question alot. I'm sure she wouldn't mind an e-mail :)
I'm surprised that you don't like the sheaths, Tightwad.
I was going to start a thread about how good (& underrated) they are!
I can take out my K-9 quietly and it snaps back with an authoritive thunk.
Do you press down on the belt loop while lifting the handle?

After a little practice, you can 'squirt' the sheath off the knife :)
 
Josh, my palm measures 3.75" at the knuckles & about 4" at its widest point. FWIW, both the straight personal & slim outdoorsman fit my hand well. As Darryl said, I doubt that you'd be disappointed with any of Bob's knives. His ergonomics are great.
 
Ebbtide, don't get the wrong idea about the kydex sheath.
I just don't like a cross draw sheath at all and it was right
hand when I got mine. It is important to note there was
nothing wrong with Bob's work!!! It was just me.

I have another custom made Dozier that has a vertical
left hand kydex sheath that I think is great!! So it like
I said it's just me. Bob & Linda are two of the nicest
folk's I;ve ever done business with.
 
My hand measures about 4" across--And I have both a slim outdoorsman and a personal. The SO barely makes it for me, but it is such a great utility knife and I can drop it in my carpenter bags easily. The Personal seems like a great knife, but it is smaller in the grip so I don't use it at all. Some day I hope to graduate to a larger skinner--Pro Guide was too big.
Good luck!
Barry H
 
I hear ya Tightwad ;)
Sometimes I think that I'll send my Model 6 back to the Doziers for an IWB sheath...but then I realize I couldn't be without it for that long.
:D
 
Bob will make the handle a little longer for a nominal charge, maybe $10 or so. Call them up and talk to them; Linda is a sweetheart.
 
Josh:
My hands are similar to yours in size. I have several Dozier knives, the slimest of which is the "Toothpick" which I asked Bob to make a little longer. The handle is slim but fits well. The one that feels the best in my hand is the "Bodyguard." It is well-balanced and has a real solid, hefty feel for a small knife.
 
If you like a larger handle that really fills a large hand, check out Bob's "Master Hunter" available from AG Russel. I have a medium sized hand and love my K-1. I've also handled the slim outdoorsman and the straight personal and like those handles too. The MH, by contrast is too big for my hand...
 
If you order from Dozier direct, it is possible to "customize" handle, for example, make slightly longer or shorter? Is this not typical for custom maker to do so?
 
Martin, Yes, I'm sure you can get any knife Bob makes "your way" if
you talk to them . They make my "custom" Dozier as a modification
of a standard skinner. I asked Bob to change the blade shape a bit and
finger groove the handle ,then I wanted yellow linen micarta for the
handle in a left handed kydex sheath. All that I ask Bob to do was done
just as I ask for a small resasonable price increase and bit longer wait.

So what ever concerns you have phone Bob and talk to him. He's a very
nice fella. As long as you don't want weird I'm sure he'll build one for
you.
 
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