Ka Bar Dozier Folding Hunter review
Jun 5, 2010 20:51:46 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2010 20:51:46 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]Ka Bar Dozier Folding Hunter review[/glow]
by
Sébastien Bilodeau, Montréal, Québec
Introduction
This review is about the Ka Bar Dozier Folding Hunter. The model that I own is the satin plain bladed one with a pink handle and thumb notch (see here ; www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=KA4065PK ).
I ordered this folder, along a few other knives, not long ago. I learned about this model by browsing through knifecenter's website and took the plunge after hearing high praises about this product on Youtube. These comments were from NutNFancy, a man who often post video reviews of knives, guns and other types of gear on Youtube. Since he is in the U.S. military forces and often go in the wilds, I tend to highly value his comments about knives. In this case, his comments made me take the plunge with this knife. I decided to take the pink- thumb-notch version because I wanted to support charity and because I was thinking that the thumb notch would make this folder easier to deploy.
I bough this knife from www.knifecenter.com , for 20 bucks. Shipping was very quick and well-priced (although Fedex was kind enough for charging me extra money when the box arrived at my doorstep... ).
First Impressions
The folder came in a small Ka Bar box, with a small catalog (in which a fair nubmer of the knives were discontinued, the catalog was probably from last year or before). This knife feels very light and comfortable in hand. Blade is solid, handle feels great, overall, seems like a well-made, quality knife.
Here's a few numbers and informations, taken from knifecenter's website ;
•Blade Length: 3"
•Overall Length: 7 1/4"
•Weight: 0.14 lbs.
•Shape: Clip
•Stamp: KA-BAR
•Edge Angle: 15°
•Steel: AUS 8A Stainless Steel
•Lock Style: Lockback
•Grind: Hollow
•Handle Material: Pink Zytel
•HRC: 56-58 CR
•Pocket Clip: Yes*
•Made in Taiwan
*The pocket clip can be unscrewed and placed on the right or left side of the folder, according to a clip I saw on youtube.
Blade and fittings
The edge is almsot straight for the first 2/3 of the blade, then curv slightly toward the point. The back swells around an oval-shaped thumb hole (vaguely similar to the one found on Spydercos), then curve toward the tip. The satin finish looks great. The edge is very sharp, it cuts paper very easily, and the point is very acute. The blade as some distal taper, which probably explains in part the very light weight of this knife.
The handle is made of pink Zytel. It feels confortable and fits nicely into my hand. However, the lack of gimping on the back of the blade and the ergonomics of the handle make any thrust very unsafe ; any jab or thrusting movement that face resistance will make the hand slide on the blade's very sharp edge.
The lock feels very sturdy, once deployed, the blade doesn't budge. Speaking of deployment, let's talk about this folder deployment speed. The blade is easy and quick to deploy, its light weight is helping a lot in that regard. However, the thumb notch is a bit narrow and misplaced (too close to the handle and too far from the ''hilt'', in my opinion), which may require some deployment practice before beeing able to quickly and easily deploy this folder. I had some trouble deploying this knife one-handed, but was able to deploy it easily with practice and after getting some hints from a fellow VIP reviewer (hints which you will see by scrolling down this page).
Overall, I think this is a very good everyday carry folding knife. It is light, comfortable to carry and it has a very sharp blade straight out of the box. I think this folder's super sharp edge and lightweight will make it a decent self-defense weapon, but the handle will make any thrusting strikes unsafe for the user's hand, and the tricky deployment wouldn't help, too, without some practice.
Again, take this with a pinch of salt, I never had to use a knife in the wilderness, nor to use one in a fight, so take these into account when reading this review.
Here is a short clip of me fouling around with this knife and deploying it one-handed (and using my other hand to film the clip ...). You will notice I did a couple of unsafe things that shouldn't be done with a folding knife, in my honest opinion ; deploying it one-handed less than a feet from my cat (which is unsafe, but maybe you wouldn't mind doing the same if you really dislike you cat), closing the folder with one hand, closing the folder by pushing it, even gently, on your own leg ... Anyway, be more careful than I was with a sharp blade, I think some of these small mistakes could've easily cut me ... or my cat ...
Conclusion
Pros
-Super sharp edge right out of the box
-Lightweight
-Overall quality of the fittings ; very good for the price, in my opinion
-Comfortable handle
Cons
-Tricky deployment
-Handle makes thrusts unsafe
For less than 25 $, this knife offer many good qualities, it is sturdy, very sharp and light, and doesn't feel cheap. The deployment could be improved, but I don't think this is a deal-breaking issue, considering this seems to be a mostly working knife and not a self-defense one.
by
Sébastien Bilodeau, Montréal, Québec
Introduction
This review is about the Ka Bar Dozier Folding Hunter. The model that I own is the satin plain bladed one with a pink handle and thumb notch (see here ; www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=KA4065PK ).
I ordered this folder, along a few other knives, not long ago. I learned about this model by browsing through knifecenter's website and took the plunge after hearing high praises about this product on Youtube. These comments were from NutNFancy, a man who often post video reviews of knives, guns and other types of gear on Youtube. Since he is in the U.S. military forces and often go in the wilds, I tend to highly value his comments about knives. In this case, his comments made me take the plunge with this knife. I decided to take the pink- thumb-notch version because I wanted to support charity and because I was thinking that the thumb notch would make this folder easier to deploy.
I bough this knife from www.knifecenter.com , for 20 bucks. Shipping was very quick and well-priced (although Fedex was kind enough for charging me extra money when the box arrived at my doorstep... ).
First Impressions
The folder came in a small Ka Bar box, with a small catalog (in which a fair nubmer of the knives were discontinued, the catalog was probably from last year or before). This knife feels very light and comfortable in hand. Blade is solid, handle feels great, overall, seems like a well-made, quality knife.
Here's a few numbers and informations, taken from knifecenter's website ;
•Blade Length: 3"
•Overall Length: 7 1/4"
•Weight: 0.14 lbs.
•Shape: Clip
•Stamp: KA-BAR
•Edge Angle: 15°
•Steel: AUS 8A Stainless Steel
•Lock Style: Lockback
•Grind: Hollow
•Handle Material: Pink Zytel
•HRC: 56-58 CR
•Pocket Clip: Yes*
•Made in Taiwan
*The pocket clip can be unscrewed and placed on the right or left side of the folder, according to a clip I saw on youtube.
Blade and fittings
The edge is almsot straight for the first 2/3 of the blade, then curv slightly toward the point. The back swells around an oval-shaped thumb hole (vaguely similar to the one found on Spydercos), then curve toward the tip. The satin finish looks great. The edge is very sharp, it cuts paper very easily, and the point is very acute. The blade as some distal taper, which probably explains in part the very light weight of this knife.
The handle is made of pink Zytel. It feels confortable and fits nicely into my hand. However, the lack of gimping on the back of the blade and the ergonomics of the handle make any thrust very unsafe ; any jab or thrusting movement that face resistance will make the hand slide on the blade's very sharp edge.
The lock feels very sturdy, once deployed, the blade doesn't budge. Speaking of deployment, let's talk about this folder deployment speed. The blade is easy and quick to deploy, its light weight is helping a lot in that regard. However, the thumb notch is a bit narrow and misplaced (too close to the handle and too far from the ''hilt'', in my opinion), which may require some deployment practice before beeing able to quickly and easily deploy this folder. I had some trouble deploying this knife one-handed, but was able to deploy it easily with practice and after getting some hints from a fellow VIP reviewer (hints which you will see by scrolling down this page).
Overall, I think this is a very good everyday carry folding knife. It is light, comfortable to carry and it has a very sharp blade straight out of the box. I think this folder's super sharp edge and lightweight will make it a decent self-defense weapon, but the handle will make any thrusting strikes unsafe for the user's hand, and the tricky deployment wouldn't help, too, without some practice.
Again, take this with a pinch of salt, I never had to use a knife in the wilderness, nor to use one in a fight, so take these into account when reading this review.
Here is a short clip of me fouling around with this knife and deploying it one-handed (and using my other hand to film the clip ...). You will notice I did a couple of unsafe things that shouldn't be done with a folding knife, in my honest opinion ; deploying it one-handed less than a feet from my cat (which is unsafe, but maybe you wouldn't mind doing the same if you really dislike you cat), closing the folder with one hand, closing the folder by pushing it, even gently, on your own leg ... Anyway, be more careful than I was with a sharp blade, I think some of these small mistakes could've easily cut me ... or my cat ...
Conclusion
Pros
-Super sharp edge right out of the box
-Lightweight
-Overall quality of the fittings ; very good for the price, in my opinion
-Comfortable handle
Cons
-Tricky deployment
-Handle makes thrusts unsafe
For less than 25 $, this knife offer many good qualities, it is sturdy, very sharp and light, and doesn't feel cheap. The deployment could be improved, but I don't think this is a deal-breaking issue, considering this seems to be a mostly working knife and not a self-defense one.