KaBar Dozier D2 - The Poor Man's Bugout?

[@insanogeddon]

More like the skilled man who knows whats what bugout. Bob Dozier was custom making these for top working professionals worldwide and made it available to all as he aged out of hectic work schedules. The longer you use it the more you learn why it works from hunting and breaking down ANYTHING to combat zones, making things in the bush, and prying even throwing for kicks.

[@felixf5211]

Looked up KaBar and realized that they're located in a town where my company has a number of accounts. I've been there many times. Next time I have to go, usually try to send someone else, better believe that I'll try to visit the factory. Why not?

[@richardvirchow3390]

I had two Dozier knives, one blue w satin blade and one grey w black blade. Last week while surfing the Internet, I saw a Dozier “murdered out” with black blade and black handle and it was $16. I had to have it so I ordered one and am waiting for delivery. Dozier knives aren’t GREAT but they are GOOD and they are INEXPENSIVE. I can’t wait to put the new one into my EDC rotation.

[@mdubb4855]

There's good blade retention in the handle thanks to the use of a standard (not TriAd) lockback, and springback if the thumbstud snags in my pocket (plus the thumbstud is tight to the handle and less likely to catch or snag). I like flipper knives but liner locks have no springback of blade into handle, once they break the ballbearing detent that keeps the blade in the handle on a liner lock, havoc can break loose in a pocket (blade jostles open and doesn't naturally re-close). Stock steel is AUS8 (Cold Steel claims their AUS8 is heat treated the best) but in general AUS8 is tough and sharp, but a little less stain resistant than 4116 IIRC. Not that I've had any brown spots, corrosion etc. I've seen a tear down. No washers (no brass, no Teflon). It looks scary simple, but the lockbar lockup looks tight, unlike a couple of knives from that Idaho company that haven't passed my light spine-whack safety check.

[@trioultimo]

it wont loosen. Im a painter, fixer assembler and use knives heavily. I had dozen of knives. Only two survived: victorinox onehand (but has no clip and had too accept some play) and dozier. Most vloggers have no experience with actually using them, they are collectors who fancy about flickering.

[@SquireSCA]

That's good to know. A lot of us collect them because we like the style or whatever, and don't really use them hard. Good to know that if you had to, that some of them would stand up to it.

[@decibellone696]

I love this basic knife... there is no going wrong with it. Its a good carry, it cuts boxes with the best of them (those basterd boxes make you have to work.. they deserve it), I've used it to get bacon bits from deer (some of you know what in talking about) for the price, even today (july 2024) - It will deter a bad guy, if the circumstances fit... this a good knife. you break it, loose it, get another one, its just as cheap. Its not the only knife I carry, but I carry it more than most.

[@prado.offroad]

i have 2 of these, the same blue D2 and the tan with the black coated blade, ive switched the blade over and i looks much better. been eyeing off the red handled version to have a play around with, thank you for the review and comparison video, very informative.

[@mdubb4855]

There is a D2 uncoated blade version (shiny) with black handle on the website, and Ka-Bar puts up the following warning: "Please note this product was previously made with AUS 8A Stainless Steel and you may receive a Dozier with this steel if purchased from a third party. You will only receive this knife in D2 steel when purchased directly from KA-BAR." It's around $35 on the Ka-Bar website which is not as bad as the $51 listed for the blue handle and tan blade finish on the original D2 version. I'd like to see black handle, D2, black Cerakote blade version; the black paint used on the basic models gets beat up pretty quickly. D2 cries out for a good quality coating to stave off corrosion (though in practice, compared to baseline carbon steel, D2 has a relatively high level of chromium for near-stainless performance).

[@4estral]

I believe the seam is where the two halves are electra-bonded together (not sure about the term). The blade rides on two slightly raised discs that serve as washers, they are molded into the inner zytel. One of the best knife designs ever.

[@mdubb4855]

"that substitute for washers" (and do it well) technically not "serving" as washers since they don't rotate or provide a separate layer - some readers may think they truly act like washers, but they actually just reduce the friction we'd have if the slab sides made full contact. But yes that is exactly what I saw in an online teardown, it looked like a miniature ring or moat around the pivot area on each handle side - kinda scary how minimalist (cheap?) it looked, the lockback spring was - what's the word that's the opposite of robust, but not insulting like "fragile" (which it isn't). As you mentioned, a very clever design because the "feel" is very consistent compared to manufacturers that just sandwich the blade between the left and ride handle slabs.

[@Goose_Gear]

I like mine. I also wanted to change the scale colors. I have a red one in AUS8 and tried to swap scales, but I couldn't figure out the spring pin. I'm not sure if it will come off or not. Glad to hear your post office finally delivered your knife! Cheers!

[@gator8918]

The spring pin is rivited in. The only way to remove it is to grind off one side and knock it out and replace it. The scales are frequency welded together also and do not come apart even if you remove the spring pin and all screws.

[@Goose_Gear]

@@gator8918 thanks for the tips. That sounds like too much effort!

[@gator8918]

@@Goose_Gear yes and one of the many reasons I do not like this knife. I gave it a fair shot but it's just not for me

[@dourmoose]

I carry one of these almost everyday. It’s a fine budget knife.

[@justmeiswear]

Nice blade. I forgot all about the doziers. Need to pick one up now. Check out Rough Ryders Apta line. I think you’ll be happily surprised.

[@SquireSCA]

I just reviewed an Apta slipjoint with a Wharncliffe blade a few weeks ago, scroll through my videos, love it!

[@justmeiswear]

@@SquireSCA Oh man I can’t believe I missed it! Headed there now to check your review.

[@randomstuffman01]

Good review. The Kabar Doziers look good. Thanks. toronto canada.

[@usernameisusername]

I had to start taking steroids and workout 6 hours a day just to be able to open my dozer

[@SquireSCA]

Yeah, that was why I took mine apart and polished the surfaces that made contact with each other when opening. Also loosen and lube the pivot...

[@Musicerik100]

Hey. I just got one of these. Been using it for bout a week. Seems like opening the knife has become harder and harder. Noe til the point that it hurts my finger and i have to use 2 hands to open. Ive tried washing it, but doesnt help. Is this normal ?? Any tips to fix it ???

[@SquireSCA]

Check the pivot for lint or anything and make sure its not too tight. Also, put 1 drop of oil in the part of the blade where the lock bar drags on it when you open and close it. I have to do that to my Spydercos from time to time until they truly break in and those surfaces are glass smooth.. .

[@Musicerik100]

Ok cool i will. What kind of oil would you recomend for this ?? Thanks

[@SquireSCA]

@@Musicerik100 Any kind really. I usually have a small bottle of synthetic motorcycle oil on my desk for oiling knives and guns...

[@derekdavis6508]

Joe x torture test, now I gotta pick up another one.

[@mikafoxx2717]

Cheaper knives are the ones you actually use hard. What's the point of an expensive tough knife if you're not going to abuse it a little bit when you need to? Sometimes you're going to need to cut or scrape near metal. best not to worry too much about it.

[@SquireSCA]

That's a fair point... These days I am carrying a SAK or a Leatherman, for that reason...

[@Tom-r1r]

the sensible mans bugout.

[@waynecowan2007]

I just have always wondered everyone of the so called knife gurus that do video and go on and on about this steel type or this steel type blah, blah.. what the hell are yall doing with your knives that makes that matter? I've got quite a few knives never paid over $50 for them crkt, kershaw, buck, Gerber etc.. and have never broken a blade or anything like that besides one using one to pry on something which really knife isn't meant for but even then it just bent a little.. personally as much I really like knives some of the really expensive ones I think are just crazy to be that much and would ever consider paying that for a knife. Especially if you use a knife regularly and being that everyone I have purchased for $50 or less have always done the job for me.. Just my opinion I guess to each they're own..

[@SquireSCA]

I tend to agree. I have plenty of knives with higher end steels, but cheaper D2 works just fine for me...

[@gator8918]

I bought this knife, Blue bladed D2, with high expectations after hearing all the hype for years. It was a disappointment right out of the box.other than the D2 steel, this ranks right there with a 1980's gas station knife. K-bar dropped the ball with this one. This was my first K-bar and will most likely be my last. The only thing it has on an el cheapo Walmart or gas station knife is the decent fit and Finnish. There is nothing I like about this knife other than the blade steel. It plain sucks. The thumb stud is small and painful and too close to the handle. You can't flick it open without major breaking in and a little work. The pocket clip is horrible, you can't take the scales apart for cleaning, the lock is way too sticky, even after polishing, there are no washers of any kind, the pivot screw is terrible and the screw detent that I'd supposed the keep it from spinning stripped the first time I took it out and the spear point design leaves a lot to be desired. Even for a cheap beater knife this one totally sucks. I'll stick with Cold Steel. I have been buying Cold Steel products since the late 80's and have only had one knife that I didn't really care for from them and I have a lot of them. This Dozier is total garbage in almost every aspect.

[@SquireSCA]

Really? I felt like for the price it made a decent cheap little knife. Nothing it really stood out good or bad... Just seems like a nice enough knife for folks that don't want to spend a lot, but don't want an unheard of brand from Amazon...

[@lechitic3348]

Does a bugout thumb stud fit on a dozier blade? Lost mine and dozier replacment parts are not available where I live. I could order a bugout thumb stud easily though.