Best Skinning knife for $200

[senderomag]

I’ll have to re confirm which dozier I ordered from ag Russell. Really I should buy a bunch of them and just re sell here. Not going to pop my fellow outdoorsman on a great knife

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by senderomag

Hi pathfinder. The top knife.

Order from Crotts. Dozier is an insane wait.

[senderomag]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

Order from Crotts. Dozier is an insane wait.

3/5 months from ag russel for a dozier

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by senderomag

3/5 months from ag russel for a dozier

Yes, if you want what they stock. If you want that Crotts knife he is a similar wait. I ordered my two Jan 15th ish. So 3.5 months.

[Savage Bacon]

For all of you ordering Dozier knives, are you just going with the available Arkansas Doziers?

I guess whether you get a Crotts or Dozier, it isn't made by Dan or Bob unless your paying the big bucks?

I've been checking out this thread for the past few days and I'm thinking I might want to order one of these beauties. Trying to decide on which one is the hard part.

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[Pathfinder76]

I’m not sure anyone has ordered a Dozier here but I could be wrong. They can be picked up at a few dealers if you watch.

Crotts knives are made by Dan.

Here is a shot of the red liners.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by senderomag

Hi pathfinder. The top knife.

Why not just order a Crotts? He runs the Arkansas Made Dozier shop, and has for years. On some of the knife forums, people suggest that the stepson may have already surpassed the father. To order one that Bob Dozier puts his paws on will be a bit of a wait, and from his instagram page, it seems to me that he is mostly focusing on folders, but from time to time he posts a pic of some really nice fixed blades he’s putting out, but they are fancier, and twice the cost (or more) than the the stuff coming out of the Arkansas Made Dozier shop.

Either way, they are gorgeous knives, and I have never read anything except glowing reviews about both of their products, and I have spent oodles and oodles and oodles of hours reading every word I possibly can.

Have I mentioned I’ve fallen down this rabbit hole

I am honestly more excited about getting one of these knives than I have been for any gun I have ever bought.

But back to your question about which model of Dozier is similar to the Crotts knives Pathfinder just got. Here is a link to Arkansas Made Dozier fixed blad huntin styles. I would say the Columbia River Skinner is about the closest. Problem is that it says there is a 3 year wait to order directly, but their knives do pop up every week at AG Russel, Arizona Custom Knives, and Fort Henry Knives.

I also see them being resold by individuals from time to time on Bladeforums, as well as 24 hr Campfire.

http://www.dozierknives.com/index.ph...d=8&Itemid=109

[Coiloil37]

From my experience Dan puts out a more consistent product.

I’ve bought Doziers that were as good as a Crotts, some that were very close and I owned one I had to send back that should have never made it out of the shop. It’s replacement was the first one I know Dan built himself and it was mint. After that, I went straight to him for the rest of my knives. He does bloody good work, look at Chucks knife. From what I can see the grinds are crisp, exact and it’s something anyone would be proud to own.


That’s not to say Doziers aren’t finished to a high level but they could be made by a few people and are less consistently excellent as what I’ve found Dan’s knives to be.

For those who wonder about the dozier I sent back








There was more but I don’t need to show it.

I haven’t owned one built by Bob because the ones he builds now don’t suit my taste. I have no doubt they’re great.



Chuck, for some reason the scales on your knife reminded me of g10 even though you said in the beginning you had ordered micarta. Probably because the micarta I’ve owned didn’t show any grain like yours does. Good looking knives, go get em bloody.


On more thing. Now this is something I’ve read and seen reports on. I’ve personally never verified it so take it for what it’s worth.

I notice you’ve put an edge on that knife already. D2 has large carbides and I’ve read not to take it past 15 deg per side as you run the risk of carbide tear out if there isn’t enough supporting steel matrix around the carbides to hold them in. I can’t tell what angle you finished that on but it looks to be a lot more acute then whatever angle Dan finishes at. If you get a ragged edge on that knife after some use that would be why. It’s also possible your nowhere near 15 dps and I’m just blowing smoke.

[Pathfinder76]

Yikes!

They are green canvas, and highly polished. And feel no different than G10 really.

Funny thing. My Dozier semi skinner was advertised as green canvas. But came with one side brown and one green. The workmanship is flawless, but it makes me wonder if it is a return.

[Athabasca1]

All three of those knives, two Crotts and one Dozier are works of very skilled craftsmen.

[graybeard]

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/14249...ed-blade-knife

They have several in stock, at the Calgary location.

[Pathfinder76]

I took the hide off of someone’s bear last night. I did it alone, so as to get a feel for how they work when I’m fatigued. I split the bear about half and half with each. Both seemed equal in that task. Then skinning I switched back and forth. About 1/3 through I grabbed some water and went back at it with the Crotts. Then switching to the Dozier I suddenly felt I was having to work harder with my hand so went right back to the Crotts and finished with it. It is very easy on the hand. You don’t feel like you are wearing out with it. Both are fantastic and I wouldn’t feel under equipped with either. Both were still sharp at the end. I have a 17 degree edge on the Dozier and 20 on the Crotts. Both finished with a 2200 grit diamond stone and then stropped. For what that is worth.

[sns2]

Way to go, Pathfinder. Interesting thoughts for sure! Great pics too.

[cody j]

Originally Posted by sns2

Way to go, Pathfinder. Interesting thoughts for sure! Great pics too.

X2, skinning a bear is a good test

[senderomag]

Pathfinder, how sharp was the knife after skinning? Shaving arm hair sharp? Could those knives have done another bear without sharpening? Thanks

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by senderomag

Pathfinder, how sharp was the knife after skinning? Shaving arm hair sharp? Could those knives have done another bear without sharpening? Thanks

They were shaving sharp. That’s how I tested them.

[Savage Bacon]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

They were shaving sharp. That’s how I tested them.

Like Crocodile Dundee?

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[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Savage Bacon

Like Crocodile Dundee?

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Yea, that’s a knife alright.

[Coiloil37]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

I have a 17 degree edge on the Dozier and 20 on the Crotts. Both finished with a 2200 grit diamond stone and then stropped. For what that is worth.

When I first read that I saw you finished them at 220 grit and thought that would be a bit course… then I read it again. I’m curious what they cut like finished at 2200 PLUS a strop. I’ve never taken one past 1000 grit. Would you consider finishing one or both somewhere between 600-1000 grit and comparing their cutting aggression and edge retention against the 2200?
At roughly 800 grit you’ll need a few animals to knock the shaving edge off it.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Coiloil37

When I first read that I saw you finished them at 220 grit and thought that would be a bit course… then I read it again. I’m curious what they cut like finished at 2200 PLUS a strop. I’ve never taken one past 1000 grit. Would you consider finishing one or both somewhere between 600-1000 grit and comparing their cutting aggression and edge retention against the 2200?
At roughly 800 grit you’ll need a few animals to knock the shaving edge off it.

I’m absolutely willing to try that.

[Savage Bacon]

Well thanks a lot guys I just purchased a Crotts semi skinner with a black maple handle.

Now if someone can help me set up a go fund me page, everyone that contributed to this thread can send me a couple of dollars.

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[fishnguy]

^ Lol.


Great pics, Pathfinder! I thought you would like the crotts better.

Can’t wait for the “test” results should you proceed.

Originally Posted by senderomag

Could those knives have done another bear without sharpening? Thanks

Have no doubt they will.

Originally Posted by fishnguy

It’s in the box, lol. Maybe I will dig them out to post in the other thread (the knife collection or whatever it is called).

I dug up the box over the weekend. Not the one I intended, but this knife was in it. Some of the other ones I wanted to post weren’t, so I will only post here instead of the other thread as promised. It appears to be very similar to the one I posted earlier, except the handle on mine is more brown rather than reddish and it is polished unlike the one on the pic I posted earlier.







Steel is Elmax, like the other one posted from Fort Henry.

Originally Posted by sns2

I really like both the brown and green micarta handles. You almost had me ready to change my order.

You should! Lol. Seriously though, you should. Micarta > wood, any day

[Pathfinder76]

That’s a beauty!

[sns2]

Originally Posted by fishnguy

^ Lol. You should! Lol. Seriously though, you should. Micarta > wood, any day

Tupperware stocks are more functional than wood too, but I like pretty

[cody j]

My curiosity got the best of me, I ordered a Crotts semi skinner. Hopefully I have it before fall.

[Dean2]

This thread has sold a metric ton of knives. Talk about purchase mentoring. 😁

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Dean2

This thread has sold a metric ton of knives. Talk about purchase mentoring. 😁

No doubt. Lol

[Pathfinder76]

I think Dan has quit taking orders at the moment actually.

[sns2]

I was speaking with Wendi and she said they were stopping orders until they could catch up with the backlog.

Dean, we are still looking at 6-8 weeks.

[270person]

Originally Posted by sns2

Tupperware stocks are more functional than wood too, but I like pretty

Which does not explain your penchant for shooting Tupperware.