HAK Knife Criticism

K

knifezoid

Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
1,981
Not from me. Actually I just bought one. I like the concept
and always wanted a fixed blade, but without too much size.

I ran into this article reviewing the blade right after I bought
it. Don't know how much of it is true, which is why I wanted
you guys to chime in.

BTW, not trying to start another flame war with the whole SD
issue. This is one mans opinion and NOT mine. Personally I
just think the HAK is a cool concept of a blade and heard great things
about it. My primary reason carrying a knife is because they're
just too darn cool and useful not to carry. SD is not a primary concern
for me.

Skim/read the article and lemme know what you guys think. Is it me
or is he too harsh?

http://nazisonshoreleave.independentengineering.us/?p=210

(NOTE: NSFW banner at top for those who care.)
 
I agree the blogger is an idiot, he makes a valid point that his knife was dull and didn't fit--they are supposed to be sized to your hand/fingers, that is the only reason a 6 week wait would be acceptable to get one IMO. I have heard of customer service and QC issues with HAK but I like the basic concept.

Idiot blogger seems to miss the point that a knife you have with you is infinitely better than a larger knife you don't. Yes most would prefer a large fixed blade for combat but how often do you actually have it on you? Not to mention can you conceal it? The many carry options and concealability of the HAK make it very interesting. Plus he is very wrong to dismiss the damage that can be done with just 1 1/2 or 2 inches of sharp steel, I don't have the HAK (above mentioned customer service issues make me hesitant) but I have a LaGriffe, tangle with one of those and you will have a VERY bad day I assure you, "letter opener" my ass!
 
The blade is less than 2 inches. You heard me right, less than 2 inches! How in the hell am I supposed to defend myself with a blade that is less than 2 inches? My military background leads to me to believe that a 4 inch blade is “border lining” so I won’t even begin to consider a 2 inch blade.
Click to expand...

right.
 
From the blog entry:

The blade is less than 2 inches. You heard me right, less than 2 inches! How in the hell am I supposed to defend myself with a blade that is less than 2 inches? My military background leads to me to believe that a 4 inch blade is “border lining” so I won’t even begin to consider a 2 inch blade.

Uh, then why did you [the blogger] buy it? :confused: (I almost put a 'jerkit' smilie here. It would have been very appropriate IMO.) When I first saw these, I figured it would make a great box-opening tool for a shipping/receiving dept. somewhere. Self defense? -------> :rolleyes: :p

thx - cpr
 
orca8589 said:
From the blog entry:

The blade is less than 2 inches. You heard me right, less than 2 inches! How in the hell am I supposed to defend myself with a blade that is less than 2 inches? My military background leads to me to believe that a 4 inch blade is “border lining” so I won’t even begin to consider a 2 inch blade.

Uh, then why did you [the blogger] buy it? :confused: (I almost put a 'jerkit' smilie here. It would have been very appropriate IMO.) When I first saw these, I figured it would make a great box-opening tool for a shipping/receiving dept. somewhere. Self defense? -------> :rolleyes: :p

thx - cpr
Click to expand...

Actually I thought this a little after I read the blog myself. It was one of
those: HEY, Wait a minute! That makes NO SENSE! Moments.

Yeah the guy does sound a bit out of touch with... many things and I'll just
leave it at that.

When I get it I'll give you guys a review that will hopefully be a little
respectable.
 
Well, apparently the knife wasn't sharp when he got it, that's a bad thing. It's not all that much to ask to have the knife razor sharp out of the box, especially for a knife in this price range.

Then there's the size issue. He wasn't happy with the size, which of course could be because he didn't measure his fingers properly, but if he did give them the right finger measurements and the knife still wasn't the right size, that's not Ok.

The fact that the delivery time is long is of course totally in order, since it's a custom made knife. It should of course say on the HAK web site how long it will take before the knife is delivered though.

When it comes to the use of the knife he's way off of course. Where the hell do all these people come up with the idea that it's impossible to hurt someone with a 2 inch blade?? Especially a hawk bill style one. Sure, knife fighting is about range, but you don't always fight with it like you fight with a sword. When you're up close it doesn't matter as much how long the blade is.

He also totally misses out on the point that the knife makes it possible to hold onto other things at the same time. Sure, a 12 inch blade might be a better choice for a knife fight, but you don't have to chose, you can bring both. 12 inch blade in your right hand and HAK in your left, still enabling you to grab onto the other guy's knife arm if you need.

This is a backup weapon, nobody ever said anything else.
 
If I understand well, the story behind this knife is that it is invented by a woman as a weapon for self defense. And I think small knives can be really useful when you are under attack. Unless they have a gun or such like that, most attackers need to come close to be able to hurt you. They will mostly try to hit you or grab you. Then the distance is small enough to cut and stab the body of your attacker, and even a blade of only one inch can cause very deep cuts.

Besides, I think the guy of that article is more frustrated with the company then with the product. I think this article is a result of that frustration.
 
I was interested in the HAK, then I read about how bad the company is. Some people not receiving their knives, or when they do receive them they don't fit properly. Cool concept, but I'm not going to risk it on a company I've heard too much negative things about.

The blogger is obviously not happy about the company/knife. His imagination gets the better of him, but I wouldn't have any doubts on the knife he described and bad customer service.

Really is a shame though, because I really wanted to get one of these, but when I did a little research it deterred me away from them.
 
A post from 2007 only highlights the past difficulties of HAK. I could dredge up the same about Tracfone from 2005.

The resulting exchange of martial arts based conversation after the article reveals a lot, as it drags out over more than a year. Didn't know the blogger was a veteran of six continuous years of combat, it certainly didn't leave him any time to discover the other side of combatives - nose to nose CQB. He misses the point that if you're in range of his 12 inch battle blade, it's not much different if it's a two inch HAK. At least you can carry the HAK in daily life where walking around in full battle rattle will get a SWAT team call out. Calling in artillery at that point will be moot.

A good example of just how "experienced combat experts" are still required to keep learning and growing. Had he taken the time to work with and understand the knife in it's proper application, education might have happened.
 
I bought one of these and it really was a POS. I actually felt a little relief when the crappy Kydex sheath got hot in the sun, came apart and the knife dropped in the river. Mine didnt fit either, even after sending them the right measurements. Had to double wrap it. Off center grind. Crappy knife, crappy sheath, crappy service=HAK.--No thanks.--KV
 
Pity. I ordered one 6 months ago (a utility they had in stock) and I think it's great. It came very quickly and fitted perfectly.

Supposedly the company had issues a few years back but they've been trying to turn it around.
 
Yeah, looks like it's either ON or OFF for this company. I took a bit of a chance.
I would have bought an alternative, but there really isn't anything like this in
the market that appealed to me.
 
this seems like a very reasonable concept for concealable EDC/urban self defense, i highly doubt that *insert W&C language* who posted that review has EVER been in a self defense scenario or even has any clue of what said situation would encompass.
anyone with more than video-game knife-fighting experience know the kind of damage a blade that size and shape could very easily bestow upon an attacker.
...clearly an arm-chair commando throwing a hissy fit about the bad shipping time and "dull" blade.
honestly i think the blade probably arrived reasonably sharp, but because it wasnt katana sharp ass-face decided to brand the knife as bad quality, but that is just my speculation.
 
I ordered my first one back when they were getting on their feet, got it in a couple months. Amazing product, been EDCing it ever since, training with it, it really does grow on you. Ordered two since then, one was a gift for a friend, and both of them arrived within a week, even with cord wrapping. Don't even bother with the custom makers, just get whatever is in 'Available Now' and it'll get to you in good time.

It's a very addicting knife for carry, I've carried two without any issue and often forgot I had them with me. The capsule concept is a pretty genius thing, I've used one for everything from break down boxes for a move, to actually wearing it while I shoot to show a LEO friend how it works. It's a small blade, but growing up in the Midwest with its three inch limit, I was very used to it. The draw is practically a magic trick once you get used to the capsule, it hides in your jeans or jacket as a cloth loop if you have it cord-wrapped. I've openly neck-carried it throughout Chicago and the suburbs, and no one's ever even figured out it was a knife. They weren't sure what it was, but 'knife' was last on the list. Steel-wise, 440C is a bit soft, but with Sharpmaker UF rods I was able to split hairs with one. Edge retention is decent, not ideal, but decent.

Regarding the blog...It's still one of the top entries on Google somehow. The sizing and order issue is really all he has to complain about, any review that takes a shot at the designer for being female is a red flag for idiocy.
 
There are more than a few "red flags" in that post. He refers to FS as "that dumb b*tch" and says she quit "due to menopause or something," among the many incredibly offensive things he has to say. There's no point in even calling attention to a "review" of this type; it's not worthy of consideration and can be dismissed as the ravings of yet another anonymous internet poseur.
 
I know this is an ancient thread. But, I just have to chime in. Today, I got a response to a request I made of HAK in 2013. I said, thanks, but no thanks. 6 years for a response. Wow.
 
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