Hannibal Lecter's knife...

G

Glock_Racer

Joined
Jun 16, 2001
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18
Okay I just watched the DVD movie "Hannibal" and in it he used what seems to be a Spyderco Harpy or the Civilian (I searched some posts regarding this). Spyderco only makes them in the serrated edge models. I'm looking for a plain-edge one, can anybody recommend a similar "bearclaw" type design that's a folder and in plain edge?
 
Originally posted by Toolin
You can get both the Harpy and Civilian plain edge.
Click to expand...

Do I have to special order it through Spyderco or something? I cannot find either models in plain-edge anywhere.
 
i've seen plain edge harpys and civvies at www.knifecenter.com though i would think 1sks has them too - i have seen them on the knifecenter site i am sure - if not the best prices, they are usually in the park, and good pics - i usually use them to check out pics, they have a good site - i would get the civvy betewwen the two imho, a bigger knife, but much more $$ - have you thought of a matriarch, same thing but serrated and about $60, vs over 120 for the civvy, and dont know what the harpy runs,,,,,


sifu
 
Thanks for the help guys. I think I'm gonna go with the Civilian in plain edge. Although its a little expensive (around $159), its one sick looking knife:)
 
I agree, nothing else looks quite like a Civilian (unless you get into some of Steve Ryan's custom work). The Civilian has serious intimidation value if you ever have to draw it against a BG.
 
They used a Harpy in the movie. I rtecently acquired a Merlin (which is almost identical to the Harpy except for a minor difference in grip) with a plain edge. This purchase was partially inspired by the movie. What can I say, I love movies, I love knives :D
 
I myself spent a good deal of time rewinding back and forth between the scenes he uses the Harpy. After he slits the guy's throat, I thought I saw a stainless handle as he is wiping the blood off of his face. Don't really know for sure.
 
If your going to get the Civilian only use it for SELF DEFENCE. It is to hard to sharpen, and the tip is to thin for anything else.
 
In the book he had both the Civilian and Harpy- i agree that these knives, especially the civilian are self-defense machines, but the blade shape is limited in terms of utility- also looks like they might be a beatch to sharpen, luckily my merlin's still shaving from the factory edge- after some pretty decent use, i might add. :D
 
Glock_Racer -- Bayou LaFourche, one of hte best web knife vendors in my estimation, has the plain-edged Merlin for $45. I'll attach their picture of it.

Want to second the recommendation about the fragility of the point on the Civilian. Not a hard use knife at all, according to much I've read.

I tend to think that the more plain hawkbill of the Harpy and Merlin have considerably stronger blades than the Civilian and Matriarch. Also, should you ever be frisked by an LEO, I think explaining the utility uses of hte knife would prove extremely difficult. There are many other knives out there -- including several Spydercos -- that are, IMHO, more effective self-defense knives than the hawkbills. If, of course, you're well trained in the Philippine martial arts, that would be the opposite for you. Yet, those other knives don't scream WEAPON at you when you glance their way. Something to think about.

Good luck with your choice.
 
Having just seen the movie last night, thought I'd ask a question. While I too noticed the Harpy that Hannibal used, no one posted about the knife which Agent Starling pulled out to cut Hannibal loose. If I am not mistaken, a Microtech D/A Socom, Tanto, Plain Edge. Did anybody else notice that?

Just curious.
 
I too noticed the Microtech SOCOM used by agent Starling. Am I mistaken, or did Clarise hand the SOCOM over to Hannibal so he could cut himself free? For a moment I was thinking: Oh no! Watch out, he's got himself another knife! :D
 
speaking of knives in movies, i just saw jay and silent bob strike back, (great movie by the way) and in one of the scenes someone whips out a socom elite tanto. i was like, hey, that's a socom elite, and everyone i was with thought i was weird. i do that a lot when watching movies, no one understands :(

- Pete
 
I have this movie on DVD and have looked over the knife scenes frame by frame.

The knife is without a doubt a stainless Harpy and in many of the views it does appear to be a plain edge, but I think this is because of the lighting. In other views (but not as much) I could make out the serrations on the blade.

Spyderco did at one time make a stainless plain edge Harpy, I know because I have one :D
 
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