Harpy

Screwdriver

Screwdriver

Joined
Feb 27, 2010
Messages
1,785
A couple years ago I was at Salton Sea for a photoshoot. While scouting, I stopped at an Indian Casino on the West side of the lake and won $200 playing the penny slots. We were staying in Calipatria and they had a little general store with a few knives, some being Spydercos. I ended up buying a Harpy for $70. The Harpy sat in my drawer up until a few weeks ago. I am digging this knife, and it has turned into my EDC.

Anyone else carrying Harpys?
 
I just ordered the SS Harpy with a full serrated blade. Considering I cut alot of bags and boxes at home the hawkbill / full serrated blade should cut like butter for what I need. Don't know if it will be my EDC but it will get called on quit often. Currently my Goddard lightweight sprint is my EDC.
 
i edc the byrd meadowlark hawkbill fully serrated edge. i think it is about the dimension of the harpy. it is a specific knife when i have to cut a lot of rags at work and it did really well.
 
I like the Harpy. Perfect self defense weapon, but it's purpose built for something other than self defense and doesn't have a pointy blade (i.e. not a dirk/dagger) and thus it's legal (<3") most places in the US as long as they allow lockbacks. It's easy to open with one hand; with the thumb hole, spydie-drop or flicking.

Not the best EDC if you need a straight edge blade, but those serrations will cut through just about everything. I've had a G-10 version for almost 15 years now. It has held up well. I had one problem; the tip would hit the backspacer and dull. A little careful filing on the spacer took care of it years ago. You need to get a Sharpmaker to keep it sharp though.
 
I use my Harpy as a companion EDC in addition to my main EDC which currently is my Spyderco C-60 Massad Ayoob, G-10 Sprint model. I find Hawkbills useful for a lot of cutting jobs and mostly the rough ones. I find that the full Spyderedged Hawkbills are great for many rough cutting jobs.

I've used Spyderco Hawkbills for a companion blade for years now and I wouldn't be without one. I truly wish that they would bring back the Harpy with a G-10 handle. I do believe that the Harpy model won't be going away anytime soon. It is a very ridgid medium sized Hawkbill blade that has a lot of uses.

I do always carry some model of plain edged Spyder but over the years I've found that a Hawkbill is truly an indespensible tool.

The Tasman in the H-1 Salt Series is a great Hawkbill as well but there is something about the solid rigidity of the Harpy that just can't be equalled.

You're not the only one I've talked to that uses the Harpy as their main EDC blade>> and if it works for you that's great. The Harpy and the Police models are truly 2 of the most time tested models that Spyderco ever put out.
 
From what I have found out ~~ in Tn. you get caught with a Hawk-Bill Knife period you will see da Judge who will take a good chunk of your money and possible 'Jail" time ~~ that is why I have never carried one here and sold both of mine almost as soon as I got them.! Then I took one in a trade deal and it went straight in my Spydie Collection ~~ you can own one but not carry by itself ~~ more or less like our Switchblade laws in Tn. ~~ own them but can't carry just one of them.!**
Law Enforcement only.....!!!!
 
wolf-man-12 said:
From what I have found out ~~ in Tn. you get caught with a Hawk-Bill Knife period you will see da Judge who will take a good chunk of your money and possible 'Jail" time ~~ that is why I have never carried one here and sold both of mine almost as soon as I got them.! Then I took one in a trade deal and it went straight in my Spydie Collection ~~ you can own one but not carry by itself ~~ more or less like our Switchblade laws in Tn. ~~ own them but can't carry just one of them.!**
Law Enforcement only.....!!!!
Click to expand...

Off Topic: Umm, I used to live in TN and I have never seen anything in the law like what you are talking about. This is my TN knife law resource: http://knife-expert.com/tn.txt Post #2 in this thread pretty much covers the law. The written law says no knives over 4" or switchblades or gravity knives. IDK, about what the average cop thinks but I see no reason for a judge to convict you under the written law.

On Topic: This thread makes me want a serrated Salt hawkbill... I don't need it but it would be cool to carry.
 
Squashfan said:
Off Topic: Umm, I used to live in TN and I have never seen anything in the law like what you are talking about. This is my TN knife law resource: http://knife-expert.com/tn.txt Post #2 in this thread pretty much covers the law. The written law says no knives over 4" or switchblades or gravity knives. IDK, about what the average cop thinks but I see no reason for a judge to convict you under the written law.

On Topic: This thread makes me want a serrated Salt hawkbill... I don't need it but it would be cool to carry.
Click to expand...

I also own a SE Tasman Salt. I used to EDC it, and will again. Only SE i have yet to touch up. Just keeps cutting.
 
wolf-man-12 said:
From what I have found out ~~ in Tn. you get caught with a Hawk-Bill Knife period you will see da Judge who will take a good chunk of your money and possible 'Jail" time ~~ that is why I have never carried one here and sold both of mine almost as soon as I got them.! Then I took one in a trade deal and it went straight in my Spydie Collection ~~ you can own one but not carry by itself ~~ more or less like our Switchblade laws in Tn. ~~ own them but can't carry just one of them.!**
Law Enforcement only.....!!!!
Click to expand...

No disrespect intended Wolf-Man but I'm a bit confused here :confused: Now I'm not disputing you in any way but that just doesn't make any sense at all. Most all tradesmen that lay carpet or linoleum floors all use Hawkbill blades of some type>> so is it against the law for them to use their legitimate tools??? :confused: And really a Hawkbill blade isn't really known for it's martial arts aspects as much as it is known for it's specializes uses in the fishing industry and for many of the construction trades as I mentioned.

Here in Missouri I've been carrying several of Spyderco's great Hawkbills for work purposes and I've never ever even been acosted by any LEO of any type and I wear mine with the Spyderco clips exposed all the time. The Harpy is just as legitimate of a cutting tool as any of their other great folders that Spyderco makes for the working man and woman. I can sort of understand the SWITCHBLADE laws because there is an antiquated Federal Law that needs to be rescended that sort of sets a precedent for the states. If that's truly the case then good decent knife owners and users like yourself need to get active and have these laws eliminated.

The Harpy and Tasman both are great working knives. I'm really surprised that the state of TEnnesee has such ridiculous laws. I've got relatives down in Mississippi and they can pretty much carry about anything within reason down there. But on the other hand don't get yourself in any trouble Brother but it wouldn't be out of order to ask one of your local LEOs if you can get a permit to use one for work purposes. Because Hawkbills are viable, legitimate work tools and very good ones I might add. And the Harpy is the standard of the industry IMO.
 
Harpy is purpose built as a workman's knife, IIRC specifically longshoreman. It is not a straight blade, thus it is not a dirk or dagger. By definition it is not a weapon in most of the US. However, if one handed opening or flicking open is illegal, you're out of luck.
 
I have a serrated Spyderco Merlin. FRN handle and ATS-55 steel. I wouldn't carry it as an EDC, but it's great for rope and zip-ties.
 
Had a Harpy and carried it daily for everything. Great blade, but I had a hard time with the SS handles slipping in my hands and getting pinched in the shackle key. Now I have an SE Endura and a Matriarch 2 (the latter arriving today). I miss the way you can grab and pull with the Hawkbill over a straight edge.
 
I bought one at a flea market last summer for $20, its a cool knife. I use to carry the Harpy as my work EDC.
 
I carry a SE Tasman as my work knife. I have two of them. I also own two SS SE Harpies. Although the Harpy is noticeably more solid, I carry the Tasman because I carry it down in my pocket like a regular pocket knife. I like its lightness and feel in hand. I've also been carrying a Pacific Salt for when I need a more conventionally-shaped blade. But there are lots of cutting chores that the Tasman is ideal for.

I don't clip knives to my pocket much anymore. Although the SS Harpy's handle is smooth, the drying vent in the handle causes wear on my cargo pants pocket. Otherwise I'd carry it more. The only clip knife I can still sometimes clip w/out causing undue pocket wear anymore is my SS Police.

Jim
 
jimh0220 said:
Had a Harpy and carried it daily for everything. Great blade, but I had a hard time with the SS handles slipping in my hands and getting pinched in the shackle key. Now I have an SE Endura and a Matriarch 2 (the latter arriving today). I miss the way you can grab and pull with the Hawkbill over a straight edge.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on that one "jimh0220">> I lost my G-10 Harpy about a year ago and I still am saddened by it. I carried that knife consistently for at least 4 to 5 years. I'm hoping that they will bring back the G-10 Harpy and I wouldn't be opposed to them making one with a Micarta handle either for that matter.

The Tasman is a great and handy little Hawkbill and I love all 3 of mine but the Harpy has a rigid, stocky feel to it that is unequalled with just about any other Hawkbill that they have made up till now. I love my SE Spyderhawk that I've been carrying this past week but I do like the size of the Harpy just a bit better and find it to be more convenient. The Harpy is another one of those top 5 Spyderco models that is time tested and I hope it will be around for years to come.

My good friend Dr. Hannibal Lecter from over at Spyderco.com forum carried and EDCed the plain edge Harpy as his main EDC for a while and he told me that he just loved it for all kinds of cutting chores. I myself like the full Spyderedged version just a bit better but the plain edged Harpy does have it's place. But again I agree with you Brother that they need to offer up the Harpy in some different handle materials other than stainless steel. Especially when you consider that a huge percentage of it's users and owners have it in the commercial fishing and seafaring jobs and they too need something less slick to work with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top