Hawk bills!

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FarmKid

Joined
Jun 7, 2012
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I've noticed that not too many have been posted on here. What's yalls input on these knives?
 
I like em' they are great for cutting rope, boxes and many other utilitarian tasks. I don't carry one though, I find a good old fashioned clip blade is the best for general use. Here's my case hawkbill pruner with brown synthetic scales. A+ fit and finish!

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I like hawkbills. They look pretty cool especially on modern style knives. But they have one special caveat. Hawkbill folders take up a lot of room in your pocket because of the way the blade fits (or maybe I should say doesn't fit) inside the handle. An upswept blade tends to follow the curvature of a knife handle, and a hawkbill tends to do the exact opposite. They usually fold into a wide oval shape. I used to have a Byrd Crossbill but it never saw much pocket time because it was so bulky. I do have a couple hawkbill fixed blades that I carry frequently though. The blade shape might not be as versatile as a drop or clip point, but I stll get some use out of them.
 
Hawkbills excel at cutting INTO things, such as starting a cut in the middle of a piece of cardboard. However, I don't normally carry one because a Wharncliffe or sheepsfoot blade will work as well and are easier to sharpen.
 
I'd see a one bladed sheep foot blade more useful as a hawksbill. I had a case electricians knife and that was the handiest knife I've ever owned. It pruner blade wasn't as bad. I wish case still made em. Does Klein still make knives?
 
FarmKid said:
I'd see a one bladed sheep foot blade more useful as a hawksbill. I had a case electricians knife and that was the handiest knife I've ever owned. It pruner blade wasn't as bad. I wish case still made em. Does Klein still make knives?
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Yes, they do. Utica Kutmaster makes the knives for Klein.
 
FarmKid said:
Does Klein still make knives?
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Yup, still in the US out of carbon steel (or stainless- your choice) too. Nice knives. The edges need to be thinned out a bit to cut better before use though.
I think that hawkbills are great at what they were designed to do- hook materials and cut, no questions asked. That said, I don't carry one because my knives mostly get used for food prep, cutting small cordage, and opening mail, and a clip blade is easier enough to use on food that it's really not worth it to carry a hawkbill. I just don't need the learning curve (no pun intended) that seems to come with them or the extra bulk and weight in my pocket.
 
I'll post this farmer's jack 100 times if I have too....it's my favorite hawkbill!!!
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I have a couple of pruner hawkbills. One is a Tina which is a german horticultural knife, and the other one is a Case. I dig the hawkbill, but they are big in the back pocket. I use them to prune though. I am a pruning fool in my yard, just ask my wife.
 
Campbells knife is as good as a knife gets^^^^ I consider myself lucky just looking at it!
I also think Jacks Old Cutler is a real interesting knife..can you tell me a bit more about that knife?
I love Hawkbills..
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This one I hope come into the category...a little worn, but snap that will take your fingers off! Stamped XL ALL
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Ebony Handled early Sheffield...
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Nice hawkbills everyone. Campbell, that is a real beauty. Thanks for sharing it.

Here are a couple of hawkbill jack knives. The Thomas Turner appears very similar to the far left knife in their 1902 catalog.

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I think Schrade made knives similar to this Saynor.
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They are a very task specific knife. My wife loves hers as she uses it for harvesting vegetables at her supersized garden.
 
Campbellclanman said:
I also think Jacks Old Cutler is a real interesting knife..can you tell me a bit more about that knife?
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I wish I could. All I really know is it is a large stockman with a hawkbill blade on a third spring in the middle. I've had it for enough years that I don't even recall where I got it. Decent carbon steel blades, made by Colonial, and inexpensive.
 
comoha said:
They are a very task specific knife. My wife loves hers as she uses it for harvesting vegetables at her supersized garden.
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That's exactly what I use my Tidioute single blade 56 for. It's smaller in the pocket and less dramatic than conentional Bills but A1 for harvesting veg - especially cabbages or courgettes.

I think the CASE Loomfixer was a kind of Hawkbill?
 
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