Hawkbill blades: multi faceted uses

J

JD Spydo

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Nov 20, 2004
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For you guys and gals here on Bladeforums not only know me as a Spyderco afficionado but some of you also know me and Doctor Hannibal Lecter as being quintescential Hawkbill fanatics as well. It goes without saying that I am very much anticipating the arrival of the new Spyderco SUPERHAWK.

I have posted this thread for one main reason. I want to know not only how many of you all also like Hawkbill blades and what do you all use them for. Also could you list ideal uses you have found for your Hawkbill blades? There are some cutting chores that I have found that can be done better with a Hawkbill blade. They are also a blade style that I have found equally as many uses for serrated edged versions as well as plain edged hawkbills.

I find new uses for my G-10 Spyderco Harpy almost on a daily basis. What I like most about Hawkbills is the controlled "pull cutting" you can do with them. So tell us your uses for a Hawkbill. Tell us why you like them or even dislike them if you do. I'm here to learn more and I hope you all are too :)
 
I've never tried them before, but the Superhawk looks so damn good. I admit, I've always looked at them as more of a specialized tool with greater performance for things like rope cutting and less overall options for general EDC. I'd love to hear other people's experiences with them as well.
 
Many electrician's knives have hawkbill blades on them. There is a specific reason for that.

The outer layer on early two-wire romex was coated heavy paper with reinforcing fibers instead of the plastic found today. This made it difficult to get at the ends of the wire. Because of the hooked shape, a hawkbill blade was perfect for running between the wires cutting the outer paper layer. Then you could free the wires up and cut off the excess paper. It worked well and it was fast.

To be truthful, I've never used a hawkbill for much else. But I still have one with my set of electrician's tools.
 
I have discovered so many different uses for Spyderco Hawkbills that I have been EDCing one full time for over 18 months now. The Harpy in particular is such a versatile Hawkbill and pull cutting with it is very controllable.

Weird cutting jobs like opening Clam Packs is otherwise a dangerous chore. But with controlled pull cutting with a Hawkbill makes it a lot safer.

I think that a lot more people would try them if they knew their capabilities and what the unique blade geometry entails.
 
The same shape is used an electricians skinning knife, a carpert layers knife, and a pruning knife.
 
Well I know the design has been around for a long time. I stumbled into a slip joint thread that had all sorts of slip joint hawkbills from yesteryear...
 
The last time I deliberately carried my serrated SS Harpy was when my wife bought me a trip in a Tiger Moth as my birthday present a couple of years ago.

Here's the aircraft in which I flew (and which I piloted for a brief few minutes):

2004_0903Tiger_Moth_030920040015.jpg


I carried the Harpy because I had a morbid fear of being strapped into a crashing, burning aircraft. I thought that the Harpy would be the best choice for rapid strap slicing while I was under stress.

Of course, once I was in the Tiger Moth, I realised that - even if I cut the seatbelts - there was nowhere to go and no parachute anyway...

Still, it's a great knife.

maximus otter
 
I have wondered about the utility of that blade shape. I met an old farmer once who swore by it. Carried one for years. My worry is that while it may be great for certain chores, what about general utility. Here are some things I have done lately with my EDC. Can a hawkbill do all this too? Slice fruit, cut steak, scrape a gasket, open mail, and be easily sharpened on standard materials? Why I like the looks, I am afraid I would lose utility for aesthetics. Am I wrong? I guess I can try one, that Byrd Crossbill is pretty cheap....
 
Ironman said:
I have wondered about the utility of that blade shape. I met an old farmer once who swore by it. Carried one for years. My worry is that while it may be great for certain chores, what about general utility. Here are some things I have done lately with my EDC. Can a hawkbill do all this too? Slice fruit, cut steak, scrape a gasket, open mail, and be easily sharpened on standard materials? Why I like the looks, I am afraid I would lose utility for aesthetics. Am I wrong? I guess I can try one, that Byrd Crossbill is pretty cheap....
Click to expand...

Well "Ironman" you bring up some reasonable considerations. But please understand that Hawkbill blades are not a knife you can do every cutting chore with. That's why the Harpy I carry daily is for chores that my regular EDC doesn't do well. Any job that does well with "pull cutting" is done much better with a Hawkbill.

Now sharpening is a little tricky until you get the hang of it. I actually enjoy sharpening and tuning mine up. But for opening boxes and clam packs and for various other types of packaging the Hawkbill just can't be beat. Like I've said you really just have to test drive one to see exactly what I mean. With a curved cutting geometry you are always in a shearing mode when you are cutting. And for those jobs it's the way to go.
 
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