Hawkbill for daily use?

Q

Quy4n8

Joined
Nov 27, 2002
Messages
659
After doing a search I found only a few threads about the Spyderco Harpy or Merlin. I was thinking about what I use my knives for most often and have come to the conclusion that a hawkbill blade might be ideal. I have only found these two knives as commonly available in this blade configeration, but thought I might give one a try. I have not used a serrated blade before, beside maybe the odd bread knife, what are your thoughts? Its use would most likely be similar to yours, opening mail, boxes, standard daily cutting chores.

PS are there any other one hand hawkbills (about 3” blade) out there?

Thanks
 
Hey Richard,

I EDC a PE Merlin (too bad they were discontinued...great knife) and I like it very much. For any kind of pull cut on boxes or cutting any width of cord the hawkbill is ideal. However, one warning. I am so often confronted with "that's a weapon" comments that I am now hesitant to pull it out. The hawkbill blade has a certain beauty to me and other knife enthusiasts (come on, I am carrying a raptor claw in my pocket) but for many many, it does _not_ communicate anything about utility. I don't have any recommendations for other hawkbills, but I can say that Spyderco makes great knives and that hawkbills are great users if you can stand two things:
1: Deer in the Headlights looks from the people who see you pull it out.
2: Not being able to cut a sandwich in half ;)
 
I often use a G-10 Harpy. The one problem is fine work. You need to keep the tip very sharp to remove splinters, etc. For boxes, envelopes, etc. its perfect. It's designed for rope, webbing, canvas, plastic, etc. You can do fruit, but it not as easy as a straight blade and you need the tip sharp. If your tip is sharp, you can cut a sandwich in half.

Per it being a weapon, I've never heard that comment. Legally you should be fine since it is not a straight blade (i.e. dagger dirk), has a utilitarian purpose (designed for longshoreman, dock worker, rescue) and is under 3". That's why its my favorite travel knife.

Get a Harpy plus a sharmaker to keep it in shape.
 
The manual Kestral is nice. I thought it would be too small for my hand but the weird design locks in place for a terrific grip, and the blade is excellent.
 
I often carry a pe Merlin or pe Spyderhawk.I also like them fine and they do most daily chores just fine.

I believe M.O.D. still makes the Ladyhawk.
 
Recommend the Spyderco Dodo. Ugly, with amazing feel, short S30V blade, hollow ground, G10, blue or black linerless scales, ball lock, P or S blade. A real gripper with great leverage for tough box cuts. Slight echo of the sebenza in the simple elegant design but dont even think about taking it apart with ball lock. You will never find the ball :)
 
dodo is not a hawkbill. Its the glesser wierd reverse curve that works great on a civilian/matriarch, but for other applications, it doesn't float my boat.
 
I played with the Endurahawk for a few days on one of the passarounds. I think it’s a question of what appeals to you and what you will be using it for. Personally, I did not care for it and it worked poorly for the things I use a knife for. If I were a stevedore or crewed a racing sailboat I might think differently, but I don’t do much with rope and the materials where this design would shine. I’m not a fan of a fully serrated blade either, unless I’m slicing my Italian bread.
 
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