Hawkbills... specific application or general use?

Shadow449

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I've always been intrigued/confused by the Hawkbill. Are they more for a specific application ie. wire stripping or self defense or are they a good all around EDC type blade? Could someone with experience educate me a little. Anyone want to include photos of your hawkbill please do!!
 
Originally the hawkbill was for pruning flowers and bushes; then they got picked up by linoleum floor layers and also roofers. I guess you can use them for what ever you wish.

Rich
 
The hawkbill is an extremely agressive cutter : once the hook has caught, you just pull or lift or push and rip you go. Best cutter in a small package for opening paper or burlap sacks, cutting strings and ropes of any kind, cardboard sheets, clamshell packs, blisters, shrink wraps, you name it... When I was young, I carried a hawkbill as my EDC for years until I forgot it in a locker room. I moved on to straight blades because the hawkbill is not a very good snacking knife... It's still my favourite knife for inspecting the garden : makes short business of any unwanted stuff growing up where it shouldn't. Here under are my current three, one in jigged chestnut bone and the two others in boxwood. My preferred is the lowest one, called a German pattern for some reason, it's smaller and lighter than the other two but cuts like a devil. One pull cuts off green twigs up to 1/2" in diameter.

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In my experience, hawkbills make a near ideal EDC blade. They excel at all the tasks I need to do at my job - cutting zip ties, opening boxes & clamshell packaging, prying staples, cutting plastic, and so on.

I wouldn't trust any folder for self-defence - when the tunnel vision, sweaty palms, and panic comes on I think I'd be lucky to even unclip it from my pocket without fumbling - but I wouldn't trust a hawkbill for that since the tip can easily break or get snagged on clothing or bone. In addition, it won't be able to back cut like a tanto or bowie style blade can.
 
I used this Camillus for a few years to trim roof shingles and Tyvek wrapping. I was easy to put an edge on. I quit using it when all the quality razor tools came about. Then I clipped it to my key chain for a while. The Case 61011 and 13031 are just safe queens. I wouldn't think of these as a self defense weapon unless I had no choice whatsoever.


 
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Back cutting with a tanto would be interesting, seeing as how the spine isn't sharpened. A back cut isn't just dragging the tip across.
 
Wazu, your Camillus and Case hawks are true beauts. I bet the Case could easily live up to the tasks the Camillus managed... and what nice scales she has...
 
Thanks for responding. Seems like the hawkbill is designed as a hard use utility blade. Something you may want to have in your toolbox... Or in your pocket if you do work that may require tough cutting.
 
Cross post:

Schrade Old Timer (Taylor) has come out with a thumb stud, liner lock hawk bill with a pocket clip. These new Schrades are pretty good quality. I have two stockman and a sodbuster and am quite pleased with both.
Rich
 
Love my hawkbill in the garden. Its a Rough Rider was cheap. Use it for twine,cutting veggies especially squash. It stays in the garage.
 
Hawkbills are extremely well suited for cutting objects that tend to flex or cannot be secured firmly (cloth, hanging rope, etc). Straight edges tend to push such objects away while the curve of the hawkbill keeps the cutting edge in contact.

Though hawkbills excel at cutting many things they are poor at food prep or cutting against flat surfaces.

One of my fav EDCs is a Spyderco Salt 1 (Delica) with a serrated Hawkbill.
 
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I agree with all each has said. I find a hawkbill very nice for gardening and the occasional hard use project. I just had a thought, what about a karambit? Seems to be the same basic shape grown a bit. Going to have to think on this a while.
 
I believe the hawkbill design actually originated in the marine trades where cutting rope was a daily chore. I have a Spyderco Harpy that is considered a sailing knife (it even has a shackle key in the side) with a serrated hawkbill blade. It is a nasty little rope cutting machine.
 
I wouldn't trust any folder for self-defence - when the tunnel vision, sweaty palms, and panic comes on I think I'd be lucky to even unclip it from my pocket without fumbling - but I wouldn't trust a hawkbill for that since the tip can easily break or get snagged on clothing or bone. In addition, it won't be able to back cut like a tanto or bowie style blade can.

From experience I have to completely disagree. I have a Spyderco Matriarch with the Emerson wave opener that I carry on my right pocket but with the clip set for left hand carry so it opens with the edge outwards in a reverse grip. About a year ago, I was attacked by an off leash dog in a narrow hallway in a building, the space was too confined to use my pistol so I had to use the knife. I was able to inflict ultimately fatal injuries on it by basically slashing its throat and face. The wave opener took the fine motor skills issue out of the equation, I pulled it and it opened immediately. I was bitten several times on my hand and forearm in the seconds before I was able to draw the knife. Trust me, the cutting power of a hawkbill or reverse S blade is extremely potent for it's size.

Certainly wish the incident hadn't happened, but I wasn't at fault at all and had no choice but to use force. The dog's owner settled my lawsuit a couple months ago for a little over $20K...heavy price for not using a leash.
 
michael janich likes hawkbills for self defense, he recommends the spyderco tasman.
[video=youtube;oIV0OWkBldE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIV0OWkBldE[/video]
on the other hand i think remember sal glesser saying that the tasman/harpy hawkbills were not intended for self defense since the hawkbill could catch on to certain materials and slip out of the hand. which is why he designed the civilian/matriarch. the matriarch/civilian arent true hawkbills, their blades have a specific S shape curve to them that is completely different.
 
Wazu-
My father has that same Camilus knife that you're showing off. But for some reason he can't seem to keep it sharp, and the blade really wobbles from side to side.

Any advice?
 
I got a Tasman about a week ago now, and have been carrying it as a secondary knife in my back pocket. I've yet to really put it through its paces quite yet, but it's incredibly sharp. Not quite as smooth as my Delica, but it's certainly fun to play with.
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Looking forward to breaking it in!
 
I've always strayed away from hawkbills because of edge maintenance concerns. It seems like it would be somewhat difficult to stop, or even throw on my wicked edge.
 
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