hawkbills

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Dave28210

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Oct 22, 2008
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Can anyone give me some advice on a SE Hawkbill? It would be for EDC, in addition to my PE EDC knife. I was looking at the Spyderco Byrd Crossbill, but that is a bit too much knife at around 3.5. I like the Spyderco Tasman Salts, but as will most of us, budget is an issue. I know Spyderco made a model called the Merlin that would be perfect, but they are DCed and hard to find. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? I am a Spydero fan (obviously:) ) but I have no problem going to another company if it is a quality product. I would probably like to max out somewhere around 3 inches, lockback, grippy handles, decent steel- But as much as I want decent steel, I am sure it will eventually end up being a "beater knife." Thanks
 
I love hawkbills.

Byrds are great knives, but if you want a low-maintenance "beater" knife, in the long-run you'd probably be better off buying-up to a Spyderco branded knife.

I love my non-serrated Tasman Salt, I have yellow FRN scales and have been using it as my kick-around utility knife for about 18 months. Resharpens to hair-popping sharpness on my Sharpmaker and no worries about rust or tarnishing of the H1 steel. Because it has the bright yellow handles, nobody seeing it in my office has ever shown the slightest bit of fear or apprehension seeing me carry, use or lend it for use -they just think it is a tool (which it is).

I bought mine for ~$50 online (search "shopwiki") and think it was well worth the price.
 
I've picked up a couple of Merlins on eBay for $50-$60. You can usually find a Tasman Salt for around that. The Harpy is the same size as the Merlin, has a little thicker blade and a stainless steel handle. You can beat that one around for a long time. I got mine off eBay for about $45 used, shipping included.
 
Thanks ya'll. Do you know how the Harpy matches up against the Tasman, besides the H1, and rustproof properties? I have been looking at both of these, just wonder if anyone has had a great or poor experience with either. I hear amazing things about the Tasman, but not much either way with the Harpy.
 
The blade of the Tasman is 2.5mm thick, the Harpy is 3mm thick, but the H-1 steel has a much higher tensile strength than VG-10, so that kind of evens out. The Harpy weighs more due to the steel handle. Some folks like that, others don't. The Harpy is very corrosion resistent, the Tasman is totally rust-proof. I have used my Harpy for a utility/beater knife and it has held up quite well, but I would rather carry my Merlin (which is constructed like the Tasman, just with different steel) due to the weight difference. Either should suit your purposes, your personal preferences will have to tell you which will serve you better.
 
For smaller hawkbill type blades the Boker Subclaw is great and the Spyderco Cricket is a somewhat modified version of the hawkbill. I carry an out of production serrated FRN scaled Cricket almost daily.
 
When you get down to it, it really is a personal choice of Harpy v. Tasman. No wrong choices.

I chose Tasman because of H1 (no rust ever) and also for the plain blade, which I can easily resharpen.
I'll buy a Harpy someday but prolly just for collectin'.
 
Dave28210 said:
Can anyone give me some advice on a SE Hawkbill? It would be for EDC, in addition to my PE EDC knife. I was looking at the Spyderco Byrd Crossbill, but that is a bit too much knife at around 3.5. I like the Spyderco Tasman Salts, but as will most of us, budget is an issue. I know Spyderco made a model called the Merlin that would be perfect, but they are DCed and hard to find. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? I am a Spydero fan (obviously:) ) but I have no problem going to another company if it is a quality product. I would probably like to max out somewhere around 3 inches, lockback, grippy handles, decent steel- But as much as I want decent steel, I am sure it will eventually end up being a "beater knife." Thanks
Click to expand...

you can never have too much knife, too much bad language, or too much money!

Foulness edited. Warning issued.
 
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Well 2 of those might fly if you run into the cops. It's not that a knife would be too much knife. Its the matter of if you have a good sized hawkbill and a large folder on top of that, what does it look like for law enforcement? Not that I really meet up with them on any regular basis. I will never skimp on the unacceptable comment or money though.
 
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If you are going to be carrying 2 folders around with you, then weight and size are real consideration factors. FRN is extremely light and thin.
 
I have both and always have one or the other on me at all times. I carry my hawkie IWB as it is not my primary EDC, but gets the nod for most of the really nasty stuff. Some things that have not been mentioned yet are:

- Tasman carries tip up and rides a bit high, Harpy tip down and rides pretty low
- Tasman's H-1 blade gets scratched up really quickly (doesn't bother me, personally)
- Harpy's handle is slimmer

For me, the main differences between these two knives is the weight and grippiness. But like I said, I have both, carry both and love both. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.
 
well, like any true addict would, I should just buy both. But not practical at this point. I have one heck of a folder sizewise for my plain edge, so size is not a HUGE issue. do any of you guys know who makes a 2.5-3 inch hawkbill in full or partial serrated besides Spyderco?
 
i guess it depends if you can legally own a hawkbill of that lenght. Personnaly I'm in Cali where there is no lenght limit and a 3.5 inch hawkbill blade is totally legal. I actually dont know anywhere which you can not carry a knife which is under 4 inches in lenght which is a regular folder or otherwise.

BTW: Who cares what cop thinks if your knife? as long as your not stabbing anyone and you can legally own it/carry it, your fine. If he ask you what you need it for, tell him the truth; to cut stuff with, what else?

I just bought myself a crossbill cuz I couldn't believe I could get one for 20 bucks shipped to me. Considering that my civilian ususally rides with me and cost 6X that amount easily, I'm curious to see how this fits me. It does seem to be a bit smaller yet is an oz heavier as its all metal (I didn't even know it came in G10 until I read up more about it).


BTW: I would never carry 2 folders with me. Just carry something which will work for you i say but thats just me.
 
Yes, I have checked out the Crossbill. For the money you can't beat it. I just am wanting to get opinions before I rush into anything. As for the two knife thing. I have never done it but am thinking of deviating from my combo edge...but not wanting to give it up if that makes any sense. Thanks for the advice.
 
spyderco merlin is a great knife, only problem is its so light that I lost two of them, both times snowboarding. I then upgraded to the spyderhawk. (big spyderco hawkbill).
 
"I just bought myself a crossbill cuz I couldn't believe I could get one for 20 bucks shipped to me. "

I know the Crossbills are a pretty good value, but who's offering that good of a deal?
 
Dave28210 said:
"I just bought myself a crossbill cuz I couldn't believe I could get one for 20 bucks shipped to me. "

I know the Crossbills are a pretty good value, but who's offering that good of a deal?
Click to expand...

Anyone and everyone should be offering that deal for a full metal one as that is the going price. Some places have it going for as low as 18 bucks a pop. The G10 version is like 10 bucks more which isn't really that much more. Just look online, litterally every where should be offering it at that price or just a bit more or they are over charging. I mean 20 bucks, I can buy and drink more starbucks coffee in 1 day then how much a crossbill cost! That is value you just can't turn down.;)



http://www.google.com/products?q=Crossbill+spyderco&hl=en&scoring=p
 
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