Hideaway Knives?

G

glocker199

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
1,221
I've looked at the HAKs for years but never wanted one bad enough to pay the custom price and wi for months. Now that multiple styles and sizes are available in the production version I'm very tempted to try one.

Most of the time I EDC a 4" fixed defensive blade (CUDA CQB-II) on my weak side, opposite my pistol and folder. I think the HAK would be a nice ultra compact option for the times when I can't carry the other CUDA. It would strictly be an emergency back up weapon in an extremely close quarters/retention situation.

Anyone have a Hideaway Knife they'd like to tell me about? Pros? Cons? Do you actually carry it?
 
HAKs are my favorite neck knives; one of the few I consider light and small enough to wear everyday, but provides amazing retention. With a HAK sized for your fingers, you could operate almost anything, like a gun, with the same hand no problem. Due to their size, they can really be hidden in a lot of places and the company provides a ton of different carry options.

The downside is probably that you need one sized for you. I used to have a Cucchiara custom version that was slightly too big and it didn't work. You need a nice snug fit. Since they have been doing production runs for a while, they may have your size in stock already if lucky, or you'll have to wait a little if they have to make one for you.

The company itself had some problems few years back, and was taken over by a new owner named William and the company is called Artemis Defense Systems.
 
I lucked out and got my size in one of the early production runs. It's small and light and works as advertized. I like it.
 
100eyes said:
HAKs are my favorite neck knives; one of the few I consider light and small enough to wear everyday, but provides amazing retention. With a HAK sized for your fingers, you could operate almost anything, like a gun, with the same hand no problem. Due to their size, they can really be hidden in a lot of places and the company provides a ton of different carry options.

The downside is probably that you need one sized for you. I used to have a Cucchiara custom version that was slightly too big and it didn't work. You need a nice snug fit. Since they have been doing production runs for a while, they may have your size in stock already if lucky, or you'll have to wait a little if they have to make one for you.

The company itself had some problems few years back, and was taken over by a new owner named William and the company is called Artemis Defense Systems.
Click to expand...

No. William had been there right from the beginning but let Front Site be the lead. I have dealt with them since before HAK existed, and William has been around right when Front Site didn't pay any of the knifemakers. He did stick around to pick up the pieces although he was equally at fault in non-payment to knifemakers as well as non-delivery shenanigans to customers.

I had to chase him down to return the money that HAK owed me.

Artemis Defense Systems had always been the DBA name which they were doing business under.
 
CWL said:
No. William had been there right from the beginning but let Front Site be the lead. I have dealt with them since before HAK existed, and William has been around right when Front Site didn't pay any of the knifemakers. He did stick around to pick up the pieces although he was equally at fault in non-payment to knifemakers as well as non-delivery shenanigans to customers.

I had to chase him down to return the money that HAK owed me.

Artemis Defense Systems had always been the DBA name which they were doing business under.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, I got into them a little after the fiasco went down.

It's too bad they don't have a great rep, because I feel the HAK is the best design in its class.

Brous Silent Soldier? Talk about awkward to hold.
 
William wasn't very honest when I dealt with him back in 2008-9. He kept telling me it would be finished at a certain time and then nothing. It took me a year to get it (after months of deceit) and the finish was crap (nothing like what was displayed in the photos). And the sizing was way off. I gave it to my father because they aren't useful if they don't fit right. I went with an Emerson LaGriffe and a Fred Perrin Shark. Both great. HAK's might be good, but the experience tainted it for me.

Lev
 
I had mine on a whitewater PFD used while river running. Took a break and laid my pfd in the sun for a while. When I put it back on the kydex sheath had got hot and loose and the blade slid out into the river. Gone! Replaced it with a Gerber River Runt. Lot less money. Lot better retention system.--KV
 
Had one of the early models. IMO it was junk. They may be better now, but I will never know. I ordered a couple of different carry options for the knife I purchased and never saw them. Never saw a refund either.
+1 for the Silent Solider.
 
100eyes said:
It's too bad they don't have a great rep, because I feel the HAK is the best design in its class.
Click to expand...

Front Site did come up with a great innovation in customizing the blade grips to exactly fit every individual user's fingers. The designs for each knife shape came from the talented original knifemakers involved at the beginning.

I have 3 HAKs. All hand ground by Mick Strider, I think two of them are prototypes, one which never went into production.
 
I picked up a used, like new Hideaway a couple days ago. It's the talon blade style and is in D2 steel. Besides the FS logo, it's marked DB D2 on the reverse. Anyone know what model it is or what the "GB" signifies?
 
I have 3 HAK's Straight / Claw / & a Sting Damascus. Got the first two when Front Site was running the show. Got the other from William. William is straight up and honest, and easy to do business with. He also has plenty in stock so there shouldn't be any waiting except for the mail man. I like all of mine. I have one tied to my boot laces just in case I'm on the ground and need it in a hurry. Their great lil knives as far as I'm concerned.
 
HAKs are my favourite neck knives. Super small and light. Yet very effective.

Don't order from the hideaway main site. You can order them elsewhere so you won't have to worry about getting ripped off. Email me if you wanna know where to get them.
 
These models are stocked in 32 sizes at quantities of 200 each and ship by next day. Anyone can check availability by emailing artemisweapons@yahoo.com - William Answers daily.
440C Tiger Striped Straights
440C tiger striped cat claws
440C polished utilities
440C polished tiger claws

When you check you search engines - and find something negative in the top 5 listings - check the forum dates - if you see 2007 or 2005 - you can be sure that is no accident - think about it - this is 2013.
 
How about responding to your actual website ?

and its wierd there is no way to contact them via the website . you click on contact and nothing .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top