Hoffman Harpoon for Wilderness Survival Kit?

Rescue Mike

Rescue Mike

Joined
Sep 5, 2006
Messages
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So I have a problem.. I WANT to buy a TOPS Hoffman Harpoon, but am having trouble justifing from a survival standpoint to my Wife, who has helped in MANY of my classes, and is rather knowledgable about survival..

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On one hand, I live in the Pacific NW, where food abounds in the wilderness, we have MANY streams and creeks, and many have fish in them.. So this would be a great little item to have in my SAR gear or PSK.

On the other hand, I carry extra food for 24 hrs in the field, plus extra Clif Bars, snack stuff etc. AND we all have learned and know that food is pretty far down on the list of needs.. AND I take the extra precautions so if I do get stuck out in the woods, it's more likely than not, I will be with a large group (3+ people)..

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OK, so it's not so much a good JUSTIFICATION for the lil wifey, as it is a discussion on SURVIVAL.. What do ya'll think about this bit of kit? Worth the money? Worthless?

Here is a link to where you can find them on TOPS website, and for sale HERE at the KnifeCenter.. (No affiliation, just the cheapest price I found on them..)



Let's hear what you think!!

 
That seems like a mighty expensive proposition for a frog gig. Maybe you can just tell her that you need it as a back up neck knife...

Sorry man I don't have much for ya.
 
For me, and for it's somewhat limited use, it is just way too much money. Great idea though, and I do think it might make a great backup knife in a WSK.

Again, not much help with justifying it, but I've been trying too in my own mind without much luck. I think I would actually like to try one first, since there are a few different fish gigs you can rig that work quite well.

Charles
 
I've got very little 'education' in the way of advanced harpoon use, so I may not be aware of more advance techniques with them.

That said, it seems to me that carrying several good surgical razor blades would be a more economical and lightweight option. They will make a good harpoon in and of themselves, good enough for trying to snare fish/frogs/etc.. They also won't make you cry when the get lost, or slip off the stick you lashed them to. A proper razor will have a few small holes at rear to allow decent lashing to other objects. They're cheap, their tiny and they won't weigh a darn thing.

I do see the problem with trying to 'snare' the game at the end of your razor-harpoon, as the razor somewhat lacks the 'hook' at the base of the blade, but I think weapon design and a little planning could solve this problem.

If the question is taking larger game, then I think we're talking about the wrong tool for the job.

The blade looks neat, but my opinion would be that you can do just as well with something simpler.
 
Personally, I wouldn't pay 70 bucks for it. I would buy a B&M 3 prong for 10 bucks and a neck knife with a more useful grind and shape. Chris

EDIT: If it is a decent temper to hold an edge and you tried to spear fish or frogs in a rocky environment seems to me the tip would snap, I think I want my gigs to be a mild steel .
 
You can use CS Bird and trout as a decent alternative to this thingie. Much cheaper, but equally usefull for spearing small animals.
 
No survival kit or BOB is complete without the Harpoon,it's designed by Terrill Hoffman who is one of the top people in the field when it comes to survival and knowing what you need and what you don't !!!
It's a means of getting food,self protection and is also a perfect little back up knife for those everyday tasks ! It's made by TOPS who are one of the best companies out there and as everybody knows their products are made to last!!! I have to question your wifes knowledge if should even question why you should need such a tool !!!!!!



Ok that top bit was for your wife to see !!!! In real terms I cannot think of one good reason why anybody would need such a tool ! Yeah it looks cool and I must admit that I, like yourself, was trying to justify a purchase but came up blank........sorry !!!!!!!!!!!
 
pit man said:
No survival kit or BOB is complete without the Harpoon,it's designed by Terrill Hoffman who is one of the top people in the field when it comes to survival and knowing what you need and what you don't !!!
It's a means of getting food,self protection and is also a perfect little back up knife for those everyday tasks ! It's made by TOPS who are one of the best companies out there and as everybody knows their products are made to last!!! I have to question your wifes knowledge if should even question why you should need such a tool !!!!!!
Click to expand...


Dang you almost had me sold!

If it was 40 dollars I would take the plunge, but not 70. That just seems a bit too steep for the size of it. But thats mo
 
A Cold Steel Bushman seemed to me like a nice alternative. Of course Cold Steel also makes genuine spears. You could take the head off of one of those.
 
Mike if you have a torch or even a fire pit and charcol (and bellows) you can make your own for just a couple bucks. Start with a spike from the harware store. Of course you will need heat a hammer and an anvil. A piece of train track wiil do. i won't be as pretty to some people but I bet it will work just fine.

Terrill did a great job designing his Harpoon. I believe he started with a large nail. But as far as being a survival expert I don't believe he would ever make that claim. Sorry pit man he is just an ordinary retired guy with an interest in the outdoors and great photography skills. I really like his Harpoon but I also think it is too expensive for an item that is more for fun than utility. I'd like to see TOPS or even Terrill himself produce the harpoon for around $20.00. Then I will buy one, but in the mean time I'll stick to home built.
 
This could be an interesting project.. Where would I find a spare piece of railroad track to make an anvil?? (Other than the obvious.)
 
I have one. I have used it as a neck knife. It is OK. That is unfortunetly the best I can say. It works strange in the hand because of the angle of the cutting surface. If you try to cut wood with it the pressure on the palm of your hand is significant because of the angle of the cutting edge. Saying that, I use it, like I said its OK, a good piece of steel, but it has been relegated to things like using it as an awl, or being a spear tip, which it is obviously good at. Other than those functions I don't use it too much.


This is actually the kit I got.

pit man said:
Here is one at a cheaper price....slightly !
http://newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=6606
Click to expand...


KR
 
Stenny said:
You can use CS Bird and trout as a decent alternative to this thingie. Much cheaper, but equally usefull for spearing small animals.
Click to expand...

I'll second that. You can probably get four CS B&T's for the price ot the Harpoon. Grind/file your own barb and you're all set. Slam the tip into some river rock while trying for a trout and you'll feel alot better about boogering up a $16 CS than a $70 TOPS.

Personally, I'd go to the dollar store and get some $1 full tang kitchen knives, knock the slabs off and grind 'em into "disposable spear heads" :p .
 
Rupestris said:
I'll second that. You can probably get four CS B&T's for the price ot the Harpoon. Grind/file your own barb and you're all set. Slam the tip into some river rock while trying for a trout and you'll feel alot better about boogering up a $16 CS than a $70 TOPS.

Personally, I'd go to the dollar store and get some $1 full tang kitchen knives, knock the slabs off and grind 'em into "disposable spear heads" :p .
Click to expand...

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I can totally see that.. A little work with a round file and and Emery board and it would be good to go!

The idea with the Dollar Store knives is a good idea too...

Great ideas! Thanks!
 
Aitor now makes two "Jungle King Skinners," two different sizes of small utility knives for their larger survival knives. They apparently discontionued the older "harpoon" type of accessory knife.

The steel was TRASH, but it was tough trash. It would do a couple other things half-assed but was a good little spear head for fishing.

If we could get someone to make these out of a suitably tough steel and sell them for 10 or 15 a piece, it would be well worth it.
 
+1 in the camp thinking it looks cool but unable to justify the price for what seems limited functionality.

I've been kicking around the idea of keeping a speargun tip in my kit.

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The fact that it has a narrow threaded connection means it might not work well on a tree branch but if you have tent poles or trekking poles with you. . .

-- FLIX
 
mike-- i do agree with these folks on the fact that these harpoons are bit over priced.. i probably wouldn't have gotten mine, if i hadn't gotten it through the group buy over at KF...it was a bit cheaper...but i can teel you this much, this thing kicks a$$... i love mine... :D

it is one thick chunck of steel too... buy it and tell your wife you got in a trade:D you will not be dissapointed with it... i think it is perfect for a B.O.B. or PSK.... i keep mine in my pack/B.O.B. at all times... it has speared many o' frogs(i love frogs legs:D )... i know a lot of folks who carry/use them and are very happy with them..... it is a cool design....

the sheath that it came with kind of sucks, a bit over kill... i'm going to have a small dog tag style kydex sheath made for it and soon i'm going to make a leather sheath for it too.......

the CS bird and trout would make a decent alternative, especially for the price, but i think it is half as thick as the harpoon.....

on another note, i just scored a chunk of railroad to try and get a little forge going.... 2dogs are you in.... i could use a little help brainstorming the forge...

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mike
 
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