Hoffman Harpoon for Wilderness Survival Kit?

2dogs said:
OK skunk, you're in business. You could probably sell 100 blanks for $5.00 each. Where do we send the money?
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2dogs, that is Funny! :D
At 2 hours of work , that would be a whopping $2.50 per hour! :cool:
Wait, let me practice, "You want fries with that?" ;)

RescueMike, it was cut on a metal cutting bandsaw.
At 1/4" thick, it took a while cutting out that entire belly area.

I gotta get some thinner metal, now i know why 1/4" thick blades are so expensive!

Fiddleback, those are very nice.
 
RescueRiley said:
fiddle back...WAYYY cool...How do they perform????
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They're all out in the field. I gifted every one but the first to various outdoorsey friends and relatives. They're performing well for cleaning quail and fish. The first one is still on its original edge, and has done well for me cutting rope and boxes, etc.
 
SkunkWerX said:
2dogs, that is Funny! :D
At 2 hours of work , that would be a whopping $2.50 per hour! :cool:
Wait, let me practice, "You want fries with that?" ;)

RescueMike, it was cut on a metal cutting bandsaw.
At 1/4" thick, it took a while cutting out that entire belly area.

I gotta get some thinner metal, now i know why 1/4" thick blades are so expensive!

Fiddleback, those are very nice.
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Thanks Skunk. I'm jealous. I don't have a bandsaw. I'd have shaped it with a dang angle grinder. Boy, I've only just acquired an angle grinder, and I gotta say, what was I doing without one.
 
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 !!!
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Even I would say that is a bit over the top. Thanks for the thought, but could you see me writing that on my 1040 form under the caption "occupation"?
he is just an ordinary retired guy with an interest in the outdoors and great photography skills
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"Retired", I wish! Everytime I tell someone I'm a photographer they always ask, "But what is your real job?". But sorry guys, I work full time as a photographer. I just shoot guns and knives so it makes it seem as if I'm playing. I still have a few years before retirement but I thank you for the comment on the photography.
Now about the Harpoon. I wish it could be sold at a lesser price and that they were able to make and sell thousands of them. But that is the price TOPS needed to make it a worthwhile project. The people at TOPS were great to work with so I'll leave the business part to them.
I would never advise anyone to go out with only the Harpoon. It was designed to act as a small knife and gig and to be an accessory to a larger knife. I have used it for everything from skinning out deer to cutting my steak at dinner. But I will say it is up to each person to pick what works for them. One man will like it and the next man won't. But they are both right. Pick the tool that works for you. Of course, I always have one with me but I have been carrying one of Doug Ritters fixed blades with me at the same time. For a larger knife, I like the BK9! With those three, I have everything covered.
Now, I would never claim to be "the survival expert" but I do know a few that I would trust with my life. I put on my little outting each year and they will be attending. If you would like more info, check out the Outdoor Survival Forum over at knife forums. It's call "Practice What You Preach" and you'll find several posts.
 
Thanks for jumping in Terrill. Sorry I thought you had retired from your first job. We understand why your Harpoon sells for what it does, we just hope, I guess, it could have sold for less. Could you give us the history of the Harpoon? Of course you would have to post some early pics of the project. :D
 
Terrill said:
Everytime I tell someone I'm a photographer they always ask, "But what is your real job?".
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Thanks for Your Imput! Always great to hear from the Original creator/brainchild!! Do you have a website were we can see/purchase some of your work?

Terrill said:
Now about the Harpoon. I wish it could be sold at a lesser price and that they were able to make and sell thousands of them. But that is the price TOPS needed to make it a worthwhile project.
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After hearing Skunks story about how tough it was to make this one, and doing a little math, I can see how the price can jump up in a hurry!And you are paying for TOPS quality..

Terrill said:
It was designed to act as a small knife and gig and to be an accessory to a larger knife. I have used it for everything from skinning out deer to cutting my steak at dinner.
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I think I'm just gonna have to make one or buy one or something.. (Skunk??) and see if it fits my hand. The knife sharpener and little metal match do sweeten the deal too.

Terrill said:
If you would like more info, check out the Outdoor Survival Forum over at knife forums. It's call "Practice What You Preach" and you'll find several posts.
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Nice.. I'll look into it! Thanks again!!
 
mike-- i think you just need to break down and buy it.... you'll love it...:thumbup: the handle portion of the harpoon is quite long, a little over 5 in.. it should fit your paw pretty well......good luck....:D

do check out the OSF over at knifeforums... there are a lot of cool folks over there....:D

mike
 
The roughed out "copy" was just sent USPS Priority Mail to RescueMike for "finishing".
Then he will do a full test & review to let us know what it is like. :thumbup:

But give him time, he has a little more grinding and filing to do to bring it completed status. ;)

The handle is skinny, so the cord-wrap would be a welcomed "filler" and it's obvious that it is integral to fastening it to a pike pole, thus completing the gig/harpoon.
 
Thanks Skunk!:D (You meet the nicest people here!)

I am picking up a grinder tomorrow from down in "The Peoples Republic of Portland". So when it gets here, I'll get to work. I'm thinking of finishing it in a Hi Viz Orange or Yellow Bake on Coating, leaning towards Yellow with Black Paracord! The brite color will help me see it, should it fall off into the water.

Probably test it out at my next class on a rabbit. Lots of pictures and posts to follow!
 
Just wanted to mention that I liked the idea of carrying a jigsaw blade w/ the back barbed that Digispam mentioned in his thread. 'Course, I am not the voice of experience on that mind you, just seemed nice for it's intended purpose.
 
Very nice to get your input Terrill, it is a sweet looking blade and every time I see the Harpoon I'm like; "Drool!" Thanks again for your work and tips.. :)
 
Thomas Linton said:
Yes, Don, I suspect so. But I wondered if any of the HH owners had actually used it as a spear.
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I did. One of the most important lessons I learned was, you really don't want to use a HH for a spearhead. If you have to, eh, all right. But it's really a selling point better left unsaid. It's a good way to dull a knife, chip it, break the point off and do a lot of other doubleplus-ungood things to it - like losing it.

The Harpoon head Aitor manufactured once upon a time, however, was excellent. The current Skinners, one large and one small, are better accessory knives in the same vein and the guthook acts as the barb if you use them for a spearhead/gig.

The Marto-Brewer with the barb insert was a really great attempt but anything smaller than a salmon would probably be a waste of your time.

My three-prong frog gig cost $3.99, but it's up to $5.99 now.
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You have the little black painted ones with the very small barbs on the tines? They always worked like a charm!
 
I love gigs and use them frequently, the small tined, off brand gigs, mostly made in china, kept breaking on me. I discovered B&M gigs and spears and now I don't use anything else, I have a 5 prong that I have had for at least 15 years. I have speared hundreds of pounds of frogs and fish and it is still going strong.

http://www.sbtoutdoors.com/fish_spears.htm
 
Got my grinder today.. As soon as the Faux-poon arrives, I'm ready to grind!

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Picked up a bunch of files as well..

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Now I just gotta learn how to use 'em!!
 
Knifemaster said:
What brand is the first knife how large is the blade how much and where can I get one?:D
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knifemaster--- that knife was made by john t. wylie.... i paid $115 for it... it came with an amazing leather sheath as well as a nice kydex sheath....

it has a 4 in. blade made of s30v steel, and blk. and grn. micarta handle scales... this knife is wicked sharp and very stout....

actually my wife used for a bit recently, and has now claimed it for her own...:( she does that from time to time.... she is also a knife junkie....:D

he doesn't have a website, but he posts a lot over at www.customknivesandguns.com he also puts up any new knives he has made on there as well....

mike
 
Rescue Mike said:
Got my grinder today.. As soon as the Faux-poon arrives, I'm ready to grind!

metal001.jpg


Picked up a bunch of files as well..

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Now I just gotta learn how to use 'em!!
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You are ready to rock!!
You can actually practice on one of the files! grind it down into a knife!
;)


Hint: You will find that the wet wheel wicks out the moisture, you have to refill the next day. You would almost think you have a leak :)

That FakePoon oughtta be close by. I'll see if i can find the receipt...not that USPS tracking is worth a crap.
 
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