Let's talk hook or hawk blade knives

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
6,192
I want a hook (hawk) blade knife with a small blade for those times when I want to carry only one small knife or when I'm out of state and don't know the laws and want a small knife to carry but is still a good SD knife.

I'm considering all of these:
MT Kestral
MOD Ladyhawk
Spyderco Merlin
Spyderco Harpy
CRKT Seahawk (but it's too big)
I can't think of others.
I'm open to other ideas for hook/hawk-blade FOLDERS.
I'm taking ONLY folders here and NOT neck knives.

I want something that's somewhat "sheeple" friendly if that's possible.

I've considered a Karambit but those designs just SCREAM "This is a weapon" and I don't think the knives I've listed above quite scream that as much.

I'm definately looking for a manual rather than an auto and something with a 3" blade or less.

I figure I'd be willing to spend $175 or less and I REALLY prefer plain-edge and bead-blast or stonewash finish. (Not black-coated.)

The Kershaw Talon looks cool, but they're REAL hard to find and REAL expensive for what you get since they're a collector's item now. I bid on one on Ebay at what I thought was a reasonable price recently and got KILLED by a bunch of people who REALLY wanted one!

I'm leaning toward a MT Kestral or MOD Ladyhawk for high-end or the two Spydercos for low-end.

I don't know. You don't neccessarily need to answer my question. I'm really just looking to start a discussion of hawk/hook blade knives because I'm interested in them right now and I'm really interested in reading anything members have to say about them before I make a purchase or two or three.
 
I used a Spyderco Spyderhawk in a pass-around recently. It certainly has a menacing quality to it, and gave me a lot of confidence regarding it's SD capablities. I know it's bigger than you want, but there is a limited run of these available in a plain-edge configuration. If you can handle the 4" blade I would definitely get one of these.
 
I guess you know which knife I will vote for on your list huh? I would go with the MT. They are alittle on the small side, but still pretty comfortable and fits the bill
 
Originally posted by TheBadGuy
I guess you know which knife I will vote for on your list huh? I would go with the MT. They are alittle on the small side, but still pretty comfortable and fits the bill
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I could have guessed coming from YOU! I'm choosing the Kestral over the Vector becuase of the "sheeple" factor. The Vector has to be one of the LEAST "sheeple"-friendly knives of all time!

If I get a Kestral MA it'll be my FIRST Microtech MA! You know me; I like autos! I'm looking forward to possibly trying a MT MA to see how their liner-lock works.
 
I got a Spyderco Harpy several years ago thinking it would be a great work knife. At that time I was doing a lot of work on a rental unit of mine, as well as my own house and doing a lot of gardening. The Harpy did not work well. It's been a drawer queen. Those big serrations don't work well IMO. It's also heavy and a PITA to sharpen. I don't recommend it. I wish I would have gotten a smooth bladed hawk. I think of a Hawk as a working knife as opposed to an SD knife. I don't have one in mind to suggest though.
 
One of my favorites for EDC these days is the Dodo. The blade is more like that of a Cricket than a hook (But it's extremely capable of parting media). The generous-size G-10 scales combined with S30V steel makes for one powerful cutter in a fairly inoffensive package (blade length 2 1/6"). You may want to look at a G-10 Harpy (although only made in serrated).

I found the MT Kestral to be of very high quality, but the scales were just too small for my hands. The Ladyhawk (also very well made)is almost microscopic in terms of handling-qualities to me, so I'd advise trying them in your own hands first (if possible).

The SpyderHawk is larger than the Merlin, and I noticed a very strong similarity in blade size and shape to my MT Hawk (although the MT is alot more fun to open). The PE SpyderHawks were made with royal blue FRN scales, and look nice. Not nearly as tactical as the standard black SE models.
 
If I get a Kestral MA it'll be my FIRST Microtech MA! You know me; I like autos! I'm looking forward to possibly trying a MT MA to see how their liner-lock works.
Click to expand...

The Krestal has the Micro-Bar which I personally, think very highly of.
 
fullolead, CRKT actually made the Seahawk in two different sizes. I picked the small one up somewhere on a closeout. Sometime later Bayou LaFourch had one only on their closeout page. I ordered it thinking it was the samll one but was pleasently suprised to find out it had a big brother. The small is about the size of the Merlin. I've got both and I reaaly prefer the CRKT for EDC purposes in the right rear pocket (I'm a lefty). That may have something to do with the fact that I got bit by the Merlin one time. Not too bad---it could have been much worse. Somehow the tip open knife came open in my jeans and the tip of the blade caught the pocket leaving about 1 inch gapbetween blade and handle. When I reached for it I got a finger full of Spydie teeth!

phantom4
 
Originally posted by phantom4
fullolead, CRKT actually made the Seahawk in two different sizes. I picked the small one up somewhere on a closeout.
Click to expand...

Sweet! Wanna sell it?;)
Either of them?
 
If you're serious about wanting a sheeple friendly forward swept knife, you'll need to get a Boker (or similar) gardener knife.
Otherwise, I think the MOD is the smallest of the bunch.
 
If you need it to be a bit more people friendly, don't go for serrations. I know I know, serrations are better for SD but reactions to serrated hawkbill and plain hawkbill is rather different
 
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