Mixed reactions to SpyderHawk

bquinlan

bquinlan

Joined
Jan 5, 2001
Messages
2,726
I got my BladeForums SpyderHawk yesterday. On the whole I like it, although it is probably not a knife I'll carry too often. It cuts like a Spyderco and it sure does look impressive when open. :D

On the other hand, I am a bit disappointed to find that the blade basically does not fit inside the handle when folded. There don't appear to be any safety issues involved. There is a small bit of exposed edge, but not where it should ever matter.

I guess the closed design bothers me both aesthetically and practically. My practical complaint is that a folding knife really shouldn't take up that much width in my pocket. Aesthetically it is just obvious that the handle was not designed for that blade.

I understand that designing, testing, and tooling up a new handle costs money and that using the Endura handle may have been what kept this project viable. If so, I can live with it. I just wanted to mention that it bugs me. I think this is the first Spyderco I've ever handled where I had a gripe of this sort.

--Bob Q
 
I would think that it's just as impractical to create a new handle that covers more of the blade, because that handle would be too wide of the average hands.
I understand what you're saying, because I used to carry a Merlin, but even the Merlin already has the blade as further in the handle as it can because of the hawkbill design.
 
Bob> thats the beauty of passarounds. I have a 'hawk coming my way to try out until I get the passaround going(d/p on numbers, either tuesday, or 20th at the latest).

had a merlin PE, but it was too small in my opinion... gave it away.

hope the c77 works better for me, with an extra inch of blade.
 
I'm pretty much right there with you, Bob. In fact, this is what I posted about it on the original pass around thread.

"All in all I like this knife. I would love it in a plain edge with G10 handles. My one minor complaint is with the visual aesthetics. I wish Spyderco would re-do the handle so that it doesn't look like they stuck the blade in a handle designed for another knife. Of course, this isn't a big secret since the handle is stamped Endura. The MOD Lady Hawk is a nice example."

Jack
 
I appreciate everyone's opinion about the way the blade sits in the handle. It made me stop and take a hard look at the "Other" models of similar ilk. Interestingly enough, they all share the feature of having a small portion of edge visible when folded (Harpy, Merlin, Civilian, Matriarch, & now SpyderHawk).

Guess I'm just used to it by now. I wonder if this, as well as the other asthetics points were considered less-important than ergonomics when used.
 
I think the barrel screw that holds the clip should have been left off this one. If the full depth of the handle had been available for the point it would have sat quite a bit lower in the handle. On most models I like that method for attaching the clip, but I think it gets in the way on this one.

I'm willing to live with the funky blade to handle matchup, I just think it could have been done a little more elegantly. Aside from that relatively minor point, I do like the SpyderHawk. It feels good in the hand and it sure can cut. :)

--Bob Q
 
Just as I carried an endura in my left/front pocket since december, I've got the passaround c77 from westicle in there right now. Barrel bolt was a good ideal, saving them an sku that would be needed for leftie models.

where the merlin was too small, this monster is ideal.
 
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