This morning, I was performing another mini-competition between my knives, the tests?, scoring a cardboard box to remove shipping labels, and cutting open-celled foam, and it got me to thinking....
I'm a hawkbill fanatic, for the cutting chores I do (mainly cutting open packages, breaking down boxes, and scoring boxes to remove old shipping labels so I can re-use the box), the Hawkbill reigns supreme, the downturned point gives unheard of point control, with my hand in a comfortably neutral position and holding the knife in a standard hammer grip, I can control the depth of the cut simply by how much backpressure i put on the heel of the scales....
Give me a Harpy or Dodo, and I can score a box so the label only removes the topmost layer of paper, I can cut one piece of paper and not disturb the paper underneath, and opening clampacks?, HA! don't make me laugh, a Hawkbill *excels* at that
If I have to use a "conventional" blade to score a box for label removal, I have to angle my arm to a very uncomfortable angle, and have almost *no* control over the depth of the cut, with a standard blade, it usually takes off 2-3 layers of paper off the box, sometimes down to the corrugations themselves
needless to say, I'm never without *some* hawkbill on me, usually a Cricket, Harpy, or Dodo
the sad thing is, the Hawkbill seems to have an unfairly tarnished reputation, it's seen as a "scary" blade style, not just by the sheeple (but then again, what *aren't* sheeple scared of?
), but even by other knife users, I've seen situations where someone's using their 4" "tactical" folder, or even a Buck 110, and I pull out either my SE Dodo or SE SS Harpy, knives with *much* shorter blades, and the other person almost immediately remarks on how "scary" the knife looks, and how "you could really hurt someone with it" (all the while while holding their knife which has a *much* longer blade...go figure...)
I think part of it has to do with the "horror movie" factor, curved blades are much loved by the garden-variety maniacal slasher, the Hawkbill is also the preferred blade of the well-spoken sociopath Doctor Hannibal Lecter (no, not *our* Hannibal, the *movie* Hannibal) heck, even Freddy Krueger's razor glove has curved "Hawkbill-esque" razors, I guess the hollywood convention is curved blade=scary
I nominate the Hawkbill as one of, if not *THE* most misunderstood *and* unfairly maligned blade styles out there
In an effort to combat the perception of "curved blade=scary/bad", my standard response when presented with this foolish and laughable argument is to point out the Hawkbill's *good* points...
It's unbeatable as a box opener or in any situation where you need fine point control
It's almost impossible for what you're cutting (rope, for example) to slip off the blade
When opening clampacks (by cutting away from yourself), the tip is pointing *away* from you, adding an extra margin of safety
It's even *safer* than a Rescue style knife (sheepfoot blade) for cutting seatbelts, as the point is pointing *away* from the victim, and the curve of the blade makes it impossible for the seat belt to slip off the blade
and for those people who *insist* that a hawkbill is an evil knife that "you could really hurt someone with", I point out that in a defensive situation, after you've exhausted *all* other possibilities and are forced to rely on your blade for self defense, it's (almost) *impossible* to use a hawkbill to *stab* someone, it's designed to make pulling cuts or slashes, a pure defense strategy, giving you time to get away from your attacker, who will be injured, but still alive
I've found that the best way to get people to recognize the pure utility of a Hawkbill, is simply to let them *use* it, once they have it in hand and experience the point control and precision of a hawkbill, it's suddenly no longer a "scary knife", it's become a useful *tool*
so, what blade styles do you see as misunderstood or unfairly maligned?
I'm a hawkbill fanatic, for the cutting chores I do (mainly cutting open packages, breaking down boxes, and scoring boxes to remove old shipping labels so I can re-use the box), the Hawkbill reigns supreme, the downturned point gives unheard of point control, with my hand in a comfortably neutral position and holding the knife in a standard hammer grip, I can control the depth of the cut simply by how much backpressure i put on the heel of the scales....
Give me a Harpy or Dodo, and I can score a box so the label only removes the topmost layer of paper, I can cut one piece of paper and not disturb the paper underneath, and opening clampacks?, HA! don't make me laugh, a Hawkbill *excels* at that
If I have to use a "conventional" blade to score a box for label removal, I have to angle my arm to a very uncomfortable angle, and have almost *no* control over the depth of the cut, with a standard blade, it usually takes off 2-3 layers of paper off the box, sometimes down to the corrugations themselves
needless to say, I'm never without *some* hawkbill on me, usually a Cricket, Harpy, or Dodo
the sad thing is, the Hawkbill seems to have an unfairly tarnished reputation, it's seen as a "scary" blade style, not just by the sheeple (but then again, what *aren't* sheeple scared of?
), but even by other knife users, I've seen situations where someone's using their 4" "tactical" folder, or even a Buck 110, and I pull out either my SE Dodo or SE SS Harpy, knives with *much* shorter blades, and the other person almost immediately remarks on how "scary" the knife looks, and how "you could really hurt someone with it" (all the while while holding their knife which has a *much* longer blade...go figure...)I think part of it has to do with the "horror movie" factor, curved blades are much loved by the garden-variety maniacal slasher, the Hawkbill is also the preferred blade of the well-spoken sociopath Doctor Hannibal Lecter (no, not *our* Hannibal, the *movie* Hannibal) heck, even Freddy Krueger's razor glove has curved "Hawkbill-esque" razors, I guess the hollywood convention is curved blade=scary
I nominate the Hawkbill as one of, if not *THE* most misunderstood *and* unfairly maligned blade styles out there
In an effort to combat the perception of "curved blade=scary/bad", my standard response when presented with this foolish and laughable argument is to point out the Hawkbill's *good* points...
It's unbeatable as a box opener or in any situation where you need fine point control
It's almost impossible for what you're cutting (rope, for example) to slip off the blade
When opening clampacks (by cutting away from yourself), the tip is pointing *away* from you, adding an extra margin of safety
It's even *safer* than a Rescue style knife (sheepfoot blade) for cutting seatbelts, as the point is pointing *away* from the victim, and the curve of the blade makes it impossible for the seat belt to slip off the blade
and for those people who *insist* that a hawkbill is an evil knife that "you could really hurt someone with", I point out that in a defensive situation, after you've exhausted *all* other possibilities and are forced to rely on your blade for self defense, it's (almost) *impossible* to use a hawkbill to *stab* someone, it's designed to make pulling cuts or slashes, a pure defense strategy, giving you time to get away from your attacker, who will be injured, but still alive
I've found that the best way to get people to recognize the pure utility of a Hawkbill, is simply to let them *use* it, once they have it in hand and experience the point control and precision of a hawkbill, it's suddenly no longer a "scary knife", it's become a useful *tool*
so, what blade styles do you see as misunderstood or unfairly maligned?
To be honest, the blade I use most often by far is a plain old Stanley utility knife, because at work it comes in contact with all manner of stubborn materials like cardboard, and it's just easier to change out the cheap blades than it would be to hone a knice pocket knife every couple days. Plus, LEO's and civilians alike think nothing of seeing a blue collar guy with a utility knife in his back pocket. Its inch or so of blade would be a very poor weapon.
