- Joined
- Jan 29, 2003
- Messages
- 1,568
The Laconico HWK
This afternoon I received a package from Ray Laconico. Inside was the newly christened "HWK" or (Hawk or Hazard Woods Knife). This is a design modification that I requested from Ray after seeing his Hiker's Utility Knife. I requested that the point be dropped a bit (closer to a spear point) for drilling. I also requested new handle materials and pins. The intent was to make a "bushcrafter" that still looked, felt, and cut like a Laconico.
Stats
This knife is crafted from 1/8" thick O1 steel. The blade is 3 3/4" long from tip to scales and the knife is 8 1/4" in overall length. The handle slabs are black linen micarta with a slight palm swell at the middle.
The Reveal
As soon as I got home from the office I cut open the box from Ray with my trusty Endura. I found a well packed bundle of newspaper inside. Once I unraveled miles of newspaper I was left with the HWK in its sheath.
The sheath is exactly was I hoped. I asked Ray to make it so that it sat a little lower on the belt so Ray included a drop loop that holds the knife lower and slightly away from the belt. It is very comfortable and out of the way of my pack's waist belt. Ray molded this sheath from two pieces of kydex. It has generous ramps to aid the user is drawing the knife. The eyelets are spaced for use with a Tek-Lok.
Getting it Dirty
I took the HWK out to the creek on our wooded lot and set about putting it through its paces. The first thing I did was test the spine on a fire steel. I was rewarded with a huge shower of sparks. Ray does a great job of squaring the spines on his knives and the O1 can really throw sparks.
Next I set about prepping some tinder. The fine polished convex edge made short work of the jute twine. The belly of the knife made rocking cuts in the balled up twine a cinch. I also tested the spine and edge on fatwood. The HWK's squared spine made achieving very fine curls of fatwood easy and the acute edge sliced larger curls with ease.
Next I tried my hand at some notching. We probably all agree that, for working wood, it is hard to beat a scandi grind. However, with the excellent geometry that Ray graces his knives with notching is no problem at all. Ray typically uses a full height flat grind and a polished convex edge. This gives even his thickest knives keen edges.
After the notching and tinder prep, I wanted to see how the edge was holding up so it was time for a few fuzz sticks. My fuzz sticks do not even begin to approach the dense elegant curls that many of you are able to achieve but they work. I am happy to report that the HWK is very capable of marginal fuzz sticks!
Finally, I went to the wood pile and selected a lovely section of sycamore that has been seasoning for just short of two years. The HWK was able to baton through it, though somewhat slowly. I sectioned the log into 4 smaller sections and then split of kindling. When I was done, the edge would still scrape hair off my arm.
Clean Up
The sheath was full of dirt, shavings, and other assorted grime after the short workout. I simply rinsed it out with water and set it up to dry. The HWK it self came back to shaving sharp with a few licks on the strop.
Conclusion
The HWK, so far, has shown itself to be up to a variety off tasks. One short afternoon of testing is hardly enough to show this knife's true colors but so far it has been up to whatever I have asked. I will continue testing and report back. I want to see how this does in the kitchen and I imagine that this design should be pretty handy dressing deer (if I can manage to get one this season). Ray makes a fine knife at a fair price - what more could you ask? Overall, I am very proud to have my name on this one.
Matt Hazard
This afternoon I received a package from Ray Laconico. Inside was the newly christened "HWK" or (Hawk or Hazard Woods Knife). This is a design modification that I requested from Ray after seeing his Hiker's Utility Knife. I requested that the point be dropped a bit (closer to a spear point) for drilling. I also requested new handle materials and pins. The intent was to make a "bushcrafter" that still looked, felt, and cut like a Laconico.
Stats
This knife is crafted from 1/8" thick O1 steel. The blade is 3 3/4" long from tip to scales and the knife is 8 1/4" in overall length. The handle slabs are black linen micarta with a slight palm swell at the middle.
The Reveal
As soon as I got home from the office I cut open the box from Ray with my trusty Endura. I found a well packed bundle of newspaper inside. Once I unraveled miles of newspaper I was left with the HWK in its sheath.
The sheath is exactly was I hoped. I asked Ray to make it so that it sat a little lower on the belt so Ray included a drop loop that holds the knife lower and slightly away from the belt. It is very comfortable and out of the way of my pack's waist belt. Ray molded this sheath from two pieces of kydex. It has generous ramps to aid the user is drawing the knife. The eyelets are spaced for use with a Tek-Lok.
Getting it Dirty
I took the HWK out to the creek on our wooded lot and set about putting it through its paces. The first thing I did was test the spine on a fire steel. I was rewarded with a huge shower of sparks. Ray does a great job of squaring the spines on his knives and the O1 can really throw sparks.
Next I set about prepping some tinder. The fine polished convex edge made short work of the jute twine. The belly of the knife made rocking cuts in the balled up twine a cinch. I also tested the spine and edge on fatwood. The HWK's squared spine made achieving very fine curls of fatwood easy and the acute edge sliced larger curls with ease.
Next I tried my hand at some notching. We probably all agree that, for working wood, it is hard to beat a scandi grind. However, with the excellent geometry that Ray graces his knives with notching is no problem at all. Ray typically uses a full height flat grind and a polished convex edge. This gives even his thickest knives keen edges.
After the notching and tinder prep, I wanted to see how the edge was holding up so it was time for a few fuzz sticks. My fuzz sticks do not even begin to approach the dense elegant curls that many of you are able to achieve but they work. I am happy to report that the HWK is very capable of marginal fuzz sticks!
Finally, I went to the wood pile and selected a lovely section of sycamore that has been seasoning for just short of two years. The HWK was able to baton through it, though somewhat slowly. I sectioned the log into 4 smaller sections and then split of kindling. When I was done, the edge would still scrape hair off my arm.
Clean Up
The sheath was full of dirt, shavings, and other assorted grime after the short workout. I simply rinsed it out with water and set it up to dry. The HWK it self came back to shaving sharp with a few licks on the strop.
Conclusion
The HWK, so far, has shown itself to be up to a variety off tasks. One short afternoon of testing is hardly enough to show this knife's true colors but so far it has been up to whatever I have asked. I will continue testing and report back. I want to see how this does in the kitchen and I imagine that this design should be pretty handy dressing deer (if I can manage to get one this season). Ray makes a fine knife at a fair price - what more could you ask? Overall, I am very proud to have my name on this one.
Matt Hazard
Last edited:
i want one.. 
i think need another...
