Spyderco "Merlin" SE ; opinion(s)

A

Allen E. Treat

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This "dead horse" has probably been "beaten" with a "stick" before ( but I'll ask again anyway ;)) I have one of these baby's clipped to my left front pocket right now ; what's the opinion(s) of you forumite(s) regarding this Spydie? ( either configuration will apply SE or PE )
I carry it for the "just in case"
situation I hope never arise(s).
What say the augerers?


AET;)
 
If I'm not mistaken Hannibal Lecter used a Merlin in the movie "Hannibal". I don't know if that's much of a recommendation ;) .
I've had a Harpy (old version of the Merlin) for years but seldom carry it. More conventional shaped blades fit my needs better. YMMV

Gene
 
I got one for use mainly in the garden, I like the hook bill blade shape for cutting stems and such. The last time I used it cutting some especially tough weeds I felt it was a little "flexy" with the thin FRN handle. Also when I was using it in a reverse grip my fingers kept unlocking the blade. Given the way I was cutting (up) there wasn't much chance of the blade closing but it was still a little disconcerting. I guess this would be a problem with all midlocks.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the knife - super light and thin, overall the design is good but I think I'd like to have one with G-10 scales. Mine is PE by the way.
 
I love mine. I have been carrying a PE Merlin for a while. Used to carry the SE when I flew and could not take a gun. I have never had any problem with any of mine coming unlocked. I do wish the handles were a little thicker though. If I could get a PE G10 Harpy I would REALLY love it.

Just got me a Spyderhawk, so that will replace the Merlin on a lot of days. Nice big stout knife. Feels better in the hand, esp. in reverse grip than the Merlin does.
 
Cool knife, good price.

I like the G-10 harpy better, but they're hard to find. Much lighter than the SS harpy - still strong enough to use.

Seems to handle most common tasks well, and excels at things like opening boxes.

The merlin has the advantage of a right hand/left hand reversible clip.

Excellent knife for places with blade length limits.

Overall, a good knife.

-- Rob
 
Great knife.
I have the PE version, and I've taken this magazine, hold it up vertically by the spine, and put the tip about half way on the first page, and pulled it sharply down.
I was pretty damn surprised to find that about 1" from where I started, all the pages have been cut.
It was rumored that it was a rare Harpy PE that Hopkins used in "Hannibal", but the book mentions that he owns a Harpy SE and a Civilian.
 
Hi Guys,

I have carries a Merlin PE at work for about a year and can say that it has been a great knife for me. I cut boxes, cardboard, bags, paper, etc... It's not given me a single problem and it fits in my pocket very well facilitating one handed use. It may not be the best knife for defense, however several times I have used it in front of coworkers they definantly noticed the blade with it's wicked curved edge. Sometimes the look alone is a deterant.

O.K. so theres my 2 cents. :)


Greymoor
 
For a pure defense instinctive usage its among the best. light weight,small profile, short legal almost anywear, it can do all you really need for a close in defense knife. Its handle can and should be more sturdy and stiff.

I have carried a harpy or merlin since they came out. They are small and fit in your hand or pocket easlily. They are unnoticable in carry for most people ,so you windup carrying the thing rather then leave it home.They do not tend to have sharp edges and so do not wear out holes in your cloths as often of heavier or larger blades

I highly recommend them for anyone.

The plain edge is as good as the se generally. The se is better in most cases due to the fact it can cut through a layer of cloths better then the pe in my experience.

I love them but would love them more with a stiffer handle at the same or less weight.:)
 
I say that, just like a damn gun, if
you can carry it easliy & NOT leave the F*cking thing home where it might as well be on the planet Mars
when evrything goes "in the tub", what good is having the damn thing at all?( in the case of "self defence" ;))


AET ;)
 
G10 Harpy here.., great knife!


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
The last time I had my Merlin out it was in front of one of my teachers during a break in class. He looked at me rather strange and asked me "whats that thing for, gutting sheep"? I replied that I'm sure it would do so with no trouble what so ever but I was just opening a package. When I showed the same knife to my older brother he said "it looks evil".
The hook blade has come in very handy when you don't have the ability to push to cut something. Case in point removing zip ties from cable bundles. You can't safely push to cut them without risking damage to the cables. Hook the tip in and give a quick pull and bingo, all done. For its price I have to say that its one of the best value knives I own. Can't wait to get a Spyderhawk.
 
Originally posted by crawfordew
If I'm not mistaken Hannibal Lecter used a Merlin in the movie "Hannibal". I don't know if that's much of a recommendation ;) .
Click to expand...
It was said to be the PE Harpy (rare one I might say). The book mentions that he takes the Harpy and Civilian in SE, smart choice ;)
I have the Merlin in PE, and was demonstrating it to my friend, by taking a nearby magazine (newspaper quality paper, about 1/4" thick), and put it at the middle of the page, holding the spine up. Then I sharply pull the knife down. To MY surprise, it have bitten through the first page, and very quickly proceeded to cut through ALL the pages of the magazine. I was freaked by it at the moment before I recovered. He was totally shocked by the sharpness and wicked cutting power of the Merlin ;)
 
I carry and use a plain edge Merlin (convex ground now), every single day. Its the only knife I really use. Its great, I love it.

-Jason
 
I've used the SE Merlin as a whitewater rescue knife since they were introduced (a lot of cutting power in a small, lightweight package) and I use the PE version in my shop everyday. Favorite variation is the G-10 Harpy - more robust with non slip handle. Wish they'd bring 'em back! SpyderHawk will now take over as whitewater rescue knife just for the extra length of cut.
 
The harpy has three great features that make it one of the best knives to carry in restrictive areas. First, it has a defined purpose, from the manufactuer, as a work knife designed to cut rope, boxes, seatbelts, etc. Thus you can say truthfully with legal support that it is rescue/work knife, unlike a knife with "police" or "masters of defense" on the blade. Second, due to its curved shape it is one of the few knife designs that gets you completely out of the "dirk and dagger" realm of knife law. By definition, a hook bladed knife is not a dirk or dagger. That's why in my neighborhood, savy knife fighters like linoleum knives. Finally, it is under the magic 3".
 
Gotta tell you, gang, that"four fingered" rule of thumb the cops use
is REEEAALLYYY stretching a point (pun intended;)). Some State(s) in the Union have their own idea(s)
( Connecticut for example, where I originally hail from, says 4" ) about blade length. Here in Florida, it's rather vague & I don't know what would constitute a "common pocketknife" ( other than a wretched switchblade!;)) in the eyes of the cops. Don't care really. You have to carry your Spydies down here ( and any other knife ) in "open" modality, otherwise it requires a "concealed weapon(s);) permit" that costs $117 PLUS $5 fingerprinting fees! Just SEE if I'm payin' THAT much just to carry a "common pocketknife""concealed"! Go figure!

AET ;)
 
My SE Merlin stays within reach in my car where it can be used to cut me or someone else out of a stuck seat belt. Or to dissuade an unfriendly from invading the inner sanctity of my car(nothing says "GO AWAY!" better than providing a BG with a sudden need for multiple stitches).
Me: keyboard COMMANDO!:rolleyes:

Meanwhile, back in reality:
I like the Merlin a lot. It's really one of the very few serrated knives I've taken a likin' to. That talon-like curve of the blade just goes great with serrations. It makes pull cuts scarily easy and does make for a great gardening knife. I used it for harvesting herbs from our garden earlier in the Fall. Worked great!


All the best,
Mike U.
 
Any sort of curved blade (hawkbill, or recurve) tends to have a sobering effect on people who do not share our appreciation of these well designed TOOLS (for chrissake). But oh well, ^_^.

FYI, in Hannibal the movie, it might have been a Merlin (don't remember the movie), but in the book (btw, the book is ALWAYS better than the movie), Lector specifically buys a Spyderco Civilian. He sure as hell didn't use it to cut boxes open let me tell you.
 
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