Upgrades to Nighthawk?

mschwoeb

mschwoeb

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2001
Messages
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I seem to remember Mr. Rummerfield saying something about they are working on redoing the Nighthawk.

Could you tell us what the changes will be? I just purchased a Nighthawk, and I like it but I think I would prefer a different handle material and shape.
 
A revamped version or a new knife in similar configuration is in the design process right now. Will let you know when we have some prototypes to photograph,


Josh
 
I've had a Nighthawk since forever.
I like everything about it except the sheath.
And I like the design of the sheath; it just didn't hold up for very long.
I made a new sheath of my own design out of better materials.
The Nighthawk has a strange problem in that a sheath worthy of the knife probably costs more than the knife. :)

I consider the current Nighthawk one of those absolutely classic and perfect designs.
I even like the steel.
It holds an edge and does not corrode, even with neglect and abuse.
I do not see how Buck can improve upon this knife, and so, with a small cynicism, I expect the redesign to go the wrong way. :)

Personally, if I manufactured the Nighthawk, I would sharpen the swedge and make a no-apologies survival-fighter out of it.
Perhaps a lot of liabilities attend a sharpened-swedge, and Buck could, instead, almost sharpen the swedge so the buyer would have an easy option, including, even, sending it back to Buck to sharpen the swedge.
My state, Oregon, allows double-edged knives as long as one does not conceal them.

Anyway, I wonder if people ten years from now will bemoan the fact they did not buy an original-design Nighthawk way back when they sold for almost nothing.
 
Hmmm... Well, I like my Nighthawk, I like the steel because it is tough and corrosion resistant, though I wouldn't mind something like ATS-34. I also like the handle - my understanding is Buck is looking at a slab-side design similar to what they did on the Intrepid for the new nighthawks and I do think that would be very nice - add a lanyard hole! I agree that the one big thing that needs to be improved on the old model is the sheath - a nice Kydex one would be great.

Anyway, I like the old nighthawk - but I'll bet the new one can be just as good - even better! I'm looking forward to the pictures and I'm looking forward to getting the new design as well. I trust the folks at buck to do a good job.

Dan
 
Hmmmmm :confused: .......
I'd have to agree with Ken on this one....that a
TOTAL re-design would be a mistake. The 'hawk is
a classic as it is with only a lanyard hole the
one feature it really needs. I guess you can say...
"It ain't broke, so don't fix it" ;)

As far as better steel.......well, for the design
the steel now used is just right. Would steel with
snob appeal make it a better knife?? NO, just more
expensive. The handle? Yes, maybe a different
color(s) to make the knife easier to see when
dropped, BUT LEAVE THE HANDLE SHAPE ALONE it's
grat the way it is for real work. Also the handle
material is excellent for really working it hard
in the field.

Oh well:rolleyes: , I'll just buy an extra 'hawk
before the "new" one arrives.
 
Originally posted by Danbo
Please use BG42 for the new Nighthawk.
Click to expand...


I would love to use BG-42 on the NH, but it won't hit the right price point. I will look into making some for a special project for the forumites. I will let you know the price and the quantity needed to make it work.

Thanks,

Josh
 
If Buck ever makes a BG-42 Nighthawk I want to know about it.
I cannot imagine a more desireable knife.
Give the BG-42 Nighthawk a different name and use the present design.

Which brings up another issue:

Because of the shapeable nature of the hard plastic used in conjunction with the rubber in the Nighthawk grip, I had the ability to refine the grip of my Nighthawk just a little bit, which made it much more comfortable in a very far-forward fencer's grip with my thumb on top of the thumb thingy.
This very slight modification of the Nighthawk grip for the fencer's grip made the knife more elegant and useful in the reverse grip, hammer grip, baseball bat grip and the paintbrush grip (my favorite).
The knife now moves from grip style to grip style like music.
It reminds me of a nordic knife I had made for my son.

Which in turn brings me to a refinement I made (by hand, with stones) to the swedge of the blade, in order to reduce drag during a stabbing/penetrating use of the knife.
The more one can lessen the drag of a blade, the deeper and easier it will penetrate flesh.
Not a pleasant subject, I know, but an interesting excercise in fluid-dynamics as it relates to aerodynamics.
In other words, I have made the Nighthawk blade more efficient in flesh by reducing its drag.

I would gladly send this knife and the sheath I made for it to an interested person at Buck, if I had a reasonable assurance of its eventual return.

In the past, Buck has tried to create a flagship fighting/survival knife, with questionable success.
It seems the steel did not live up to the rest of the design, which really only copied a movie design of the period.
I think a BG-42 Nighthawk (an original Buck design), by another name, would give Buck the reputation and credibility it enjoyed in the early cult days of the 110.
Personally, I would give this knife a number designation, like the 110, and let the knife speak for itself.
Although, on second thought, Buck could pull off an association with the Randall mystique by calling this knife the Buck #1 All-Purpose Fighting Knife, and even trump Randall with the BG-42 steel.

Anyway, if anyone at Buck has an interest in seeing my modifications to an early Nighthawk, with custom slip sheath, please let me know through my email address.
 
Yes, I could go for a BG-42 as well.

As far as the blade and handle design goes, clearly I'm not in the majority here but I use mine as a general field utility knife. Ease of switching grips and effective stabbing are less important to me than a good grip for light chopping jobs, etc. I like the blade design just fine, a good mix for detailed type cutting with the tip, as well as doing heavier work.
 
A BG42 NH would be nice....

As far as redesign, though, the best thing you could do would be to make an ambidextrous sheath!
 
Folsom wrote:

"As far as redesign, though, the best thing you could do would be to make an ambidextrous sheath!"

Folsom has a point.

I wore my Nighthawk sheath upside down on my left side.
For us lefties, a right-handed sheath on the left side has a lot of merit.
Still, an ambidextrous sheath would say something about Buck's commitment.

More importantly, though, the sheath for a BG-42 Nighthawk should match the quality of the knife.
My Nighthawk sheath fell apart and I didn't abuse it.

How about a kydex semi-horizontal ambidextrous sheath such as the one Bob Dozier makes?

No one from Buck has contacted me yet asking to see my modified Nighthawk.
I probably shouldn't hold my breath.:)
Some years ago I had a very pleasant conversation with Chuck Buck about a knife sharpener idea I had.
He called me back and told me he had presented it to his board, but that they didn't get excited about it.
Soon after that, I saw a notice on the Buck website about not contacting Buck directly with new ideas.
They probably didn't put that there because of me, but I took it personally. :)
No, I didn't.

A sign of the times:
I have a dynamite Cream of Wheat recipe, and the Cream of Wheat people will not let me submit it to their recipe site for legal reasons.
I can understand how accepting ideas from the general public sets corporations up for lawsuits by people who claim to have submitted an idea and had it stolen.
Kinda sad.

I wonder if anyone at Buck wants my Cream of Wheat recipe?
 
Ken, you should have been a used car salesman. :)

You got me convinced. Hopefully, your sales pitch went over well with the good folks at Buck.
 
Ken, actually ive been lookin for a good Cream of Wheat recipie, if youd be willing to send it to Sythemaster06@aol.com, id really like that. :D . i am terrible at making cream of wheat, need some insperation
 
I followed Normark's link to his site.
He makes what looks like a nice product, and exactly what the Nighthawk needs.

I think Buck has an uncommonly good design in the Nighthawk, and rather than make it meet a low price point, they need to elevate it in people's minds, and a tough and well-fitted Normark sheath sounds like a good start.

No one at Buck has written to me asking to see my modified Nighthawk.
Hm.
If I sent my Nighthawk to Normark, how much would Normark charge for a typical sheath, and could/would Normark mold it to my specific knife?
 
Hey Ken...

Yes I Could, and Yes I Would...

You'd have to send it

If you think you Might,,Wrap it tight....

Ahhh Gezzz %$^&*#@ Cat in the Hat.. LOL:)

Drop me a note and a pic..
ttyle

Eric...
 
"No one at Buck has written to me asking to see my modified Nighthawk.
Hm."

Ken,

Sorry I haven't expressed interest, I read these forums rather quickly and never saw your earlier comment. I would love to see what you have done. Post a pic or e-mail me one.

This is what I would do as far as modifications to the NH design.

Full Tang
Removeable Scales
Lanyard hole
Keep a Thumb ramp and add a guard
Spear Point instead of Clip Point
BG-42
Bladetech Injection Molded Kydex Sheath

These mods would make a whole new knife so I doubt I would still call it the NH.

We'll see what happens with it. I agree that the current model's weak point is its sheath.

Eagle Industries standard sheath fits it perfect. ($30)
Blade Tech can make you one
So can many othe rtalented sheath makers.


Thanks,

Josh
 
Josh,

I like all of the changes you suggested. You're right, maybe it shouldn't be a next generation 'hawk, but just a new knife entirely. Anyway, sounds good - I'll start saving up to buy one! I'm looking forward to the pictures when you guys are ready for show and tell.
 
Josh has described a very interesting knife.
I look forward to seeing it.

I particularly like the spearpoint if it has a sharp ogive, meaning more of a pointy spear shape than a broad shovel shape.
For me, an all-purpose knife should have an aggressive enough point to defeat most heavy clothing and body armor.
I think some knife designers worry about making the point too weak if they make it sharp; however, I think a deep, small radius hollow grind allows a spear point to retain a center spine almost all the way to the point itself.
Given the toughness of today's steels, I think the spearpoint can and should approach dagger proportions.
Alternatively (to a hollow grind), a spearpoint can have an elliptical, convex cross-section, which gives it more than sufficient strength all the way to the tip, and forward weight, if a person likes that type of balance.
I have made an elliptical cross-section knife such as this for myself, out of BG-42.
Canadian knife maker Thomas Haslinger heat treated it for me in his vertical salt bath.
It not only behaves like a dagger in the thrust, it hacks like a bowie.

An asymmetric handle, favoring one hand orientation so that one edge of the spearpoint becomes the top edge, and the other edge becomes the bottom edge, makes this shape suitably versatile for multipurposes, including self-defense.

Anyway, thanks to Josh for the sheath info.
The new knife sounds like a winner.
 
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