What do you guys think of HideAway knives?

[kevtan]

I am getting 2, 1 for my wife and 1 for me. It looks like a archery bow finger tab. The one with one finger hole and a slot for the arrow between the 3 fingers. You just flip the leather into the palm of your and to hold something and flip it back out to pull the bowstring.

This design is genius in its simplicity and usefullness. Kudos to Frontsight for having the 'balls' to design AND getting all the big name makers to grind for her. It seems kind of ironic that it takes a woman to design a knife that you do not have to put down in order to hold or manipulate something.

 

[patrickb]

I AutoCAD'd and CNC'd over 100 prototypes in Corian and a lot in steel before finalizing the design, settling on the Fibonacci ratio as the best boundary condition and optimizer for strength (which is why a 3-fingerhole hole was not necessary) as sizes changed. Then I mailed prototypes around the world for feedback. I have put a ton of real thought and research (and prototyping, and testing) into this design. Ken Onion told me just last week that I think too much (hrumph! ;-). I had to not follow a lot of the advice I received because most of it compromised the overriding design requirements of 1) concealable 2) retainable 3) hands-free use. At one point I was convinced that no one else in the world was going to like this knife except for me. I decided that was fine with me as long as I could find someone to make 7 for me to keep in various places.FrontSight

Frontsight,
I'm amazed at what you've accomplished with the HideAway. I don't own one nor have I handled one, but I can comment on your success with the business end of things.

From research to product development to sales and marketing, this is an incredible amount of work. Very few (if any) successful products make it to market without a great deal of research (just as you did) and more importantly countless hours, dedication and hard work. Judging by the satisfied (and repeat) customers you have at USN, BF, etc., clearly you have a product that is in demand. You don't get repeat customers and generate this kind of 'buzz' if your product doesn't work well. Period.

Additionally, to enter into a market dominated by men and create something that's truly new and unique is more than commendable. My hat's off to you. You prove that it is possible to follow a dream and actually succeed through hard work. Lastly, to make a living doing something you love....well that's just icing on the cake, isn't it?

Great job!!

Best,

Patrick Byrne

 

[STUMP]

Outside of the, "coolness factor", I don't like them. They look uncomfortable to hold and I'm sure it only gets worse in use.

You know, I often see people who think they can wear big rings on their hands in case they're in a fistfight they'll do more damage. They'll do more damage alright! Imagine what the impact on those rings will do to the few square milimeters worth of finger and bone beneith. I feel the same way about those knives.

I think you should have gotten the Emerson LaGriffe or a Microtech Medallion or a Spyderco Spot or any of the dozens of other knives that have had a lot of real thought and research put into the design and give excellent performance and ergonomics for their size.

Well, opinions do vary. I will echo Lifter's words since I handle almost all of the hideaways now during sheathing and even grind a few now and then.

I have taken my personal hideaway and punched into cedar boards that make up the wall of a cabin. The same day, I also punched into a live oak tree. I didn't feel any ill effects during the "testing" nor the next day.

I have followed Frontsight's design process from the very beginning, way before I got involved and I can assure you that a lot of thought went into the design. Not only in the beginning, but Frontsight constantly strives to improve the design, whether that applies to sheathing, carry modes or the knife itself.

If you haven't handled one, maybe you should keep your opinions to yourself.

That's like me giving NASA opinions on the space shuttle.

 

[Joe Talmadge]

I have a Hideaway that I use for utility work only, not intended for defensive use and I don't carry it on me outside the home. It works exactly as frontside said -- you can open up your hand and use your fingers, then close it and the knife is re-engaged again. I specifically bought the Hideaway for that feature. I find that utility cutting around the house, I usually cut a little, then manipulate something, then cut, move something, etc. Rather than constantly picking the knife up and putting it down again, the Hideaway lets me open and close my hands as I'm doing my thing.

 

[jim_l_clifton]

fullolead,
Amazing,simply "AMAZING"! You don't have one,never handled one but "YOU " don't like them! LOL!
Jim

 

[fulloflead]

fullolead,
Amazing,simply "AMAZING"! You don't have one,never handled one but "YOU " don't like them! LOL!
Jim

Well, the original poster bought one without handling one. And since he posted a website and picture I figured it was safe to assume that he wasn't ONLY asking people who've handled one but also people's opinions based on looking at the picture he posted. We all sometimes try to make judgements about whether we think we would like something based on photos on the internet. That was all I was doing. Perhaps I should have said, "I don't THINK I would like it based on what I see." instead of "I don't like it."

 

[Steven Roos]

The bottom line is that unless you have at least handled a HideAway (preferably own and use one) you can't make a complete evaluation of the design.

I bought mine on faith in the concept and all the work FS has done in the development. I can only make a real evaluation once I have mine in hand. (which should be very shortly)

 

[DumboRAT]

The bottom line is that unless you have at least handled a HideAway (preferably own and use one) you can't make a complete evaluation of the design.

This is a very, very true statement -- and one that I would actually extend to just about all knives on the market, custom or production, and anything in-between.

I've come to learn, in my own short time in this hobby, that looks can be quite deceiving when it comes to knives. Even when provided with the physical stats. of a knife, there's almost always something that cannot be conveyed on paper or rendered on-screen that will catch the buyer off-guard.

I think this is one of the main reasons why I find having Forums like this - as well as having friends who know well your particular taste and preferences in knives - really helps.

Subjective factors like comfort and handling are almost impossible to quantify outside of being there in-person, or having a trusted friend tell you "hey, bro, I know you'll like how this knife handles."

I bought mine on faith in the concept and all the work FS has done in the development. I can only make a real evaluation once I have mine in hand. (which should be very shortly)

I, too, bought mine on faith -- but after having done much, much, much research.



All of the "names" associated with F/S's creation was the first thing that convinced me. It's hard to get so many positive responses from such a distinguished group of enthusiasts, and the uniformity of compliments and comments regarding ergonomics and design were among the strongest endorsements that I read.

And honestly, looking at F/S's website was what finally pushed me over the edge.

Yes, there was a lot to read and yes, there was plenty of distracting (but yummy) eye-candy for a blade-luster like myself, but honestly, it's rare that any knifemaker out there so obviously spent that much time explaining the design and execution of their concepts.

Being a pretty anal-retentive guy about details, that's what finally convinced me that it was about time that I looked at a HideAway, and now that I own one, I can't ever imagine being without.


Allen
aka DumboRAT

 

[pff]

Real Secret Agrents don't worry about bruises.

 

[Jeremy Reynolds]

I hear a lot of people saying in many threads, that you can't know if you like a knife unless you have owned/used one for an extended period of time.

That is total BS. I have owned and use many knives over time. From that, I know what I like and what I dislike in a design.

My opinion of the hide away design? I don't want one. Is it a bad design? Not really, just doesn't appeal to me. I have other knives for that small utility chore category that I really like. I am in the process of thinning out my collection to the ones I use, and getting rid of a lot of others.

Why do I dislike the design? I don't have a good reason. Just doesn't appeal to me and what I am looking for in a knife. I don't have to buy one to know it's not what I'm looking for. I just get tired of people saying I can't have an opinion if I have never owned the knife. Pretty silly in my book.

JR

 

[WadeF]

You know, I often see people who think they can wear big rings on their hands in case they're in a fistfight they'll do more damage. They'll do more damage alright! Imagine what the impact on those rings will do to the few square milimeters worth of finger and bone beneith. I feel the same way about those knives.

I'm also growing tired of people trash talking products they haven't even used. If you don't have any real experience with the knife, don't knock it.

As far as your whole ring theory, I don't see how that applies to this knife. I haven't tried one of these knives, but it looks similar to a pair of brass knuckles. Basically the ring would press against your palm, meaning the impact of your punch is asorbed mostly into your palm, not your fingers. This means you can punch harder while protecting your fingers. Maybe someone here can let us know if the knife works in this way to further discredit your theory, or maybe back it up.

 

[Ed T]

I think they are a great idea and look to add one soon.

 

[bquinlan]

Despite having disagreed with him, I don't actually have a problem with fulloflead offering his opinion, either because it was negative or because he hadn't handled the knife. There's nothing wrong with expressing an honest opinion based on the best information at hand. I just wanted to offer my own somewhat better information.

--Bob Q

 

[Will P.]

As far as your whole ring theory, I don't see how that applies to this knife. I haven't tried one of these knives, but it looks similar to a pair of brass knuckles. Basically the ring would press against your palm, meaning the impact of your punch is asorbed mostly into your palm, not your fingers. This means you can punch harder while protecting your fingers. Maybe someone here can let us know if the knife works in this way to further discredit your theory, or maybe back it up.

Well, brass knuckles really, really suck. One of my friends used one as a bouncer at one point and time. He hit somehow screwy once - loosened his grip slightly or hit at an angle or something. He broke his forefinger and his middle finger.

But - and keep in mind I have never handled the knife, and I don't like punching daggers in general - there is a big difference in muscular tension between a punch and a stab. I am willing to believe that the knife would feel fine.

Real Secret Agrents don't worry about bruises.

I don't know about secret agents, but for soldiers broken fingers sure bite.

I'm SICK of the DEFENSIVE KNIFE LECTURES!

But the primary use for knives is killing people! The fact that I can do camp chores with an AFCK is a bonus.

I would definately get one of these knives if I had disposable income and time to wait for the knife to get made. It looks practical, and while not so good for killing people more than adequate as a self-defense deterant.

 

[frontsight]

There's an important difference between the way the 2 opinions were expressed between fulloflead and Jeremy Reynolds. Jeremy said (paraphrasing), [Hey, the design doesn't click with me] That's fine and completely consistent with the basenote's open-ended question 'what do you think'. I certainly don't expect the design to click with everyone. People's preferences are way too varied for that to be possible.

fulloflead essentially stated that it was a certainty that usage would feel bad, even though he hadn't tried. Big difference. Exact words were: "They look uncomfortable to hold and I'm sure it only gets worse in use." I'm thinkin' wow, now there's a confident guy! I tend to look upon life as one big experiment. I would never claim that I was certain of something like that unles I've had first hand experience with. But that's just me. I tend to state things like the WadeF person did in his last paragraph. i.e., "I have no experience with widget Y, but I think probably X. Is X true?"

fulloflead also implied that there wasn't much thought and research into the knife, which is simply wrong. This was via suggesting "any of the dozens of other knives that have had a lot of real thought and research put into the design and give excellent performance and ergonomics for their size."

So, huge difference between the 2 posts. One expresses an opinion as an opinion. The other, an opinion and supposition as fact. That latter will usually get called out in online mediums. Expectations are just higher.

It seems kind of ironic that it takes a woman to design a knife that you do not have to put down in order to hold or manipulate something.

Hi kevtan, seeing this made me laugh this morning. Talk about irony. Someone relayed a slam that a famous maker at BladeWest said about me / the knife that was a permutation of what you said. At first I was torqued. Then, I decided that ultimately it was a compliment. (or that was how I rationalized the slam so I wouldn't be upset about it.)

FrontSight

 

[Nosmo]

So far we have heard nothing negative from any owners.
All I have seen is praise for this innovative idea on this and other forums etc.

I am an owner in waiting and if I measured correctly, I am certain I will not be disappointed.

 

[DumboRAT]

Exactly like FrontSight said --

Expressing that the design isn't clicking for you is an issue of your personal aesthetic taste. Heck, if we all agreed on which knife looks best/worst, I'd think that this hobby would be pretty boring and pretty competitive as everyone sought the exact same blades !



But drawing inference and then rendering judgement on objective and quantitative issues based on simple assumptions? There's no way that can possibly fly.

There are some things in this world that just have to be experienced first-hand in order to be understood, and I am a firm believer that how knives perform in terms of cutting power, balance, and ergonomics are related intimately to the preferences and habits of the individual user, and these factors make it imperative for items to be judged first-hand.

Allen
aka DumboRAT

 

[MojoHead]

Some time ago, I went to the Hideaway website and was impressed by the time and thought put into the project, someone had put quite a bit of thought into a blade that could be used as a defense tool, but also had practical uses.
Ive been a fan of the LaGriffe for years and have several, but they have a few shortcomings that the Hideaway addresses well. One of these is the ability of the blade to spin around the finger during momentary grip loss and possibly cut ones hand when trying and re grip it, the other is the lack of a straight blade option for people who want to use them for for utility purposes. The Hideaway seems to address both so i ordered one that day, it should be here anytime.
In addition to the practicality of the design as an endorsement there is the involvement of some of the best of the best in the knife industry on this project, these people are the real deal.

Any impressions as to the lack of thought and care in the hideaway design are erroneous. In this case, not arrived at from actual experience. Thoughts as to the veracity of the source can be drawn accordingly.

 

[Milu]

There's one more virtue I don't think anyone has mentioned yet, What other knife puts so much power into such a little package? From cutting power, to SD and even the intimidation factor for SD before you needed to use it?

 

[tonyccw]

There's one more virtue I don't think anyone has mentioned yet, What other knife puts so much power into such a little package? From cutting power, to SD and even the intimidation factor for SD before you needed to use it?

Exactly why I have four of them. I carry two with me all the time (one in my Mission wallet, one in the ID sheath Hideaway sells) and they are so unobtrusive that it's not a weight penalty. The carry concepts are well thought out, and the execution is spot on. The added security of knowing they are there, and is legal carry even in anal-retnetive NYC makes them a hit with me.

As for the finger thing, yes, you could risk damage to your fingers if you punch with it. But the trade-off is that the damage to the other person should be greater.