Havalon Scalpel Knife

R

russianesq

Joined
Aug 26, 2006
Messages
7
I recently came across the Havalon Scalpel blade knife. Just received it and very impressed.

This is similiar to the Tigersharp but you use scalpel blades.

The knife is high quality and uses replaceable number 60 scalpel blades. Has anyone else had any experience with this knife?

http://www.havalon.com/
 
sounds like a knife for someone who's reeeeeeeeeeeeeally lazy, and arent scalpels made from non-carbon stainless?
 
Besides comments from the peanut gallery. The original question still remains. Does anyone have any experience with this knife?
 
Another from the peanut gallery: It just doesn't do much for me, although I admit I've never seen or handled one. I seriously doubt that I'd be interested in buying one of them, just not my thing. Of course it would be cool to be a famous heart surgeon, and right at the moment you're susposed to say "Scalpel", you cast your operating gown to the side, and remove your Piranna from your cross carry sheath, and hollar, STAND ASIDE!! wacky wack wack wackidy wack. Then holster up and leave the building. And to think, I did NOT stay at a Holiday Inn last night!
 
I've had the original one for about a year. My observation is that is nice to be able to pop a new razor-sharp blade in whenever one wants, but the blade is limited in strength, of course, because of the thinness.

Great desk knife for opening mail and boxes. I could also see applications where one would use it as one would an Exacto or other "hobby" knife but needed a little more blade.

I found that the blade can be a little tight to get on and off on my particular handle.

Nice little gadget knife for those who like these things. Having done animal surgery and necropsy for a number of years I have an "affection" for scalpels. Having a folding version is sorta neat.
 
the new version is even cheaper then the original model.

at the price it is offered, definetely a buy on any list.
 
russianesq said:
the new version is even cheaper then the original model.

at the price it is offered, definetely a buy on any list.
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oooooooooookay there. If you are a real poster who wants advice and conversation regarding the qaulity of blades, who just wants discussion - lines like that are something you need to watch out for. That is a sales pitch.

People trying to sell things, even for other people, on any board besides the sales forum isn't really looked well upon. And even on the sales forum, you kinda need to be directly connected to the item, or have a dealers membership to sell from a website like the one you posted.

In regards to that item, I'd rather carry sharpening supplies then extra scalpel blades, though I can see the logic behind it. With time and patience, I can make my blades considerably sharper and more consistent in quality then that of scalpels. The only benefit they have for me is their general thinness, wich would be of benefit for small minute work like skinning, but I'd still rather have a 1/32" thick skinning blade of a steel that could hold an edge and be resharpened. I've persnonally never done taxidermy work, but I could see where it would be nice to have a scalpen with more handle grip for accuracy. I does seem like it would be harder to clean.

It certainly is an interesting design, but your approach to "asking about it" by repeatedly stateing its price, high quality, and what a good deal it is going to be met with some level of suspicion.
 
I am not selling the product in any way. I bought it retail. I have no connection to the company in any way.

I always liked the concept of a knife where the blade can be changed. At first, I bought a Tiger Sharp when they first came out and found that it was not for me.

Tiger Sharp has a very sharp thumb stud that riped any pocket apart. It would work in a holster, except I carry my knife 90% in pocket. The blades are also pricey versus the Piranta. Again not selling the knife but pointing out the difference in prices.

The Piranta is not for everyone. It does not have the sleek lines that some people are into. It uses a liner lock, again some pepople do not like liner locks. I do not think you will pull out this knife to someone who has a custom or semi-custom knife and are going to impress them with the zytel handle.

I remember when Glock pistol first came out. Most traditional gun owners hated the square profile and the the finish. It was impossible to tell owners that loved the traditional material and deep blueing that Glock was cool.

I am impressed that you can sharpen your blades to the sharpness of a scalpel. I do not have the patience to do that.

My favorite sharpener is a Edge Pro Apex sharpener, its not portable. What do u take into the field that can get your blades sharp.
 
russianesq said:
I
My favorite sharpener is a Edge Pro Apex sharpener, its not portable. What do u take into the field that can get your blades sharp.
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I use an Edge Pro Apex model as well. When in the feild, I generally bring a strip of abrasive loaded leather, and a ceramic rod that's around 400 grit. Keeping a knife sharp is easier then making it that way initially, though damages do occur that require a rebeveling of the edge.

It's definitely an interesting design, and I can see its benefits to certain users.

I appologize if it feels like your getting pounded with "spam" accusations, most of the people here just really dislike people trying to sell other peoples wares without a dealers license, so whenever something that looks like it comes up, people are on gaurd.

Try to keep a level of physical rationale that goes beyond broad statements in your initial posts that deal with prices and new models, and you'll find the spam accusations kept to a minimum. Things that sound like sales pitches that arent from dealers or makers will tend to piss people off.

Also,
Welcome to bladeforums.
 
Haven't used one of those, though it's an interesting idea. I generally just carry a blue (coarse) DMT pocket sharpener in the field to fix dings and a little square of 1000 grit wet/dry paper to stop on and get things back to razor. Last Visible Canary is quite right that maintaining sharpness in the field is easy if your tools start out sharp and you never let them really get dull before you touch 'em up. I really do need to try one of those Edge Pro's--they look like they would work well. To date I've been reluctant, I guess just because so much time was devoted in my youth to learning how to sharpen well free-hand.

Oh and by the way--you may not HAVE to sharpen the little scalpel blades, but you most certainly can. I have a box cutter that's been in my shop for years and years with the same blade--when it gets dull, it gets some time on a stone. If I got one of these with the 12-blade pack I imagine I'd have 11 unused blades gathering dust for decades. :D
 
I dont think the blades would getter dust.

A box cutter has a thicker blade then the scalpel. While playing around with the knife I already snapped 2 blades. Any side to side motion that would not effect a box cutter will snap the scalpel in two.

To go into the field with this knife with only 1 or 2 blades would not be a smart idea.
 
I found this thread using the search engine because I wanted more info on Havalon knives. I only heard of this knife for the first time when it was shown to me last Wednesday. The young man who showed it to me also had one that was just a solid plastic handle, the part the blade fits on was the only thing protruding from one end.

He is a full time guide who recently returned from a season in New Zealand. This is his favorite knife for field dressing and skinning large game animals. The man has had two dozen+ animal days. He doesn't use it to cut through bones but claims he just severs at the joints. The ability to continue working animal after animal without having to sharpen was paramount. One blade was used for more than one goat and one blade was enough for a large Stag (elk type animal).
 
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That is a handle arrangement to accept a standard scalpel blade from the looks. The push in attachment is a raised portion on the handle.
I have some old packaged blades that were for #3 and #4 handles. Handles are still sold but most medical units are a T/A unit.
Old B/P blades, Bard /Parker are marked carbon steel ( 50 years old ) .
I think with good blades these will do some work if the blades are ribbed back . I do not know if carbon blades are available
I have some experience as a Navy Corpsman ,FMF Recon . 1958-1964 . S.E.Asia .
Many Corpsman carried a #4 large handle with a # 15 blade for port protection that were billeted with the fleet.A wide belly blade about 1.5" long.
Medical supply might still sell carbon blades , but they were still intended to a single use. I have used them more than once with a strop on a tight leg BDU trousers.Some H2O2 for a bath and they work OK.
What I see in the pouch area is a foil blade package. Those are the individual blades . B/P blades were marked sterile, blade size,handle size ,and had a green front.Hobbyists still use the old handles and blades. Most are made in China and are not real good. I use North Bay carving knives for bench work.
Time goes by quickly.

Floyd
 
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