how does one properly use a hawk bill blade

B

Brother Methias

Joined
Aug 16, 2000
Messages
48
What is the point of this configuration? is it meant to be used more as a punch dagger or is it meant more for cutting? Since i frequently find myself in drag around the city of chicago, i thought the ladyhawk might be a good tactical knife under the 2.5' limit, but i'm not sure why its configuration is such as it is.
Sentry disposal?

 
I actually believe the original design was for cutting nets/ropes in the fishing industry. Nothing evil or deadly, just designed to do a task more efficiently than what was currently available.
 
My understanding is that curved blades like the hawksbill were made for rope cutting. Some blades like that shape are used for pruning trees and shrubs. Their utility as a weapon is debatable. Most real 'sentry disposal' blades were long, thin, and double edged.

Brother, indulge my interest in your name. Are you the enemy of the Omega Man? That was a great old scifi flick. But maybe you are a different Methias.

Paracelsus
 
Hawksbill blades are miniature sickles, and work fine in agriculture and horticulture. Cutting rope is similar, since you are drawing the knife across a small cross-section, and the blade is always pressing closer to what you are cutting, never slipping away, the way a bellied blade would.

As a weapon, they might look scary because they are somewhat unusual, but unless you're a slasher, they aren't really designed for hurting people.
 
I think, in theory, it accommodates many cutting purposes except something like chopping.

However, the two advantages that come to mind are cutting by drawing the blade back, like a carpet knife.

The second is in forward stabbing/slashing. It is like the fangs or claws of an animal. It punctures, draws in and slices down at the same time. I recently saw a documentary on the extinct sabre toothed tiger and this was the same motion which had devastating results on its prey.

I used to scoff at those hawkbill knives, however I see that it offers many utility advantages beyond mere self-defense applications.

[This message has been edited by Full Tang Clan (edited 01-16-2001).]
 
i wonder why that darn martial arts lady thinks the ladyhawk design ( a hawk's bill) is more appropriate for women? Maybe it's because they would be more prone to slashing with a knife than using a stabbing motion, as in a defensive cat's slash instead of a medieval knight's thrust...
hmmm.....

Brother Methias is a reference to the "father" of Babe Ruth, a tall, looming franciscan brother who raised babe at i believe a boy's home and taught him how to play baseball. Apparently during his hayday when babe would get cocky/nutty and drive his car down the sidestreets of brooklyn at 70 mph the team owners would have Brother Methias come down and give him a talking to, as he was the only person babe would listen to. Am i a baseball fanatic? No, as i grew up watching baseball i realized the sport truly sucks and is boring unless you're playing it, or heavily intoxicated, now hockey there's a true team sport with the speed and excitement of a 5th century AD colosseum requiring skill, fitness, speed, and toughness- i just liked the story about the brother... and have no idea who the omega man is, though he sounds like a dork.

seeya on the 1911 forum
 
The Ladyhawk was made for someone with small hands. It isn't as much of a "fighter" as it is a knife to help you make someone let go of you. The way it's designed, once it's open in your hand, there's nothing an attacker can grab onto but blade. If you picture an untrained woman, pushed up against her car by a man with bad intentions, she can get that little knife into her hand and open and slash at whatever she can reach. It's also small so if you have it in your hand, someone isn't likely to see it before they feel it. I think that it would be an effective knife for its intended purpose, way too small for my hands though.

I don't own a hawkbill yet, but there's a G-10 Harpy in my near future.



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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"Paradise lies in the shadow of swords." - Nietzsche
 
The G-10 Harpy is great. It is a good bit nicer than a Merlin and allows for much better grip than the current SS Harpy. It lacks the drying vents of the current design though.

It is one of my daily carry pieces, I have it with me everywhere unless my FS Military can come with me.
 
Whoa there Brother Methias. You don't know who you're calling a dork. The Omega Man is classic Sci-Fi starring Charlton Heston. That's right, President of the NRA Charlton Heston. And my hero since I was like 5. So watch your mouth.
smile.gif

 
my crkt bear claw is also desinged for self defense / and rope / net cutting. with a fore finger ine te handles hole it would make a good punch knife, it also rips nice, but my favorite use for it is paring apples and potatoes or carving wood.
 
Since Para asked a question, I just gotta ask one, too. Sorry.
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Brother Methias:
Since i frequently find myself in drag around the city of chicago, i thought the ladyhawk might be a good tactical knife under the 2.5' limit, but i'm not sure why its configuration is such as it is. </font>
Click to expand...

???

Like I said, I just hadta ask. Not that there is necessarily anything wrong with that, but the way it is stated, it almost begs the question......

... knowing that I'm gonna hate myself for even asking... I remain... me.

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I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts. -- John Steinbeck

iktomi
 
......Hawkbill blade design was and is a simple sickel tool, in that it allows one to have the work pulled in to the cutting edge instead of being slipped off the edge as in the case of other outward curved designs. The defence world took this,"wicked", looking design for an intimadating looking knife first and second for it ability to perform .......Ironhorse.....
 
I think it was designed for marine use, cutting ropes and webbing and the like. It was later adopted by the defense-minded since it is small and can do some ugly damage very quickly. Just ask Hannibal the Cannibal.
eek.gif
 
Brother Methias,
I make two fixed bladed Hawkbill models. The smaller version has proven to be a very handy utility knife. I usually make them with colorful handle materials, etc. to be as PC as possible.
ALL of my customers that purchase the larger version (3.5"blade) use them strictly for self defense.
I would post this same topic on the Pratical Tactical forum for to get a better idea of usefulness and intended purpose of the Hawkbill as a tactical/fighting knife.
Neil

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Talonite......Stellite
Knives in STOCK!! I just updated my website, PLEASE take a look :)


blackwoodknives.com
 
Paladin Press has a video called Masters of Defense,it has the use of the Ladyhawk by its desinger Graciela-Casillas Boggs. Very good info in this video.Another video is Spyderco Civilan by Jim Keating , its shows uses of the hawkbill blade.I have a older merlin and a civilan,I think they would be both effective blades in combat.


I liked the Omega Man,very good movie

 
Ok i guess i've never seen the omega man, but its just that the name sounds so damn generic.

I guess i've really only been in drag on halloween truth be told, but since i'm looking for the best defensive knife <2.5' (chicago limit) i thought i might consider dishonoring my manhood by purchasing and carrying the ladyhawk.

One thing that kinda frightens me about the hawkbill is that in a stabbing motion more force than in a typical knife will be directed against the lock, and i still don't completely trust any folder's locking system, i've seen too many fail. Maybe a 2.5' punch dagger would be legal in the city. Maybe i should just give it up and carry O.C. pepper spray, or a 1911.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Brother Methias:
I guess i've really only been in drag on halloween truth be told, but since i'm looking for the best defensive knife <2.5' (chicago limit) i thought i might consider dishonoring my manhood by purchasing and carrying the ladyhawk. </font>
Click to expand...

Oh, OK, cool. Like I said, it's just the way you said it begged the question. I thought maybe you were some kinda undercover narc officer dressing up in drag or something.
biggrin.gif


<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Brother Methias:
One thing that kinda frightens me about the hawkbill is that in a stabbing motion more force than in a typical knife will be directed against the lock, and i still don't completely trust any folder's locking system, i've seen too many fail.</font>
Click to expand...

Well, yeah, but, for a proper stabbing angle on the tip, you are actually kinda slashing, aren't you? I mean, the traditional thrusting movement would not work I believe. And any slashing vector just reinforces the lock, right?

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I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts. -- John Steinbeck

iktomi
 
Brother Methias,
Thanks!! I'm glad the instructional tapes were mentioned, I should have brought that up!! My Hawkbill designs are based on customer input and suggestions as well as what I observed on both of the above mentioned videos.
The Keating video is REQUIRED veiwing for EVERY hawkbill owner
smile.gif


Neil

------------------
Talonite......Stellite
Knives in STOCK!! I just updated my website, PLEASE take a look :)


blackwoodknives.com
 
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