RFI: Hawkbills And Such...

[Hannibal Lecter]

Dear Friends,

I am beginning work on what I hope will be quite a wonderful and enlightening project; basically, I am making an effort to write an informative article on hawkbilled knives for an online e-zine, starting with the older style pruners and linoleum knives, moving through the first "modern" hawkbill (the Spyderco Harpy), and ending with the state of hawkbills today and in the future inasmuchas can be predicted.

This is a request for information from any of you who might care to contribute to such a project with thoughts, pictures and/or information. Proper credit will of course be given to all who contribute pictures, where direct quotes are utilized, or for information contributed.

Anyone having anything to offer please feel free to e-mail pictures, information, scans, or personal thoughts to me at doctor.hannibal.lecter.md@gmail.com.

I am not sure what I am getting myself into, but I am sure it will be both a lot of hard work, as well as a lot of fun!

My sincerest thanks to you all!

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Hannibal

[Zac]

interested in pre/post se/pe civilian pics?

[ghostrider]

Doc,
Email sent. :)

[smcfalls13]

Doc, given that I share your passion for the curved blades, and since I carry mine for the exact opposite reason as you do yours(that proves the versatility), let me know how I may be of service to you good sir.

[Hannibal Lecter]

My Dear Friend,


interested in pre/post se/pe civilian pics?

I am interested in anything and everything that has anything to do with hawkbilled blades, including reverse-S blades such as the Civilian that owe a huge debt to the hawkbills that spawned them. I plan to cover these knives as well. About the only thing I will NOT be covering in any detail are karambits, though I am sure I will touch on them.

My thanks!

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Hannibal

[Hannibal Lecter]

My Dear Scott,


Doc, given that I share your passion for the curved blades, and since I carry mine for the exact opposite reason as you do yours(that proves the versatility), let me know how I may be of service to you good sir.

I am interested in any way that ELUs carry and use them - EDC, general cutting and utility, SD, pruning, whatever. :D

You see the task before me... :confused:

My Thanks!

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Hannibal

[smcfalls13]

Expect a long detailed email from in the new few days Doc. :cool:

[Hannibal Lecter]

Dear Friends,

My thanks to those who have responded thus far!

Come on, folks - I know there are more hawkbill aficianodos than this here... :D

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Hannibal

[Dr. Snubnose]

Quite an undertaking for sure......I'll see what I can come up with Doc, in the next few days, to help out...Doc :D

[JD Spydo]

Doctor I had thoughts of how neat that it would be to write a book or even do a video on Hawkbills. I think your idea is absolutely sterling. With a few other knife companies finally getting on the bandwagon it's probably very timely to just go ahead and do something along this line. You have a PM Sir :spyder:

[zenheretic]

Hannibal,

With your command of the English language, I'd encourage you to aim for a complete book! I'm sure you are aware that in today's digital age you can have something like a mere 50 copies of a book printed at a time. I bet you could sell a few batches easily. If Dietmar Pohl can write a well selling book on Tactical Knives that barely scratches the surface. I'm confident you can write a more detailed book covering the Hawkbill. I'd liken it to antique collectors writing about their favorite collection focus such as Kewpie Dolls or Halloween Toys...both existing books by several authors. Good luck sir. I wish I had something other than encouragement to offer but well...I'd be happy to send photos...

[The Deacon]

Hannibal, just about all my decent hawkbill photos are on my website. If any of them are of use to you, consider this post as blanket permission for you to use them.

One other point, that you probably are aware of but just did not mention in your initial post, is the place of sickles, scythes, billhooks, and similar agrarian tools in hawkbill history.

[Hannibal Lecter]

My Dear Zen,


Hannibal,

With your command of the English language, I'd encourage you to aim for a complete book!

One thing at a time, my friend! LOL! :p I hadn't really considered that possibility, but since you bring it up I am quite sure that the volume of available information makes it very possible to do. I would probably wind up less a writer and more an editor, organizing existing data into a cohesive digestible format, not that I have a problem with that.

With a few of my own thoughts added for good measure, no doubt. ;)

I have quite a bit to think about and a LOT of e-mails to initiate!

My best to you all for the support, information and ideas!

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Hannibal

[Hannibal Lecter]

My Dear Deacon,


Hannibal, just about all my decent hawkbill photos are on my website. If any of them are of use to you, consider this post as blanket permission for you to use them.

My sincerest thanks!


One other point, that you probably are aware of but just did not mention in your initial post, is the place of sickles, scythes, billhooks, and similar agrarian tools in hawkbill history.

You're complicating things! :eek:

But truthfully, you are quite right. They each have their rightful place in the world of hawkbills as we now know it. I had initially intended just a lengthy article on the evolution of hawkbills from early folding pruners to the Spyderco Harpy and Superhawk, but this is getting both complicated and fun! I have a lot of work to do!

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Hannibal

[Hannibal Lecter]

Dear Friends,

I have initiated contact with James Keating concerning this project in hopes that he will be willing to contribute his considerable expertise and thoughts, or at minimum allow me to quote him with proper credit.

Wish me luck that he does not simply think me insane. :rolleyes: If there is anyone here that is better acquainted with him that would care to put in a good word for me, I would greatly appreciate it.

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Hannibal

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha hannibal,

will get back to you when I get home. I leave on the 5th... ;) I dunno how much of an assistance we can be to you, but we'll try. :o

God bless and take care, from oahu, 1421hrs. :)

[dialex]

Dear Doc, good luck with your project. I'm afraid I can't be of much use here, as my experience with hawkbills is extremely limited - I conceived one or two, but that's about all :o

[gordonk]

Doc - interesting project. Something for you - Lee Valley Tools (www.leevalley.com), Part #BL110, has a tool called the Root Knife, which I believe has an origin in SE Asia. It's a fixed blade hawkbill. Lee Valley's catalog is pretty neat in that they always give a bit of an explanation on it's design. The latest update on this one, however, was more limited. May want to drop them an email to see if they can give you some additional history. I have one of these and my wife uses for splitting iris rings and cutting sod.

Hope this helps - gord

[MacTech]

Doc, i'm composing an email on how I use the mighty Hawkbill in daily use, it may be a little long and verbose, feel free to trim/edit it at your leisure :)

[Hannibal Lecter]

My Dear Friends,

Much appreciation on the information. I have begun to assimilate it and will begin composition within the next few days...

Wish me luck!

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Hannibal

[Zac]

as promised
http://www.knifeforums.com/uploads/1153025505-MilandCiv_009resize.JPG
I have 2 others I will photo soon