A Hawkbill Project...

[Hannibal Lecter]

My Dear Friends,

With my fascination with karambits ever-growing, I have been contemplating destroying a perfectly good Spyderco knife in order to test a theory. :eek: The knife in question is a Tasman Salt SE, though I suppose a Harpy or Merlin would work equally well.

Basically, these blade profiles lend themselves very well to use as a karambit, save for the handle not having the requisite ring for spinning. My thought is this: I have 1/8" Dark Forest Green G-10 on the way to me from a friend for handle scales. I know what I want to see in a folding karambit, in that the blade angle of engagement needs changed a bit but otherwise is fine. Stainless liners might be tricky, but are still probably do-able.

If you want to see exactly what I am considering, try this (proceed at your own risk): take a Tasman Salt, Harpy or Merlin. Open the blade but do not quite lock it. Hold it in reverse grip and look at the placement of your index finger - a ring would go nicely there. :D

I haven't decided whether or not I have the stones to basically destroy a perfectly good knife just to test my theory; I might just talk to STR and see what his thoughts are. :cool:

Any other karambit-nuts here consider this possibility? I'll keep you all posted if anything occurs.

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Hannibal

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: How will you get the lock strong enough to do a downward smash on the blade spine? The Thomas kerambit is the only folding kerambit I've seen I wouldn't have any worry about losing a finger.:spyder:

[Hannibal Lecter]

My Dear Friend,


:spyder: How will you get the lock strong enough to do a downward smash on the blade spine?

Short answer - I won't. :D


The (Spyderco Warren) Thomas kerambit is the only folding kerambit I've seen I wouldn't have any worry about losing a finger.:spyder:

Granted, I would use the Spyderco WTK to give someone a good healthy smack with the spine of the knife handle in extended forward grip (I practice with it in this way), but there is just *no way* I am going to use the back of the blade of a folding karambit to hit anyone unless it has a Spyderco Compression Lock. Period. I kind of like my fingers where they are (read: attached). :p

Seriously, my friend - if I am going to go full-bore with an assailant it will be with a fixed blade karambit. In my estimation, folding karambits are great for light-duty stuff, but you will not catch me stressing the lock on one (and that includes the Spyderco WTK, especially when there is so much available steel in the handle to smack someone with!).

Personal opinion only - YMMV. Other thoughts?

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Hannibal

[Piet.S]

I believe you will find a problem with changing the blade angle.
Best of luck though and please keep us updated about your project.
A three inch serrated Karambit sounds devastating.

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: This knife will certianly be awesome. It seems in a wost case situation if the lock can't be re-engineered the blade can easily be mounted as a fixed blade spyderco kerambit. Wow, a fixed blade Tasman kerambit, that would also be cool. This is an awesome project!:) :spyder:

[bigkahunasix]

Well, since it's H1 at least it won't rust when you get the blood al over it. ;-)

[Piet.S]

Well, since it's H1 at least it won't rust when you get the blood al over it. ;-)

You got a point, blood is quite corrosive on steel.

[Lostification]

What's the big deal with the karambit?

[Hannibal Lecter]

My Friend,


What's the big deal with the karambit?

http://www.albokalisilat.org/karambit.html

View the videos - I think your question will answer itself. ;)

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Hannibal

[Agent Starling]

Dr. Lecter,

Hmm...sounds like a very interesting project. But tell me, good Doctor, isn't the karambit nothing more than a surrogate HAWKBILL? :p

~~~

Seriously, I've often wondered whether the kerambit is a hawkbill or not. It looks like one. It will be cool to see the outcome of this project! :spyder: :D

Agent Starling

[KaliGman]

I like it, Hannibal.

A Tasman Salt karambit would be interesting. Michael's idea of a fixed blade is interesting as well. As for the lock and the spine check/smash, that is a tactic, as you said, that I do not favor for folders.

Starling, the karambit can be considered a specialized hawkbill or claw, but, since it is normally held with the edge out in a reverse grip, it can be used for thrusting as well. The fact that it can be spun to the extended forward position and used to rip, tear, etc. from a longer range and often unexpected angles is also a major plus.

Quoting my videos, Hannibal?:o. I'm honored. If anyone has questions after watching, post a message here, PM me, or drop me an email on my Tuhan@albokalisilat.org email address.

I need to talk to Kristi about an order. I think I'll bring up this thread and see about the Tasman stock. I might pony one up for one of these experiments.

[Agent Starling]

Starling, the karambit can be considered a specialized hawkbill or claw, but, since it is normally held with the edge out in a reverse grip, it can be used for thrusting as well. The fact that it can be spun to the extended forward position and used to rip, tear, etc. from a longer range and often unexpected angles is also a major plus.

Thanks for the info KaliGman! :)

Starling

[JD Spydo]

Dr. Lecter,

Hmm...sounds like a very interesting project. But tell me, good Doctor, isn't the karambit nothing more than a surrogate HAWKBILL? :p

~~~

Seriously, I've often wondered whether the kerambit is a hawkbill or not. It looks like one. It will be cool to see the outcome of this project! :spyder: :D

Agent Starling


Oh Yes the Karambit is definitely a HAWKBILL :cool: Actually the concept of the Karambit was borne out of the Indonesian Archepelago and it also thrived throughout the Phillipine Islands as long as 100 years ago. The original Karambits are for all intent and purposes the Great Grandfathers of the HAWKBILLS we know and love today.

Most of the earlier Karambits from what I remember were all fixed blades. That's why I have lobbied on at least 3 occasions for Spyderco to do a fixed blade Hawkbill. And I don't care if it's modeled after a fixed blade Karambit. The Hawkbill is not a "Johnny Come Lately" fad >>~~ it is truly a tradition in cutlery.

The Good Doctor is definitely on to something. Modifying a Hawkbill into a makeshift Karambit>> What a novel idea :cool: But that's the kind of citizens we have here in Spyderville :)

[cobrajoe]

Sounds like a really interesting idea there. I'm not really a fan of karambits, but I am a fan of engineering :D.

The hardest part would be changing the angle of the blade with respect to the handle. I guess the easiest way to prevent any accidental closings would be to make the blade into a fixed blade knife. You could use a spacer the same thickness of the blade that would cradle the tang and make it impossible to move, or you could use the spyder hole to lock it to the handle with some sort of pin or tab.

A folding blade could still be achieved, but it would be much more difficult. Either the lockbar would need to be modified, custom made from scratch, or the tang would need to be modified.

Either way, I vote go for it! The tasman will surely be around for a while so there is no huge sacrifice in one lost in the name of science (AKA cool knife designs :D)

[Hannibal Lecter]

My Dear Friend,


The hardest part would be changing the angle of the blade with respect to the handle. I guess the easiest way to prevent any accidental closings would be to make the blade into a fixed blade knife. You could use a spacer the same thickness of the blade that would cradle the tang and make it impossible to move, or you could use the spyder hole to lock it to the handle with some sort of pin or tab.

I would really prefer to keep it a folder, but hey, any port in a storm, right?


A folding blade could still be achieved, but it would be much more difficult. Either the lockbar would need to be modified, custom made from scratch, or the tang would need to be modified.

That's the current plan - I will need to completely disassemble the knife to see how the parts interrelate, but believe that it can be done.


Either way, I vote go for it! The Tasman will surely be around for a while so there is no huge sacrifice in one lost in the name of science (AKA cool knife designs :D)

That's kind of my thought. :D I would actually prefer to use a Harpy blade as H-1 really isn't necessary in this application, but the Tasman is cheaper and more readily available.

More to come... ;)

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Hannibal

[Agent Starling]

Thanks JD! Interesting bit of history there, too.

Starling