SS Harpy v FRN Merlin - your choice?

[The Cool]

Hi guys - which do you prefer?

[AllenETreat]

Hey Cool ;

It depends on one's situation ; SS w/ water
relief hole is good for at sea ( or, dare I say it, "on the waterfront"?) where, in my case I have the lighter weight Merlin in BOTH
plain & serrated ( and will soon have it in G-10 ( Thanx Linda!<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>)) I really like the SS
though, it's just that it doesn't meet my requirements ( but will fit in my collection
sometime later ( stay tuned Linda!<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>))

So many Spydies <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>, So little money! <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

ATE <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[vampyrewolf]

I'm getting the PE Merlin(FRN) in Vg-10 soon... very soon. It's all down to the postal system...

I was using a CRKT BearClaw to give me the hawkbill for EDC, but the fixed blades usually get odd looks walking down the street.

[The Cool]

What? A G10 Merlin????

Liiindaaaaa hellllllp! <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[mac_heath]

I have the FRN Merlin, I love it. It's one of the lightest knives I own. The only SS I have is the Dragonfly, which I carry as a "dressy" knife. For me, there is such a thing as too light as well. I handled a Q model once and felt uncomfortable w/ its lack of heft (I know, it's mostly for show).

The other thing I like about the FRN Merlin is how thin it is. My FRN Native is nearly twice as thick.

there is no ginger

[glockman99]

Myself...I don't like knives with SS scales, as they all feel too slippery in my hand. FRN seems to grip better.

Dann Fassnacht Aberdeen, WA glockman99@hotmail.com ICQ: 53675663

[kraziekurtis]

Harpy <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

I like the heft, and I like the feel of the SS, and plus the SS looks better <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[Mike Sastre]

G-10 Harpy if you can find one. The SS version gets a little slippery when wet and the G-10 solves this while maintaining the heftier feeling. The Harpy blades are just a little thicker than the Merlins, so slightly more robust. All that said, I've used the Merlin as a whitewater rescue knife since they first came out with them. I even have a Merlin with the skinny plastic clip still attached to one of my PFDs. It has done very well indeed!

Mike

Edited by - Mike Sastre on 8/30/2002 1:27:18 PM

[java]

Hmmmmmmm.... SS Harpy? G10 Merlin? Harp? Merlin? Heck let's just take the SS Harpy and dress it up a tad! Yeah! That'll work!!

Stay safe! Stay sharp! <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[glasshartt]

Java,

OK, what other pretties have you been hiding from us? <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Linda

<img src="http://www.spyderco.com/forum/spyder.gif" border=O> Integrity is being good even if no-one else is watching <img src="http://www.spyderco.com/forum/spyder.gif" border=O>

[The Cool]

That's for the advice guys - dam, now where do I find a G10 Harpy.

Hi Mr Sastre - do you make a neck sheath for the Merlin?

Java - nice piece sir!

Just out of interest - why were 2 small hawbills made? They are roughly the same size right? Why not make just the one and offer different handle options? Just curious.

[kraziekurtis]

<a href="http://www.bladeart.com">BladeArt.com</a> has some G-10 Harpies I believe <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Edited by - kraziekurtis on 8/30/2002 3:58:39 PM

[Al]

Cool ~ Hamonoichiba have 'em, or ye could try Linda?.

[glasshartt]

If Hamonichiba has them, you would probably have better luck there. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Linda

<img src="http://www.spyderco.com/forum/spyder.gif" border=O> Integrity is being good even if no-one else is watching <img src="http://www.spyderco.com/forum/spyder.gif" border=O>

[Mike Sastre]

The Cool,

Yes, I do neck sheaths for the Merlin, as well as most other Spydies. Used to carry a PE Merlin in a neck sheath as an "airplane knife" before 9-11. Should be available from SFO.

[AllenETreat]

Uh, that's a G-10 Harpy.
Sorry for the glitch.

So many Spydies <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>, So little money! <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

ATE <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[Jeff/1911]

I sure am enjoying playing with my new G-10 Harpy. I see what Mike means, it feels very robust indeed. For comparison purposes; here is a picture from forumite Dwight, of three of his hawkbills all mentioned in this thread.

Jeff/1911.

Edited by - Jeff/1911 on 8/31/2002 9:44:35 AM

[Jeff/1911]

And here are two pictures of the version of G-10 Harpy that I recently acquired...very nice indeed. Now I see what all the enthusiasm is about, regarding the G-10 Harpy.

Jeff.

Edited by - Jeff/1911 on 8/31/2002 9:49:03 AM

[The Cool]

Thanks Mike - I'm looking forward to getting my hands on one of your sheaths in the near future.

Great pics Jeff <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[hawkbill]

Definitely get the River City neck sheath for fast deployment of your Harpy...it works very well indeed (thanks Mike).

I have a hard time picking ONE of the above, as I carry a G-10 Harpy when at work, and a SS Harpy with some "roughing-up" I added to the scales to provide traction. Merlin has also been a work companion at times.
Pics are too high a resolution to post, sorry. I can send emails if anyone contacts me for pics.

Edited by - hawkbill on 8/31/2002 10:35:25 PM