Spyderco Forums

I am in the need of advise from experienced Hawkbill users. I have no experience with hawkbills plain or serrated. No expirience with H1 either. For years I feel attracted to hawks, but never pulled a trigger to buy a user. I was close few time to get tasman, but never did. Lately I am on little tight budget and I sold few time more knives, than I bought. Still when I saw USN Ladybug, I couldn't resist and pulled a trigger. I wasn't sure, what do I need so I bought both:PE and SE. So I need a help to decide, which one to put to use PE or SE. Please, tell me from your practical experience, what advantages and disadvantages of PE over SE and vise versa. What can I expect from these blades? Will any of them be better than my Jester in any key-chain knife applications?

I think you know these answers, Roman.

Hawkbills excell at pulling cuts. Ropes and such. Also in gardening, like pruning.

As to SE vs PE, like any other blade. PE will give you a cleaner cut, SE is more aggresive.

For H1 the creation of the SE edge seems to harden it some and the edges last longer.

Personally, the USN offerings look very cool, but that size is too small to make much use of the hawk shape.

Ken

I believe this size a serrated would be more usefull, small hawkbills in plain edge look beautifull to me but would mainly be usefull for 'softcore' gardening (harvesting mushrooms).

I would save the PE for the collectors piece since I think that is what you really meant! The SE proto piece rides in my pocket daily and I would not want it in PE. If you ever needed to sell it the PE will be the one I think appreciates more

This knife is so small that you aren't really gonna be cutting a bunch of rope with it. However, it excels at cutting cord and twine. I have carried my SE Ladyhawk for about three months now in my watch pocket everyday. It is good at making controlled cuts opening packages, cutting tape and especially decimating clamshell packages. What I like about the hawkbill on this little knife is that once you put the edge to what you are cutting it stays there. I am aware that we all know that this is the point of a hawkbill but with such a short blade the Ladyhawk really takes advantage that hawkbill quality. I just got the PE version so I cannot comment on it too much except that I myself prefer plain edge 1000 times more than serrated edges. I have a serrated Stretch and a serrated Ladyhawk and the other 30+ Spydies are all plain edge so I show an obvious bias. That said, the SE should stay sharp longer and the serrations can only add to that hawkbill's tendency to grab what it is cutting and not slide off. I can give more input once I have used this little guy some more. My new PE Ladyhawk effortlessly opened up a bag of chicken feed today when I was feeding my chickens.

I have two full sized H1 Hawkbills that I have used quite a bit in yardwork. I doubt if I'll be using the USN Hawkbills for that, much too small. I do a lot of knot tying with 1-2 mm cord and paracord. I think that both PE and SE will have use for cutting cord, especially when cutting off the ends on a finished project. Right now I use small scrissors, disposable scalpels, or a Delica, UK, DK, etc.

I think you are just trying to make things difficult for yourself by only getting one of each. :)

I say: take a good look at them, whichever looks the most like a Native 5... that is the one you should carry. :p

I already have a SE normal version, so I got 2 PE and one SE, I plan on using one of the PE's.

Donut wrote:I think you are just trying to make things difficult for yourself by only getting one of each. :)

I cannot recall that I said one one each :confused: :confused: :confused: I beleive that I said PE and SE :) :D

Donut wrote: I say: take a good look at them, whichever looks the most like a Native 5... that is the one you should carry. :p

Right. :D
Brian,
You are very helpful today :)

Donut wrote: I already have a SE normal version, so I got 2 PE and one SE, I plan on using one of the PE's.

At what application your SE will be better than my PE Jester?
I really hate to be disappointed with a knife like I was disappointed with my delica SE or cricket

I love mine. I've been carrying it on and off on my keys for 4 years now. I rotate it out with a ZDP Ladybug depending on what edge type my EDC is so I have both PE and SE at all times. As mentioned, it really shines on pull cuts. I've used mine for everything you can get done with a blade that small.

Evil D wrote:I love mine. I've been carrying it on and off on my keys for 4 years now. I rotate it out with a ZDP Ladybug depending on what edge type my EDC is so I have both PE and SE at all times. As mentioned, it really shines on pull cuts. I've used mine for everything you can get done with a blade that small.

David,
All my EDC are PE, would you advise to me to try SE first? How difficult to remove tape residue from serrated hawkbill.
Roman

bh49 wrote: How difficult to remove tape residue from serrated hawkbill.

No problem, Roman. A little rubbing alcohol, WD40, olive oil... whatever. Wipe it down with a rag and you're good to go. Harder than a PE of course, but not difficult.

Enjoy them!

Ken

bh49 wrote:

Evil D wrote:I love mine. I've been carrying it on and off on my keys for 4 years now. I rotate it out with a ZDP Ladybug depending on what edge type my EDC is so I have both PE and SE at all times. As mentioned, it really shines on pull cuts. I've used mine for everything you can get done with a blade that small.

David,
All my EDC are PE, would you advise to me to try SE first? How difficult to remove tape residue from serrated hawkbill.
Roman

I've used it as a box knife quite often. As Ken said just about any cleaner can clean it off. If you have trouble maybe use a toothbrush but it's never been an issue for me.

I wipe my brow and rub the blade with my fingers to remove tape residue. Human oil is a very good steel cleaner.
As for serrated vs plain? I'll let you know when I get them. I remember seeing someone comment that there is a greater area of cutting surface on a serrated edge. Not to mention it will stay sharper longer due to the hard cutting materials not contacting the edge behind the tip. That's the theory at least.

Ha ha, I guess I am in the minority here! As a retired Naval officer, I have been searching high and low for this interesting United States Navy (USN) knife, only to find out it has nothing to do with the "real" USN! :rolleyes: <wink, wink>

I will keep looking for a Navy model Spyderco knife, even if it's only in Navy Blue. :spyder:

PE Jester is a tough knife to beat!

You know what is magic at removing anything sticky from a knife blade? Lighter Fluid, the sticky stuff just melts.

With any Ladybug, I'm a firm believer in adding a lanyard so you can get a full, 4 finger grip. Lately, I've been making the loop big enough to fit my pinky inside of it.

Dragonfly is one of my favorite LBK's. I remember a while back someone posted a picture showing that the edge length of a Dragonfly is almost the same exact length as a Ladybug. I don't carry a Ladybug very often because it has no clip, but I have no doubt that it is very capable.

Serrated, it cuts lots of things just as well as PE. I have no trouble cutting cardboard, paper. It cuts paper better if it's very sharp. If you think a plain edge will slide off of something while cutting it, that's where SE will do well. I find SE is useful when cutting dead skin, all the angles help give me pressure from whatever side I want to cut from.

SharpShooter901 wrote:Ha ha, I guess I am in the minority here! As a retired Naval officer, I have been searching high and low for this interesting United States Navy (USN) knife, only to find out it has nothing to do with the "real" USN! :rolleyes: <wink, wink>

I will keep looking for a Navy model Spyderco knife, even if it's only in Navy Blue. :spyder:

Thank you fro your service Sir.
Of cause Usual Suspect network is not the Navy, but many of us love the opportunity to get our hands on limited edition Spydercos and some of us just like combination of lime green scales and black coated blades.

I will second what Brian said about the lighter fluid. Zippos run a solvent called naptha that works very well. I use it to remove sharpie from my blades too. Nail polish remover is acetone and it works extremely well also.

I also added just enough lanyard to get a full four finger grip on it. The pull tab also makes extracting it from my watch pocket easier but you carry on your keys so that won't matter much to you.

bearfacedkiller wrote: The pull tab also makes extracting it from my watch pocket easier but you carry on your keys so that won't matter much to you.

Possibly it will matter for me. I am not sure that I will be able to apart with Jester, so there is a good chance for me to continue to carry Jester on the key-chain and a ladybug in my watch pocket. Actually, you gave me this idea, when I was reading one of your posts couple days ago. :)

Whenever this Jester sprint comes to fruition I will be in the same boat Roman. I am gonna buy two of those for sure and then I will have to decide between the Jester and Ladyhawk. :rolleyes:

bearfacedkiller wrote:Whenever this Jester sprint comes to fruition I will be in the same boat Roman. I am gonna buy two of those for sure and then I will have to decide between the Jester and Ladyhawk. :rolleyes:

shouldn't be a problem: you will put Jester on a key-chain :)