Folding Knives Archives

Military Knives: Historic Star-Spangled Steel

Steve Shackleford

July 17, 2026

Military Knives: Historic Star-Spangled Steel

Few knives have served America more than those of the U.S. military.

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series on the most influential knives to serve the U.S. Military and explores some of the early influences on military knife design.

As what many call the greatest country in the history of countries approaches its 250th birthday, now’s a good time to salute some of the top knives that played pivotal military roles in the forging of the world beacon that is the United States of America.

It is, of course, impossible to recognize in one magazine story every single knife that played a crucial role in the many battles of the wars fought by the USA. However, with the help of some of the knife industry’s leading military authorities—including several of whom have seen the elephant in service to our nation—BLADE® will endeavor to touch on some of the more consequential knives of U.S. military history.

Before embarking on such a quest, the first task is to identify a basic group of the most indispensable knife types over two-and-a-half centuries of American land warfare. At the risk of omitting one or more, five stand out: bayonet, all-purpose utility fixed blade and/or bowie, dagger, machete/chopper and utility folder.

Michael Price recognized that to create a viable knife for self-defense and combat, form must follow function. His solution was to use the full-tang construction method, here on one of his classic mid-19th-century daggers. (Image courtesy of Louis Chow)

“These encapsulate everything that an infantryman used during the 250-year history of our country,” noted Louis Chow, a 24-year U.S. Army veteran who retired with the rank of major and is one of the leading collectors of the knives of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bob Loveless. “The bayonet, of course, from the get-go, from the Revolution to today.”

Louis indicated the all-purpose utility fixed blade/bowie could include privately purchased knives such as the Randall Model 1 and, of course, double-guard bowie types like the USMC fighting utility knife, aka the Ka-Bar. He pointed to the mid-19th-century designs of Michael Price as highly influential on daggers through to today, and machetes such as those made by Collins used in the Spanish-American War and before to Vietnam as vital to U.S. war efforts. Though pocketknives were indeed carried by American patriots during the Revolutionary War, the utility folders to which Louis referred are more of the modern Leatherman/Gerber multi-tool type, not to mention the Buck 110, Al Mar SERE, CRKT M-16 and others. As Louis noted, almost every soldier, male or female, in the modern military carries a multi-tool folder.

Many knife enthusiasts know that bayonets are rarely, if ever, used in combat today, nor have they been for well over a century. “It’s hard to actually find someone who used one in combat,” Louis said. Probably the most legendary American bayonet charge was the eminently successful one by Union forces led by Col. Joshua Chamberlain against Confederate troops down a hill called Little Round Top, a major turning point in the Battle of Gettysburg and, of course, the entire Civil War. Ironically, as Louis noted, “the most famous bayonet charge of all was the last one.”

While bayonets have rarely been used in American combat for many decades, that does not mean they do not remain significant teaching tools in today’s U.S. military. “When I was a company commander in 1990, we trained with the bayonet,” Louis recalled. “There are established bayonet courses on every installation, such as Fort Hood in Texas and Fort Benning in Georgia, and we would go there and train with the bayonet.” The rifles and bayonets have changed over the years but the bayonet training techniques remain the same.
Throughout U.S. and nearly all other nations’ histories, governments have been responsible for the issuance of combat knives in the form of bayonets for their infantry fighting forces. During World War II, the USA issued all-purpose fighters and utility knives to many soldiers, sailors and airmen. However, as Louis noted, privately purchased edged tools and weapons have always been the mainstay of our servicemen. During the earliest American conflicts, including the Revolutionary through the Civil Wars, kitchen, utility, farrier-forged and European-imported cutlery were the sidearms of the multitude of militiamen and patriotic volunteers.

The original Applegate-Fairbairn Folder was a collaboration between Col. Rex Applegate and knifemakers Bill Harsey and Butch Vallotton. Harsey stated that a Gerber official said the Army ordered 50,000 of the knife at one time for the troops. At bottom is the original prototype and at top is a first-production Gerber version autographed by Applegate. (From the collection of Michael Janich)

The knife carried and made famous by Cutlery Hall-of-Famer James Bowie in the 1820s and 1830s was copied in various forms by makers worldwide and served as inspiration to any number of fixed blades carried in the U.S. military. Another large fixed blade that met with success in military circles was the Rifleman’s Knife made by the Ames Mfg. Co. circa 1860. Ames also made the Dahlgren Bowie Bayonet around the same time. Collins & Co. made a variety of bowies/machetes, the most famous probably being the No. 18, also incorrectly called the V-44 by many (according to D.E. Henry in his book Collins Machetes and Bowies 1845-1865, V-44 was the real name of a 1944 Case Survival Knife, not the No. 18).

Generational Blades

Circa the mid-19th century, Michael Price was considered one of the premier cutlers in the western United States. He was best known for exquisite presentation knives that incorporated marine ivory and a variety of beautiful shells. However, as Louis wrote, to create a viable knife for self-defense and combat, Price recognized that form must follow function. His solution was to use the full-tang construction method. And for a century and a half, some of the most notable American cutlers adopted the full-tang method that significantly improved a knife’s dependability and durability.

Early in 20th-century Michigan, Cutlery Hall-of-Famer William Scagel began forging axes and knives of various sizes and styles. He made most of his utility, hunting and bowie knives via the hidden-tang method. Though some of his combat knives were also hidden tang, many others employed the full-tang method.

“It was purported that the Scagel hidden-tang fighters with stacked leather washers were made for the European theater, while the full-tang fighters with wood-slab handles were made for the Pacific theater,” Louis wrote. “It was believed that stacked leather washers would be too susceptible to the humidity, high temperatures and salty air” of the applicable Pacific region. As a testament to Scagel’s outstanding craftsmanship and exceptional design, many of his fighters survived the war in good condition.

William Scagel’s hidden-tang fighters with stacked leather washers reportedly were made for the European theater during World War II, while the full-tang wood-slab fighters were made for the Pacific. The stacked leather washers were thought to be too susceptible to the humidity, high temperatures and salty air of the applicable Pacific region. (Image courtesy of Louis Chow)

In 1937, Cutlery Hall-of-Famer W.D. “Bo” Randall observed an older man scraping the bottom of a boat with a knife that appeared undamaged by the abuse. Intrigued by the improvised tool, Bo purchased it from the owner and contacted its maker, who just so happened to be Scagel. Randall eventually became Scagel’s student and soon opened his own shop, making Scagel-style knives.

“At the onset of World War II, Randall designed and produced some of the most recognizable combat knives ever made,” Louis stated. “Nonetheless, all were made with the hidden-tang method. It was not until the early 1960s that Randall introduced the full-tang Model 14-Attack and the Model 15-Airman combat knives.”
Continuing the generational theme, Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bob Loveless read a magazine article about Randall knives in 1953. He corresponded with Bo and made his interpretations of Randall knives before experimenting with and then making his own full-tang models.

From the mid-1960s through the early ’70s, Loveless accepted many orders from service members awaiting assignment to Vietnam. He also received bulk orders from units stationed there. One bulk order in early March 1967 from a unit commander in the 1st Cavalry Division was for 37 fighting knives.

“The unit commander and his troopers were stationed in Saigon and were supporting Operation Junction City, one of the largest airmobile operations in the war,” Louis wrote. “As a patriot and former veteran himself, Loveless would temporarily halt all other orders and place top priority on knives destined for combat. As for those 37 fighters, he worked day and night and completed the order in less than a month. For the next four decades, the Loveless full-tang designs were copied and reinterpreted by countless knifemakers and knife companies in the United States and abroad.”

In addition to the foregoing cutlery legends, the full-tang method was also preferred by many other U.S. World War II knifemakers. Among them: Alfred Bimson, John Ek, Taylor Huff, A.R. Kephart, Kennedy Arms, Bob Riggs, Ernest Warther and Cutlery Hall-of-Famer M.H. Cole. Cole also authored the comprehensive U.S. Military Knives, Bayonets & Machetes series of books and has been dubbed the “Sage of Military Knives” by Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bruce Voyles. Continuing Cole’s legacy is knifemaker/author Michael Silvey through his reproductions of Cole’s designs and his lavishly illustrated books on the knives of the United States military in World War II and Vietnam, and other works.

A Dazzler For Kaz

Bobby Kazmir

October 18, 2022

A Father, With The Help Of His Uncle, Works To Make A One-Of-A-Kind Knife For His Son After Living The Life Of A Military Kid.

The hardest question for my son Zachary “Kaz” Kazmir to answer is “Where are you from?” His answer usually falls along the lines of, “Home is where the military takes your family.”

Zach’s answer is true for just about any token “military brat.” Military families often move every two to three years—that’s a rate of 10 times more than average civilian families. Living this kind of life for a child requires tremendous resilience, exceptional adaptability, and an uncommonly high maturity level. Zach would repeatedly get settled in a routine, a school, a friend group, and community activities, only to pick up, leave it all behind and start fresh again.

Oh, and the trials of life do not stop there. He persevered through my frequent deployments, earthquakes, accidents, and even a direct hit by one of the strongest tornadoes ever recorded while he was living in Moore, Oklahoma. Zach’s life led him on a journey spanning two countries, four states, and five schools.

I wanted to give the young man something special on the occasion of his 21st birthday. Even with all the places he’s lived and the experiences he’s had, Zach’s fondest memories always gravitate to his time in Okinawa, Japan. The first memories of his life were created there. Okinawa will forever hold a special place in his heart. With that, I set out to have a knife crafted in hopes of capturing and honoring these priceless memories for him.

Uncle Stanley

I could think of no better place to turn for such a task than my uncle, Stanley Buzek. Uncle Stanley is a knifemaker from Caldwell, Texas, and is most certainly the right man for the job. There’s no one I know who puts as much heart into his craft as Uncle Stanley. He guided me through the many options, and I closed in on what would become the most meaningful and elegant 4.5-inch, two-blade Texas trapper I’ve ever seen.

My uncle crafted the frame and liners from raw bars of integral 416 stainless steel. As with each of his knives, he added a personal touch to the spine. This was truly amazing to witness. I’ve seen many of his finished knives over the years, but I hadn’t realized the level of precise craftsmanship he put into the pieces that non-makers like myself often take for granted. Most of us just naturally look to the business end of a blade.

In thinking of the knife for this gift, I aimed to give Zach a glimpse into his resiliency through my eyes. He has been stretched so thin that at times his only choice to keep from breaking was to fold over in the fetal position to regain his strength. He’s been heated, hammered, pressed to the edge of his capabilities, put back in the fire, crushed, bent beyond his limits, beaten down even more, and subjected to unrelenting pressures in different directions.

Nonetheless, he emerged from the fire stronger than ever before, with a character that can only be described as beautiful—just like the banding and mottling of damascus. The beautiful steel forged by Bill Poor couldn’t be more fitting for this knife. Bill transformed raw 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels into an extra-fine River of Fire pattern with elaborate feathering that perfectly captures how I view Zach’s coming-of-age: indicative of many intense moments, but not scarred. Instead, radiating with a unique, luxurious magnificence that exemplifies resilience.

Making The Knife Handle

The next essential element on my mind was the scale material. (I called it the “side of the knife” but you know how knifemakers are about educating the ignorant.) The scales had to be more than just the perfect material, they had to be uniquely sourced. I wanted my son to have a literal piece of his childhood that he could hold in his hands whenever he wanted.

Scanning the beach for seashells while barefoot along the shoreline of Okinawa’s Devils Cove is no doubt among Zach’s favorite island memories.

I reached out to a military friend stationed in Okinawa to acquire a piece of one of the famed, colossal banyan trees from the island. With travel restrictions, import/export regulations on agricultural items, and COVID-related shipping delays, it proved much more difficult than we expected. However, my contact was able to come through! After nearly a year, a heavily worn, 5-by-10-inch piece of banyan tree finally arrived in the mail.

Uncle Stanley was reluctant to use banyan. He cautioned me not to get my hopes up because he knew how challenging it can be to properly stabilize such a soft wood. In addition, the sample was very weathered, extra-soft, and had several deep cracks inflicted in transit during shipping. In other words, there wasn’t a lot of room for error!

Uncle Stanley sent the wood to the very capable Terry Dunn of TNT Enterprises, and I was truly blown away by what he was able to do. Dunn not only stabilized the wood, he preserved its beautifully subtle grains and the small, intricate pitch pocket. The latter is a cavity in the wood where the tree suffered some sort of damage over its life, or a small knot of sorts if you will.

Stanley assembled the sleek trapper, affixed the scales, and presented me with a truly remarkable knife. Then he took it from my hands and said, “Now it’s time to go get it ‘scratched up.’”

Engraving The Knife

A slight fear came over me. I worried that an engraver could potentially damage this work of art. However, the worry left me as quick as it came when I learned the engraver was Alice B. Carter. I’ve seen her amazing work in the past. I knew she could add another layer of beauty to the piece.

To my surprise, Alice asked so much more than, “What would you like me to engrave?” She had an authentic interest in the story of the knife and its eventual recipient. I think she asked me more about Zach than she did about art that day. I shared with her the things Zach tends to reminisce about from his time in Okinawa, and we honed in on a few specifics.

One of the first memories of his life is enjoying the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Okinawa’s capital city of Naha. The festival draws crowds of thousands each January to see the city streets completely encased in the vibrant blooms. Zach also speaks of how massive he remembers the banyan trees being there. If you’ve never seen a 200-year-old banyan, the behemoths appear to be as old as time and so wide they seem to fill the sky with a majestic, towering presence as if from a fantasy movie.

Alice’s smile grew wider and wider as we continued to talk through a few other details. She drew inspiration from our chat and created an absolute masterpiece. Engraving for more than 40 hours and inlaying more than six feet of 24k-gold wire, she created so much more than a scene or picture. Her art marvelously captured the emotions connected to the memories.

Reaching from corner to corner on the upper bolster of the facing side shines the island of Okinawa in pure, radiant gold. The shading effect seems to literally draw the island’s shape out from the knife. Carefully inlaid in the exact location of Kadena Air Base where Zach lived on the island, a one-millimeter copper marker memorializes his time there.

The lower bolsters hold a personal message from father to son: Ichi-go ichi-e. Emblazoned in bold Japanese Kanji, it is an idiom roughly translating to “for this time only.” Reaching from corner to corner on one side of the upper bolster shines the island of Okinawa engraved by Alice Carter in 24k gold. The knife’s oversized shield brilliantly gleams Zach’s nickname of “KAZ” in Japanese-styled English letters. (SharpByCoop image)

On the opposite side in exquisite detail is an ancient, powerful banyan tree spanning from edge to edge. In a beautiful complement to the gold inlay, the banyan’s leaves are adorned with Alice’s self-alloyed green gold. Zach can view the upper bolsters in remembrance of the land he once knew.

As is customary in the military, a servicemember’s last name becomes his or her first name. It’s the military way. Kazmir was shortened to “Kaz” almost immediately, and that nickname stuck for the entire two decades I served. As Zach approached adulthood, he began to go by this moniker as well. The knife’s oversized shield brilliantly gleams “KAZ” in Japanese-styled English letters—an embodiment of how I’ve passed on my name to my boy.

Finally, the lower bolsters hold a personal message from father to son: Ichi-go ichi-e. Emblazoned in bold Japanese Kanji, the message is an idiom roughly translating to “for this time only.” It means that Zach’s experience in Okinawa was truly a once-in-a-lifetime episode that can never be duplicated, and he should treasure it forever.

Alice brought all the components together by incorporating gorgeous cherry blossoms engraved with intricate detail resulting in what I see as the perfect gift. Zach received it as a Christmas present and shed some heavy tears as I explained each element. He and I are both still amazed at how everyone came together to help me make this one-of-a-kind knife happen.

Uncle Stanley once told me that nearly every knifemaker is an expert at something, but no knifemaker is an expert at everything. He described knifemaking as a network of experts who bring their talents together to make the impossible possible. In the military, we have a term for this—it’s called synergy. With this beautiful piece, I’m convinced the knifemaking community is synergy at its finest.

For more information about the knife, contact Stanley Buzek, Dept. BL8, P.O. Box 621, Caldwell, TX 77836 346-412-2532 [email protected], s.buzekknives.com.

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Best Hawkbill Knives: Getting Hooked

Mike Ableson

January 10, 2025

The Hawkbill Is An Excellent Multi-Purpose Blade, Great For Cutting, Carving And More.

Of all the blade styles at the modern aficionado’s disposal, the hawkbill may be one of the most peculiar.

As its name suggests, the blade is reminiscent of a raptor’s appendage, namely it’s beak. The point curves around, in most cases to a nearly 90-degree angle from the back, creating a hook shape. Overall, pretty dang cool. But it raises the question, exactly what the heck is it good for and why does it look this particular way?

In this article, we’ll delve into the origins, usage and modern iteration of this blade and what the heck it’s actually good for. Along the way, we’ll also perhaps help you pick out the best hawkbill blade for your needs.

Origin Of The Hawkbill

Many blade styles are rooted in history or evolved from another type of knife. The hawkbill, however, doesn’t have the clearest provenance.

The blade style is widely believed to have started as a farming and outdoor tool, an evolved version of the pruning hook. Somewhere along the line some industrious maker most likely figured a pocket sickle might prove right handy.

Likely it did for a classy vintner out among the grapes who did not want to slum it by asking for the help’s pruning hook. Heaven forbid. But as the greater part of humanity has broken free from its agrarian roots the utility of the hawksbill has expanded.

Modern Uses Of The Hawkbill Blade

True enough, rose growers and avocado ranchers likely still find the hawksbill handy. But the quirky style of knife has found a place for those not tilling their living from the soil.

Utility

Today, the hawkbill is best known for its utility role, prized by electricians, roofers, floorers and other craftsmen. The hook shape of blade helps it excel at certain tasks a straight blade might struggle. A few of the obvious are cutting carpet or shingles without scoring the unlaying material. Stripping wire is another area it earns an “A”.

Its curved tip also prevents it from being a hazard to its user in precarious positions—say crammed in a crawlspace or dangling on a rafter—where a clip point or the like might prove a bit pokey.

Carving

While not generally the go-to whittling or carving knife, the hawkbill earns its keep in this arena. For those who strictly practice this craft with knives, the style of blade is particularly good a removing large pieces of material at the begining of a project.

Tactical

Well… there are certainly companies out there selling their version of hawkbill knives with this in mind. Though, with healthy supply of DLC anything can be tactical—including a paring knife.

Given the vagaries of the word “tactical,” it’s difficult to claim it doesn’t fill this role. And certainly, there’s probably been more than one farmworker who’s thrown their hawkbill—or pruning hook—in his back pocket as Friday-night-on-the-town insurance. For the average Joe, however, it might not prove a prime choice in this role.

Unless specially trained, the hawkbill—like the karambit—is not the easiest blade to wield as a self-defense option. Funny thing is, many of the tactical “hawkbills” have nearly lost their defining feature—a truly hooked point. Some might argue, they are hawkbills in name only.

On the other hand, in more specialized “tactical” situations this style of blade could have chops. What comes to mind here is perhaps situations involving ropes—maybe nautical or mountaineering. The idea here is cordage could be cut one-handed in a switch, using the hawkbill to both hook and cut. A similar point on this, some law officers have favored a modified hawkbill given it works well to cut a motorist out of their seatbelt in an accident, without causing injury.

Best Hawkbill Knives Spec Comparison

Model	Overall Length (inches)	Blade Length (inches)	Weight (ounces)	Blade Steel	Handle Material	MSRP
Spyderco Hawkbill Byrd	6.82	2.875	2.6	8Cr13MoV	FRN	$50
Vosteed Griffin Knife	8.24	3.49	3.76	14C28N	G10	$80
Opinel No. 8 Hawkbill	8	3.5	3	12C27	Wood	$26
Bear & Sons Hawkbill	6.375	2.75	2.1	High Carbon Stainless Steel	Zytel	$25
Victorinox Pruning Knife XS	3.9	2	1.2	1.4110	Nylon	$23
Klein Tools Lockback	6.75	2.625	2.2	AUS8	Nylon	$50
Schrade 16 UH Pruner	7	3	3.4	7Cr17	Staglon	$32

Best Hawkbill Knives

Spyderco Hawkbill Byrd

Byrd Specs
Overall Length: 6.82 inches
Blade Length: 2.875 inches
Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV
Weight: 2.6 ounces
Handle Material: FRN
MSRP: $50

Pros

Durable
Versatile Design
Quick Deployment

Cons

Serrated Edge Maintenance

Those wed to the idea of a EDC Hawkbill, Spyderco has among the most time-tested renditions. The Byrd’s modified hawkbill blade lends itself to aggressive cutting tasks and its hollow-ground serrated edge makes mincemeat of anything its pulled against. Yet, there is enough of a tip available to puncture or pry, if the situation calls for it.

Like everything that rolls out of the Golden, Colo., concern, the Byrd is ruggedly made—constructed with a chrome-moly steel blade and fiber-reinforced handle. Its tear-drop shaped thumb hole gets the knife into the fray quickly and its four-position clip allows you to keep it at hand.

Spyderco Byrd Hawkbill Lightweight Knife

$52.00

Palmetto State Armory $52.00

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Vosteed Griffin

Griffin Specs
Overall Length: 8.24″
Blade Length: 3.49″
Blade Steel: 14C28N
Weight: 3.76
Handle Material: G10
MSRP: $80

Pros

Ergonomic Handle
Multiple Deployment Options
Good Steel

Cons

Non-Reversible Clip

Of all the hawkbills, the Griffin is among the most EDC-friendly. Vosteed pars back the hook on the blade massively, making something at first blush look like an oversized sheep’s foot. But at closer inspection, the edge has a very slight obliqueness to it, so the tip curves in as you’d expect in a hawkbill. The baby is great at tip cuts, slicing, and stripping—about anything you’d expect out of a curved blade. But, it also can pierce straight on, much like a more conventional blade profile.

The knife is a production version of R.S. Knifeworks’ custom knife. It shows in some of the well-thought-out points of design. Chief among these is the handle that naturally follows the curvature of the palm and features an attractive and durable G10 scale. Another point I like is the compound grind on the blade, with more material at the heel for more rugged cutting tasks. The knife is a liner lock, with a clip (tip-up carry) and multiple deployment options—thumb hole, front flipper and back flipper. The only complaint I have is the clip isn’t reversible, but other than that the knife really hits the mark.

Vosteed Griffin Hawkbill Liner Lock Knife Yellow G-10

$79.00

Blade HQ $79.00

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Opinel No. 8 Hawkbill

No. 8 Hawkbill
Overall Length: 8″
Blade Length: 3.5
Blade Steel: 12C27
Weight: 3
Handle Material: Wood
MSRP: $26

Pros

Classic Aesthetic
Corrosion-Resistant Blade
Affordable

Cons

Handle Durability

It’s difficult not to love the classic look of this hawkbill—one of the perks of Opinel. While I don’t use the knife mainly for garden chores, the French cutler has aimed the folder at that. The company calls it a pruner, and after testing it on a few wild rose saplings, it more than fills this role. However, with a sharp tip and a good edge, the No. 8 Hawkbill is adept in many other tasks. One of my preferred uses is as a fishing knife and believe it or not it guts your catch in the blink of an eye.

Nice point on this model, Opinel uses stainless steel in the blade (12C27), so if you take it into wet conditions you don’t have to fret about the blade tarnishing. It also keeps a nice edge, albeit one you’ll have to touch up now and again—especially if you use it in its pruning role. The knife’s wooden handle can lose its finish over time and retain moisture. Pro tip, have one this long and use it in wet conditions, you can sand down the handle and oil it to keep it safe. The only real bone I have to pick with the No. 8—away from yard chores—is the handle; it flares back like a traditional pruner, which isn’t always great for other tasks.

Opinel Knives No. Knife #8

$19.00

Blade HQ $19.00

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Bear & Sons Hawkbill

Bear & Sons Hawkbill
Overall Length: 6.375
Blade Length: 2.75
Blade Steel: High Carbon Stainless Steel
Weight: 2.1
Handle Material: Zytel
MSRP: $25

Pros

Compact
Effective Blade-to-Handle Ratio
Affordable

Cons

Two-Hand Deployment

Perhaps the perfect handyman’s helper, this little hawkbill is designed to always be at hand. I think that’s the beauty of what Bear & Sons has created here, a right-sized utility knife. Personally, it’s a little small for my tastes as a primary knife and it’s a folder—which doesn’t make it quite as handy, it works great as a secondary cutting tool. I like the idea of this and plenty of folks who make their living with their hands back me up on the concept.You drop your main knife or leave it in your toolbox at another area of the work site, well, the Bear & Sons knife gives you a backup. Using it to help me rewire some outlets, the high-carbon stainless steel blade made quick work stripping. And while wasn’t reflooring, I did have carpet scraps around, of which the blade made mincemeat.

A big asset in both tasks is the hawkbill’s handle-to-blade ratio. The handle is an inch longer than the 2.75-inch blade, which gave me supreme control over the knife and the ability to choke up on the blade when required. To boot, Bear & Sons includes a large bail loop allowing you to tether it to your person or at the very least retrieve it from your pocket quickly. The only nit I had to pick is it’s a slipjoint with a nail nick opener. Most of the time this won’t prove an issue, but there are jobs where one-handed opening is a godsend.

Bear & Son ZYTEL HAWKBILL KNIFE

$35.99 $26.99

Palmetto State Armory $26.99

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Victorinox Pruning Knife XS

Pruning Knife XS
Overall Length: 3.9
Blade Length: 2
Blade Steel: 1.4110
Weight: 1.2
Handle Material: Nylon
MSRP: $23

Pros

Compact
Elegant
Durable

Cons

Two-Handed Opening

I like this knife for something different in pocket carry. As Victorinox makes apparent, it again pegs this hawkbill as a pruner and it’s just about perfect for the weekend garden warrior. But this slim, light and small slipjoint makes the cut as an EDC option with a twist. A very straightforward design, the knife is elegant in its simplicity and has a very functional blade. The hook is enough for its designed purpose of pruning limbs, yet it’s angled just right to make it a near-perfect box cutter. At just 4 inches folded, with a 2-inch blade, it could be a warehouse worker’s—or anyone who has to break down cardboard on the regular—best friend.

Blue-collar tasks aside, like all Swiss Army Knives, it’s gentlemanly enough to handle more refined tasks—such as removing the foil from a wine bottle. It also has a nice section of straight edge to it, so it can accomplish pull-through cuts adeptly. Again, a nail nick opener cuts some of the knife’s utility, since it requires two hands to get into the fray.

Klein Tools Hawkbill Lockback

Hawkbill Lockback Knife Specs
Overall Length: 6.75 inches
Blade Length: 2.625 inches
Blade Steel: AUS8 stainless
Weight: 2.2 ounces
Handle Material: Nylon resin
MSRP: $49.99

Pros

Versatile
Convenient Carry
Lightweight

Cons

Slow Locking Mechanism

This lockback knife from Klein Tools shows what the hawkbill is capable of as a utility tool. It easily opens one-handed thanks to a thumb stud and the stainless blade holds a mighty edge. It’s capable of being a do-everything tool on the job site or an excellent utility knife around the house. It’s made with longevity in mind, with Klein utilizing AUS8 stainless steel in the blade, and the impact-resistant nylon resin handle can stand up to the beating of being a work tool. The low-carry pocket/belt clip lets you carry the knife with ease and in a way that best suits you.

Schrade 16 UH Hawkbill Pruner

UH Hawkbill Pruner Knife Specs
Overall Length: 7 inches
Blade Length: 3 inches
Blade Steel: 7Cr17 stainless steel
Weight: 3.4 ounces
Handle Material: Staglon synthetic
MSRP: $31.99

Pros

Affordable
Rustic, Rugged Aesthetic
Good Blade Size

Cons

Two-Handed Opening

Schrade offers excellent knives and the company’s hawkbill folder is no exception. With a rustic, rugged look, the 16 UH, which stands for Uncle Henry, is designed to prune shrubs and cut through wood with ease. Its staglon synthetic handle gives the knife a natural look that you wouldn’t get with G-10, aluminum or other handle materials. The stainless steel blade makes quick work of a variety of woods, and the 3-inch blade is big enough for longer cutting strokes and small enough for precise, finite work. At under $40, it’s well-priced. This is a knife that most any woodworker would want to have.

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