They’re not snazzy like some other patterns, but the Hawk bill pocketknife is still the blade of choice for anyone who does a lot of cutting on the job. If you’re not familiar, a hawk bill blade literally looks like a hawk’s beak. Unlike most blade patterns, the hawkbill starts off straight and curves in toward the handle, and that makes it perfect for hard pull cuts. The cutting edge never loses contact with what you’re cutting, so it makes quick work of carpet, vinyl, tape and even boxes. It’s like digging a sharp talon into whatever needs to be cut and pulling your way through it. The Hawk bill is still the working man’s knife of choice. Here are three Hawk bill knives (in different price ranges) that work.
Rough Rider Copper Hawk bill
This Hawkbill from Rough Rider is pretty easy on the eye and the wallet.This knife features genuine black smooth bone handles, copper bolsters, copper shield, copper liners and copper pins. The copper in this knife will patina well and give the knife well-used, unique look over time.
At 4″ closed, it fits well in the pocket. The 440A stainless steel blade is 3″ long and has a black stonewash finish. This knife is an import. However, Rough Rider has proven for more than 20 years to produce top quality, affordable knives that last. At $12.99, you can afford to throw one of these in your truck and one in the tool box without batting an eye.
Bear & Son Hawk bill
This no-nonsense Bear & Son Hawk bill is just over 3.6″ closed and features a textured composite handle. It doesn’t have quite the sweeping blade we saw in the Rough Rider, but it does still have a substantially useful 2.87″ hawk bill blade.
We liked this Bear & Son Hawk bill because it’s USA-made and features a lanyard bail. It’s about as straightforward as Haw kbill come in at just under $22.
Case Knives Black G10 Hawk bill
If you’re looking to show off a little, you can always add this 4″ Case Hawk bill to your pocket or toolbox. Its 3″ blade features Case’s TruSharp surgical steel and the handles are modern, black G10. It features brass pins and liners. Case rounds out the design with nickel silver bolster and the Case oval shield.
Case is among the very best brands of pocketknives, and they’re made in the USA. You can figure all of that into the price of this gorgeous Case Hawk bill. It comes in at just under $65.
The Hawk bill pattern isn’t as obscure as other traditional pocketknife patterns, but it is definitely not among the best known or most popular. But, if your’e looking for a working knife, you just can’t beat it.
