Spyderco Harpy Serrated Hawkbill Folding Knife

The Spyderco Harpy Serrated Hawkbill (C08S) puts Spyderco's SpyderEdge serrations on the full 2.75-inch hawkbill blade. The hooked shape pulls line and rope into the edge, and the serrations tear through fibers quickly. Mariners, linemen, and rescue workers have long used serrated hawkbills for cutting line and webbing. The blade is 2.75 inches long, with a compact handle that is easy to pocket.

SpyderEdge uses a repeating pattern of one large scallop and two small ones, giving many sharp points along the edge. Those points keep cutting even after the edge starts to dull, which is why serrations last a long time between sharpenings. The blade is VG-10, a Japanese stainless that resists corrosion well. Hawkbills are hard to beat on rope because the curve keeps the line from sliding off the end. The Round Hole lets you open the blade with one hand while the other holds the line.

The handle is stainless steel with a pocket clip and a lanyard hole. A back lock secures the blade, and it releases with a press on the spine. Spyderco makes the Harpy in Seki, Japan. Use a triangular ceramic rod to sharpen the serrations, working one scallop at a time. Keep a lanyard on it if you work on deck, since steel handles can slip in wet hands. After use around salt water, rinse it in fresh water and dry it. The plain-edge Harpy and other lockbacks are in our lockback knives.

• 2.75-inch SpyderEdge hawkbill
• VG-10 stainless steel
• Stainless steel handle
• Good for line and webbing