Hello everyone, I lost my Hideaway Knife and now I"m looking to get a new one. It's between the stonewash Tigerclaw in 440c stainless, and the exact same design except the knife is coated in black DLC and the steel it S30v stainless. The 440c model is $79 and the other is $169. Do you all think that its worth the extra money for the S30v model or not? The knife will be for frequent light utility and self defense. Is 440c a pretty good blade steel in general compared to S30v? Thanks everyone!
Hideaway Knife questions
- Thread starter John79
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Valkman
Member
From threads on other forums, you'd be wise not to send them any money and wait on getting a knife. Many have never gotten anything and they all advise against doing business with this company.
HAK has always been owned and run by "William" from the beginning. Frontsite was a partner and the face of the company but had some family problems and just walked away.
I am one of those who felt "cheated" by HAK after Frontsite solicited a $120 deposit for a custom talonite and then disappeared. It took me over 2 years to get my money refunded, and I doubt that would have happened if I hadn't been vocal over various knife forums.
Be careful about ordering custom knives, but I have heard that William tries to fulfill the basic HAK orders as fast as he can in order to rebuild the business.
I am one of those who felt "cheated" by HAK after Frontsite solicited a $120 deposit for a custom talonite and then disappeared. It took me over 2 years to get my money refunded, and I doubt that would have happened if I hadn't been vocal over various knife forums.
Be careful about ordering custom knives, but I have heard that William tries to fulfill the basic HAK orders as fast as he can in order to rebuild the business.
Valkman
Member
Since they ripped off the custom makers that were doing their work I'd be suprised if anyone was making customs for them.
You take a big chance sending them money, just trying to warn you.
JTW Jr.
Member
I think there are only 1 or 2 still grinding knives for them.
Buyer beware , some have waited while others have got theirs delivered , consider them the BOTACH of the knife industry.
Buyer beware , some have waited while others have got theirs delivered , consider them the BOTACH of the knife industry.
Vonderek
Member
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- Jul 9, 2006
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- 1,537
I had a very strange experience with HAK but that said, it was delivered in a fairly timely manner. After reading about one poster's recommendation I went to the website, ordered and paid via Paypal. After a week of no recp't or acknowledgment of my order of any kind and bounced emails I went back to the site and saw that according to HAK, I had ordered but not paid. With no other means of trying to contact the company, I went on Paypal to initiate a dispute and boy oh boy I heard from HAK pretty darned quick. What followed was a strange series of emails with attached photos of HAK's inundation of knives waiting to be finished and shipped. By the tone of his emails, William seems to feel somehow victimized by his success. He states that he cannot reply to each person who orders as he does not have the time. However, one of his lengthier emails must have taken him hours to compose. I won't get into any other characterizations of the correspondence as it is not germane to the topic at hand.
In any event, the knife was sent out in short order and I rec'd it about two weeks after ordering it. It is a nice knife. For the price don't expect a highly finished piece but it is very utilitarian. Also, the sheath is well engineered. I do have one recommendation: If you decide you want one and you have large knuckles don't pull the strip of paper too tight when measuring for a correct fit (this will make sense when you see the page on measurements on their website.) My HAK is difficult to obtain the proper grip without my other hand helping.
In any event, the knife was sent out in short order and I rec'd it about two weeks after ordering it. It is a nice knife. For the price don't expect a highly finished piece but it is very utilitarian. Also, the sheath is well engineered. I do have one recommendation: If you decide you want one and you have large knuckles don't pull the strip of paper too tight when measuring for a correct fit (this will make sense when you see the page on measurements on their website.) My HAK is difficult to obtain the proper grip without my other hand helping.
Thanks guys, I think I'll risk it, I just loved that little knife so much before I lost it... So to get back to the steel question, whats the word on the value of the 440c vs the s30v? Do you guys think its worth it? How do the two compare as far as edge holding and sharpness go? I'm leaning toward 440c...
Unless you intend to be cutting lots of material with it there's no "need" to get anything but the 440C. Since the HAKs aren't intended for hours of utility use the fancier steel shouldn't make any practical difference.
The Tourist
member
John79 said:
Actually, it has the characteristics of any high carbon, low chromium steel. It is successfully HT and used by lots of commercial and custom cutlers.
In fact, it's a good choice for this knife. Tools that are small and handy become favorites for their owners. Pretty soon the owners can't leave home without them.
A good mirror finish on this model in S30V would prove to be a worthy EDC.
auschip
Member
I have seen this picture posted on other forums before, and it got me thinking (dangerous I know). Aren't these supposed to be different handle sizes? If that is the case, who has to go through and measure all the handles to determine the size? Does that mean that they may not be as custom sized as we have been led to believe?
loandr.
Member
Some guys roll around in piles of $$$, other prefer Rose Petals with the ladies and such, BUT not BIG Al 
, he's to TOUGH skinned for that HE opts for a pile like above to frolic in 
Stay sharp my brother...
Russ
, he's to TOUGH skinned for that HE opts for a pile like above to frolic in Stay sharp my brother...Russ
JTW Jr.
Member
Are you the William who now owns the HAK Company ? Or is William's identity as mysterious as FS's was....
loandr.
Member
the latter JTW....most def. the latter
My early FS-era HAK is custom sized. I have small fingers and the more common sized hands won't fit any better than Cinderella's sisters trying on her shoe. These days, I don't know. A pile like that pictured could have easily been the most common size - why make lots of something that doesn't sell?
From what I understand of the manufacturing technique, they are lazer cut from sheets on an automated CNC machine. The programmer probably set it up to do one size to minimize waste. It's what we do with the turret press at work - many parts from one sheet, and usually all the same size.
S30V has been accused of being brittle in some early production of other blades, but I've not heard it was a problem with HAK's. Polishing S30V doesn't seem to have caught on with knifemakers - it apparently has a dull appearance with some orange peel and it's not worth it. Considering the original application inherent in the name, it could be counter-productive.
I haven't seen much success in ordering custom grinds, and make no assurances. The standard model seems to be available even these days, and for someone with the patience to navigate the ordering system, knives seemed to be shipped regularly, as reported by them in (other forum) posts.
There are competitive designs out there, but like any design and it's brand, how the buying public percieves the value is all important. There does seem to be two points of agreement for most - it's a darn shame that HAK has a left a bad impression on the market, but the knife itself does what it's designed to do, if you are comfortable with it.
I would definitely include it on my battle rattle, as many have, and still carry it when I need a utility blade with convenient access and little chance of loss - hiking, hunting, tree stand, etc. I like to tell how it dresses deer out, but fortune has stacked about 6 blades ahead of it. Wish me luck.
From what I understand of the manufacturing technique, they are lazer cut from sheets on an automated CNC machine. The programmer probably set it up to do one size to minimize waste. It's what we do with the turret press at work - many parts from one sheet, and usually all the same size.
S30V has been accused of being brittle in some early production of other blades, but I've not heard it was a problem with HAK's. Polishing S30V doesn't seem to have caught on with knifemakers - it apparently has a dull appearance with some orange peel and it's not worth it. Considering the original application inherent in the name, it could be counter-productive.
I haven't seen much success in ordering custom grinds, and make no assurances. The standard model seems to be available even these days, and for someone with the patience to navigate the ordering system, knives seemed to be shipped regularly, as reported by them in (other forum) posts.
There are competitive designs out there, but like any design and it's brand, how the buying public percieves the value is all important. There does seem to be two points of agreement for most - it's a darn shame that HAK has a left a bad impression on the market, but the knife itself does what it's designed to do, if you are comfortable with it.
I would definitely include it on my battle rattle, as many have, and still carry it when I need a utility blade with convenient access and little chance of loss - hiking, hunting, tree stand, etc. I like to tell how it dresses deer out, but fortune has stacked about 6 blades ahead of it. Wish me luck.
loandr.
Member
the most common Hak size sold is 4.5
alaskanativeson
Member
Here's my non-professional opinion, take it for what it's worth. I no longer own any knives made of 440 except a Randall (which I don't actually have yet) that is going to be a wall hanger. In my experience all of the 440 steels do a great job of resisting rust, though they also do almost as well at resisting a sharpening stone. The edge holding ability is so-so but I've had a pig of a time sharpening a 440 blade.
S30V, on the other hand, has held its edge wonderfully. In carrying my Spyderco Native I seem to recall sharpening it once. I know I carried it close to three years and believe me, I use my knives a lot. For my money I would spend the extra on the S30V but to each his own.
S30V, on the other hand, has held its edge wonderfully. In carrying my Spyderco Native I seem to recall sharpening it once. I know I carried it close to three years and believe me, I use my knives a lot. For my money I would spend the extra on the S30V but to each his own.
Agreed, I have a S30V knife that just never needs sharpening. But my HAK in 440 is no problem. A lot of early 440 blades were just ground too thick to do a good job - back in the day when new buyers misunderstood what a knife was for, and companies got tired of warranty replacing abuse. The HAK has a thinner edge than the old knives in my drawer.
Lots of custom users of 440 think their stuff works fine - but S30V is a tough comparison. If I had the money, I'd get one, too.
Lots of custom users of 440 think their stuff works fine - but S30V is a tough comparison. If I had the money, I'd get one, too.
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