This is a follow up to the previous posting.

I ordered both sizes of the *full* tang knives from Ragnar. My suggestion of using the longer blade with Trangia Mess Tim is incorrect—after shortening and contouring the butt end of it to fit the Trangia tin, there would not be enough remaining handle to grip. The shorter blade will work.

I contacted Jerry Hossom and asked if the Hoffman Harpoon was going to be produced. He responded: “Yes this is going to be produced, probably this year, but we're just not sure who will be doing it just yet. We've had it prototyped by a company in Italy (Fox) and it will probably be them, but there are still some details to be sorted out.”

Pete

IN RESPONSE TO:
have you considered a bark river Mikro or Mikro II?
This is its size relative to the altoids tin. It would have no problem fitting into a japanese lunch box or bcb tin or trangia mini mess tin.
Don't you think that's a little expensive for a PSK kinfe, because on the site I found it on it was like $77? But then again, you can't put a price on something that could save your life.

AG Russell and several other 'net merchants have BRKT Mikros and Mikro II's in the $55 range...

M

"The Hossom “Hoffman Harpoon” ( http://badlands.badlandsforums.com/forum...00&page ) seems interesting and would offer as much “handle to be improved upon” as the rattail-tanged blades in Ragnar’s Blade Catalog ( Re: Altoid's Size PSK - Inexpensive Knife Suggestions ). This item does not seem to be in production and I did not notice any statement of its size"

As an aside, Terrell Hoffman is a professional knife photographer -- what a great job! Terrill knows more about knives than anybody I have ever run across.

I have a prototype Hoffman/Hossom Harpoon which was given to me by Jerry's son, Matthew. It's a fine utility knife that can be lashed to a spar for fishing and hunting and it actually works. It's a tad long for most PSKs. Here's mine shown in a sheath made by Terrill, along with a Henry MiniBolt .22 and a Garmin Etrex GPS for size comparison...



The Harpoon will be produced by Ontario Knives sometime in the relatively near future...

M

I have a couple of spare blades from Ragnar, and it looks like with a little judicious grinding they could be modified into something very much like the Hoffman Harpoon that would fit into a BCB tin. I'm not going to attempt it because the odds of me needing such an item where I live are very remote, but it might be a project for somebody.

Regards, Vince

1. I am in the process of cutting down the butt ends of 2 of Ragnar’s knives—one for a BCB tin and one for a Trangia tin. When I finish, I will post photos—if I can figure out how to make such postings. The stainless steel is really hard!

2. When I contacted Jerry Hossom about possible production of his Harpoon, I failed to ask him how large it was. So I contacted him again and he said it is about 7” long (which is obvious from SgtMike88Ret’s photo). I asked Jerry also if he had ever considered a very small harpoon which would fit diagonally in an Altoids tin and could replace a scalpel or be used as a gig. I am not sure if there would be sufficient demand to warrant production of this item. Jerry said: “A very small one is an interesting idea. I'll have to think about that.”

Pete

Pete, I used a bolt cutter to cut off the end of the tang. It worked great and took about 6 seconds. If you have access to one give it a try.

Regards, Vince

Well, for what my two cents are worth, I've always liked the marble trout-fish knives (cold steel is making a clone now). Light and handy, excellent general purpose mini knife. What if the tang was shorted so that the ring went around the ring or middle finger?

Wouldn't have the leverage, but it wouldn't be made to pry. Should still have plenty of control in that format, and with a thin sheath, it would fit in the largish PSK.

These are all great suggestions and ideas. We should remain focused on what a PSK is- a last ditch, minimalist kit we ( hopefully) will retain on our person should all else be lost. Everyone can argue the PSKs value. " I have all kinds of gear in my pockets" or, " I have a survival vest" etc. Hopefully we do swim out of the Hollywood scene of our rapidly sinking float plane with more than just an Altoid tin. But, if we don't, remember most everything in the tin is by neccessity reduced in size; button compasses instead of Silva Rangers, aluminum foil vs a nice trangia cookset etc. and we have it packed in there with all the forethought of an ancient egyptian priest preparing Tut for the afterlife. Hopefully we still have our ( insert various blades heralded in countless threads) on our person. If not, we need all the blade we can pack in the PSK without making it a shiny sheath for a knife alone. Thats why I opted for a scandi blade sans handle. I figure once I've made fire with my Sparklite, prepped water with purification tablets, sewn up my hemmoraging femoral artery with needle, spiderwire , popped 2 aspirins and alerted Bart the Bear to my location with the whistle- then I can carve out a suitable handle for my blade. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />