Why the hawksbill shares a name with a sea turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle and the hawksbill knife were named for the same feature: a narrow, downturned beak like that of a bird of prey. On this hooked blade knife the 8.5 cm edge curves inward in just that way, so a stem drawn into the hollow cannot slide off the end. The point bites first and the curve carries the cut through, which is why the shape has survived in vineyards and orchards for so long.
