50 Shades of Karambit...Am I Living a Lie ?

[EChoil]

Oh you nasty people...

About two months ago I paroled my forgotten Emerson karambit (folding; original fine tip) from the purgatory drawer and pulled a little maintenance on it while watching the TeeVee.

Afterward it went into my 501's watch pocket (which it seems designed for) for a couple days workout. It stayed there.

Looking back I've pretty much EDC'd it since. That's right, every day carry. For a couple months now. I'm thinking I like it for that better than a knife. I hope I'm crazy.

In addition to the security offered by the finger ring (maybe the single most positive difference, esp. for fine work), it's always been the best/fastest wave opener of any of my waved knives. This is due to the curved spine (smoother, more natural feel riding the seam on the 'out') and the shorter throw required of it for opening even by thumb.

So far, the main difference I've run into between the karambit and one of my knives is that the karambit seems to do everything I run into as well or BETTER than my knives do--even light outdoor activities and yard work (It handles zip-ties like gnats once I get that fine point under one).

...with the possible exception of the kitchen:

I always held out that a karambit would be a total fail in the kitchen department. Then I discovered how handy it is when thumb slicing---carrots, cukes, strawberries...anything you can hold in one hand and thumb slice in the other. You can omit the draw stroke as the curvature of the blade makes it uneccesary...just push.

It's still a fail as a cutting board meat slicer of course, but that's about the only thing left a knife might do better in my world. Oh, and it doesn't open letters neatly.​

So with that last bastion of category (kitchen) now at least minimally conquered, I find myself wondering why I shouldn't just continue carrying it in favor of my knives.

Any karambit owners ever come near to this bizarre attitude in their thinking? What snapped you out of it finally? Comments??

No theorists, please. Let me hear from karambit owners or EDC'ers...

 

[Smokinape]

I was a karambit guy for a spell, not sure why its not the case anymore... I think its because I cant easily carry one at work...

 

[strategy9]

I don't EDC my karambit, and I really don't have a good reason as to why? I do like it, and I did post in the "knife to war" thread a little while back I would have brought it with to combat if I were to go back, due to the nature of the curved blade and my experiences, I feel it would've done everything my standard folder in country did as good, but certain duties (like cutting through a battle buddies clothes) even better... Maybe after this post I'll have to dig it out of it's resting place and give her a try???

 

[stabman]

I've been carrying a karambit in the left pocket for about 6 years now.
The right poscket has a more straight blade of some sort; the exact one varies.
Sometimes a curved blade is handy.


It's a knife, and I like knives, and like a knife, it cuts stuff...because it's a knife.
No more reason needed than that. :thumbup:

 

[rpnp]

I edc a CQC7 Kbit, but i have no use for the hawkbill one.

 

[EChoil]

I don't EDC my karambit, and I really don't have a good reason as to why? ....... I feel it would've done everything my standard folder in country did as good, but certain duties (like cutting through a battle buddies clothes) even better... Maybe after this post I'll have to dig it out of it's resting place and give her a try???

I'm tellin' ya man......

 

[EChoil]

I've been carrying a karambit in the left pocket for about 6 years now.
The right poscket has a more straight blade of some sort; the exact one varies.
Sometimes a curved blade is handy.


It's a knife, and I like knives, and like a knife, it cuts stuff...because it's a knife.
No more reason needed than that. :thumbup:

I hoped you'd weigh in here.....

 

[strategy9]

I'm tellin' ya man......

I fear the can of worms to be opened.

I bought a blur to try it, I liked it, started edc'ing it and now have 10 and still looking to acquire more.

If I start edc'ing my (one) karambit, and like it............

 

[JeremiahWeaver09]

how has the blade tip held up so far? i always feared that the tip of my emerson karambit would be too fine for EDC.

 

[Charlie Mike]

Here's an extremely modified Emerson kerambit... I sold it because the egos didn't fit me.

[video=youtube;Nvf4WZs3wJ4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvf4WZs3wJ4[/video]

This is what I carry now, a totally tricked out Cutters Knife and Tool...

[video=youtube;Nx3K0oaQqdA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx3K0oaQqdA[/video]

 

[asdf12345]

Not exactly a karambit in handle design, but I have loved hawkbills for general utility use ever since getting my first one. Ideal EDC. If none of your tasks involve something specifically requiring another blade style, the hawkbill will do everything you could want, usually better than other blade styles will.

 

[EChoil]

how has the blade tip held up so far? i always feared that the tip of my emerson karambit would be too fine for EDC.

I've thought about that too. Thing is that thin, very sharp point is one of the handier things about it for misc. things you run into. Many times I've been about to pass something up because I'm used to having some beefy knife tip then remember I have the karambit and sure enough, it works better. As I said, it's the best thing on zip-ties and packaging I've had yet.

Kind of a trade off. I am cautious with the point when necessary. It sure makes the damn thing dangerous though--even to me. With the curve, once that point DOES sink into something it's over.

I haven't looked closely at the more recent modified points yet. Guess I should. Have you seen them? I'm sure they can't do the fine work the original point will.

 

[XxFULLPOWERxX]

Oh you nasty people...

About two months ago I paroled my forgotten Emerson karambit (folding; original fine tip) from the purgatory drawer and pulled a little maintenance on it while watching the TeeVee.

Afterward it went into my 501's watch pocket (which it seems designed for) for a couple days workout. It stayed there.

Looking back I've pretty much EDC'd it since. That's right, every day carry. For a couple months now. I'm thinking I like it for that better than a knife. I hope I'm crazy.

In addition to the security offered by the finger ring (maybe the single most positive difference, esp. for fine work), it's always been the best/fastest wave opener of any of my waved knives. This is due to the curved spine (smoother, more natural feel riding the seam on the 'out') and the shorter throw required of it for opening even by thumb.

So far, the main difference I've run into between the karambit and one of my knives is that the karambit seems to do everything I run into as well or BETTER than my knives do--even light outdoor activities and yard work (It handles zip-ties like gnats once I get that fine point under one).

...with the possible exception of the kitchen:

I always held out that a karambit would be a total fail in the kitchen department. Then I discovered how handy it is when thumb slicing---carrots, cukes, strawberries...anything you can hold in one hand and thumb slice in the other. You can omit the draw stroke as the curvature of the blade makes it uneccesary...just push.

It's still a fail as a cutting board meat slicer of course, but that's about the only thing left a knife might do better in my world. Oh, and it doesn't open letters neatly.​

So with that last bastion of category (kitchen) now at least minimally conquered, I find myself wondering why I shouldn't just continue carrying it in favor of my knives.

Any karambit owners ever come near to this bizarre attitude in their thinking? What snapped you out of it finally? Comments??

No theorists, please. Let me hear from karambit owners or EDC'ers...

Having experienced such a period numerous times, it taught me the usefulness of carrying multiple knives. I have carried a multi-tool and a karambit in the front lead side. If there was ever something the K-bit could not handle, the multi would pick up the pieces.

But as far as letters go, use very light pressure tip slashes. You should be able to do meats too with the right technique, but don't force it.

I think its only a phase, just like the "gotta get a folder" and now a "fixed blade" for carry phase. Karambits have their place, so the best advice I can give is to use it until you crave something else. Just make sure you have a back up.