Best Folding Karambits?

A

austinguy23

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Nov 29, 2009
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I'm impressed with Emerson's Combat Karambit as the wave feature is priceless in a pinch. What are other high-end alternatives I should consider?

Folders only...
 
For around $100, Fox makes a waved folding karambit. G-10 scales, N690Co steel, ring pommel.
 
This is the most solid folding karambit in production IMO and I've owned Fox and Emerson Karambits. Only draw back, you must wave it yourself. But the lock up and the overall feel of the knife is rock solid.
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I've owned the 5.11 models, Emerson, and Spyderco. Emerson was the best IMO. Best possible would be an Emerson with a framelock added.
 
I'd be interested in getting the Emerson Combat Karambit, but it's ridiculously priced at nearly $300...this for a knife with ordinary materials. Even if I were willing to pay that, it's impossible to find.
 
The spyderco SpyderHawk Salt is my Fave
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for the price all you do is use a cable tie in the thumb hole and it opens wave style
 
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The Emerson Combat Karambit is the best you can get. G-10 Handles, Titanium Liners, Premium 154 Steel, Only 3.6oz and includes the Emerson wave feature of course.

Btw you can find it at $220 on BladeHQ but it's currently sold out, However on Knifecenter.com it's available for $230.
 
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The 511 is a grate Knife, but the Emerson is just the best on the market.
 
i agree with sir edwood..i have both 511 and emerson bt2012..511 is very nicely made..solid knife all in all..

but theres just something about the emerson that i like the most.. it feels like its a tank when i hold it..lol
 
I've owned the 5.11 for a while now. I believe I've been carrying it on and off for the past year and a half and I've come to really like it. It's slim and the lockback is strong. Also, I find that it's pretty comfortable for me. Maybe thats just because I'm so used to the knife now. One thing that I really like about the 5.11 how much the blade curves. The steep hawkbill shape is much more curved than the others.

I ordered the Fox karambit a couble weeks ago and I like it. It's pretty much what you'd expect it to be. The flipper doesn't work that well because it's so small. You have to give a wrist flick to open it out. However, the opening hole works really nicely. It's a very smooth opening knife. G10 is nice and pretty coarse. It's not as rough as Cold Steel's G10 though. If you were to get the Fox, definitely get the resized version. I got the full sized and it feels odd in my hands (I wear large sized gloves).

I don't own the Emerson but I've handled a few of them. They're really nice knives. It's definitely much more expensive than the others. If you have the money, I'd say go for it. Out of all the karambits, this one definitely isn't the one thats a good "bang for buck".

And lastly, check out this upcoming karambit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnUKpTfpFYk
It's a collab between Mr. Derespina and Fox and it look very cool. I'm definitely getting one when it comes out. If you can wait, it might be a great choice.
 
I will throw my vote behind the Emerson Combat Karambit as well. Unless you have super giant sized hands, this is the best folding Karambit available at the moment. I love my 2010 model so much, that I want to get another one just to add to my collection. They just got the knife so right in my opinion. The blade shape is perfect, not too straight and not too curved. The ergonomics are the best I've felt. The wave feature catapults the knife from just being 'good' to 'great' status for me.

I'd say do whatever you can to find one and you will not regret it at all.
 
I have a couple different karambits including the 5.11 version and the Emerson spanks it. Emerson just makes some extraordinary knives to begin with, and their karambit is just so comfortable. Why bother with an imitation?
 
razorsdescent said:
I have a couple different karambits including the 5.11 version and the Emerson spanks it. Emerson just makes some extraordinary knives to begin with, and their karambit is just so comfortable. Why bother with an imitation?
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I wouldn't go so far as to call the 5.11 an imitation.

Other than the fact that they're both karambits, they very different from each other. Blade angle, construction, locking mechanism, materials, etc...
 
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i wouldnt call 511 as an imitation..as a matter of fact i think s30v(511) blade steel is better than 154cm(emerson)
i have both..their both good knives with different qualities imo..
 
I am a big fan of the karambit design my first taste was the 5.11 journeyman. I thought it was very solid and intuitive in the hand. Great size albeit a little short in the handle. I have large hands i wear a xxl and a half glove. Very mean but too curvy for me to use I would never carry it I ended up trading it.

I now currently own a Emerson Super karambit and it is one of my all time favs. Dont worry i wont repeat all of emersons pros and cons the wave advantage etc.

One note is that to me the super is the perfect size The ring width and handle length. I can't imagine how small the combat might be in my hand. So make sure it's the right size before you consider picking up a combat or super.

Now would I carry this thing? Legally I can but i seldom need more than a key chain SAK; but I like having the option. Now the blade particularly on the super karambit is very useable, the tip path is about a half inch above your grip. So it's easy to work with in whatever application you decide to use it for.

As you can see I prefer the super karambit which also happens to be one of the more rarer and expensive folding karambits around. If you can wheel and deal keep your eye on the exchange I got mine lightly used at a great price there.
 
I have both the Emerson combat and a super karambit and they both feel great in the hand. The combat is a little more natural feeling in hand. I have medium size hands. Looks wise and functionality, the Emerson's are hard to beat. I've seen more of them in the secondary market though. If you can get the rare cutters & tool Bengal karambit that is a pretty awesome karambit as well.
 
I've owned/carried several of both the 5.11 and the Emerson. I love the the craftsmanship and the "wave" on the Emerson, but they can open in your pocket(which they have one more than a few occasions) and slice the $#%t out of your fingers. I now own only 5.11's with the "zip tie" wave fix. They haven't opened in my pocket yet. Just my 2 cents....mike
 
I wave modded and carried a pair of the old style 511 Master Cub K-bits.
 
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