Custom Karambits?

BePrepared

BePrepared

Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
4,441
If you have one or have made one, i'd love to see pics.

I'm trying to decide if i actually want to have one custom made or just order a production one
 
Alex, that is actually the knife that gave me a hankering for a Karambit/hawkbill

I can't afford one of his masterpieces, so i'm considering something a little more basic with a mono-steel
 
Hello!

Claudio's Hawkbill sure is one amazing knife! I did not have the chance to take it to the studio yet, but here is a quick and dirty snap at home:

original.jpg


BePrepared - I think you should contact Claudio; he is one great guy!

Best regards,
Alex
 
A Karambit and a hawkbill are not the same. A Karambit has the finger ring at the end of the handle for secure grip and different grip positions.
 
The karambit or kerambit is a small Southeast Asian hand-held, curved knife originating in Indonesia. The karambit spelling is mostly used in the Philippines.
 
Chuck Gedraitis Knives said:
.. I have made a few ..
View attachment 380967
Click to expand...
Yours looks so nice Chuck :thumbup:
Unluckily I couldn't import a Karambit because it's one of the prohibited import items.

Chuck Gedraitis Knives said:
.. The karambit spelling is mostly used in the Philippines ..
Click to expand...
You're right Chuck :)
The slang of pronunciation differs from place to place in Malay Archipelago.
In Peninsular Malaysia it's pronunciation sounds more like Krambit :)
Even at some other place it's pronunciation sounds deeper more like Korambit :D

Karambit sounds more like Car+rum+beet.
Kerambit sounds more like Cur+rum+beet.
Krambit sounds more like Crump+beet.
Korambit sounds more like Core+rum+beet.

A.l.e.x. said:
.. Claudio's Hawkbill sure is one amazing knife! ..
Click to expand...
It sure is :thumbup:
I like Caudio's work very much and I have a Scagel Style Hunter made by him, Alex :)
The beautiful Hawkbill made by Claudio looks more like a Lawi Ayam or a Kuku Macan or a Kuku Naga which is larger than a Karambit.
Anyhow sometimes the Lawi Ayam/Kuku Macan/Kuku Naga is also made to has a finger ring at the end of the handle.

merantau.jpg


mohd
 
Selamat Datang mohd seems you have knowledge and hopefully can help me clear some things up .
In the 90s I lived in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand , in Penang and around that area also in Sabah on Borneo I saw what I call karambit .
These had no ring now I've had many conversations with people over its origins I belive it to be a farming tool developed into a weapon.
There are those who say each region has one I hear as I have a Balinese brother , the warrior Caste took the peas entry tool and changed it into a side arm.
Now I saw folk harvesting all sorts with these ring less Karambits women had them in their hair at rest etc it is smaller than the above with a more pronounced recurve .
Just like the ringed ones but had a banana shaped handle , I also in Thailand saw them use similar harvesting rambutan ,tamarind and lychee.
Are these all the same as I also practiced Silat and they used very similar pieces , never did I see a modern ring type iirc .
I know there is much debate as to where they first originated , unlike the Keris and Kris which are Malaysian and Indonesian respectively .
I see above you mention with the different spelling that the ringed one is the kerambit however the people I spoke with and taught me all called it kerambit.
There is no doubt most now are weapons or collection pieces but would like to gain anymore info if possible on wether they are one and the same.
I also stress I'm not talking about the above tools/knives you mention I know these are different eg the larger hooked type style used in harvesting rice but mean the knives like chuck posted but ring less .
It is my understanding that most Karambits today like above are based on the Fillipino derived version small blade with a ring.
Yet there are many old styles with hilt/spikes instead of rings but would like to learn anything more of these as it is almost impossible to find picture reference .
These were the type used when I was learning although it was in Indonesia there were Malaysian and Thai students and the instructors were mainly in their 60s.
They were accompanied by three to four understudies whom carried out work in return for being taught and lodgings.
Any info you could give me would be really appreciated thank you , I love the piece above btw would Claidio make another similar ?.
ATB
 
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Made this one for a customer a year or so ago. Not sure it fits the Krambit category. I call it a "Sabit" or a "Ringless Krambit"

RyanWMRSKramb_zps50707bd9.jpg
 

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JParanee said:
.. What movie did the karate kid use a Karambit ..
Click to expand...
Hi Joe, it's not the Karate Kid but Merantau!

The sharpend said:
.. Selamat Datang mohd seems you have knowledge and hopefully can help me clear some things up ..
Click to expand...
Selamat berkenalan Sharpend.
I'm just an ordinary knife collector.
Being a Malay I'm kind of exposed to some info of the edged tools in South east Asia especially in Malay Archipelago.
So here I'm just trying the best to give my two cents about it.

The sharpend said:
.. In the 90s I lived in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand , in Penang and around that area also in Sabah on Borneo I saw what I call karambit .
These had no ring now I've had many conversations with people over its origins I belive it to be a farming tool developed into a weapon.
There are those who say each region has one I hear as I have a Balinese brother , the warrior Caste took the peas entry tool and changed it into a side arm.
Now I saw folk harvesting all sorts with these ring less Karambits women had them in their hair at rest etc it is smaller than the above with a more pronounced recurve .
Just like the ringed ones but had a banana shaped handle , I also in Thailand saw them use similar harvesting rambutan ,tamarind and lychee.
Are these all the same as I also practiced Silat and they used very similar pieces , never did I see a modern ring type iirc ..
Click to expand...
It's what we called as Kuku Rimau.
Actually it's the smallest one in the Kerambit family of blades.
And traditionally Kuku Rimau doesn has a finger ring at the end of the handle.

The sharpend said:
.. I know there is much debate as to where they first originated , unlike the Keris and Kris which are Malaysian and Indonesian respectively ..
Click to expand...
Let's make it simple, IMVHO it's easier to say that all those Kerambit and the family originated from Malay Archipelago.
Philippines, Southern Thai, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are the modern names for all the newly drawn borders after the Malay Archipelago were being colonized, devided and separated by the colonialists and then gaining independence one after another (i.e. please, I'm not touching about politic but history).

The sharpend said:
.. I see above you mention with the different spelling that the ringed one is the kerambit however the people I spoke with and taught me all called it kerambit.
There is no doubt most now are weapons or collection pieces but would like to gain anymore info if possible on wether they are one and the same ..
Click to expand...
Yes, AFAIK all those are under one big Kerambit family.

The sharpend said:
.. I also stress I'm not talking about the above tools/knives you mention I know these are different eg the larger hooked type style used in harvesting rice but mean the knives like chuck posted but ring less ..
Click to expand...
Of course those are different edged tools which are categorized under Arit/Sabit family.

The sharpend said:
.. It is my understanding that most Karambits today like above are based on the Fillipino derived version small blade with a ring ..
Click to expand...
You're correct, pal!

The sharpend said:
.. Yet there are many old styles with hilt/spikes instead of rings but would like to learn anything more of these as it is almost impossible to find picture reference .
These were the type used when I was learning although it was in Indonesia there were Malaysian and Thai students and the instructors were mainly in their 60s.
They were accompanied by three to four understudies whom carried out work in return for being taught and lodgings.
Any info you could give me would be really appreciated thank you ..
Click to expand...
The Kerambit family consists of the following categories:

1. Karambit/Kerambit/Korambit/Krambit/Kurambik is the medium size version in the Kerambit family and it normally has a ring at the end of the handle.

DSC_5793.jpg
IMG_9112.jpg


2. Kuku Rimau/Kuku Macan is smallest version in the Kerambit family and traditionally it doesn't has any ring at the end of the handle. Sometimes it has a pronounced hilt/spike at the end of the handle.

img_7807.jpg
img_7809.jpg
img_7808.jpg


IMG_8872.jpg
IMG_8871.jpg
IMG_8870.jpg


3. Lawi Ayam/Rambai Ayam is the second largest version in the Kerambit family and traditionally it doesn't has any ring at the end of the handle. And it has a slight wave at the blade tip.

3_1_9_lawi_ayam_enl.jpg


3591127779_eaf2a3af3e.jpg


4. Beladau is the largest version of the Kerambit family. Sometimes it is less curvy. Anyhow traditionally it has a thumb grove at the end of the handle.

3_1_9_beladau_enl.jpg


KERAMBIT.jpg


Lawiayam.jpg


IMVHO Claudio's version and Kyle's version are the modern interpretation of a Lawi Ayam/Beladau.
Again IMVHO Ryan's version is a modern interpretation of a Kuku Rimau/Kuku Macan.
While Chuck's version is a folder interpretation of a Karambit.
And all those beautiful pieces are still categorized in the Kerambit family.

The sharpend said:
.. I love the piece above btw would Claidio make another similar ? ..
Click to expand...
Claudio AFAIK is a very nice knifemaker and he's very friendly with his customer!
Sharpend, why not you just PM Claudio or send him an email.
Maybe you can discuss with him the actual piece which best suit your taste and requirements :)

Hope my two cents helps a little!

mohd
 
mohd said:
Hi Joe, it's not the Karate Kid but Merantau!


Selamat berkenalan Sharpend.
I'm just an ordinary knife collector.
Being a Malay I'm kind of exposed to some info of the edged tools in South east Asia especially in Malay Archipelago.
So here I'm just trying the best to give my two cents about it.


It's what we called as Kuku Rimau.
Actually it's the smallest one in the Kerambit family of blades.
And traditionally Kuku Rimau doesn has a finger ring at the end of the handle.


Let's make it simple, IMVHO it's easier to say that all those Kerambit and the family originated from Malay Archipelago.
Philippines, Southern Thai, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are the modern names for all the newly drawn borders after the Malay Archipelago were being colonized, devided and separated by the colonialists and then gaining independence one after another (i.e. please, I'm not touching about politic but history).


Yes, AFAIK all those are under one big Kerambit family.


Of course those are different edged tools which are categorized under Arit/Sabit family.


You're correct, pal!


The Kerambit family consists of the following categories:

1. Karambit/Kerambit/Korambit/Krambit/Kurambik is the medium size version in the Kerambit family and it normally has a ring at the end of the handle.

DSC_5793.jpg
IMG_9112.jpg


2. Kuku Rimau/Kuku Macan is smallest version in the Kerambit family and traditionally it doesn't has any ring at the end of the handle. Sometimes it has a pronounced hilt/spike at the end of the handle.

img_7807.jpg
img_7809.jpg
img_7808.jpg


IMG_8872.jpg
IMG_8871.jpg
IMG_8870.jpg


3. Lawi Ayam/Rambai Ayam is the second largest version in the Kerambit family and traditionally it doesn't has any ring at the end of the handle. And it has a slight wave at the blade tip.

3_1_9_lawi_ayam_enl.jpg


3591127779_eaf2a3af3e.jpg


4. Beladau is the largest version of the Kerambit family. Sometimes it is less curvy. Anyhow traditionally it has a thumb grove at the end of the handle.

3_1_9_beladau_enl.jpg


KERAMBIT.jpg


Lawiayam.jpg


IMVHO Claudio's version and Kyle's version are the modern interpretation of a Lawi Ayam/Beladau.
Again IMVHO Ryan's version is a modern interpretation of a Kuku Rimau/Kuku Macan.
While Chuck's version is a folder interpretation of a Karambit.
And all those beautiful pieces are still categorized in the Kerambit family.


Claudio AFAIK is a very nice knifemaker and he's very friendly with his customer!
Sharpend, why not you just PM Claudio or send him an email.
Maybe you can discuss with him the actual piece which best suit your taste and requirements :)

Hope my two cents helps a little!

mohd
Click to expand...

Terima Kasih Berbanyak Mohd yes that's great information .
As you suggest I have in looking in the past , grouped the Malay archipelago together when researching .
But and understandably there is nationality and pride that many today are at odds over these things.
Having been in the company of Malaysians and having Indonesian family your summary is similar to what I was told.
But I saw different pieces in say Java , to Sumatra and again in Lombok also different in Sabah .
Really glad I managed to find someone with the knowledge to help fill in the gaps and also substantiate there is a lot of unknowns .
The info you have made in this post is incredibly difficult to get Mohd don't sell your knowledge short.
In the time since which I was there over 18 years now , nobody including family in Java and Bali couldn't give me as much info ;).
I loved my time in Malaysia IMO some of the most friendly people on earth and a beautiful country , the food is sublime :D.
I will when £ affords me contact Claudio and thanks once again ATB fella .
 
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That's an interesting hilt above the ring , hard to gauge on a iPod but in a standard grip does the hilt edge out from your hand by the position of the scale by design ?.
It,d be interesting to get a hold of that they are legal in the uk but the laws are strange , if sold as a weapon not allowed .
If sold as a knife with utility capabilities like rope cutting - fine but if it got stopped by customs they could go down offensive weapon route .
Damn customs, nice piece what steel are you using looks bead blasted but could be my eyes ;).
 
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