Fit and Finish differences between 2007 and 2012 (Karambit) models

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OceanKlight

Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
27
I just wanted to post this because I did NOT know this at the time of my purchase(s) and would have been extremely nice to know beforehand.

There have been complaints about liner-lock wear and overall F&F of the blades. Finding this out lead me to seriously question the integrity of my knives and I began seeking to replace my newly acquired Emerson Combat Karambit liner-lock with a framelock (a rather costly affair).

I recently purchased a 2007 Super Karambit and was very surprised to see quite a huge difference. The G10 is a very different texture and the liners are quite a bit thinner. This helped to put into perspective the complaints I had seen elsewhere on the forums - and this information may help other people out there making financial and quality-based decisions!

It was good to have this context and to see that they have indeed stepped up the materials involved in making these knives, which may explain differences in price over time (which I can appreciate).

Overall, I'm still unsure about liner-lock wear, but I DO feel safer about my knives and happier with my 2012 Combat Karambit.

I wonder when the step-up in quality occured - and which models this involves.

Any thoughts, questions or opinions are appreciated -

I may post pictures at some later time.
 
The change ocurred between 2011-2012 models. The newer ones do appear to have different, less aggressive G10, a recessed pivot bolt, and cleaner edges on the G10. I sent in a 2004 CQC7 last year, and asked to have a thicker liner lock installed. Sure enough the knife came back in excellent condition with a much thicker liner, it appeared as good as new. Very good and fast service from EKI.
 
I agree, I've noticed the f&f to be better in the 2012 models, specifically, there are less machining marks on the liners. Also it looks like they started to actually grind into a perfect finish the area of the blade between the tang and the stop pin cutout. Before, this area was just left un touched, now it's ground to a finish like the spine of the blade.

And with the new pivot, it seems you no longer need loctite.
 
Did you get the new combat karambit version for 2012 with the standoffs instead of the backspacer and the new ring design?
 
The newer production seems to have rougher G10, thicker liner and better pivot.
 
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