I the Super Karambit too big?

Haze said:
To be honest not really, there is no harm in sitting infront of the TV playing with a kerambit but don't kid your self that it will gain you any sort of kinesthetic development.
You should ruddy well know exactly where the knife is at all times. It should be wraped tightly inside your fist, not flailing around the place !

I don't mean that to sound as harsh as it might, I'm just being totally honest :):thumbup:
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Actually, from sparring I know it is sometimes best to let go of your blade and get rid of it before you get cut with your own knife. Having a blade in your hand can tie you up mentally and you can get taken out if you let it stop you from using your body's own weapons (fists, elbows, knees, sweeps, etc). My training partners are very dedicated and I've been "killed" with a karambit in my hand when going all out. IMO that is one of the disadvantages of the ring, especially with the Emerson--it is a tight fit. The kuku macan was more commonly used in battle (imagine a large karambit without a ring). I have a matching pair with 9" blades.

In reality, however, against a partner who was unarmed or had a small knife and who didn't have much training, I think I would 'win' more than 50% of fights if I had a karambit. Training definitely ups that percentage. Now going up against a golok is a different story. :)
 
jayinhk said:
Actually, from sparring I know it is sometimes best to let go of your blade and get rid of it before you get cut with your own knife. Having a blade in your hand can tie you up mentally and you can get taken out if you let it stop you from using your body's own weapons (fists, elbows, knees, sweeps, etc). My training partners are very dedicated and I've been "killed" with a karambit in my hand when going all out. IMO that is one of the disadvantages of the ring, especially with the Emerson--it is a tight fit. The kuku macan was more commonly used in battle (imagine a large karambit without a ring). I have a matching pair with 9" blades.

In reality, however, against a partner who was unarmed or had a small knife and who didn't have much training, I think I would 'win' more than 50% of fights if I had a karambit. Training definitely ups that percentage. Now going up against a golok is a different story. :)
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There is no winners when you fight with knives, just one guy that didn't loose as badly as the other...... or at least lived a little longer. :p

I'm a big Golok and Barong fan my self, they are both real nice big knives. :):thumbup:

I just about lost a toe dropping a Valiantco Golok on my foot once. :eek::foot:
 
Yep, you're right Haze. A knife fight is definitely not something you should go looking for! Love goloks and barongs myself and I have quite a few, including small Javanese goloks with 7" blades.

Valiantco does make some decent blades, but I feel they're a little overpriced since they're shipped to Australia first--I get mine direct from Indonesia (sometimes in person). :)

BTW, you do amazing work from what I've seen...respect!
 
My first emerson was a super CQC 7. Yes in my opinion the supers are to big for an everyday carry. ;)

When opening it up the blade drags on the liner. It doesn't get used much.
 
My combat karambit ate the front pocket of my 5.11s on the second or third draw. My GF told me not to play with the thing, but I failed to listen and now have the extra seam to prove her point (time and time again).
 
Wow this thread really scared me a bit. I found that the super BT Karambit was the Emerson I wished to get and am saving for it (costs $360 here) but I do wonder about the damage you can do to yourself with one. I wonder if making a leather bracer for back of the hands and lower arm would help negate damage if I hit myself.

Lucky I have a brother in law that can do stock removal - I will ask him about making me a correctly sized and weighted version.

Bad luck to the OP - it sounds like you got yourself bad.
 
I've never cut anything with my Combat Karambit without intending to, and I've been carrying mine for 2 years. I could deploy it in my sleep. I got a Thai handmade version of it and managed to rip a brand new Nike t-shirt. Go figure.
 
You guys seem pretty friendly and have alot of good information. I am part of the way to save for my first Emerson Karambit (and my first Emerson knife fullstop) but have no store other than the internet to buy it from (not US based). As a result I will not be able to handle one to see what "fits" my hand better. I was hoping someone experienced with Emerson Karambits could give me some idea of what might fit better - my palm from little finger to index is 3.5 inches. The Combat Karambit folder (and yep I would prefer a folder to fixed) seems to be a BUNCH cheaper than the Super KB - handle wise whats the difference really between the two models? I would email the store I intend to order from for advice...but I think you guys on the ground might know more.

Some people complain the combat is too small....others complain that the super is too big - I cannot afford to make a $300 dollar mistake eh?

Thanks in advance and please do not take this as a thread derail. I hope a Karambit owner can give me a little advice.
 
Where in the world are you from Armalite? Some of us travel with our karambits. :)

I have pretty big hands and the Combat Karambit fits my hand fine--IMO it's the best folding knife I own. It integrates seamlessly with my silat.

Ah, you're from the Land Down Under. If you have the Emerson shipped to Oz, you should ask the guys to tighten up the pivot for you--it can be popped open if you throw it hard.
 
jayinhk said:
Where in the world are you from Armalite? Some of us travel with our karambits. :)

I have pretty big hands and the Combat Karambit fits my hand fine--IMO it's the best folding knife I own. It integrates seamlessly with my silat.

Ah, you're from the Land Down Under. If you have the Emerson shipped to Oz, you should ask the guys to tighten up the pivot for you--it can be popped open if you throw it hard.
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Wow fast reply Jayinhk! I was hoping you might. Yep...I guess how tight Australian Customs is is pretty established around the world (its really really tight). I have an online company here that prices the combat at about $288 and the super at $363. My brother in law can do stock removal so I will be set for a trainer. The only difference is that they have the combat in stock and the super I would have to wait for Emerson to ship him some....and that would mean from what I have read I would have to wait for Emerson to actually MAKE some. So i can pretty much pick up the Combat in late May/early June or I can harden up and fist the cash for the super - I just am not sure which way to go.

Your answer helps me much though. I don't have real man sized hands so the answer is that the standard Combat KB WOULD fit - its just a question of why there is such a price difference between that and the Super. I have done a bit of net research that suggests that Karambits can be quite large. I kind of worry that a 2.6 inch blade might not be as good as the 3.4 in such a small knife.

Anyway sorry for the wall of text but thank you for your answer....I have not got many "high end" knives (this is pretty high end for me) and any information you give will weigh very heavily in my decision. I am also going to be looking for instruction in Australia but am not too sure where that will be yet (but we are mega close to Indonesia so there must be someone here who can teach).
 
Sorry to butt-in and of course, my sympathies to the OP, but isn't that Super Karambit 3.5" blade, 8" overall? Exactly how could this blade be too large? What am I missing about the handling of this style knife for defensive purpose that makes it more dangerous to the user than a similar blade in a drop pt?
 
GrinderMcgee said:
Sorry to butt-in and of course, my sympathies to the OP, but isn't that Super Karambit 3.5" blade, 8" overall? Exactly how could this blade be too large? What am I missing about the handling of this style knife for defensive purpose that makes it more dangerous to the user than a similar blade in a drop pt?
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HA - hi Grinder fancy meeting you here :P. I have seen Phil around also.
 
I wouldn't mind a Super Karambit myself: what keeps me away from it is the concealability factor. I prefer my blades to be completely out of sight, but ready to go when needed. I think the price difference is merely a size thing. Americans correlate size with value, so the bigger it is, the more it should cost. I have a handmade Sumatran karambit with a 6" blade that cost me $50, but it doesn't get carried, so IMO the Combat Karambit is worth every dollar I paid for it (and more).

IMO a karambit is safer than a drop point because of the ring--unless it gets wrenched out of your grip and you break your pinky or index while it's in the ring.

I think the whole size thing is about the way it feels in your hand Grinder. IMO the Combat Karambit is what you want mate.

$288 is highway robbery--I paid about $160 for mine and felt that was too much. lol

If you buy the Super Karambit just to try out, I'm sure you can find someone in Oz who will take it off your hands. I'd be scared to have it sent in because Aussie Customs are such tossers.

The size thing isn't a major issue: I have no doubt I could end someone in seconds with the Combat Karambit, or even the 3" neck knife I wear around my neck. Silat is all about speed and technique over size.

Where in Oz are you? I'm always happy to talk about silat if you have any questions or want my opinion on a teacher.
 
Considering this ain't a Rajah - as far as I can see a 3.4 inch blade (I think thats what the Super runs at...3.5 inch 9 inch overall I would class it as defensive). I think what the OP might have done was 'trick" spinning and perhaps zapped himself on a bad rotation. Have a google of Karambit on youtube and you will see what I mean. I hear a few people get themselves behind the thumb on the hand they are twirling on. From the training vids I have seen if you don't spin the blade on your finger there is little chance of you getting yourself....unless your other arm gets in the way of a strike while blocking an opponents blow or by missing your target and again hitting your own arm.

Those are my thoughts. I do have one little knife with a ring on the end of it and was spinning while not concentrating and zapped my wrist on a bad rotation (hand was angled too much toward the arm).

You might have seen my thread on leather work on the CS forums. I am planning to make some thick leather wrist braces and learn rotations (just for fun) and train on rubber matting. I have heard a few people have broken the tips of their Emerson Karambits by letting them hit the ground on a bad spin. But again I am a total total noob when it comes to these and you will probably get a far more informed answer from Jay than myself.

Edit - Jay you are a legend! I am in Melbourne Australia. I am sorry for all the above stuff but you type way faster than me! Yeah 280 is about the price and Aussie Customs just say that the stop "certain knives" without going into specifics. Thats why the prices are so high here - the dealers know people wont risk trying to import them from Worldwide sellers. I am deff interested in learning Kali Silat - and probably looking to begin in about a month or so.

Edit edit - sorry for the spelling on Silat.
 
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roughneckrob said:
If anyone knows someone who can make them please let me know:thumbup:
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+1

The K-bit trainers are out of stock at Emerson right now. I have one on order, but I'm looking at a month or so til I get it. :(

Back OT- I loved my standard Kbit so much, I got the super too. However, it doesn't feel as good in my hand. The super might work it you have gigantic Shaq hands or something, but in general, I'm not so sure you gain much. Very little reach is gained, and the feel is completely different.

The standard K-bit feels awesome in all its iterations- I have the commander kbit, the cqc7 kbit, and the bullnose kbit and I really like them all.

As far as trainers go, I've been using a Travel Wrench. The ring is bigger, but it is fairly close in size and function. The "Emerson style" kbit trainers you see on ebay don't look really suitable for FOF/contact sparring. They also aren't folders- they're fixed, so you can't practice realistic deployment which is KEY if you are planning on using a folder for SD.


For the super kbit your only trainer option would be to- 1. tape the blade, which would only be useful for solo training deployment and manipulation (NOT SPINNING!), 2. getting a second one and grinding down the blade (NOOOOOOO! :eek:) 3. Having someone fabricate a trainer blade and swapping the blades out. (a pain in the ass, but theoretically possible)
 
I can spin my karambits in my sleep, but it takes practice. you can actually spin the Emersons when closed if you need practice.

I never use trainers at home: I've been training with live blades since I was 16. With partners, you don't really have much choice, although traditionally live blades are used in silat training. Definitely injects some reality into your sparring sessions. :)

I did break the tip on my Emerson when I first got it, but that's because I dropped it in the bathroom. :(

You can practice deploying by yourself. I do it all the time with a variety of blades. I use an Impact Kerambit when training with partners, but I also have two spring steel and wood trainers from some of the best pandai in West Java, Indonesia. I haven't been using them in the park though. They scare people.
 
Man dropping it must have given you a sinking feeling in your stomach - sorry I edited my previous post cause you beat me too it by about a minute. You have sold me on the Emerson - I think I will aim for the combat. Thanks Jay and I will watch for any posts you make on this subject - you are a really big help.

I could get a trainer made (I got a brother in law who can do metalwork) - but if you think that would give me a false sense of confidence with the real thing I will just pay attention more but with the live blade.

Edit edit - thanks XSanguin8 - I think I am going to stay away from the Super now, between you and Jay I think the Combat may be the way to go and is in stock where I am. Man people post fast here.
 
I'm only a few hours behind you mate, and my Combat Karambit is like an extension of myself. I like it so much I almost don't like talking about it because I don't want to share. :D

Yeah, it did give me a terrible sinking feeling--for days mate. I've fixed it up a little, but it's nowhere near as scary sharp as it was from the factory. It will still shave hair though. I guess I should have someone who is better at sharpening handle it for me.

Get the trainer made and flip it, but flip it with respect. If you try and flip the Combat Karambit when you first get it, you'll definitely end up with a scar to remember it by. :) I sold someone a FOX karambit and he ended up sticking the tip a good 1/2" into his forearm. Why don't you get the polymer Emerson karambit to train with?
 
Yeah I thought about that and got 4 Croc Sticks by Lanskey so I can sharpen freehand for the inner curve. I am not sure if you know them or not (you probably do) but I will send you a pm (email) with a link to them on ebay. If you can get the angle right they will sharpen or touch up the edge on a Karambit plenty. Its the least I can do after all the help you have provided.
Cheers,
Arma

Edit - I didnt notice there WAS a polymer trainer....I better go back and check their website again eh.
 
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