I'm looking for a reliable folding Karambit for EDC for Self Defense

TheseusTheDestroyer

TheseusTheDestroyer

Joined
Nov 4, 2012
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I was very interested in a wave opener since it's for self defense and I'd like to be able to deploy it in the blink of an eye.

I can't afford the Emerson besides I don't fancy the chisel grind and I don't want to wait months though a back order ordeal so that eliminates the fox karambit, besides it's only available at THEULTIMATEKNIFE which I have only heard bad things about..

I was thinking maybe getting a QTRM5TR QTR 2 or QTR 5 and doing a zip-tie mod. I've never owned any QTRM5TR knives so I'm taking a leap of faith and trusting them as a good American knife company.

Please let me know what you think or if you have any recommendations or comments about anything.

Thanks!
 
The fox is in stock at bladehq if you're ok with the black blade version.
 
I got two Fox Karambit folders from ExtremAddiction who's a BF dealer. If they don't have it in stock there's another nice Fox dealer online where I've bought two Fox folders from. Can't mention their name (in Michigan and they have all three types plus the trainer) because they're not a BF dealer.
 
Emerson waved Matriarch?

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It's not exactly a Karambit, but it does offer a sharp tip for penetration, the hook shape for clawing, and a nice belly for cutting, along with serrations for ripping through clothing and flesh and of course the Emerson wave opening mechanism.

Reliability? It's a Spyderco. VG-10 steel so it'll hold the edge for a good long while and won't rust on you.

I looked at the QTRM5TR knives online and I have to be honest, they're not my cup of tea. The blades are short, almost half the length of the Matriarch. The steel, BD-4P, seems about on par with VG-10. The handles don't look that comfortable and the aesthetics make me wince.

If you must have a Karambit for self defence Cold Steel make the Steel Tiger fixed blade. That gives you over twice the blade length, and you don't need to worry about opening it.

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I wouldn't be able to carry that big-ass fixed blade, it is pretty cool for home defense though!

I'm looking for a karambit in particular (ring and all) because I train in martial arts and I have already acquired a proper trainer.

I'm on the fence about the Blade-Tech rip tide, It seems smooth and well made but I've heard it comes very dull and I don't know that I'd want to spend over a hundred bucks on a knife with an AUS8 blade..
 
I haven't seen the Fox 599 with the 2.5" blade just the 478 (Aluminum) & 479 (G10) with the 3.1" blades. There's also the 479TK trainer with red G10.
 
Spyderco karahawk. It's a spyderco, it's waved,and less expensive than an emerson. If it is within your price range, go for it. If it isn't, save up for it or the emerson because if you're serious about using it for SD, then why would you choose a tool of inferior quality?
 
You want to edc a dedicated SD knife? They seem to be less than ideal for the 99.999999% of things I do with a knife, and, hence, a waste of pocket space. And things that waste pocket space don't end up in my pocket. And a knife I that's not in my pocket I find to be ineffective in a SD scenario. A Delica in my pocket would seem more effective than a Civilian at home.

Of course I don't find myself getting in hand to hand combat enough to justify carrying a dedicated SD blade. So maybe I'm the wrong guy to be commenting....
 
Get a 511 folding kerambit and send it to me for a wave mod.
 
The 5.11 CUB Master 2.0 is really a nice knife, G10 (with a cool pattern) & an S30V coated blade, the little issue of not being waved is no problem to do yourself (or send it to CM) or just use the zip tie "mod". For <$100 your not going to get a better folding karambit.
 
I own a fox 599 and formerly owned a karahawk. I have to say visually the fox wins and with the wave feature the fox also has one that catches better. The karahawk is extremely thin and looks less scary but isn't all black and is more visible. If I were you'd I go with the fox 599 its cheaper then the karahawk and has performed as well as it. I can also confirm anyone who's held my 599 has said it's fit their hand a lot better then the 479. Also Emersons are a bit bulkier and didn't fix my hand very well either and the prices on them are through the roof. THEULTIMATEKNIFE worked out fine for me took about a week for my blade to arrive no problems, although a friend ordered a blade from them and was informed a week later that they finally shipped it out when he had been expecting it to have arrived. The QTRM5TR's look like mantis knives and I wouldn't say that's a compliment also they don't look to be ergonomic never held one before though they also seem to be on the heavy side. The QTRM5TR's also have a more extreme curve then on other trainers and folding karambits I've seen.
 
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Try Half Face Blades for a karambit! He's an ex-Navy SEAL who produces some excellent pieces.

You can find him on Facebook :D
 
I EDC the fox 599 along with my leatherman and dedicated utility folder.


It's small and good for carrying, easy to deploy, and not to mention nasty at its job. Cut and stabbed myself a few times already while training with it because I'm too cheap to buy the actual trainer:rolleyes:

I ordered it straight from that TheUltimateKnife site, and it came quickly and without issues. The lockup is solid, the blade is stupid sharp, and the wave feature works exactly as I would hope.

Couldn't ask for a better EDC SD blade (obviously a smatchet would be better, but who's gonna lug one of those around every day:D)


Just don't go spinning it like a moron, or you might just end up with a hole in your arm....

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