Is an Emerson Combat Karambit $160 better than this copy?

I had one of those knockoffs at one point. I got it for 8 bucks at a flea market. It was fine for what it was- an $8 knockoff- and it would work fine for its intended purpose, which is self defense. With a k-bit, you aren't going to be stabbing, you're going to be ripping, so the lock strength isn't an issue. In short, I wouldn't feel any less prepared if I was carrying this than if I was carrying an Emerson Combat Kerambit. But yes, the Emerson is of much better quality.
 
heli-cal said:
NO F-Bdy Bs,
Your post was clear, credible and concise.

Quite why it elicited the response it did remains unclear.
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Because BF is a hardcore knife hobbyist forum, and anything less than the best is going to get reamed. ArcheryTalk is the same way concerning archery. You just have to look past it to pull the good information out, and ignore the elitism.

The guy got a knife free, it is a knock off, and has a low retail value.
It 'might' be crap, but it might be just fine if he is looking to open a few letters or open a few boxes.

To the OP, without the politics.

The Emerson is a proven design with proven steel and craftsmanship. In knives, for the most part, you get what you pay for. If you are looking for a $20 knife then you have one and that is cool. If you pass it on, let the person know its value and the 'proper' uses for it considering its suspect background. If you are serious about hardcore use, spend the money and get something you can put a bit more trust in.

Also, value is relative. Someone recently gave me a S&W H.R.T. If you go to some of the popular knife outlets online you can see it listed for upwards of $60.00. If you hit eBay, you can see them for starting bid of .99 going unsold. When I 'bought' my own years ago, I went with the BM 722SBT. Proven name, proven design, and proven materials. The H.R.T. I will pass on with the appropriate guidance to the next owner.
 
I think you would like the real thing better , the ones I have had were well done .

Chris
 
Let’s see if we can find the right forum …
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My Friend,

Having handled a LOT of karambits I can say that Emerson makes probably my very favorite production folding karambit; I am carrying one as I type this and unless I am completely knifeless (such as in the shower) you can bet that I am carrying my Emerson first and foremost. Other designs might get rotated in and out based on perceived need or my mood of the day, but the Emerson Combat Karambit is ALWAYS ready at hand.

The overall fit and finish of the Emerson Combat Karambit is substantially better than the imports; the materials are better quality and the attention to detail and care in manufacture is much better. I *might* trust one of the cheap knockoffs well enough to pull out the live blade (and throw it in the trash) and replace it with an aluminum training blade of my own manufacture, but there is no way in hell I would trust a cheap knockoff with my life in a real-world encounter. You really do get what you pay for.

This hails back to a few years back when some guys would hassle me for using a Kimber .45 as my EDC gun. They would always ask, "Why such an expensive gun?"

My response was always, "What is your life worth, anyway?"

My $0.02. YMMV. :D

--------
Hannibal
 
heli-cal said:
NO F-Bdy Bs,
Your post was clear, credible and concise.

Quite why it elicited the response it did remains unclear.

As a person new to Forums I have noticed that postings appear which contain little or no relevance to the original enquiry.

That apart, Emerson is not a brand I have experience of, sorry.
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I'll second that... or third?
 
just going to put it out there, there are plenty of "knock offs" of items around the world that are as good or better than the original (number one that comes to mind are the stupid "designer" bags)

but now when it comes to a knife, rarely would you see a "knock off" that is as good as a higher end knife at least as easily as some other things that are commonly copied.

i have no experience with the emersons so i cant really help you there but i would bet the emerson is better than the one you have... how much better i cant guess on to much never holding either of the knives.

-matt
 
Thanks for the acutal responses. I have been checking around on the net, and a few places offer it for $150 or so. WHich I can manage this month.
Unfortunately, only a few places actually have the knife in stock. Seems to be a pretty popular model.
Ill report back once I actually have one of these in my hands.
 
No F-Bdy Bs,
'A picture is worth a thousand words!'

I am still crying with laughter at your superb picture of Patrick Stewart.

I'm reminded of the castle sentry sketch where an guy is trying to get two sentries to stand guard to make sure a prisoner doesn't leave the room!

You really couldn't make it up........
 
I would trust it as a boxcutter. Not being skilled in all the nuances of the Karambit, I cannot fully say how it would hold up. Still, with how you grip a Karambit, I would not want to trust my fingers/hand to a knock-off's lock.
 
i found a site thats sells but Mtech make those knock offs karambits with someothers. i also have the emerson knockoff and like it alot and the other in the picture under the knockoff i also have i feel its really great knives (also that one with the emerson wave) to but i think its haller sthalwaren that makes that one here is a link to the page and some comparison photos with bouth emerson and the cheaper one http://www.teshima-hp.com/kalanbit.html
 
Looks like the one I have. I have no idea as to the brand, as it came in a plain white box.


Side note, I did find a dealer that actually has them in stock, and I was able to order one yesterdsy for $158.
Not bad since most places I see have them going for near $200-250
 
NO F-Bdy Bs said:
picard.jpg



I swear, reading comprehension is obviously NOT a requirement in this forum.
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well buddy i answered the question ya asked in post #1 i suppose i wasnt concise enuff for ya, its certainly worth $160 over the POS since the POS is worth, well, imho exactly nothing.

perhaps your comprehension isnt exactly the best lol. reading or otherwise..
 
SIFU1A said:
well buddy i answered the question ya asked in post #1 i suppose i wasnt concise enuff for ya, its certainly worth $160 over the POS since the POS is worth, well, imho exactly nothing.

perhaps your comprehension isnt exactly the best lol. reading or otherwise..
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No, what you did was reply before you actually read my post. With an extremely generalized reply that could be applied to any knock-off.
You could have given input as to the question I asked regarding the locking tang,reliability, Perhaps build quality, better blade materal, ect.

Or, if you had no experience with the blade, you could have just done nothing.

Also, if you would have read the post above the one you just made, you would have realized that I made a purchase of an Emerson and have no further use for your replies that attempt to justify your original, and vague response.
 
ive been looking for a cheap karambit. $25 tops since i dont have enough money to buy an emerson for $160

anyone know somewhere i could get one?
 
longbeachguy said:
Since this doesnt have the wave the OP might not be interested, but this looks like a nice karambit for about $70, and it is made with similar materials as the EKI. Plus it has a back-lock which I prefer to a liner lock. I don't have one but I'm thinking of getting one. YMMV.

5_11-51009.jpg



http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=44749
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I'm a bit worried cause back locks are dis-engaged by pressing the back which is what will mostly be experienced by a kerambit (being pressed on the back). What I mean to say is that the dis-engage (which is at the middle, even more vulnerable to hand pressing the lock) will be a risk when ever you use it.

However since the force during use is in the opposite direction of the closing direction, I also think the risk is canceled out. Basically I think kerambits are more suited to something like a liner/folder lock or an axis lock.

I may be wrong though :)
 
Cotherion said:
I'm a bit worried cause back locks are dis-engaged by pressing the back which is what will mostly be experienced by a kerambit (being pressed on the back). What I mean to say is that the dis-engage (which is at the middle, even more vulnerable to hand pressing the lock) will be a risk when ever you use it.

However since the force during use is in the opposite direction of the closing direction, I also think the risk is canceled out. Basically I think kerambits are more suited to something like a liner/folder lock or an axis lock.

I may be wrong though :)
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That's a good point, which I hadn't thought of. If I get one I'll probably grind out a "Boye dent" style impression in the lock release to forestall that potential problem.
 
longbeachguy said:
That's a good point, which I hadn't thought of. If I get one I'll probably grind out a "Boye dent" style impression in the lock release to forestall that potential problem.
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That'll be nice for ever paranoid me :) actually the kerambit in the pic has a good beefy look. The blade is wider than the Emerson methinks. Like the ergos on it and there is even a thumb groove/area/cutout/whatchamacallit even. Actually a nice looking specimen.

PS: Just saw the link, it's a Tarani. He be good with/for kerambits/karambits. Good choice.
 
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