Karambit

Georgia Guy

Georgia Guy

Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Messages
314
Where is the love for the Karambit? Search any forum and you will find about a 50/50 love hate for this design. I am not a utilitarian guy by trade so I don’t use a good all-around knife. If I carry a knife it is duty or job specific. This brings me to my point. I think law enforcement and EMT’s are missing a valuable tool for self-defense, especially an EMT or Paramedic. I have been on some scenes with paramedics where things got hectic. Many times they are the first on scene before LOE’s show up. When it comes to the utilitarian side of the Karambit you can use it for many cutting task. Like cloths or seatbelts. I think the turn off for this knife is to get a quality one you have to pay a steep price. Thoughts?
 
A lot of people hate recurve blades because they are a little more difficult to sharpen. Also, as with any other self defense tool, using a karambit to defend yourself requires a lot of training. Most people don't have this training, so the benefits of the design are lost to them. All that being said, if more quality karambits were available in the $75-$125 price range I think they would get a lot more love.
 
Training is necessary but it can be used as a "grip it and rip" tool as well. Grab it and start punching. I also agree they could be cheaper. The Emerson combat is one of the best but you are going to pay for the name. I bit the bullet and paid for one years ago and just fell in love with the design.
 
When I was an EMT, we were told repeatedly to stay back no matter what until local LE had control of the scene. As laws and policies in many states have changed over the years, so have the choices available to carry. The majority of my friends and people i associate with are both LEO and first responders. The medics, paramedics, and standard eMTs here in Southern aZ don't use their awesome knives on the job. It's a legal liability they cannot afford and is forbidden by their respective departments or private companies. Trauma shears, Halligan bars, and maybe a Leatherman tool is what is available.

Imagine a scenario where you have stabilized a mentally/physically combative patient, and you attempt to cut into clothing in order to expose the wound for treatment, you accidentally cut them with the blade of a pocket knife. That is not only a problem for the patient, but the EMT, the company or department, and everyone else up the chain from there. The simple sight of the knife may evoke a strong reaction causing further destabilization, etc. Running the patient to a hospital while treatment is being administered is another challenge with a combative patient. The risk of self injury is also available.

I don't disagree with what your saying completely, but it can be problematic and risky.
 
KRAV, I love it too but I can't drop $350.00 on one.
Rev: I agree I tend to look at things from a tactical standpoint. Most of the time the EMTs go in and things got bad after. If it was a hot scene yes they would wait for us.
 
Georgia Guy said:
Training is necessary but it can be used as a "grip it and rip" tool as well. Grab it and start punching. I also agree they could be cheaper. The Emerson combat is one of the best but you are going to pay for the name. I bit the bullet and paid for one years ago and just fell in love with the design.
Click to expand...

I agree, the Emerson is probably the measuring stick against which all other karambits are compared. I would personally never use a knife for self defense, but the Emerson just screams awesomeness.
 
I just made this video of two karambits...

[video=youtube_share;XFxFNMHCk8g]http://youtu.be/XFxFNMHCk8g[/video]
 
An EMT or Paramedic should concentrate on the unass the area and seek cover technique if 'things go bad' and forget about deploying their super dooper Kali skills.

That being said, I do have an affection for one (or two). Made a couple trainers that mimic the profile of my knives and train when I can. I enjoy it because it challenges me but I personally believe it's a specialty knife .. not an utilitarian one. I can't carry multiple knives that require different holds, grips, and deployment techniques. Under stress, the mind's ability to process fine motor skills is greatly diminished and trying to shuffle thru 'which knife did I grab' eats up valuable time that could be the determining factor of winning or losing.

One of personal K's .. actually, it's my favorite.

karambit.jpg
 
bpeezer said:
All that being said, if more quality karambits were available in the $75-$125 price range I think they would get a lot more love.
Click to expand...

This is so true. Right now, when it comes to folding karambits, your options are $250+ Emersons, ~$200 for the new Spydie, $150+ for Fox or...junky $10 Tac Force stuff. The only sub-$100 option that isn't junk is the 5.11 CUB Master, which is right around $99. If you can carry a big fixed karambit you could go with Cold Steel's Steel Tiger for around $85, but that's got a 5.5 inch blade and an overall length of like 9'' so not exactly something you can carry tucked away discreetly either. Other fixed blade karambit options again come down to $150 plus Emerson, Fox, or Ontario...there's just not many good karambits for people on somewhat of a budget.
 
Cold Steel makes a couple of decently priced karambit style blades. Neither are folders, but the Steel Tiger ($80 to $90-ish) and Double Agent ($30-ish) are both hooked pointy blades with finger rings.

They might not be made with the best materials like some of the high end karambits, but they're not BudK crap either.
 
Grease said:
Cold Steel makes a couple of decently priced karambit style blades. Neither are folders, but the Steel Tiger ($80 to $90-ish) and Double Agent ($30-ish) are both hooked pointy blades with finger rings.

They might not be made with the best materials like some of the high end karambits, but they're not BudK crap either.
Click to expand...

The Steel Tiger is a karambit...as I mentioned above, it's big though, even if you wanna carry a fixed blade karambit it's 5.5 inch blade and 9.5 inch overall length is a bit bulky for some people. Definitely a good blade though, if you're okay with a karambit that size. The Double Agent OTOH...the second finger ring makes it MUCH less comfortable in hand that a true karambit IMO.
 
DShiflet said:
The Steel Tiger is a karambit...as I mentioned above, it's big though, even if you wanna carry a fixed blade karambit it's 5.5 inch blade and 9.5 inch overall length is a bit bulky for some people. Definitely a good blade though, if you're okay with a karambit that size. The Double Agent OTOH...the second finger ring makes it MUCH less comfortable in hand that a true karambit IMO.
Click to expand...

I've actually considered buying the Double Agent and cutting the forward ring off.
 
One of my students is a Fireman/Paramedic and although we do a fair amount of Karambit work, his work knife is a regular folder with partial serrations and a glass breaker. These guys typically need to cut seat belts and break glass more than stab guys. The Karambit is not as versatile or functional, its really only got one purpose. Another student is an attorney and he like to call them murder knives as he believes the jury would literally freak out seeing it! So clearly the blade style has some things not in its favor.

That said, the karambit can be very easy to use unl;ess you want to do flicky flicky Escrima Ninja stuff. I suggest getting a wooden trainer (they hurt less than aluminum) to work scenarios and various drills and then a folding trainer (if you intend carrying a folder) and practice doing what you normally do and see how it works for you. I like to use the Karambit on the ground, its very interesting once you start working with it. I had the Strider HS, it was very pretty but you will find up close the angle of the Tarani blades like on the Cub bite much better.

Something else to keep in mind. Nothing wrong with liking Karambits, working Karambits but not carrying Karambits for defensive/edc use. Its like my 1911. I love it, but its not really my go to item of choice.
 
To each his own and this is strictly my opinion but I feel Karambits are for Special Black Op Ninja counter terrorist wife beaters with a beer belly and camo pants.....but again, to each his own.
 
NetshadeX said:
To each his own and this is strictly my opinion but I feel Karambits are for Special Black Op Ninja counter terrorist wife beaters with a beer belly and camo pants.....but again, to each his own.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have it pegged...
 
NetshadeX said:
To each his own and this is strictly my opinion but I feel Karambits are for Special Black Op Ninja counter terrorist wife beaters with a beer belly and camo pants.....but again, to each his own.
Click to expand...

You know they were actually designed and used for utility and agricultural work in their place of origin, right?
 
I keep trying to like karambits. I have a cheap M-Tech that I keep in my garage for breaking down cardboard boxes for recycling. Bought and sold a Boker K-bit and an Emerson LaGriffe. That mini-scythe shaped blade is actually functional for ripping tasks -- a throwback to its agricultural past. But I keep forgetting that my small hands just aren't suited to knives designed with fingerholes (including small "Silent Soldier" types). The grips just never suit me comfortably. I received the 5.11 CUB in the mail just yesterday, and as nice as the knife looks and as solid as it feels, it just doesn't fit my hand well. Probably going to end up on the for-sale forum sooner rather than later.

Then I'll probably look for another in 6 months or so.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top