Karambits.....mayhem, box opening, and....what?

L

Lavan

Joined
Nov 8, 2000
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I don't own one. They intrigue me just from looks. Can't figure WHAT they would excel at.

LOOKS are menacing. But it doesn't look like it could be used for any knife chore other than a close ripping cut or opening boxes.

Am I missing something?

They look to be a bear to sharpen also.
 
Originally posted by Lavan
I don't own one. They intrigue me just from looks. Can't figure WHAT they would excel at.

LOOKS are menacing. But it doesn't look like it could be used for any knife chore other than a close ripping cut or opening boxes.

Am I missing something?

They look to be a bear to sharpen also.
Click to expand...

Not much Utitly in blade like that, mainly hacking thru things. If it's not big enough, it's only good for SD, you need length to go thru shrubs, boxes, etc.
 
actually jman karambits were origionally used for utility, and they have been proved to be great at it for many years...

i believe almost any knife can do any cutting chore, it depends on the person who is using it.
 
Hawkbills are surprisingly versatile. Many a man has looked at them and thought, sheesh, that's so specialized it's practically useless -- and then bought one and found he can do almost anything with it. There are some things you need a belly for, like skinning, and if you only carry one knife it has to have some belly (IMHO), but if you carry two knives and one of them is a korambit you'll find yourself using that one more. The things you cut with it for could be cut with the other knife, but the korambit cuts them more easily.

Sharpening isn't really any harder if you have the tools. If you're too cheap to buy diamond you can wrap sandpaper around a dowel rod.

I'm assuming you're asking about the korambit-inspired hawkbill knives that are proliferating recently. If you're asking about real korambits the answer is different. A real korambit is double-edged so you have a nice long curved belly to work with but whichever edge you use you can't push the spine with your thumb. I'm constantly doing that when I use a small knife, so I would find a real korambit awkward for anything but self-defense. YMMV -- I've noticed some people seem to be able to live without putting their thumbs on the spine.
 
Actually, the spine is not sharpened fully to the back of the blade on any I've seen produced. Plenty of room on the spine for the thumb on the Tarani models, both folders and straight.

You can use the same saber grip hold and have a place to rest the thumb if so desired.

Brownie
 
brownie0486

I read your reviews of the Tarani models. Do you have any comments on the Emerson modles? Thanks for any info.
 
Though I have not handled the Emerson Karambit, I believe it will be very fast on deployment due to the wave feature [ as in all the waved opening knives ].

My only concern with that model will be the linerlock possibly failing at the worst time.

Techniques used with this type of design require the spine of the blade to be used which will stress the linerlock depending on how much force you apply.

I've sold and carried Ernies waved models ocassionally, as well, have sold many to other customers over the years. In the last year I have had several waved/linerlock models returned due to lockup not being reliable and disengaging
during the spinewhack tests and a few that could be manually disengaged by hand pressure in trying to get the liner to release.

It appears that linerlock Emersons may have had a bad run of some models, and thats no reflection on Ernies products, as others products, even some high end customs have failed the spinewhack test in the past.

I'm not much enamored with linerlocks at the moment in general and personally carry lockback designed tactical folders. The few exceptions that I carry[ and only on ocassion do I carry them ] are the Spyderco Millie, the MODS and the MT Socom.

When carrying those models I'm always painfully aware that they may fail at any time as well. I don't have the confidence I once had in the linerlocks.

I can't see spending that much money for something I do not fully trust.

OMMV of course.

Brownie
 
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