Kerambit fans, please explain this to me.

To allow for "normal" slashing cuts when the Karambit is in extended-grip?

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
Kerambits are, by their very nature, accidents waiting to happen. Even a practised user like myself can be nicked by the blade if not careful. But with regards to your question, the primary grip would be to hold the kerambit with your index finger in the ring in the reverse grip. Which extends the distance from that edge to your hand.
At least that's what I think the designer had in mind, and Michael Janich is well known for his knife reviews.
 
A common kerambit fighting technique, with the blade held in the retracted position (Ice Pick Grip, of sorts), is to thrust the blade forward and twist and retract. These are ripping/tearing thrusts. With that sharpened bit in the retracted position, it looks like you could do some nasty ripping/gouging. Imagine a guy thrusting towards you, you block his right arm with your left and pull him in, trapping the arm. Now you'd have that pointy and sharp bit to rake the bad guy's neck/back/face/whatever.
 
Oh, I get it, it's used for self defense....

All you have to do is take it out of it's case figure out where the sharp edges are, find the hole for your finger, put your finger thru the hole, grip the rest of the handle and remember not to cut yourself, take a defenseive stance....

Too late, YOUR DEAD!

At only $400.00, you can buy one for each hand. What a great deal!

Collecter
 
Originally posted by collecter
At only $400.00, you can buy one for each hand. What a great deal!
Click to expand...

Your life isnt worth $400? Jeez dude, I'm sorry - that kind of low self esteem really sucks, I wish you the best in getting help and finding new value in yourself.

Some of us would pay $400 for a tool we thought could save our lives. Some of us would pay a lot more (who here owns a Kimber, or even a Wilson?).


Personally I dont like this design, its not pleasing to the eye and it doesnt look like it would move all that well, etc. I much prefer the Tarani designs, or those being turned out by other folks, like Craig Camerer, to this Janich/Dempsey megrambit - it looks a little too Frost for my tastes.
BUT - if one could use it better than any other knife int he world, I'd say it'd be worth $400 to that person.
Different strokes
 
I don't know who said it ... maybe Jimmy Hoffa. But, you run from a knife and charge a gun. I have had both knives and guns pulled on me, among other things.

Personally, I kind of chuckled at the knife guys. Any rock or 2 foot long stick worked against them, and of course walking away did too. Had a kid pull some nunchucks on me one time. I said nothing as I walked to my car (less than 10 feet away) and got my softball bat, all the while he was calling me a chicken sh*t. When I came back with my bat, I told him I hoped he really knew how to use his nunchucks because I had 20 years of swinging this under my belt. He gave up and walked off mumbling to himself.
I find this whole kerambit thing mildy amusing and somewhat confusing. Personally, it would not even be on my long list (let alone my short list) of options to defend myself. With enough training you could do serious damage with a bic pen if you had to. Most anything could be used to defend yourself.

Just my very humble opinion. I am not trying to start anything here. Just don't see the fasination with the kerambit. But, that's the cool thing ..... everybody can choose their own poison so to speak.

Mike
 
Everyone makes a choice on what tools they use for self defense. It all comes down to you to make sure you can employ the tool(s) of your choice when needed.

I find it humerous that we see so many people that say they are experts or try to come off as an expert about self defense and these same people laugh at a weapon because they don't think it is an effective tool. Or, they don't understand how it would be employed. For the most part, the weapon only determines what type of technique you need to learn. It is up to the user to make it effective.

Personally, I wouldn't laugh at anything someone chose to use as a tool for self defense. That is underestimating that person and that is dangerous. Of course, that too, is a technique. It is also arrogant to assume that you know so much about self defense/fighting that you can judge something by just looking at it and then determine whether it is effective or not.
 
Well said Dirk! Bat, Karambit...Ladybug for that matter, I would not want to be on the business end of any of those. I am sure Emerson or Tarani could convince you of the pros of a Karambit as would Bram Frank with the Gunting. There is a lot of hype right now about the Karambit. They have been around along time, just not up front in our faces being produced by the thousands. Take Care!!!
 
tonyccw:

The knife is not an accident waiting to happen. It has nothing to do with the knife in my opinion but everything to do with the person wielding it [ the same as any other form of edged weapon, or any weapon for that matter including a gun ].

User error, ya thats more likely. An inanimate object is an accident waiting to happen? It does not have a mind of it's own, the person weilding one in a way that is beyond their training would be prone to the accidents.

Women who cut themselves in the kitchen using a regular carving knife comes to mind. Is it the knife which is an accident waiting to happen? Ask the lady who is always nicking herself everytime she cares to carve the turkey, she'll say the carving knife is an accident waiting to happen.

If you just have to use the kerambit by spins, retractions and extensions, then yes, it is something you will be bitten by if you use it in high speed/low drag training or for defense.

I've been bitten good twice, once with the tip running clear through the outside of the wrist. Hurts like hell as you probably know based on your post.

I no longer use it thusly, as it is not necessary to do so to be effective if you know how to use a knife like this or have good reverse grip training and experience..

I'll draw it into reverse grip, index finger in the hole and leave it there. Or draw it into forward grip with the pinky in the hole and leave it there where it becomes one hell of a nighmare for the person who is on the receiving end to due the very nasty way the blade sinks the tip into a target even on a slash line.

Yam: Some unique experiences you provide in your post above with jerks and knives and nunchukas.

However, do not discount the man who knows how to use a knife who will not be deterred by a bat or rock and is determined enough to continue the attack against you.

One story of my own with a bat. In 1983 I was searching for a young man who had crashed a party and injured one of my friends daughters and her boyfriend. They were beat pretty good, she because she came to his defense when it was three on one. He was the person who held the party and had asked them to leave. They got violent. It was their MO to do these things and had before this event as well.

I had made inroads as to their local hangouts as they were known to the party goers. They [ the three party crashers ] had a rep with the local PD and were known trouble in town. They were 18-20 and I was 31 at the time.

When I caught up to them at one of their hangouts, I parked the car in the lot and watched their actions for a good hour making sure I had the corect bunch by having the girl who was assaulted come down and ID them with her dad [ my friend ].

Once ID'd, I approached on foot and stated I was looking for "Bum", that was his nickname on the streets. I was told to f%ck off by several in the group.

One thing led to another and a 19 year old pulled a bat from the truck they were standing beside. I had threatened to have his head on a stick which brought that response from the kid.

Long story short, told the kid to take his best shot and then I'd be sticking it up his a$$ but that I would make sure to call an ambulance for him afterwards.

The father had called the PD and an officer responded to the scene during this timeframe. I happened to know the sgt. and he waited on the other side of the lot watching all this unfold.

Kid took a big swing with the bat which missed entirely. Moved on him and took him out with a choke from behind, collapsing him to the pavement.

Cop moved up with the cruiser and arrested him for assault on me. The others scattered on foot when the cruiser pulled up.

Moral of the story: You can get away with quite a bit with bravado as you have, then again one day the man wit ha knife will take you up on the offer and you could well be in a world of hurt.

BTW--I had a 357 snub on me at the time, had the correct permits for it and never thought to reach for it.

Be careful out there. Do not discount others actions based on your previous results.

The kerambit in my hands will do much damage, as will about any knife. The way I'll use the kerambit is different than the way I'll use a conventional knife.

Dirk: Could not have said it better myself.

CKE2: You are correct, you do not want to be on the recieving end of the kerambit in the hands of one who knows what he's doing even if he doesn't use the extended/retracted aspects of the knife.

I've run up against a few bat wielders over the years on the streets. When they have been produced in anger towards me I get into this real nasty mode and things go from there. Took some broken ribs once on a defelction, didn't stop me from taking action against that person, we both went to the hospital. I got out long before he did.

When I leave this earth I want to go with a bullet in my chest, blood in my mouth and fire in my eyes.

I'm an old jarhead, what can I say.

Stay sharp out there.

Brownie
 
Listen,
I did not mean to step on anybody's religion here. I am simply stating that most anything can be used for the purposes of self defense. I am also not underestimating anyone's ability given enough determination. If someone is determined enough, they can harm you with a toothpick. And trust me when I say this ..... I am not, never have been, and never will be a self defense "expert". I'm still here so I guess I'm doing something right ... as are all of you (which is good to see). Every situation is different, we are all different and the way we handle situations are all different. The bottom line is ..... if you make it out in good shape, whatever method you used obviously worked. If it meant clobbering some guy with a rock, or fending them off with a kerambit, as long as it worked for you it was the right method.

Though I have, as we all do, relied upon my/our past experiences to deal with situations. Whether it's figuring out how to build a fence, or get out of a precarious situation.

To put it simply, I guess your brain is your best tool, not a knife, not a gun, not anything .... your brain. If you have options and your capable of using them, that's great. Like I also said, it's nice to have choices. A kerambit would simply not be anything I would consider. I'm not discounting it, it's just not for me. I find it amusing that so many people think it's next best thing to sliced bread. And I find it confusing that people get so worked up over discussing it's merits good or bad. Well, I guess I kind of find that amusing as well.

There are many things that have been around a long time. It certainly does not mean they are or are not worthy of merit. Ok, well maybe a FlowBee and Rosie O'Donell are exceptions as they have no merit whatsoever.

I do apologize if anyone took offense to anything I said.

Mike
 
Yam,
I took no offense to your post at all in questioning the kermabits effectiveness, thats not why I responded.

It certainly is not for everyone, anymore than any other weapon used for self defense.

Hell, I like my g-30 to protect my butt, and you'll find many who would not own one let alone use one in a defensive sceario.

Understanding that it is a personal preference thing with weapons, I would not attempt to convert someone to something I myself find would be useful.

I would not stick it in my pocket to watch over my butt without first learning what perameters need to be met to be halfway proficient with it defensively anymore than any other weapons platform. I find it transitions well from the defensive training I have, yet I do not intend to use it the way it was designed or with the techniques developed for it's use.

Thats just me and the way I operate with weapons platforms. There are many who carry knives who are members here who have no training in defensive knife at all, yet they carry a tactical folder with the intention of using it if the need arises one day to save their bacon.

These people would be well served to get some rudimentary defensive skills with a blade, any blade before carrying thusly.

Though most will not, the man who knows a few things with a knife should be able to figure out how to use it conventionally, as I have, on their own. Only when you express the desire to learn the paltform in it's intended use shoud one have a longer learning curve with the kerambit.

Stay sharp.

Brownie
 
I don't see this thing as a defensee knife as much as an attack knife.

It's too specialized for killing! And come on...$400.00.

Here's my take on spending $400.00 for self defense...
$200 - used .357 mag. revolver
$25 - Fubus holster for the revolver
$125 - Sere 2000
remaining $50 - good fitting pair of shoes

On the bright side, It's perfect for a movie knife!

Collecter
 
But the knife doesn't do anything, it's inanimate remember?

Being used offensively or defensively is dependant on user input with any knife.

Some being designed better than others and performing differently based on it's own set of parameters.

Some people live in states that do not allow them the option of the gun.

Brownie
 
$400 for this knife? seems high? The market will dictate if it is worth $400.

I would like to hear your explanation on how it is "specialized for killing".
 
If you live in a state that doesn't allow gun carry you would be saving yourself $225, that you can spend on other knives instead of that thing.

It's not at all practical which puts it in the "Art or Fantasy...keep dreaming Knife" catagory.

Keep on dreaming, I'm sure you'll eventually convince yourself that it's practical!

Collecter
 
Interesting. What do you base your statements on? What experience do you have using a kerambit?

Please, add that with your explanation on how this knife is "specialized for killing".
 
I have absolutely no experience with it.

You reach a level where you can objectively evaluate a knife based on your experience. When you see something that has potential you take a closer look. I don't see any potential here.

It's a gatchet that's some's imagination come to life! Great, it's a nice piece of art!

This thread started out by Walking Man saying...'I am having a very difficult time understanding"...

Perhaps you can enlighten us...

Collecter
 
Collecter,
I have still not seen any reason why this knife is particularly useful, however, some do, and I respect that.
I also do not feel that Keramits in general are more effective that other knives, but I do think they could be used effectively in self defense once your trained. However, I do not think it worth one's time to learn Kerambit training over generalized training.
Nevertheless, I try to understand and learn what I can. If Michael Janich puts that much time into a knife then there's a good chance it's probably effective as a self defense tool.
:confused: What I am really confused about is the sharp point nearest your hand. It looks really dangerous.
Think about this: IF United released this model as a Gil Hibben Kerambit, and claimed it was the ultimate self-defense tool, AND still used the same materials and the same price, would any of you take it seriously. I wouldn't. IMO it suffers the same problem as the Hibben Fantasy knives, there is as much danger to the user as there is to the attacker.
 
you wouldnt spend $400 on the knife but you would spend $25 on a Fobus ??:barf: With a fobus you better carry a good knife as when you really need your gun it won't be there.... it will probably be laying somewheres behind you .
 
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