Kerambits..... What's the big deal?

Blade shapes like the Kerambits and the Merlin are known to draw the materials that it's cutting deeper and deeper. As a demonstration to my friend. We took a magazine (not really that thick), but I put the tip on the middle of the page, and pulled it sharply down, with the spine up in the palm of my hand. After an inch or so of travel, the whole magazine was cut the rest of the way when the blade is drawn down.
They're also good for sneaking the tip into tiny spaces (like a plastic wire zips around something and then cutting them. They're mainly intended to cut more than penetrate, because you would need to do a complex motion to stab when compared to something like a clip point or a dagger blade.
 
Now how about a clarification on the SPELLING of "kerambit." I've been seeing it that way and also "karambit." Which is correct, i.e. when the name was first *coined*, what was the spelling. And when *was* it first made?

I remember long before I saw a kerambit *knife*, I had seen a plastic keychain "kerambit" that was designed to look inauspicious but then could be used in the "reverse" grip to punch. Sort of like a "Stinger", but the pokey part came out behind your pinkie finger instead of between the fingers of the fist.

What's the *REAL* Kerambit origin? Anybody?

---Jeffrey
 
RL, thanks for the pic! Message received loud and clear :)

PeacefulJeffery: That plastic karambit thing is called an Impact Karambit. I believe that is a Kelly Worden inention. The idea is to use it as an impact device, which you can also use to pinch with. At www.karambit.com you can get an aluminum training karambit which is also a impact/control device karambit. You can use them to hit pressure points, to help lock joints, to control the nect, etc. I believe that Steve Tarani's aluminum trainer karambit is the first trainer which is also designed to be used as a self defense tool if need be! Kinda neat.


PhoulPlae,

I believe that a "standard" draw with a karambit like the Strider/Tarani karambit is a reverse grip draw, so you stay away from those barbs! If carried IWB, you slip your pointer finger through the loop and pull up.

Calyth: Yo bud! How ya doing? I originally thought the same as far as thrusting vs. slashing went, but apparently one fo the more devastating tehniques with a karambit is to hold it in the edge down reverse grip, stab, twist your wrist 90 degrees and tear out. Though these blades may look liek poor stabbers, or awkward stabbers anyways, well designed ones cut and stab just fine, from what I have gathered. I recently got an Emerson P-SARK and I find it quite easy to stab into heavy cardboard and such. By the way, I agree with you about the power in a hawkbill type point! My P-SARK's tim is noticeably powerful. The blade is also canted to the handle, so the two combined really make a difference when cutting.


****Edited to remove a comma!
 
The two listed spellings of karambit are both accepted worldwide. Steve Tarani uses the karambit spelling for his product.

I have the training aluminum karambit from Tarani as well as the Masters and journeyman folding models. I recently reviewed the masters model and that report can be viewed at www.folders-r-us.org under "knife tests" for those who would like more information on the weapon.

I am presently ramping up with the trainer and videos from Steve.

I have a custom karambit [ straight blade ] being made for me by DMKnives. It will be s30v and grey g-10 scales. Outer edge unsharpened but ground so that it may be used to "pound" on forearms, wrists, tendons etc effectively which of course turns immediatey into an offense cut on followups.

Standard draw is reverse grip. I have been able to get the trainer and Masters folder model from reverse to sabre quite easily so either are options with this knife.

Further info can be gleened from the review listed above. I like the folders from Tarani, as well as the overall design of the weapon and feel it serves one well once the techniques are acquired and become muscle memory.

Brownie
 
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