Lets talk karambits ONLY kerambits

A

aj1985

Joined
Nov 3, 2005
Messages
1,029
I have been so intrigued with one of these for a few years now and have never owned one. I could only justify using a trainer for drills and such, but otherwise i can not see any reason why I need one. Actually i can't really justify many of my knives except knowing that i just like having them:D, when really you only need one or two.

Who here uses a karambit, which one (fixed or Folding), how do you carry it, what companies truly make a wicked karambit. Who here is a collector of them & who is a user.

I understand there are some wicked and i mean wicked karambits made by Derespina. I love their model 4 and their production model 10.

Derespina
Strider
Emerson
Randy Doucette
Fox river
Spyderco
Steve Tarani
Busee (War Boar)
CNC Bladewerkz- James Coogler makes a few models.
Toxic by Blair- Eric Blair has made a few.
Fox Cutlery (Italy)- 2 models, 1 with a wave.
Strider- fixed blade only
Draven Industries- upcoming bali-rambit
Cutter Knife and Tool- Bengal model, do not know if they are in business anymore.
Dawson
Warren thomas Bali karambit is crazy
Pandayan
RJ Martin
koster
If i'm missing anyone let me know, and i'll add them to the list. Please people lets some pics of your karambits. Also push me over the edge so I can get a derespina as well.


take care

aj
 
They are a cool design, and I think there is even a few martail arts based around using one...Not sure what its called though...Anway they are just fun, I have a trainer but would like a live blade...The Emerson folding design appeals to me the most, but I would also like to play with the spyderco model...
 
Emerson karambits have the best ergonomics for a karambit I have handled. I've compared a few and really none feel like they belong in my hands compared to emerson's karambit. My few cents worth...Emerson knives are well known for their ergonomics. Plus you get the wave feature which is the remote pocket opener. Very very very handy...
 
i have a couple: the spyderco, one from mantis knives, cold steel, and i just got the 5.11 tarani karambit journeyman. this is my favorite k/bit so far; it just feels right in the hand. i might upgrade to the master's model soon. i had an emerson, i just didn't care for it. :( get the 5.11 k/bit, you won't be sorry.
 
I have a Dawson, a Spyderco and a Derespina. All are great. The Derespina M10 is my favorite, awsome ergos, handles great.

Some you forgot-

CNC Bladewerkz- James Coogler makes a few models.
Toxic by Blair- Eric Blair has made a few.
Fox Cutlery (Italy)- 2 models, 1 with a wave.
Strider- fixed blade only
Draven Industries- upcoming bali-rambit
Cutter Knife and Tool- Bengal model, do not know if they are in business anymore.

BK6
 
bigkahunasix said:
CNC Bladewerkz- James Coogler makes a few models.
Toxic by Blair- Eric Blair has made a few.
Fox Cutlery (Italy)- 2 models, 1 with a wave.
Strider- fixed blade only
Draven Industries- upcoming bali-rambit
Cutter Knife and Tool- Bengal model, do not know if they are in business anymore.

BK6
Click to expand...

I believe Warren Thomas is also making some as well.
 
I have these kerambits,

folders:

Emerson
Cutters Knife & Tool Bengal,
both nice blades (hard to find the Bengals now as i think as stated CK&T are no longer producing them ?)

Fixed:

strider HS
Derespina model 10
Modified Bill Hiben claw (removed the protrusions on the ring and put an edge on it :rolleyes:)
I have 2 kerambits made by myself, they are obviously the best for me as they were designed by me for me so fit my all requirements exactly.

Id say the best one i have bought is the Derespina model 10, its the best blade for the money and a really nice design. the Strider is a nice blade aswell but too expensive.
I have bought others like the CS tiger claw, fox folders etc. but got rid of them because they were not what i was looking for. i think if you really like kerambits get a custom made fixed blade. it will be the best way to get something to fit you perfectly. Kerambits are clearly quite specalised in there uses so small niggles in handle design, blade angle or size become annoying quickly.

Kerambits are by far my favorite knives, there seems to be a lack of good folders on the market (id say the EKI is the best folder but its a shame they dont do an HD version :confused:) but a fixed blade is the way to go if you can have it legaly. their easy to carry because of their small size and also have a good options for carry positions, i like mine infront of my right hip because its super quick to deploy and gets right into play. Its also easy to hide in the hand when deployed and the ring works as a sort of brass knuckle for the the index finger.
Some people dont like reverse grip, you dont need to use reverse grip but the true power of the karambit is in reverse grip use. i personaly prefer reverse grip even for "regular blades" so a kerambit is a winner all round for me. i love em :D:thumbup:
 
Thanks for all the information. Seems like the first fixed one i have to buy is the model 10 & trainer hopefully i don't get hooked on these. I can not really fathom carrying this everyday, because they would scream self defence and are probably the best within this field.

keep them coming plus post pics and links

thank you

aj
 
I favor the Emerson Karambit but know that many people with larger hands say this Karambit is too small for their hands which is not so with my hands.

Why do I like karambits?
They lend themselves to defensive tactics yet at the same time might be limiting too compared to conventional folders a) when slashing I have noticed them hanging up (while doing meat cuting experiments with clothing) b) traps and hooks are a bit different with karambits. With that said I am still attracted to them.


Pre-production Emerson Combat Karambits (middle and bottom)
EKI_ThreeKbits.jpg


Standard Combat Karambits pictured with a drone
Karambits_EmersonCombat_2.jpg
 
Koster knives makes a kerambit called the "Dankura" that is a sweet peice of work..I carry one almost everyday

Derespina K-bits are also way up there in quality and the price is VERY resonable
 
I'm so tempted to buy an Emerson super Karambit but the inconsistent reviews of their knives always scares me away from them. I'll probably settle for the 5.11 Karambit journeyman.
 
I like folding karambits, but as I don't have any use for them I can't justify spending money on them like a regular knife. I have the smith and wesson extreme ops liner lock, and would like the SW framelock one just because they're cheap enough for me to justfy. I really like the looks of the 5.11 one, but I can't bring myself to spend $90 on a knife I won't use, I always end up buying a more useful folder.

By the way, the karambit martial art is called Kali. It's a Phillipino art that focuses on the use of kali sticks, karambits, and other fixed blade knives. One of the signatures of the art is the use of mulitple knives at once, often stabbing an extremity and using the knife as a spike to attach a person to a wall, table, etc... Use of the mulitple knives at once allows the practitioner to leave a knife in that position and pull up another to replace it to kill with or to fight with multiple knives. Fascinating art, wanted to do that but picked up brazillian jiu-jitsu. It was closer, more useful, cheaper (class and equipment heavy).
 
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