My Leone Karambit has arrived!

[Retlawman590]

Hey, I was really excited to get my first Karambit. This will be backup to my firearm when I go into the NYC. Initial impressions, it is light well made, good action, centered perfectly and a strong tip that will penetrate easily. This is not a paper cutter. Lionsteel designed the edge to be a touch thicker to withstand tearing through flesh not paper and boxes.

I'll be the first to admit that this is a one trick poney, self defense fighting knife. I have medium sized hands and the ring could be slightly smaller. When deploying the knife from your weak side pocket you must only pull up with your index finger in the hol and twist it away from you at the same time. Your arm is basically alligned by your side 9 o'clock when knife deploys. I noticed it works best in jeans with slightly tighter pockets than cargo shorts. This is a knive you need to practice with before carrying it. It's a very well designed system. Thanks

 

[Wolverine666]

Good looking knife. And the name “Leone” is awesome

 

[Hashishiin]

Used to carry a waved Matriarch 2 with the backspacer replaced with a ring, every day. I practiced drawing it in that same fashion you described, once you have it down it is a very reliable draw and hold. Interestingly enough, I found that the absolute best material to wave out of are snug sweatpants, the worst material is netted basketball-shorts type material for breathability. Jeans are fine. I have coyotes, so that's why I even found myself in the position of figuring out how to draw an Espada XL from sweatpants for a nighttime walk, haha.

I have made some different decisions in terms of what I need to carry on me every day, and while it is no longer a mainstay of my EDC, it's still a very cool knife that I admire greatly. I think the reverse-S shape is just slightly "cooler" than the traditional Karambit, and when you scale it down, it is very useful. Heck, models like the Dodo blur the line between one of the best, most locked-in ergo, fiber-separating work-knives ever, and potent SD sleeper knife.

 

[mouseshadow]

I am torn between one of these LE Ones (not a lot of karambit play in spaghetti westerns, although it is fun to picture the kitchen duel at the end of The Raid 2 with lots of close up inserts of squinted eyes, compulsive smoking, and a five-minute break where they eat soup with wooden spoons) and a micarta-handled Fox 499. I am curious how grippy the aluminum handle is and the durability of the frame lock. There was some stink around the Fox knives a while back about lock release from spine pressure, which makes me a little nervous given that I need my fingers to write posts on Bladeforums. Do you train with any extended grip techniques?

 

[Retlawman590]

I am torn between one of these LE Ones (not a lot of karambit play in spaghetti westerns, although it is fun to picture the kitchen duel at the end of The Raid 2 with lots of close up inserts of squinted eyes, compulsive smoking, and a five-minute break where they eat soup with wooden spoons) and a micarta-handled Fox 499. I am curious how grippy the aluminum handle is and the durability of the frame lock. There was some stink around the Fox knives a while back about lock release from spine pressure, which makes me a little nervous given that I need my fingers to write posts on Bladeforums. Do you train with any extended grip techniques?

This is my first Karambit. The aluminum is grippy enough, but it is NOT G10 grippy. I will only train with with my index finger inside the ring, the way it's intended. That is the way I have been practicing since I received it. I do need to buy a rubber Karambit to be safer when practicing and maybe put up sometype of dummy. Drawing it from the pocket is perfectly safe with the real thing. Although, it's probably going to take over 100x and the right pockets (non baggy) to become fairly proficient. I wouldn't start out using your favorite pants. The pocket will have some where if its done over 100x in one session. I automatically have an extended grip with my finger in the ring. I have medium sized hands. Unless you have XXL hands it will be for most. Absolutely no issues with the frame lock. There is no lock on the spine (compression or back lock) on this knife. I am very pleased with my choice.