Spyderco Karambit w/ "ghetto" wave

ginshun · Jul 15, 2005

My Spyderco Karambit arrived yesterday and I promply installed the zip tie through the spyderhole to "wave" it. I don't know who first thought fo this, but they are a genius. I would have never thought of doing it were it not for reading about it here on bladeforums, and I would be enyoying the karambit much less without it.

As far as the knife itself goes, it is pretty nice. A bit on the heavy side, and without being waved a pain to open from reverse grip. Other than those things though it is excellent. Very tight lockup with no blade play, super sharp, and very mean looking to boot. It is larger than most of the knives I normally carry, but is surprisingly comfortable when clipped on the pocket, probably because it is pretty thin, and it does ride pretty high in the pocket.

I am having a great time just drawing it out of my pocket and having it snap open into reverse grip on its own. It makes me want to go by an Emerson.

A few pics just for fun:

bama_lou · Jul 15, 2005

So that's what it looks like when carried in a pocket! I've always wondered how the Karambit rode...

Thanks for the pics!

woodybushman · Jul 15, 2005

OOOOOHHHHHH that is a nice knife!!!!! definitely on my list of "to buy" knives...

sorry for my ingnorance here, what is the zip tie for again? :footinmou :footinmou

bama_lou · Jul 15, 2005

The zip tie is used for 'Waving' your knife. To understand it better, see the videos here..

woodybushman · Jul 15, 2005

aaaahhh ok, i gotcha thanks!! :footinmou

BenchmadeNut · Jul 15, 2005

Isnt that what a thumbstud is for? Maybe you should be looking at other brands.......

Zerileous · Jul 15, 2005

err, i would be careful with that ziptie, just last week on the spyderco.com forum someone posed that they had nearly put a huge gash in their leg and totally cut up a pair of jeans because of the fact that the blade deployed before exiting the pocket, and becuase it opens in the other direction. Just watch yourself and make sure you have it down and safe before you start playing with it. Make sure you can draw in all positions, esp sitting.

Krizzard · Jul 16, 2005

Since you fellas are on the topic of the Spyderco Karambit. Figured all you fine Spydie Karambit folks out there would be dying to see what a black coated version would be like. BTW the url's are from a Japanese site, pity I don't read Japanese. Sure hope to see this released as a regular production piece someday soon though.

http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~creek1/media/knives/spyderco/n/spy_c84_karambit_black_01.jpg
http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~creek1/media/knives/spyderco/n/spy_c84_karambit_black_04.jpg
http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~creek1/media/knives/spyderco/n/spy_c84_karambit_black_05.jpg

Krizzard, out

"...Whoever kills with the sword must be killed by the sword... "
- The New Testament, Revelation 13:10

underaged! · Jul 16, 2005

ginshun, lefty cross-draw?

ginshun · Jul 18, 2005

underaged! said:
ginshun, lefty cross-draw?

Nope,

The knife is in my right pocket, ready to be drawn so that the wave opens the knife immediately into reverse grip.

And its not hard to see how it could open and cut your pocket and/or leg. I did think of this and it seems to work fine because of how high it rides in the pocket. By the time the tie catches on the pocket, the tip of the knife is already out of the pocket. I would be very carful if it was in the bottom of my pocket though, as opposed to clipped on with the pocket clip.

underaged! · Jul 19, 2005

I was thinking that it would be more prone to premature opening when carried/drawn like that. Thoughts?

ginshun · Jul 19, 2005

underaged! said:
I was thinking that it would be more prone to premature opening when carried/drawn like that. Thoughts?

I think it is reletively safe. The detent on the blade is pretty tight. You cannot flip the blade out with any amount of wrist flicking or anything. As it is clipped in your pocket, the tip of the blade is pretty close to the top of the pocket, and basically, by the time the zip tie catches on you pocket, the tip of the blade is already outside the pocket, so there really is no chance (very slim at least) of drawing the knife and having it open in your pocket.

I am more worried about cutting myself after I get it opened up and am flipping it around messing with it than I am about it opening in my pocket.

ayz · Jul 19, 2005

i have one and open it without a wave

when drawing it in reverse grip, use your ring or pinky finger to slide the blade out just a little bit (like 1/2 - 1 cm). then whip it around in front very quickly, slinging the blade open, and then whip it right back.

Rick in KY · Jul 19, 2005

What sized zip tie works best?

I used a couple 4" 18lb on my Delica, but it didn't seem to snag on the pocket very well. ginshun, it looks like the tie you are using is considerably bigger.

Stormdrane · Jul 19, 2005

You can use a file to take off the sharp points on the zip tie without taking away from it's function. The sharp corners can easily tear up your britches if you haven't softened 'em a bit.

bama_lou · Jul 19, 2005

The quick and easy way to remove the sharp edges on the nub of the zip tie:
Hold a lighter to the end. This way, the tip will melt and round off by itself. I tried filing the tip on my Civilian and found out it was way too clumsy.

snoopywinsall · Aug 13, 2006

For Ginshun:
Can you tell me what kind of camera that you use to take these sharp pictures. my camera can not do these. please advice. thanks.