Thoughts on the Karambit

[Georgia Guy]

I have often traded post about the Karambit. I like it as a last resort grip it and rip it kinda knife. I just bought an Emerson Karambit for a friend of mine and I liked it. It has a great WTF factor as well. But now I am thinking about getting on for myself I would like to hear from some of the more experienced knife guys and what your thoughts are about them.

 

[buckg]

If used in the retracted position, the Karambit is deadly. It's very hard to disarm someone who's holding one in the retracted position and you can use your full force in an attack, much like a push dagger. The biggest downside is the short reach. However, in the extended position, they're not so hot because most people don't have sufficient strength in their thumb and middle finger to deliver an effective attack. If you're talking about the folding variety, you're running a risk of breaking the lock everytime you use the back of the blade. All the fancy stuff that the Kerambit can be used for require way more practice than most people will ever do. For me, I prefer the reach and accuracy of more conventional blade designs that put the blade point in line with my arm.

 

[Georgia Guy]

Thanks, the Emerson fixed blade is a lot less recurved than others, which is what drew me to it. I have a fixed blade that I wear in an inside the waist band rig. Truth is I just have extra money that I am dying to spend.