Two knives! Gotta choose!

Off topic
bflying said:
Isn't it Springfield that embosses "Grip Zone" in huge font all over the grips of their pistols? That one thing keeps me from buying one. It just looks a bit too "short bus" for me to wrap my head around.
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Apparently, you're part of the target audience...most of us wrap our HAND around the grip.

As far as the knives, I once owned a Fox karambit (not that model). It was a decent knife; though it certainly didn't fit an EDC role in my world. I would likely choose a different model... one without the overdone etching.
By the same token, I have a strong dislike of most cold steel products; so I couldn't seriously consider the recon1.

Since you have "narrowed it down" to those two options, I won't make a recommendation of another - ultimately, you're the one that has to be satisfied with your choice...it would be rare for one not to have at least a slight preference by the time things have been narrowed down to two. You want a karambit, go for it.
 
Of those two I'd go with the Recon. Karambits are good at being cool and maybe at self defense in the right hands... they're not great at being knives though.

It sounds like what you really want is a Talwar though. Essentially the same as the Recon, but with better steel (IMHO), a thumb-disc wave and more interesting presentation.
Comeuppance said:
I have a unique and pressing question: Which knife to get? After spending a while checking out knives, I came to the obvious conclusion that I clearly need a tactical folder for my cushy safe first-world life with no threats whatsoever.


I’ve narrowed it down to two knives - and they are, of course, entirely different in almost every way, except that they’re both about $100.


THE CHOICES:


Cold Steel Recon 1 (S35vn)

Cold-Steel-Recon-1-clip-point-black-G10-black-BHQ-80754-er-large.jpg


Pros:
  • Now with a sharpening choil!
  • DLC and S35VN! Tri-Ad lock!
  • Clip point!
  • Seriously, I like clip points!
  • As close as I can get to a 4” Espada.

Cons:
  • Thumb studs and a lockback. BORING.
  • Have to modify the G10 just to carry it.
  • Kinda boring overall. Black, black, more black.

Fox 479 Karambit (N690co)

Fox-Knives-Karambit-Folder-LL-Silver-Twill-G-10-Black-BHQ-78479-jr-large.jpg


Fox-Knives-Karambit-Folder-LL-Silver-Twill-G-10-Black-BHQ-78479-jr-left-large.jpg



Pros:
  • Emerson wave!
  • Silver twill! Fancy!
  • WA-CHA! WHOOSH! HI-YA!
  • Hawkbills are pretty useful! I’m telling myself that. Don’t crush my dreams.
  • Probably really fun to use.

Cons:
  • “KARAMBIT”. Yeah, I know it’s a karambit. Don’t have to write it all over the blade.
  • Sharpening a recurve. Gross.
  • Hawkbills are uniquely bad for some cutting tasks - Like anything that involves shaving/carving.
  • Sticks out of the pocket a notable amount.
  • “WA-CHA! WOOSH! HI-YA!”

I’d like to hear your thoughts. (Before you say it, yeah, I’ll probably ultimately get both.)
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Edges cut, doesn't matter the shape if they are sharp they split material being separated. To me, the Karambit excels at certain things, and may be a bit more limited in other areas, but that's any grind or blade shape.

That said I'd go with the Cold Steel, which I normally love to hate, but the model you are looking at is a fricking tank.
 
I personally would get the Recon, but I suspect you'll get a karambit because it's cool. I would choose one that doesn't have the billboard on it however. After a while in the hobby we've acquired all the knives we need, all that's left is "cool".
 
I love kerambits, and train with them for SD and gun retention. But even as a kerambit fan, I'd say go for the Recon 1.

Unless you practice with them a lot, kerambits are just odd. Not just because of the blade shape, the handles tend to favour one or two fighting oriented grips, not very comfortable for utility work. They'll open boxes and sharpen pencils just fine.

If you want the kerambit just to change things up a bit, I'd choose some of Fox's other models over this one. The Black Bird or Mako (not a traditional kerambit blade shape) collaborations with Bastinelli are lovely and work better as utility knives.
 
I think the karambit looks cooler and I guess if you cut a lot of rope it still has a place in use. I actually really liked the gentler curving hawkbills for utility use, the "tooth" gets a lot of work done since it pulls the material into the edge like a serrations. It does expedite the wear in that spot though. The more aggressive nature of the fox's might limit it's use but if you actually try to cut stuff with it, it should work just fine as long as you don't plan to use it on a cutting board. Hawkbills are great on zip ties and nylon ties on packaging.

Recon is more versatile.

I vote karambit, just because.
 
I think if I were in the market for a Karambit, I'd get a fixed blade model. I do like the looks of that fox, though. Strictly SD purposes it'd be great.

The Recon 1 would be much more useful on a day to day basis, but it seems like you're after something a little less useful and more fun.
 
Pros:
You are buying a knife

Cons:
So you are polling us but you didn't use a poll? I guess I need to start a poll on why you didn't use a poll.

Recon by a landslide. I don't like Karambits.

If you want something a little useful and more fun, that screams Strider Nail.
 
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If it were me I’d get the Cold Steel. Good lock, good blade steel, practical blade shape and I’m just not a fan of karambit blades.
 
Good call on the clip point. Recon 1 gets my vote. However, as mentioned the Code 4 is a great alternative that solves the G10 issue. Carries better and slimmer with the same blade stock. I never really carry mine but I have not been able to bring myself to sell it either no matter how hard I've tried... What a great knife!
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