What's with all the weird blade shapes on "emergency survival knives"?

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Noswad0208

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Sep 8, 2014
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Mainly talking about neck knives like karambits, those weird tanto with the inward curving edge, etc.

I understand the use of them as a last ditch combat knife, but if something goes bad and I don't have a bigger/better knife close at hand, I'm going to want my Izula. It's just as sharp as a tacticlol blade if I need to fight with it, I can baton with it, knock down small trees, skin animals, pretty much anything.
 
I have a venom green Izula on me right now. But, I'm not planning on being tactical with it. I appreciate it for its versatility. Wish I could get it out of the ESEE sheath one handed though. Havn't figured out a good way to do that yet with pocket carry.
 
Vayu said:
I have a venom green Izula on me right now. But, I'm not planning on being tactical with it. I appreciate it for its versatility. Wish I could get it out of the ESEE sheath one handed though. Havn't figured out a good way to do that yet with pocket carry.
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I don't plan to be tactical with mine either, but if I should need to I imagine it would probably hold it's own pretty well. As for pulling in from the sheath, try holding the handle with your dominant hand, and giving a nice push off of the corner of the sheath with your thumb near the joint. Hope that was clear.
 
Noswad0208 said:
Mainly talking about neck knives like karambits, those weird tanto with the inward curving edge, etc.

I understand the use of them as a last ditch combat knife, but if something goes bad... I'm going to want my Izula. It's just as sharp as a tacticlol blade if I need to fight with it, I can baton with it, knock down small trees, skin animals, pretty much anything.
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Understandably, the basic design of an izula affords more general purpose utility.
Whilst those curved or talon shaped blades are optimally shaped to dig in and rip out.
Best to personally figure out what's required of any knife
well before designating its primary edc role either for g.p. or solely s.d.
Just my 2 cents.
 
To me, a neck knife is not my go to utility knife. Although, I am a police officer and find that a necker is good for a last ditch under my uniform shirt. It also affords me the ability to easily draw if I find myself on my back in a fighting situation.

What I'm saying is, the penetration of a tanto outweighs the utility in a neck knife specifically for me. That being said, most people don't need that. It all comes down to what a person needs/likes.
 
For a purely tactical knife I prefer a case peanut... just kidding, but sometimes the most useful blade is the one on you at any given time.
 
If you're talking about a neck knife that is a karambit style blade I think I agree with you. But the karambit itself, although not really my style, has its own specific uses that have already been touched on here. It's not an ideal EDC shape or anything, but it's been around a long time and is not generally a neck knife. Just in my opinion it would make a rather poor neck knife.

When I think "emergency" anything knife, I picture a fully or mostly serrated thing with a wide, chisel-like tip.
 
The Benchmade Triage 915 is an excellent emergency folder. Seatbelt cutter. Carbide glass breaker tip. Corrison resistant N680. Robust Axis Lock. 4" blade...Sheeple friendly to boot...
 
The main advantage of the American Tanto point is that it allows more mass closer to the point for chopping, while still having some useable point left (so a combat option is there, but definitely as a secondary consideration). Contrary to what it is often marketed as, it is a sound utilitarian design suitable for heavy chopping knives, and offers little to nothing for the medium/small combat knives it is usually associated with... In fact, exceedingly few American Tanto point designs have used the shape in the way it should be used, meaning a blade of well over 7", and at the very least not tapering the overall blade side view narrower towards the point... This is quite unique: It is one of the few designs I know of that is most commonly associated with the very opposite of what it is good for... Imagine non-flaring dagger blades being pushed as chopping designs...

Gaston
 
Vayu said:
I have a venom green Izula on me right now. But, I'm not planning on being tactical with it. I appreciate it for its versatility. Wish I could get it out of the ESEE sheath one handed though. Havn't figured out a good way to do that yet with pocket carry.
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If you can't thumb that thing from its sheath you have a bad one.
 
A karambit is actually highly specialized and requires training to reap all of its 'benefits.' I agree it is not good for EDC and, IMO, not even good for someone totally untrained or unknowledgeable of its proper use. It's nothing more than a good way to get fingers broken for them. Some buy them just for the novelty of the design, or an attraction to it. I have no problem with that.

You're right....far better blades for all-round EDC.

In regard to the tantos, I have several, folding and fixed, and like them. I don't understand all this rattle about being a bad choice for EDC, the quibbling over the point style and only good for this or that...

I understand what a tanto was 'specialized' for. OK. But I've never found a weakness in a tanto being EDC'd or used for any other "stumble upon" thing you'd use a knife for in daily life. Mine make great carry knives and are very versatile. Slimmer stiletto style blades get the same bad rap. I carry both syles quite a bit and none of this "not good for EDC" bee ess. has ever come to my notice.

Marketing---"For this job only our blade will do...."
Goebbels---"If you tell a lie enough times...."
 
Funkenstein said:
To me, a neck knife is not my go to utility knife. Although, I am a police officer and find that a necker is good for a last ditch under my uniform shirt. It also affords me the ability to easily draw if I find myself on my back in a fighting situation.

What I'm saying is, the penetration of a tanto outweighs the utility in a neck knife specifically for me. That being said, most people don't need that. It all comes down to what a person needs/likes.
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Maybe some jiujitsu would help supplement that situation better
 
Vayu said:
I have a venom green Izula on me right now. But, I'm not planning on being tactical with it. I appreciate it for its versatility. Wish I could get it out of the ESEE sheath one handed though. Havn't figured out a good way to do that yet with pocket carry.
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If I grasp the handle of mine, while in my pocket, I can push the sheath with my thumb and the sheath literally jumps off the knife. I pocket carry mine and never on my belt or neck.
 
I'm not saying tanto's are bad, I'm saying the tanto's that try to be a karambit and a tanto at the same time are utterly useless imo.
 
It's not always a bad thing.

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EChoil said:
A karambit is actually highly specialized and requires training to reap all of its 'benefits.' I agree it is not good for EDC and, IMO, not even good for someone totally untrained or unknowledgeable of its proper use. It's nothing more than a good way to get fingers broken for them. Some buy them just for the novelty of the design, or an attraction to it. I have no problem with that.
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I bought a cheap karambit "just because", it even comes with some sort of shoulder rig I can't really figure out. Haven't really carried it as, like you say, it needs a specialized hand and knowledge to fully utilize.
 
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