Which Karambit?

Tyrkon Lawson

Tyrkon Lawson

Joined
Oct 31, 2003
Messages
8,583
I'm not sure where to post this one as it "could" fit in various forums. I have been a practitioner of Silat for many years and have seen many different Karambits come out. Just do an "Ebay" search and you will see many makes and models pop up varying greatly in price. Do you guys have any feed back on the ones out on the general market? Thanks.
 
It all depends on your price range and whether you want fixed or folder. I prefer fixed as far as Karambit are concerned but of course I would;) Do you want traditional or modern versions? Are there any in particular you are looking at? I could give you an honest opinion based on which you were interested in. For instance, I have an averaged size hand. Alot of the folding Karambit don't fit well. Especially the EKI version. It's a good knife and all but it's too small for MY hand and the finger hole isn't in the right spot for me. Same goes with the EKI fixed. The Strider is a good one. It fits all hands but it's double edged and that may be a concern legally. The S&W folder is just okay. For the price $25.-ish...don't expect much but then again for that little it's alright. The finger ring is a little more comfortable but not totally. The Spyderco folder is pretty good. The handle profile is comfortable but the handle thickness isn't as it's very thin and made of steel instead of titanium. The Tarani folding Karambit is pretty good as well, I am just not a fan of the back lock regardless of it's strength. It's pretty ergonomic but there is a sight issue with the finger ring for ME. David Mosier makes a nice looking Karambit for a good price. Never held it but it's certainly a looker and I have held some of his other knives and they are all well made. Randy Doucet makes Karambit now also, never held one but they look really nice. Ray Dionaldo/Cutter Karambit is actually quite nice and if I remember pretty reasonably priced?. It's got a nice size and feel. Always get a trainer! Tarani has a good aluminum trainer and Dionaldo does too I believe. I make Karambit as well:D , you can check with me for pics and dealers. The more traditional wood handles/copper pinned Karambit you see a lot of on ebay vary in quality. I have found some over the years that are very good and for the price are great but then you will pick one up that should be the same and just isn't. Copper pins will wear and tear, wood handles will rot and can crack, the carbon steels used though sharp! need care often. The Wooden split sheaths are also less practical to carry. It's hit or miss. If you buy a traditional Karambit, get a custom sheath made for it. David Brown is an excellent sheath maker and will make something very practical I am sure. So you can wear it out and not be seen. Good luck! :thumbup:
 
Hi Tyrkon,

RDT's right on the whole fixed vs folder thing. But for what it's worth, I carry an Emerson folder and I love it. If you're not familiar with the "Wave" feature of Emerson Knives--it is a small "wave-like" raised portion on the spine of the blade that catches on the inside of your pocket when you pull it out. So effectively, it opens automatically if you retrieve it correctly. It takes a little practice, but it's very fast. In fact, I ditched my $450.00 Microtech OTF D/A because it took too much fine-motor skill to open it during a struggle. With the Emersons--you just grip and rip (in theory at least).

If you are going to use this blade for SD (which I am assuming you are or you wouldn't be looking for a karambit); and you want a folder--the Emerson gets my vote.

Take care.
 
Ernie's wave feature is a brilliant idea! Works like a charm.:D
 
I have never really used a karambit folder and usually prefer straight-fixed blades. But with everything on the market I am curious. I like the look of Tarani's karambit but it is probably too big for my taste. Maybe.

I remember when Steve and I were both students under Blaise Loong and there were only a couple of selections out there. And now the market is absolutely flooded.

One of our peers used to custom make them to fit. That was great. Great price as well.

In regards to price: The karambits seem to vary GREATLY in price. For those of you that have handled/used both, do you notice a considerable difference? Which ones seem to be the best bang for the buck?

Thanks for all the feedback so far. :)

BTW - I love the Emerson wave feature. I also really like the carson flipper. Both are great.
 
As far as price difference and quality I would say there is always a difference. You get what you pay for usually.
EKI: Good quality, if you have any other EKI folders, you will notice a difference between them and a "chinatown knockoff".
Tarani: Also Good quality, I believe manufactured by Blade Tech or they were anyway. They always do nice work.
Dionaldo: Also good quality, good finish and fit.
S&W: Low quality, good design. But cheap over all.
MTech: Crap/rip off artists
Spyderco: Always good quality though not always the prefered materials.

Custom Karambit: With any custom you are paying for several things:
1. Limited availability (knives made by one person means fewer made than with factory machines, this also means higher cost to the maker and makes the knives more desireable to the collector)
2. Attention to design and craft(usually)
3. The makers name and effort
4. Better materials (usually but not always, depending on which factory models you compare to)
5. More interesting designs in comparison to factory knives. That's why factory makers employ a lot of custom makers for their designs nowadays.
6. Soul: a handmade knife does have a lil' more soul than a factory knife. When you go to a show and see the makers hands all soiled and hard. Finger nails black with oil and steel. Scars from burning, cuts, etc. You know some sweat went into your knife.
7. Money wise, customs either will appreciate with time or at least you will get most of your investment back should you need to sell it.

Factory advantages:
1. More availability.
2. Usually more consistent with the grinds and profiles as they are computer ground and cut.
3. These days the bigger name companies are using the best materials there are.
4. They often employ custom makers for their designs so you can have a knife design that you've always wanted for less than the custom.
5. larger quantites mean cheaper prices in general. Though the prices are getting higher with the cost of everything rising in the US, they are still most often cheaper than the custom.

If you buy a folder, Stainless liners are fine. BUT, Titanium is better. Why? because when the Ti locking bar meets steel there si just a bit more catch as the ti is less slick than steel on steel. Or so I find. As well, Ti is lighter than stainless.

In the end, if you want in inexpensive "user" get a Factory knife. If you want something a little more high end with more design flair and some soul, get a custom. Or at least get a factory designed like or by a custom maker. I carry a few factory knives myself, and will switch to a custom whenever the need arises. Different knives for different days and different occasions and dress.
 
A cheap blade will kill just as easy as an expensive one....and it won't hurt as much if ya have to ditch it! It's all about you not the blade. Some of the knife makers are out of there gord's charging that kind of money for a blade..or maybe the customers are out of theirs for purchasing them. If your into collecting I can see spending that kind of scratch (maybe) but for the average Joe NO WAY!....I have 5 knives in my kit...a Cold Steele Scimitar...$40.00 used, A Ken Onion Blackout Kershaw....found it in a parking lot....A K-Bar....used for $20.00 and a Becker knife and tool Combat Utility.....$55.00 on line.....S&W..Karambit.....$22.95....All 5 are in great shape and are definately cutters....I cant see why I would need to pay much more than that for good blades....5 Shivs $138.00 not to bad..this way allows me to spend more cash on firearms and McRib Samiches...Take care
 
What justifies the cost of the EK fixed karambit? It seems strange to me that it costs more then the folders, seems like it would require less work to make? Is there anthing else in the 100.00-200.00 range for fixed karambits?
 
It's all preference. What feels good in your hand. What feels good using. The action of the knife if it's a folder. The deployment. The speed, weight. The type of steel that requires little maintenance. Edge retention. Lastly personality, as it's an extention of you, it should reflect you. Buying a "cheap" knife is fine and yes, it's a throw away and it's a painless loss should you need to ditch it. However, that is premeditation really and if thoughts were crimes, that would be one. That is "private talk" not open forum speak ;) I have broken an incalculable amount of cheap knives in my life. On pine, on concrete on wooden doors, on plastic, rubber even! I have only broken one custom my whole life doing the same practice. Higher end factory knives, I have broken tips off of several but they held up longer than the cheap ones. Myself, I carry a few cheaper knives and a few customs, whenever I feel choosey. I only have ones I know will be useful in my hands and my mentality. I however will be manufacturing less expensive Karambit in the near future, significantly less as I see a need for such a thing. Probably in January or February they will be out. Good steel, G10, Kydex etc, and they might be under $100. if everything goes as planned. anyway, not sure why the EKI Fixed is more expensive? Certainly shouldnt be but I think they are "limited"? not sure though. There many collectors out there and not enough users so they go for that collectible factor maybe.
 
While I agree with Guromkb on the fact that an inexpensive blade will do the same dirty-work as an expensive one, there is one aspect here that is worth mentioning.

With specific reference to the Emerson karambit folders--quality is top-notch and not likely to be found in a less-expensive knife. In this particular case the quality is paramount because of the amount of stress placed on the locking mechanism and mechanical components of this particular knife when the "wave" feature is utilized. The amount of force inflicted on this knife when you grab the finger-ring/hole and rip--is tremendous. Any less of a knife would likely fall apart after one or two deployments.

Just food for thought.

Take care.
 
bleedout has it dead on there. I owned the EKI version briefly and also bought the cheap $9. knock off out of curiosity. The stainless lock flexes way more than the Ti lock on the EKI. The knife closed almost in time to catch my hand, not once, not twice but several times. As well, the blade coating is not as durable and scratches easily. The scales is exactly the same and the blade is essentially the same. The EKI had minimal blade play in the handle, the knock off had tons of blade play after about 6 minutes of use. You get what you pay for. As well, larger companies and custom makers have better CQ and better customer service compared to cheap knives where no one will answer your calls. :eek: :D Kershaw is a fine company and I believe they make good knives with good materials for the most part. I owned a Kersaw Onion as well, they are very comfy in the hand. After one swipe on some pine the CPM steel was too brittle and the edge burred and cracked! It completely altered the shape of the belly on that knife. I had to re do the edge myself. As well the lock gave out on me twice! Luckily it has a flipper and that prevented me from getting cut! Now, that could have just been one knife that I happened upon.
 
The EKI's fit my hand very well, and they seem to almost become a part of you. For a folding Karambit, Emerson gets my vote.
 
Best folding Karambit I've seen/owned was the Rick Hinderer/Liong Mah Design Karambit. S30V steel, small very sharp blade and fits the hand like a glove. It's a Titanium frame lock too! GReat knife. WIsh I still had one. I think they are no longer available?
 
I really like the feel of Emersons as well but am still concerned about the locking mechanisms on folding blades. I will definately look the suggestions up here.
 
i have a strider fixed that i carry often. excellent design and cratfsmanship all around. not cheap though but it was worth it to me. i have no trouble concealing this just under a t-shirt. as much as i like karambits though i find they are not actually good for much other than self defense even though they are called an indonesian utility knife.
 
A friend of mine was hassled by an officer when his friend was pulled over for a traffic violation. His knife(crappy S+W) was inspected, but could not be confiscated nor could he be charged with anything because the blade did not exceed 3". Despite the "wicked appearance," even if the officer somehow claimed that it was to be used for harmful intent, the length of the blade ensured that he could not be charged.
 
Ok I got a question in relation to the emerson K bit and I'll ask it her instead of the emerson forum for a more unbiased reply:

With the clip position and wave, putting your index finger in the ring and yanking to wave it puts it in a wierd grip, sipping your pinkie in and yanking puts it in "reverse" grip for karambit(forward grip for reg knife). Is ther a way you're gripping to yank into proper K bit grip?

With the Tarani I finally got to the point where I could insert index finger into ring, pull up, and "pop" open into the right grip. I like Emersons (A LOT) but havent bought the KBit cause I cant figure out the simple motion to get it into proper grip...
 
I've handled the Tarani fixed karambit, and it is very nicely designed knife.

What I like about this design is the roughly 45 degree angle of the blade relative to the handle. For me this allows strikes from more varieties of angles compared to karambits where the blade more perpendicular to the handle.

I've also handled the Emerson folding karambit which I've also found to be very well made. In my brief experience with this knife, I found the grip with the index finger through the hole more natural compared to holding the knife with the pinky finger through the ring.

Funds are tight for me right now, but If I had to go with a folder and a fixed version, those would be my first two choices.
 
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