Karambits?

[hankdatank1362]

Having done a search and not finding much in the way of results, I would like to ask you guys what you think of kerambits as a defensive carry knife?

From a design standpoint, I am particularly enamored with the waved Emerson Combat Karambit. Does anyone have any experience with this knife, or the wave feature in general? Are there any drawbacks (unreliable opening, destroys pockets, etc.)?

Is the Karambit knife an effective tool in a trained hand (and I have a great opportunity for some quality training), or just an overhyped gimmick?

 

[hso]

In trained hands it can be effective, but you have to be able to overcome the mental barrier of getting up in some guy's face at bad breath range and ripping him apart. Also understand that all the folding karambits are dinky little toys compared to the original ones and that you have to spend a lot more time to do a lot more destruction of the other guy compared to what the real ones require.

 

[TimboKhan]

Is the Karambit knife an effective tool in a trained hand (and I have a great opportunity for some quality training), or just an overhyped gimmick

I shall preface my comment by pointing out that I am in no way a knife, knife-fighting or karambit expert.

I think the answer to your question is "both". I think that the original design, in the hands of someone who knows how to use one, is valid. I think many of the current designs are more for show. Pretty much what Hso said, really.

I am not a big fan of packing knives around for SD, but that may or may not be attributable to my general lack of knowledge of knife combat. I am a big fan of packing a knife around for utility: Frankly, I haven't seen anything yet that would indicate that my Griptilian, Native or Endura would be less than satisfactory in a defense role, and the utility of those knives is well established.

That isn't to say you shouldn't carry one if you want too, because really, what do I care what you carry? It is to say that you might want to give some thought as to whether or not you really need a SD specific knife, why that is, and what would best fit you.

 

[prelaw09]

Karambits... you mean those things you eat with tea? I don't know how you would use them in a defensive.... OH, not crumpets, Karambits... oh, never mind.

 

[JShirley]

Karambits may fit well with my hard-to-make-myself-disengage-once-in bulldog tenacity, but any perceived advantage in that realm would have to be weighed against the image problems inherent in carrying a design obviously designed with only one thing in mind.

As opposed to something like a Spyderco Chinook. If I had to use a folding knife in "combat", the Chinook would be my first choice. It does not, to my mind, automatically appear to be the edged weapon of would-be assassins.

Now that I think about it- you said defensive. As Timbo pointed out, knives are not the preferred defensive tool, but if defense was high on the priority list, I would want a knife that let me keep my attacker as far away as possible, instead of forcing me to be in close.

John

 

[mercop]

I carry an Emerson Karambit on my reaction side in reverse grip for weapon retention. It is a one trick pony for me. As an instructor I choose not to dedicate time to a specialized blade shape. Not that I think it would be good for you no matter what knife you chose to defend yourself with, me thinks the Karambit could be used to paint a negative picture more so that some other choices.- George