Combat Karambit arrived

A

Armalite Native

Joined
Apr 26, 2010
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154
After much waiting my C.K arrived today. It is my first Emerson knife. The advice as to which model I should purchase was correct. It is pretty much the right size for my hand and the materials and fit n finish are top notch. I don't think I will be able to get many Emerson blades as the competition from US collectors is high, but I am happy to have got at least one of his production knives.

Now I just need the trainer, the video and maybe one of those cute pocket clips with the skull logo and I will be ready to rock. What others have said about it being "grippy" is accurate also. I can see how the tip would be a problem if you drop it - its fine and needle sharp. I am too scared to spin it without getting some protection and practice first - I would love to be one of the few who don't unzip themselves with this nasty little thing :D. The liner lock is a tiny worry, it seems to sit just on the edge of the backplate of the knife when open. However I have read a few people that say its hard to defeat the lock so I will just trust that its going to be fine.

Thanks again to those who helped me decide on which one to get - I am a happy camper.
 
The liner lock should settle in with a few dozen openings and closings. I actually took my two Emersons apart when I got them for a cleaning and lubrication. I used the same things I use to clean and lubricate my firearms (Gunzilla & Miltec-1 grease). The action immediately became smoother and was very easy to open.

As for practicing, there isn't any reason to spin a Karambit. The correct way is to extend and retract.
 
Thanks for the tip Toker. I am planning on saving up for the instructional DVD by Emerson also - then I will understand what the "extend and retract" means :D.

The only reason I would like to learn how to spin is that ballisongs are very prohibited in my country and I used to love doing tricks with them as a kid. The Karambit is the next best thing....but I still can't get that guy out of my head who had the superkarambit and tore a large chunk out of his arm. Does anyone spin in the emerson videos or is it all extend/retract type stuff?

Thanks for your information again.
Cheers,
Arma
 
Yeah I checked a bunch of vids on Karambit stuff on youtube. There was one guy who was off his face spinning a RAM Karambit around like crazy - scared the crap out of me. I thought it was going to take his hand off. You will know the one I mean if you look - hes put some sort of multicoloured filter overlay on his image.
 
Armalite Native said:
Yeah I checked a bunch of vids on Karambit stuff on youtube. There was one guy who was off his face spinning a RAM Karambit around like crazy - scared the crap out of me. I thought it was going to take his hand off. You will know the one I mean if you look - hes put some sort of multicoloured filter overlay on his image.
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I have seen stuff on youtube that would be hilarious if it wasn't so scary. There is a lot of crap out there on the web, kerambits and their "techniques" seem to be somewhat of a magnet for it.

I have been using the kerambit for a number of years now and have trained with actual S.E.A. teachers (I was very lucky to be taught by). I have seen less than a hand full of vids that were worth watching at all IMO, and may be 2 that were giving out what I would call good information.
 
Haze said:
I have seen stuff on youtube that would be hilarious if it wasn't so scary. There is a lot of crap out there on the web, kerambits and their "techniques" seem to be somewhat of a magnet for it.

I have been using the kerambit for a number of years now and have trained with actual S.E.A. teachers (I was very lucky to be taught by). I have seen less than a hand full of vids that were worth watching at all IMO, and may be 2 that were giving out what I would call good information.
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That sounds cool. Did the S.E.A teachers take much convincing to teach you:D? I always wondered what it took to get teachers of a high skill level to take on new people. I guess the answer might be potential? I am very new to all this and only have the most basic of phrasing and Jay is keeping out an eye for a teacher of at least the basics here in Australia. I was also interested in Krav Maga as they have schools where I am. I am not so young anymore but I would still like to try.

Thanks for these bits of info Haze - I will take any bits of information I can.
 
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Have you ever watched the emerson combat karambit vids? He spins them alot too, so I startred spinning them and gave myself a scar to be proud of and learned a good lesson, don't spin that karambit in training and definatly not in a combat situation you will make life easy on you attacker by doing your self in. It is way to tight of a weapon to be moving around so close to those arteries like that. Don't treat the karambit like a ferrari treat it like a dump truck....i'd rather be riding through the realm of combat in a dump truck not a ferrari. I am really not a fan of the finger hole anymore as I never really use it and consider it more of a temptation to want to spin the evil little demon around....The Emerson vids are good but ignore the spinning that he does, he does show proper striking and defensive tecniques worth it to buy them......Thanks Haze for putting me on the right path with kerambit training.:thumbup:
 
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Thanks guys - I think i will leave off with the full spinning. I am a newb but I am smart enough to listen to those with experience :). Its funny you know, on first glance his knives look really simple but the more you study them the more detail they have. I have got to get some Ballistol onto the pivot on the C.K as mine is very stiff. Other than that I am a pretty happy camper though and got it for an amazing price ($170 USD). Just gotta save up now for one of those bling pocket clips with the skull on it - and the training vids.
 
Some people just enjoy playing with the kerambit and that's fine, I am guilty of that my self. Spinning the blade has zero combat applications though so doing spin drills is just playing, as long as you realise that then there is no harm done, well maybe a nick or slice to the wrist but......
The one thing that does have applications is the "extending and retracting" of the blade. This IMO is good for gaining reach with the knife when you have someone locked up or restrained in some way and want to make cuts, like reaching over the back to cut the groin area, under the arms or round the neck. (these are all potentially/probably lethal cuts and would be made at "the end").

Some people will tell you spinning the blade works as a distraction so you can get strikes in easier. Some people will even say spinning is used to make strikes and cuts. Try these things at full speed and full contact with a partner and see how well they don't work. :p
 
Funny thing after owning it for 24 hours its making me want another one of his knives. I know alot of people don't go in for the spooky mumbo jumbo when it comes to knives but with some custom blades I own there is almost a "presence" or odd awareness that they seem to have. Only a very few knives in my collection have that sort of feeling. The Karambit I have feels "alert" in some odd way. This makes me think other production knives he has might have a similar feel. I am very impressed with the C.K and can see how the company got so many customers.

Edit I will stop yapping on about all this now - but I envy each and every one of you with Emerson collections.
 
Armalite Native said:
Funny thing after owning it for 24 hours its making me want another one of his knives. I know alot of people don't go in for the spooky mumbo jumbo when it comes to knives but with some custom blades I own there is almost a "presence" or odd awareness that they seem to have. Only a very few knives in my collection have that sort of feeling. The Karambit I have feels "alert" in some odd way. This makes me think other production knives he has might have a similar feel. I am very impressed with the C.K and can see how the company got so many customers.

Edit I will stop yapping on about all this now - but I envy each and every one of you with Emerson collections.
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I like just about all of the EKI designs but the ones that I personaly rate the highest are the CQC-12, CQC-8, Persian, La Griffe and Kerambit. They are the knives I would suggest you look at in the future. I see no need to change a thing about any of those knives. (A frame lock over the usual liner lock would be the only thing I would change actually).

The 12 and 8 are both excellent working knives, big enough and with blade shapes that can handle a huge range of tasks, but still compact enough to carry easily. The Persian is a more specialised knife but if you respect that needle point it's a very useable knife too. The La griffe and Kerambit have an even more specialised intended area of use but are still workable EDC blades. The La Griffe is an exceptional little EDC knife IMO and a knife I carry often.

:):thumbup:
 
I think I will aim at the CQC-12, CQC-8 as you suggest first. However these knives are like $463.05 where I live....this would instantly become a safe queen for me :D. Perhaps I need to get a better job so I can have such as working knives :). They are really nice to look at though.
 
Glad it got to you safely. :) Yeah, spinning is pointless, but it is fun and I do it all the time. I only cut myself twice when I first started messing with karambits a few years ago--I have a scar from the Cold Steel Tiger Claw to remember the early days by. lol

The Emerson Combat Karambit videos are good, but if you're into SEA martial arts (especially Filipino/Indo/Malay you'll find a way to integrate the karambit with your style. My teacher taught me a few things. He personally prefers straight blades though.

Here's a Melbourne based group that sounds good:

http://welcome.to/dharma-nusantara
 
Hey Jay! I was wondering where you were :P. Thanks for the link and being the most direct influence on my choice in Karambit. Hows yours going? Did you end up getting it reprofiled? I can see what you mean - the tip is very fine.

Thanks for the link I will check it out. I think the SEA style martial arts are something I could get very interested in.
Cheers,
Arma

Edit - I went to the website - the Dharma Nusantara group seems to offer alot more than just a martial art. I am going to look deeper into this. I really appreciate this link Jay - thank you very much.
 
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Hey Arma! Glad you like your Combat Karambit. Haze offered to reprofile it for me, but I can't bear to part with the knife I carry every day without fail. I'm going to try and do it myself with my diamond rods.

Silat should be more than just a fighting art--it is a way of life. I trained with one of my silat brothers last night after several months off and it was really tough. I tore a good 2" square patch of skin off my right foot (we train on bare concrete) and just kept going. Feels good to be back.

Let me know how you get on with Dharma Nusantara. They sound like the right kind of group from what I've read, but I don't know that much about them.
 
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