Does the karambit blade have any survival merit?

psy-ops

psy-ops

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Sep 27, 1999
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Right now karambits are the rage, I know that they will fade in the future, such is the American market.

In the mean time.....Does anyone hee see any value of that type of blade in a wilderness survival situation?
 
No, IMO.

I take that back, on the threory that the best sutrvival knife is the one you have, yes. But on no other basis.
 
If skinning, a bit of sharp flint (or glass) would be superior to a karambit, whose edge is on the "wrong" side of the curve.

It would be good as a spokeshave.

Do a search for "karambit" here at BF There is a lengthy thread on the second page of threads that discusses the use of this item.
Heck, read all the threads. Then go to any survival forum/site that you can find to see if anyone puts this knife on their top 5/10/15/20/25 knives for "survival" tasks: shelter/fire/food/etc.

Your buck.
 
So if the karambit does not have any merit what does that has a 2-3 inch blade? Have read a lot about the karambit and this is the first time I have a lot about the karambit and this is the first time I have heard anyone say its not a decent knife for protection. Any and all input would be appreciated. thanks
 
You asked about a "wilderness survival situation." A trained martial artist could protect him/herself from attack in any situation with such a weapon, but what about the other typical sutvival tasks: constructing shelter; getting and preparing wood to make a fire for warmth, cooking, water purification, and signaling; making traps to catch food; etc. ?

A better choice in this overall length and weight? Ask that question here and you'll get dozens of options, all better. Check the thread, running now, about heavily built 4" blades. [EDITED TO ADD: "Heavy Duty 4" Fixed Blades" in "Blade Discussion" Forum]. Same class -- much better functionality, and you could still hurt something with it, as required.

A last good tip. See if you can hold it in hour hand first. These are "hand tools" -- your hand(s).
 
good discussion.

I understand the self defense options. I was asking more about the wilderness skills advantages if any.
 
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Originally posted by awmp:
So if the karambit does not have any merit what does that has a 2-3 inch blade?
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At the three-inches-long blade level, a small fixed-blade hunting knife with a drop point or straight clip point blade would have more merit and versatility, especially if the handle really fits your hand well. ;) Such a knife IMHO would be better than the kerambit for outdoor survival situations. That's due to the alignment of the handle to the blade allowing more general and adaptable use of the blade for the usual chores associated with wilderness survival: food, shelter, fire, whittling, tool-making, etc.

For a cheap knife, you could look at a short mora or puukko style knife or a Bird & Trout style knife from a commercial maker. For expensive, you could have one of hundreds of fine custom makers around the country make you a small 3-inch hunting knife. There are tons of good bladesmiths to choose from these days.

I've attached a picture to this post of a 3-inch Gene Ingram knife in D2 that, should I find myself in the woods with this as my only knife, would feel glad to have such a tool with me.
 
I think I could do quite well in just about any situation with one of my Strider Tarani HS Karambits, as it is quite a versatile tool, with two sharpened edges, a sufficiently gentle curve to the blade that it can be used almost as a straight blade, and a long enough handle to allow this user to disregard the safety ring and hold the handle as I would a normal knife, in several different grips. Even so, I would not want this karambit to be my only blade available in a wilderness survival situation. I would want a longer, stout, "straight" fixed blade, a folder, a multi-tool, and a tiny SAK along with me, too, if possible. And, yes, if I was told I had five minutes to grab and go, I could put my hands on all of these, plus a couple of other favorites such as a good Swedish hatchet and a Spyderco Ronin. I can even think of one task where the karambit would excel, and that would be to cut the pesky roots and vines that grab my boot laces when moving through undergrowth. If a guy has only one free hand, as when handling an SAR dog, being able to place and pull to cut a root or vine is an advantage. The perfect karambit for that task would be the Rescue version sold by Karambit.com, IMHO. Sorry for drifting a little off-topic.
 
that was not drifting. Excellent advice in there.

I think the Karambit would excell in freeing oneself from rope or vines. Of course survival does include against attacks by animals and humans. So in that sense the karambit wouldn't be a drag if one had one during a survival situation.

I was wondering if there would be any special tasks it could perform well like carving a bow and drill etc etc.


I would hate to have only one knife in a survival situation period.
 
I think this is a weird thread. :rolleyes:

In a survival situation I would be very pleased if I had *any* knife at all, be it a Spyderco Ladybug or a Kerambit.
If I could choose, a 5" fixed knife like the Fallkniven S1 would be my choice - Kerambits and Spyderco Ladybugs being very low on my list of survival knives. :p

s1green.jpg


-Connor
 
Hand-to-hand survival: Yes
Wilderness survival: No

I doubt you'll see anyone in Indonesia(where the kerambit is from) using one for outdoor work.
 
You were correct that fashion plays a great part in blade design popularity...but so does function.

For least expensive? Mora 2000. For precisely what your inquiry addressed: Marbles woodcrafter, trailcrafter.

Of course, once you get that perfect knife...you will dispose of all your other blades. Right?:)


"Most people, when faced with a choice between changing their minds, and proving there is no need to do so, get busy with the proof."
John Kenneth Gailbraith
 
In a survival situation, one of the common tasks is to get to the inside of pieces of wood -- more likely to be dry. If the knife is going to be the only tool to accomplish that task, it needs to be stout enough to baton (hammer) through wood using another piece of wood (Or rock :eek: ). People do accomplish that task with a Mora 2000 (2.3 mm thick). I would prefer the Fallkniven S-1 (5 mm thick). You could pry most kindling-sized wood open with the S-1. An S-1, folding saw, and SAK (Swiss Army Knife) or multi-tool would be a good, light survival tool kit.
 
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