Recommendation? Higher End Folding Karambit

J

jessmcquaid

Joined
Sep 13, 2017
Messages
7
Hi all, first post here. I have been researching a few weeks karambit knives to upgrade a Spyderco Karahawk I have carried for a while. I had pretty much narrowed it down to buy an Emerson Combat but thought I should look out and see what is in the market. Seems like a lot of the really cool karambit knives have come and gone (Cutters Bengal, etc.). The Spyderco has served me well but the handle is a tad small for my hands. I have also seen posts and comments about Reese Weiland XL's (very high end) but looks to be a big knife compared to the Spyderco. The Emerson would be right in the middle I think. Anything else I should be looking at I have missed? Thanks for any advise.
 
I've honestly been eyeing the Tiger Claw (22KF) by Cold Steel as a potential EDC. It'd be my first choice for a folding karambit because it has a good balance of price and materials while retaining the features I would want (wave opening and proper clip placement)

The curve of the blade is not as dramatic as it is on most Karambits, though, so that is something to keep in mind.

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Thanks for the replies so far. I was lucky and got a line on a new/old stock Cutters Bengal I am going to grab as it's high on my want list. Depending on what recommendations you guys come back with I might end up buying a second knife also:)
 
If you get an Emerson make sure that you can handle it in store before you purchase. I had a super karambit with a good working lock and it was a beautiful thing. Emersons sometimes have lockslip and this will make your karambit in particular unsafe. This is because the design of a karambit makes it very likely you will miss and strike on the spine of the blade. Also Emerson makes knives that are karambits but do not have a hawkbill blade. For example a karambit with a cqc7 like blade.

Since kbits are usually carried as self defensive knives I believe any folding karambit NEEDS a wave feature. Especially since kbits are withdrawn in reverse grip.
 
Fox Knives has a great looking Karambit though I haven't used it but certainly has a solid looking design and great materials. I know there are some who don't like Brous knives but I believe it is more a principle than the quality of his product and he also has a solid looking Karambit.
 
Thanks Lapedog and I agree with everything you are saying. Unfortunately I don't have knife store anywhere close to me that stocks these types of product. I am going to try this Cutters I found since it has a quick deploy from the sheath and if I don't like it will sell. If I did not think the Reese Weiland were too big I would buy one of those. The trigger deploy looks to be the fastest I have seen. It's a very expensive knife to "try" if it will fit. I have my Spyderco and it has the wave and I have carried for years I can always go back to. Thanks everyone else for the suggestions I great appreciate it.
 
I really liked my Spyderco Karahawk. Sadly it was lost/stolen on vacation. I'm going to buy it again, but get the version that has the DLC coating.
 
karambit.com James Coogler makes some really nice ones, from $600-several thousand. Plus many production brands..
 
I've had three Emerson Combat Karambits (one trainer) and a Karahawk. I now have only the Emerson trainer and Karahawk. I do not trust Emerson's locks and as Lapedog Lapedog said, it's especially dangerous on this style of knife.
 
Thanks all, I ordered the new/old stock Cutters Bengal I found. I think I am also going to get one of the newer Karahawk all black. Even though this knife is a little smaller than I like the reasons Lapedog Lapedog and Photoman12001 stated are probably a really good reason to make that my EDC.
 
jessmcquaid said:
Thanks all, I ordered the new/old stock Cutters Bengal I found. I think I am also going to get one of the newer Karahawk all black. Even though this knife is a little smaller than I like the reasons Lapedog Lapedog and Photoman12001 stated are probably a really good reason to make that my EDC.
Click to expand...

Good choice! Damn that is a sexy knife. I didn't even know about Cutters knife and tools.

Edit: What steel did it come in? Have you seen the Emerson XHD Karambit?
 
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Thanks, not sure how I found it just in my reading the internet over the last week or so. Anytime a knife was mentioned I wrote down the brand/model and looked into it. Found a dealer that had it listed but did not say in stock so I emailed. They had this blue ring one that had been to several shows but never used or worn. The blade is a 154CM, the sides are TI, and the ring/back is anodized aluminum. I read the blades were either made or designed by Reese Weiland but not sure if that is true. Unfortunately they did not have the very cool Kydex holster option with it. I have a custom kydex maker looking to see if he can replicate it. It came today and sorry I suck at photography but from a quick iphone shot. That Emerson XHD looks sweet by the way.

bslYVOS.jpg

ysGB6M3.jpg
 
jessmcquaid said:
Thanks, not sure how I found it just in my reading the internet over the last week or so. Anytime a knife was mentioned I wrote down the brand/model and looked into it. Found a dealer that had it listed but did not say in stock so I emailed. They had this blue ring one that had been to several shows but never used or worn. The blade is a 154CM, the sides are TI, and the ring/back is anodized aluminum. I read the blades were either made or designed by Reese Weiland but not sure if that is true. Unfortunately they did not have the very cool Kydex holster option with it. I have a custom kydex maker looking to see if he can replicate it. It came today and sorry I suck at photography but from a quick iphone shot. That Emerson XHD looks sweet by the way.

bslYVOS.jpg

ysGB6M3.jpg
Click to expand...



Congrats on a neat knife!
This looks like Reese Weiland's work to me. Did you check inside the scales or the spine of the blade for a maker's mark?
 
I looked all over the blade, inside, outside and there are no engraved markings. It is of very high quality and a cool knife. It does not have a quick deploy feature so not sure how much I will wear it. I did buy a new Karahawk, the all black and that will be my daily carry.
 
I have been considering this new model Black Bird by Bastinelli/ Fox knives. Very good materials and the price is quite tolerable.



fox-fx591-spec-600x600.jpg
 
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