Open Carrying Karambit, Scout Style

Z

ZTFan

Joined
Oct 6, 2016
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I am considering open carrying a TUSK in the small of the back, or scout style, with the tip of the blade facing my left side and the retention ring facing my right side since I'm right-handed. The sheath could clip right onto my belt, and this would be my EDC.

I live in California so it's illegal to conceal fixed blades. My shirt will need to be tucked behind the knife at all times.

Question: Could I just expose the retention ring and conceal the rest of the knife and sheath with my shirt? Is that technically still open carry, or does the entire setup need to be exposed? I'd like to be as inconspicuous as possible while still being able to carry the TUSK.

What say you about this proposed setup?
 
ZTFan said:
I am considering open carrying a TUSK in the small of the back, or scout style, with the tip of the blade facing my left side and the retention ring facing my right side since I'm right-handed. The sheath could clip right onto my belt, and this would be my EDC.

I live in California so it's illegal to conceal fixed blades. My shirt will need to be tucked behind the knife at all times.

Question: Could I just expose the retention ring and conceal the rest of the knife and sheath with my shirt? Is that technically still open carry, or does the entire setup need to be exposed? I'd like to be as inconspicuous as possible while still being able to carry the TUSK.

What say you about this proposed setup?
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I'm pretty sure there's a percentage thing, I think it's genrally 80% or something that has to be visible.
If what is showing is very obviously a knife a cop could possibly cut you some slack, but that ring won't really scream knife.
Personally I'd show more, carry vertically ,or tuck your shirt in.
I don't like tucked shirts so I carry fixed blades vertically or diagonally at most.
 
Not a lawyer, not in the states. But if you're already contemplating "How can I expose as little as possible of the blade?" you're basically trying to conceal as much as you can, which I would say is asking for trouble with the first law enforcement officer with a bad day.
 
The OP is young I expect, and needs to learn more about how this works...

while it might be technically okay to 'open carry' a fixed blade, I guarantee you LEO will be on you like flies on sh*t if you open carry a karambit or a large bowie - that is just reality unless you're really in a remote location.

You'll have much better luck with a traditional smallish fixed blade... nothing screams 'mall ninja' more than a karambit imho

Please report back with any experiences when you start this exercise :)
 
ZTFan said:
What say you about this proposed setup?
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The Karambit looks expensive and I do not understand why it has hooks on the back side of the blade. I don't know what it is abt 80CrV2, of which I own a handful of Winkler Knives and they are expensive too. I always feel like I'm getting taken for a ride when I buy anything 80CrV2. I've studied Escrima and Arnis in CA but never studied Karambit.

I don't know abt the knife laws in CA well enough to make a comment but I will say this and that is that cops love to bust people for weapons. As said earlier, a smaller weapon may work out better as it would make you look less intimidating. I have many knives but just a few are legal length here in Illinois and so I stick to what is legal. Stop by the local police dept and see what they say. Their reaction will tell you all that you need to know.
 
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Tommy-Chi said:
The Karambit looks expensive and I do not understand why it has hooks on the back side of the blade. I don't know what it is abt 80CrV2, of which I own a handful of Winkler Knives and they are expensive too. I always feel like I'm getting taken for a ride when I buy anything 80CrV2. I've studied Escrima and Arnis in CA but never studied Karambit.
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“Drawing from ancient photographs and text we added the archaic characteristic known as "cock-tail feathers". The three harpoon like barbs at the rear of the karambit are designed to catch/trap clothing (a technique used in filipino martial arts) it also will rip and tear- maximizing damage in a self-defense situation.”
 
Mitchell Knives said:
Carrying a fixed blade in a communist state that openly hates tools probably isn't the best idea.

I know people do it, but it might not be worth the hassle.

How about a folding karambit instead?
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We actually have fairly good knife laws here in CA.
For the most part if you're not in a big city there's probably no knife ordinances beyond the state law, here where I'm at there's certainly nothing beyond state law.
I'm in a fairly rural area though, so I've been carrying this since Thursday without a single look.


I'd say just don't do anything dumb like pull it out around a crowd, and don't carry anything to huge and aggressive looking.
I personally stick to 6" blades and under.
 
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ZTFan said:
“Drawing from ancient photographs and text we added the archaic characteristic known as "cock-tail feathers". The three harpoon like barbs at the rear of the karambit are designed to catch/trap clothing (a technique used in filipino martial arts) it also will rip and tear- maximizing damage in a self-defense situation.”
Click to expand...

"filipino martial arts" which I studied for the better part of 3 years in the Bay Area and Stockton, CA as well as Illinois never mentioned barbs on knives. Nor do any of the Filipino books that I have on Escrima and Arnis.
 
Tommy-Chi said:
"filipino martial arts" which I studied for the better part of 3 years in the Bay Area and Stockton, CA as well as Illinois never mentioned barbs on knives. Nor do any of the Filipino books that I have on Escrima and Arnis.
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Nonetheless, seems like it would be effective. If I did end up buying this, I would definitely train with it and take some courses.
 
Tommy-Chi said:
The Karambit looks expensive and I do not understand why it has hooks on the back side of the blade. I don't know what it is abt 80CrV2, of which I own a handful of Winkler Knives and they are expensive too. I always feel like I'm getting taken for a ride when I buy anything 80CrV2. I've studied Escrima and Arnis in CA but never studied Karambit.

I don't know abt the knife laws in CA well enough to make a comment but I will say this and that is that cops love to bust people for weapons. As said earlier, a smaller weapon may work out better as it would make you look less intimidating. I have many knives but just a few are legal length here in Illinois and so I stick to what is legal. Stop by the local police dept and see what they say. There reaction will tell you all that you need to know.
Click to expand...


80crv2 is great stuff, both for the maker/smith and for hard use users. I don't like paying a lot for it because it's _much_ easier on consumables than any cpm type steel

Custom makers on BF here will make you a better karambit in 80crv2 I'm fairly certain, for less than this $350 steep production pricetag...

definitely wouldn't be open carrying it in Cali
 
Here’s my 2 cents and I carry a fixed blade edc almost everyday day and I can conceal

SCOUT CARRY (small of back) is a great way to carry when outdoors and not in a urban environment

If you plan on driving it is uncomfortable and you have poor access to your chosen tool when sitting in a car

It also places you in a position that places your arm in a poor position to defend in tight quarters

Example in a confined space you need to reach behind your back which looks odd if you just want to have your hand on your weapon in a situation were you have detected something wrong or a possible threat. If your are carrying horizontally as in cross draw or appendix you can place your hand on your knife and not be overly conspicuous.

The knife in question is going to be overly bulky and very attention grabbing worn like you plan

Also in your state I think in public you will de drawing unwanted attention and it is not going to be received well

Next in my Experience Karambits make terrible edc’s

If you want something inconspicuous and a truly function edc that will not grab attention but be there in a pinch look at a small fixed blade Wharncliffe worn horizontally along your belt line Crossdraw or appendix

Something like this model from John Gray



It comes in a Kydex sheath with an ingenious Velcro strap that facilitates a great way to carry horizontally

Good luck

I like what your thinking imho ya just need to find a more practical real world application
 
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Bad spot for open carry. No retention and the ring and tacticool design says walk up behind me and take the knife. I hate open carry but if you must in front of you or on side where you can protect it.

Karambits are cool and if you know your angles in reverse grip, you can figure them out. But they scream tactical and I would not want to carry one in communist Cali let alone if you have to use it, the jury will take one look at it and assume psycho killer killed. Just my .02.

For what your thinking I would go appendix carry if primary weapon or support side carry if a handgun is your primary and the blade is for weapon retention. Have you looked at the tops cut 4.0?
 
tueller said:
Bad spot for open carry. No retention and the ring and tacticool design says walk up behind me and take the knife. I hate open carry but if you must in front of you or on side where you can protect it.

Karambits are cool and if you know your angles in reverse grip, you can figure them out. But they scream tactical and I would not want to carry one in communist Cali let alone if you have to use it, the jury will take one look at it and assume psycho killer killed. Just my .02.

For what your thinking I would go appendix carry if primary weapon or support side carry if a handgun is your primary and the blade is for weapon retention. Have you looked at the tops cut 4.0?
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Seems like it would suffer at slashing and ripping, but definitely more useful for EDC stuff
 
It reminds me of the story about why, while it looks cool to keep your fixed blade mounted tip up on your tactical vest, it's also easy for somebody facing you to draw it and stick it under your chin, having it unconcealed and behind you, you wouldn't know somebody was drawing it until it's already in their hand being tugged upward out of the sheath.
 
Do your training FIRST , then buy an appropriate knife ! Learn to fight unarmed , then worry about adding in weapons .

90% of self defense is avoidance , awareness of self and the environment . Open carry of a fixed karambit is provocative and just asking for trouble .
 
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