Mortal Karambat? The Best Karambit Knives in 2021

If you don't already own a karambit knife, the concept might seem a little foreign. That perception is literally correct — the karambit is an Indonesian martial arts weapon, designed to mimic a tiger's claw, originally used as a farm tool. Fighters adopted the knives when they realized their tactical and self defense utility. 

Anymore, karambits aren't just for fighting and farming. The top karambit knives can also work for hunting, fishing, camping, or even EDC duty.

Dive into the category with our guide, designed to help you determine good karambit knives for a multitude of situations.

Features to Look for in Karambit Knives

Blade Material - The question "which steel is best for knives?" is a lot like the question "which engine is best for a car?" You need the right one, but different situations call for vastly different applications. Most of the product reviews in this guide address steel; check out this guide to knife steels for a more comprehensive understanding.

Blade Length - This just in: it doesn't need to be long to be effective. That's true of...well, some things, and karambit knives certainly belong in the category. The longest blade in our range? 7.25", pilgrim. Blade length is a trade-off among compromises: for instance, a longer blade gives the user more reach, but less precision.

And then there are legalities and concealment regulations. Check this handy resource from American Knife and Tool Institute to brush up on the rules in your state.

Handle - If you're using it every day, you want comfort. If you're using it tactically, you want grip and security. Pay attention to the material, texture, and size and spacing of the finger grooves.

Protrusion Ring - This little number is part of what makes a karambit, a karambit, and not just a hawkbill blade. A karambit's protrusion ring facilitates an entire discipline of martial arts tricks and moves. It also gives the user a superlatively secure grip, and works as a brass knuckle (yup).

Types of Karambit Knives

Fixed Blade Karambit - The traditional karambit; a curved blade with a fixed handle, a protrusion ring and a sheath.

Manual Folding Karambit - Karambit folders can be handy for EDC — unlike a typical karambit, they're essentially pocket knives. The karambit folding knife in our guide features a fast/easy opening design from Emerson, called the Wave. 

Butterfly Karambit - A folding karambit that hinges open from a two-part handle. If you can operate one of these without cutting yourself to ribbons (and especially do any cool tricks), please teach us your ways.

Benefits of Owning a Karambit Knife

• No-Slip Grip: First and foremost, a karambit knife is a weapon. That means a slippery handle is a no-no. Most karambits get textured handles at the bare minimum; some, like Schrade's, even have grips that resist moisture.
• Safety: A karambit is just a knife. Unless you decide to get fancy without knowing what you're doing, it's as safe as any other edge weapon.
• Maneuverability: If you train to spin and flip a karambit, you will be able to look cool, impress those from whom you seek affection, and strike fear into the hearts of your enemies. So much so, perhaps, that they will elect to simply admire and befriend you, rather than get in a knife fight with you. Wouldn't that be something?
• Self-Defense: That brings us into self-defense. The tactical aptitude behind the karambit design boils down to the same thing that makes a tiger's claw an effective tool. It's sharp, and its shape facilitates both cutting and ripping. Yikes.
• Multiple Strikes: Various karambit knife combat techniques give you the chance to make multiple strikes. In some ways, the knife itself facilitates a "many hits" style. If you're using the protrusion ring, it doubles as a brass knuckle.
• Ready for Emergencies: Unless it's a vegetable-slicing emergency, you'll be ready for it with a karambit knife.

Origins of the Karambit

Karambit knives originated in the Philippines and Indonesia as a form of agricultural utility tool. Ingeniously, the design models the claw of a tiger. As their anatomical origin suggests, they've been around for awhile; nearly a millennia, per historical consensus. Fighters first used karambits as last-ditch weapons, concealing them for use in desperate situations. Some sources suggest that the karambit, as a last-chance weapon that started as a farm tool, once had a pejorative reputation.

Karambits didn’t make their way to America until the early 1900’s, where they were seen as a novelty than anything else. Shortly, their bizarre shape and juicy history made them collector's items.

Karambit Knife FAQ

Q: What is a Karambit Knife?

A: A curved (or hawkbill) blade and a protrusion ring characterize the karambit knife. The curved blade rips as well as cuts, and the protrusion ring facilitates a secure grip and doubles as a brass knuckle. Designed in ancient Indonesia with the shape of a tiger claw in mind, karambits are principally martial arts weapons.

Q: Is a Karambit Used for Tactical Purposes or as a Tool?

A: Tactical. When else would you want a blade with a cutting surface that curves away from whatever you're cutting? The karambit's barbed blade induces a ripping cut, and the curved shape utilizes body movement physics to increase striking power.

Q: What is an Emerson Wave Feature?

A: Knife maker Emerson patented the Wave as a simple, mechanical advantage-based opening system for folders. The Wave constitutes a leverage point for opening any folding knife that's both ergonomic and easy to locate by feel. Look for a thing that looks like a wave near the base of the blade at the spine; that's the Emerson Wave.

Q: Who Should Consider Purchasing a Karambit Knife?

• Collectors: Everyone loves a fun collection. Rocks, stamps, baseball cards, shrunken heads. Why not rare fighting knives! You want some killer karambits to put on display? Show 'em off. Load up for martial arts practice? Namaste. Fill your kitchen knife drawer with karambits to give yourself an arbitrary slicing challenge no matter what? You bet.
• Historians: In a lot of ways, the history of the karambit fascinates. Its anatomically-inspired design imitates a fearsome organic weapon. For years, it filled the role of a humble farm implement for planting and tilling. Then fighters adopted it as a potent sidearm (albeit with an ignoble reputation). So cool! Of course any historian of the era and form would take interest.
• Martial Arts Enthusiasts: The martial arts are the realm of the karambit. Multiple possible grips, security, spinning and punching capability from the protrusion ring, and a shape that facilitates a heavy strike set it apart from the pack.

Q: Is Carrying a Karambit Legal?

A: Familiarize yourself with regulations that govern knives where you live by using this guide from the American Knife and Tool Institute. As a rule of thumb, most municipalities prohibit concealed carry of knives with blades longer than about 3.5". Some states have different laws for folding knives versus fixed blades, or even designate based on intended use.

Here's the overriding answer: a karambit is just a knife. Certain knives are legal to carry and possess in certain areas; others are not. But there's nothing inherently illegal about a karambit.

Disclaimer: Gear Hungry has produced this buying guide, curated product list and information solely for informational and entertainment purposes. Under no circumstances are we responsible for anything that you do with your karambit knife, whether purchased through discovery on this website or otherwise. Any actions performed with any item from this list is up to you, and Gear Hungry and its associates are not responsible for anything you may do with your purchase, under any circumstances.

Sources:

1. About the U.S. Knife Laws - Akti
2. Karambit - Wikipedia