As an avid knife collector, I know the value of a good knife. But quality isn’t the only thing I look for in a knife. It’s important, don’t get me wrong, but it’s just one aspect that I make sure to take a good look at. Style and utility are just as important to me when it comes to choosing a new knife to add to my collection.
My Top 3 Folding Karambit Knives
Take the folding Karambit for example. Originating in Indonesia, this lesser-known knife has recently caught the eye of many knife aficionados. And for good reason. A good Karambit is the perfect mix of style and function, especially the modern version of the blade which is made with high-quality materials and a strong finish.
The 8 Best Folding Karambit Knives
I’ve been an avid collector of Karambit knives for a while now. As a result, I’ve created the following list of some of my favorites.
1. Andux Land Karambit Trainer
The design of this knife is really interesting. The blade has holes that give it a unique look. It also isn’t sharp so don’t expect to be able to use it in any real capacity. Which is fine as this is mostly a training knife.
When you combine the dull edge with the lightweight, you end up with a knife that is perfect for a class with real-life applications. You might want to round down the edges, however.
Pros:
- Great for training
- Light-weight and easy-to-carry
- Not sharp
Cons:
- Not great for actual use
- Bends easily
2. Fox 599 G10 Black Emerson
This knife is sharp.
Even right out of the box, this knife was able to cut through my pocket. A fact I was able to find out due to how easy it’s for this knife to get caught when pulling it out. Aside from that, this knife is great. The grind lines, alignment and even the finish are all high quality and what you would expect from a top knife.
Just an overall great knife.
Pros:
- Sharp out of the box
- Great to hold
- Small size
Cons:
- Easy to accidentally open
- Clip is too tight
- Not great for big hands
3. S-TEC Karambit
Bad news first, this knife isn’t spring assisted.
The good news is that it really isn’t a problem. The sheath is designed in a way that you can reliably open it every time. It might take a few tries to get the motion right. As for the knife itself, it has an intimidating hawk-bill curve with a great piercing point. It’s bulky, however, so don’t expect to be able to conceal it easily.
When outside hiking, this knife makes for a great berry picker.
Pros:
- Great design
- Reliably opens every time
- Comfortable and sharp
- Great for hiking
Cons:
- No spring assist
- Hard to conceal
4. Snake Eye Tactical
Now, this is a great knife.
It’s spring-assisted and easy to open. At least when using the blade lever on the back of it. The design of the knife can make certain ways of opening it kinda awkward. Despite this, you can usually work around it by opening it a different way using the spring-assist.
Aside from that, this knife has a great weighty feel with a good balance.
Pros:
- Low price
- Great for large hands
- Great, weighty feel
- The blade is long
Cons:
- Not sharp out of the box
5. Schrade SCH110 High Carbon Stainless Steel
The Schrade was interesting but this knife is on another level.
It doesn’t have a traditional sheath. Instead, you slide the blade down to put it away. I really can’t overstate just how unique the design of this knife is. Still, it isn’t perfect. It takes a little force to get it open. The knife also didn’t come sharpened. Not too much of a problem as it’s pretty easy to sharpen but still.
All-in-all, this is a pretty great knife that is built with security in mind. Its liner lock and finger guard will give you the confidence that the blade will not easily slip out of your hand.
Pros:
- Easy to close
- Interesting look
- Made with stainless steel
Cons:
- Rough around edges
- Needs sharpening
6. Master Cutlery MX-A815BK
This knife is big.
It’s not gigantic or anything, but it’s big enough to be comfortable for someone with large hands. Don’t expect it to be easy to conceal either. The belt clip is also in an awkward position. Don’t expect to be able to easily take it out for self-defense.
Still, it has a great finish and the overall build quality is superb. It’s not a knife I would use for self-defense but it’s one I would use for utility tasks.
Pros:
- Great finish and build quality
- Great spring-assist
Cons:
- Belt clip has an awkward position
7. Mtech Karambit
Most folding karambit knives lack the full curve of a traditional karambit.
Not this one. It has the full arc that you would expect from a karambit. On top of that, it’s solidly built with a real, solid feel to it. The spring-assist on it lets drawing have a swift and tight feel to it. It’s a knife that you can tell from a glance to be reliable and rock solid.
It’s fairly big, though. Those of you with small hands might find it uncomfortable to hold.
Pros:
- Full traditional arc
- Bulky and nice to hold
- Solidly built
- Swift and tight spring-assist
Cons
- Too big for small hands
8. Spring Assisted Tactical Karambit
This is a knife that feels great to hold in your hand.
The handle is bulky with a nice stern feel. The design of the knife makes it easy to draw from your pocket. It’s really great for self-defense. The blade came out of the box just sharp enough to be usable.
There isn’t really too much to say about this knife. It’s just an overall great knife.
Pros
- Bulky handle that’s great to grip
- Supports pocket-deployment
- Easy to conceal
Cons
- Belt clip has an awkward position
- Bulkiness makes it difficult to do non-standard martial art maneuvers
The Intricacies Of A Karambit Knife
What Is A Karambit?
Originally an agricultural tool, the Karambit became a weapon beginning with the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra. As it evolved as a weapon, the blade increasingly became more curved to maximize its cutting potential. Through the Indonesian trade network, the use of the weapon spread throughout the neighboring regions.
Today, the Karambit acts entirely as a weapon with most agricultural features far removed.
Using A Karambit Knife
For most people, a Karambit is a great display piece. A unique design with rich history makes this knife a perfect fit for any knife collector. But it’s also a knife that has actual real-world use. Aside from being a great general utility knife, it makes for a great survival knife. In fact, hunters in Ethiopia use a similar weapon for protection against hyenas.
Is A Karambit Great For Self-defense?
What really makes the Karambit stand out is their practicality in self-defense.
Due to the knives design, it ends up being difficult for an opponent to pry it away from you. Some may even have spikes or other protrusions on the handle. In a pinch, the handle design will usually allow you to pummel an attacker.
How Dangerous Is A Karambit?
Karambit is as dangerous as any other knife. Due to its unique shape, it may even be more dangerous in certain situations. Being a popular choice for self-defense, many Karambits are designed with that goal in mind. The result is many variants of this knife possess the capability to force an attacker to re-think their attack.
Things To Consider Before Buying A Karambit
Before buying a Karambit, however, you should take into account that not all knives are the same. Some – like the ones on this list – are built with high-quality materials.
Others are not.
Material
Many Karambits are made with stainless steel. As this comes in a variety of hardness, it’s important to keep a lookout for one with a strong scale reading.
Design
Although a knife may look cool, it may also be impractical for everyday use. This makes it a perfect display piece but limits its use. Likewise, a knife that is good for self-defense or utility may not make the best display piece.
Size
The knife size is a limiting factor when it comes to usability. Small knives are easy to conceal but may not be the best for self-defense for example.
Grip
It’s important to make sure that any knife that isn’t meant to be a display piece has a good grip on it. In self-defense, a good grip can be the deciding factor if an attacker tries to take it away from you.
What to Look for When Shopping for a Double-Edged Knife
If you’re looking for a good quality multi-use knife, the Double-Edged Karambit Knife is one of your best choices. This knife gives you the same function and service as a larger knife, but in a more compact size. Its sharp double-edges give you precision and an advantage when compared to single-edged versions.
So what should you look for when you’re in the market for a double-edged knife? Here are a few things to consider.
Style
A double-edged Karambit style knife has twice the cutting power. These first-rate knives have different grinds for better cutting. Double-edged knives were originally designed for close self-defense because the second edge was used in a reverse direction.
Today, karambit knives are also used as utility knives. The karambit knife’s uniquely designed retention rings guarantee a secure, safe grip for utility jobs often performed in close, restricted areas.
Handle
Knife handle materials vary depending upon the style of the knife and the price. Here are the materials typically used for handles:
- G-10
- Stainless steel
- Titanium
- Carbon fiber
- Micarta
- Polymer
- FRN
- Aluminum
Size
Double-edged karambit knives vary in size. The size of the knife you need depends on how you plan to use it. Massive fixed blades are great for heavy tasks. Every situation is different, there’s no one size fits all. Double-edged knives range in size from roughly 4 inches to 7 inches. The blades range as small as 1 inch to as large as a 4-inch blade.
Price
Prices vary depending upon what you want in your double-edged knife. They range from under ten dollars to hundreds of dollars. Remember, a knife is an investment so paying a little more is worth it.
Origins of the Karambit
The karambit knife is a small utility knife with its origins in the Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia and the Philippines. Karambit knives are recognizable because of their characteristic curved blade and ergonomic handle with retention rings.
These knives are designed for safety, precision, and ease of use in different conditions and situations. Legend has it, the karambit knife design copied a tiger’s claw. Thus, all karambit knives have a curved blade good for snagging, ripping and cutting.
Historically, the karambit first appeared in Indonesia in the 11th century. They showed up in the United States mainstream culture via Filipino and Indonesian martial arts in the 1900s. Today, karambit knives are used worldwide.
Benefits of Owning a Double-Edged Karambit Knife
One unique feature of the karambit is the retention rings or safety rings as they’re sometimes called, which keeps the knife secure in the user’s hand. The rings prevent the knife from slipping back through the user’s hands.
These knives are easily deployed with no need to look down at the knife. This is an asset for combat and self-defense. The karambit knife’s design is appealing to knife owners and collectors. Its curved blade and other features make it functional and safe in all conditions, even underwater. It’s precise and stable which makes it reliable and trustworthy.
If you’re looking for a functional knife, this is a good choice. It’s popular with fishermen, rock climbers, spelunkers, field operatives, law enforcement, search and rescue responders, military and martial artists.
Others who regularly use karambit knives are construction workers, plumbers, carpenters and utility workers. Karambit knives can be used safely at weird angles or cramped places. They can be used for chores or as a weapon. If you own a karambit knife, you own a knife that offers versatility in many different situations.
How Does a Double-Edged Karambit Knife Differ from Other Knives?
Double-edged karambit knives are used by a variety of people including hikers, climbers, first responders, warehouse workers, and backpackers. This knife is best for tough jobs that require a good strong blade.
Karambit knives are safer than the other brands of knives. The karambit knife’s retention rings allow the user a good grip. It also includes the patented Emerson wave, which helps the user to keep a good grip.
Pros and Cons of a Double-Edged Karambit Knife
Pros:
- Use both sides – You won’t need to decide which side to use. This is helpful in a self-defense situation.
- Change directions – You can make a quick stroke or cut without changing how you’re holding the knife. You won’t need to twist your wrist awkwardly.
- More damage – A double-edged karambit knife when used offensively or defensively can easily damage your assailant guaranteeing injury.
Cons:
- Lighter weight knife – This depends upon the style of karambit knife you purchase.
- Greater chances of cutting yourself – Unlike usual knives, both sides of the double-edged knives are extremely sharp, so it’s easier to get cut.
- Sometimes illegal – In some states the double-edged Karambit knife is illegal. Check the laws in your state.
- Intimidating knife – A curved blade knife has double sharp blades so it can be intimidating if someone sees you carrying it.
The double-edge karambit knife is a quality, precision knife loved by knife users and collectors the world over. These knives’ sleek design, safety features, and affordable prices make them a good choice for anyone in the market for a knife. If you’re in the market for a good knife, consider purchasing a double-edged karambit knife.
A Karambit Is Worth The Price
Karambits have a rich history behind them. But they are more than just a display piece.
Powerful and intimidating, these knives have found a place in self-defense for good reason. The curvature combined with the power of the blade makes a highly practical weapon.
But these blades can also serve an everyday purpose. The design of the Karambit also serves to make a great tool for outdoor tasks like hunting. The versatility of these beautiful knives can’t be understated.
Truly, the Karambit is a knife that is worth experiencing first hand.
Last update on 2025-04-26 at 00:05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
