7 Best Karambits in the Market – Models For EDC
The exotic karambit is a knife that has come a long way. It started as a utility knife from the farming fields in Indonesia, spread throughout Southeast Asia via trade, became a weapon for revolution, then became used as a martial art weapon in Indonesia and the Philippines, and finally it was exported to the west. Today, there are many kinds of karambits present in the market, and we will help you find the best karambit for you.
Table of Contents
- 7 Best Karambits - Comparisons
- 7 Best Karambits in 2020 - Reviews
- 1. Vulcan Gear Tactical Karambit Hawkbill Knife
- 2. SEHawkbill Full Tang Karambit
- 3. Swampland Karambit Tactical Hawkbill Knife
- 4. FadeCase Karambit Classic - Tiger Tooth - Real CSGO Knife
- 5. Snake Eye Tactical Folding Karambit
- 6. Unbrand MTech 7 3/4" Black G-10 Tactical Karambit
- 7. Crestgolf Stainless Steel Karambit
- Final Verdict
7 Best Karambits - Comparisons
Image | Product Name | Primary Material | Blade Length | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Stainless Steel | 4" | ||
  | 440 Stainless Steel | 4" | ||
  | Karambit Tactical Hawkbill (Currently unavailable) | Stainless Steel | 3.15" | |
  | 420 Stainless Steel | 3.54'' | ||
  | Stainless Steel | 2.5" | ||
  | 40 Stainless Steel | 4" | ||
  | Stainless Steel | 4" |
7 Best Karambits in 2020 - Reviews
Vulcan Gear is a manufacturer and online retailer of outdoor gears and heavy-duty bags. They are based in Hong Kong and have quite a lineup of products, ranging from katanas, knives, and crusader swords to camping gear and military clothing.
While Vulcan Gear has a lot of products to offer, their Hawkbill is by far their best. This is their only karambit knife offering, and with this high-quality knife, they do not need to have any other in their repertoire.
What we liked
- The blade is made of stainless steel, and the steel that was used is undeniably of good quality; this knife can tear up ropes, weeds, and skin deer extremely fast.
- The handle is not only beautiful, but it’s also practical; the knife itself looks really great, and the handle is designed well, so well that the knife never slips out of my hand and the grip is strong and powerful.
- The blade and handle are both slim, making this knife extremely handy.
- The karambit itself measures around 7.5 inches, and the blade is 4 inches long. This knife weighs 0.3 ounces. It is lightweight and has a good reach.
- There are a lot of handles you can choose from. While the classical black is my preference, the camouflage handle is also very stylish.
What we didn't like
- While fixed blades are great for sturdiness and for beginners, the blade sheath for this knife is a bit too short, and part of the blade is showing.
Hawkbill knives are named appropriately—they look like a bill of a hawk. Cutting and slicing is done by pulling or pushing through the curved blade, allowing the knife to have a wider range while at the same time providing accuracy for slicing or cutting. This karambit is an example of a Hawkbill knife, and is immensely sought after due to its utility and beauty.
This karambit is a great example of a good knife manufactured well. The safety ring on the tip of the handle does its job really well and is comfortable enough that sometimes you forget you are wearing it. The blade is also designed well, with a perfect balance between usefulness and form.
What we liked
- The blade is full tang, meaning that it’s been made from one long blade with the handle attached and constructed to it. This means that the blade is immensely durable.
- The handle is also designed really well, the grip is amazing on this knife.
- The karambit itself measures around 7.5 inches and the blade is 4 inches long. This karambit weighs 4 ounces, which makes it heavier than most karambits in the market, but that makes it better since it can slice and cut easily.
- Its design is quite sleek and minimalist, and it’s great to look at, as it really doesn’t look alarming. This is one of the most aesthetically pleasing karambits I have seen.
- The necklace sheath is good as well.
What we didn't like
- The sheath, again, is too short. While the sheath is great, the blade near the hilt is peeking out.
Swampland is a company that specializes in outdoor gears. This is their only karambit offering, but with this level of good quality, they do not need to offer alternative options.
This knife is really sharp and easy to use, and its design and iridescent blade are immensely eye-catching. The handle is also crafted really well.It is. The blade is fixed, meaning that even newcomers can safely use it. A free camping whistle is also included in this package.
What we liked
- In terms of aesthetics, this one is definitely our favoritemodel! The boldcolors of the blade will grab your attention, and the handle is also pleasing to look at. All in all, it’s a very beautiful and well-crafted knife.
- The handle is sturdy and comfortable to grip.
- The utility this knife gives is insane! I can cut ropes, slice stems and branches, and it is very sharp! I can even use it to skin deer!
- This karambit is more on the heavier side with its weight of 4 ounces.
What we didn't like
- The blade needs to be sharpened—when I first tried cutting a branch, it took me two to three strikes. Sharpening makes it go down atone fell swoop.
For those looking for something that is stylish and unique, FadeCase has the perfect blade for you. This is a full tang karambit, meaning that it is one piece of blade with the handle constructed on it. That gives it not only great gripping comfort, but also immense durability and strength—you’ll never have to worry about the blade separating from the handle.
The design is inspired by Counterstrike GO, so for those who play that game or those who know of friends who are players, this is a perfect gift. We cannot overstate how stylish and cool these blades look.
What we liked
- The 420 stainless steel used for this knife is astounding! It is heavier than what I am used to, but the steel can cut extremely well thanks to the extra weight.
- The total knife is a little bit over 7 inches while the blade itself is 3.5 inches of stainless steel. It is also heavier than most at 8 ounces, giving it a great feel for tactical maneuvers.
- You can choose from 7 amazing blade designs, all of which are stylish and well thought out.
- Each FadeCase Karambit is unique and comes with its own serial number engraved with the logo. This makes it a collector’s item.
- Comes with a high quality sheath.
What we didn't like
- The grip might feel too small for larger hands.
For the veterans of karambits out there, this is one that you should definitely not miss! This is another masterfully crafted karambit in the market. Snake Eye Tactical is a big player in the Knives and Hunting and fishing categories so the quality is to be expected.
What I did not expect though was the amazing handle. It looks almost techno or futuristic in its design. It is a folding knife, giving it more compact maneuverability. Overall, it is a great karambit and versatile tool in general.
What we liked
- This knife is on the shorter side; it is 7 inches long, while the blade is only 2.5 inches. It weighs 5 ounces, and makes it one of the faster, lighter, and stronger karambits available in the market today.
- This one is a folding knife! You can do a lot of surprise slashes and cuts. Karambits in general are not meant for thrusting though, but this can do its work pretty well.
- The blade is also great for slicing. Cutting can take some time since the blade is quite short, but it is sharp enough.
- The best thing about this knife is its handle. Not only does it look good, but it also fits in the hands and fingers properly. Plus the handle is just the right weight.
What we didn't like
- This is a folding knife. For beginners, please use a training or a straight knife first.
For those looking for a minimalist,but aesthetically pleasing karambit, this one is made just for you. It looks amazing, intimidating even. The knife looks like a talon of a large eagle, and its sheath is practical and wonderful to look at. The black theme adds more charm to its mysterious aura—just for its aesthetics alone, this is one for the books.
The inside part of the blade, the part where it curves, is immensely sharp as well. It can cut through bark and even skin deer very fast, and can be used to scrape the scales off the fish that you caught. I have used this karambit and I couldn’t find any flaws whatsoever.
What we liked
- This knife is on the larger side; it is 7 ¾ inches long and the blade is a bit shorter with 3 ¾ inches. It weighs around 5.8 ounces. For its size, it is light and can do very rapid slashing. Immensely good for fast strikes!
- Its blade is very sharp! I cannot emphasize this enough. I did not even need to sharpen this one when it arrived. The stainless steel that is used is very good.
- The handle does its job really well. The grip is comfortable and strong and it feels light. The design is really good too.
- The sheath actually covers all of the blade, which is a big plus since most karambits I looked at had a small part of the blade peeking out of the sheath. The sheath looks great too.
What we didn't like
- The sheath does not have a cord to make it convenient to carry, however it has holes on the corners so I tied one end to end.
Crestgolf is an online retailer with a lot of products to offer. They are quite the diversified company. They have over 162 products offered, from golf clubs to hammocks and even armband bags, although the majority of their products are sports-related, this knife is not something to be ignored.
This knife comes in three colors, black, white, and multicolor. The black and the white look really great, but honestly the multicolor one is a bit too tacky for me. Imagine a rainbow painted onto a knife—it looks so over the top that I just cannot take it seriously. The handle is made of plastic, just like the sheath. This package also has rope in it as a bonus. This one also works well as a camping knife.
What we liked
- This knife is quite light at only 4 ounces.
- This blade is sharp—it cut the rope that was bundled with it effortlessly after a quick sharpening, so you can say that the knife does its job really well.
- The plastic handle is very comfortable. It does not feel sweaty after some time in the palm of your hand and provides a safe grip. The weight also helps with making very rapid successive slashes.
- The knife looks alright. The black and white blade colors have the classic air, while the multicolored one looks like more of a toy than a knife, even though that one is sharp, too.
- The sheath actually covers all of the blade, which is a big plus since most others I used had a small part of the blade peeking out of the sheath. The sheath looks great too.
What we didn't like
- The protective ring at the end of the handle is way too sharp, so much so that I have small cuts all over my pinky. While the knife is good, the protective ring is supposed to protect, not wound.
- Again, the multicolored design is just childish. That may be my personal opinion, but it just looks weird compared to other karambits.
Final Verdict
Karambits are handy and versatile knives, basically the marriage of pleasing aesthetics and useful design. Every nook and cranny of this masterpiece has its use, and the overall image it gives is just sophisticated coolness. However, do not underestimate the sharpness and utility of this beauty—it can cause serious injuries and should be handled with care. The best karambit for you is just waiting around the corner, ready to protect you and make your everyday life a lot easier.
