The Top 4 Uses of a Karambit Knife

Karambit knife is a curved bladed knife that hails from the Philippines. It was first built and used in the Philippines. 

This is a small knife with a curved blade and there is usually a tactical ring on the top of the handle. French claim that they constructed the first ever karambit. 

However, most historians believe that the Philippines is the birthplace for this incredible knife. It offers plenty of uses, and following are the top 4 uses of a karambit knife:

1. Self Defense

Karambit knife is an excellent knife for self defense. It is easy to carry and easy to use. You can use the tactical ring to wear it and make it easy to use. 

It is a great slashing knife, and you can use it to battle the attackers. You can do some slashing and stabbing actions to ensure your defense. 

So, use it to save yourself from the attackers. If you explore the history of karambit, it was used by the women of the Philippines for self defense. 

2. Playing Tricks

Karambit knife is popularly used for playing tricks. It has a ring and a curved blade that allow you to perform and play tricks as many as you can. 

If you like playing tricks with the knives, try playing them on karambit, but make sure to keep safety as your priority. 

3. Combat

Karambit knife is an excellent combat knife and was actually used for combat in the Philippines. Since it was great for slashing actions, it was used for silent killing. Also, it was used during warfare. 

4. Agricultural & Tactical Uses

Karambit knife was originally used for agriculture and tactical purposes. It was used for reaping different crops such as wheat and rice. 

Today, it is used for tactical purposes as well; thanks to its tactical ring. So, these are the top uses of this knife!

Read Also: What is a Bowie Knife Good For?

Karambit Knife - A Fighting, Self Defense or Utility Knife?

Karambit knife is spelled in several different ways. Sometimes, it is spelled as kerambit but that does not matter. It is one of the most popular knives today. 

Generally, it is considered a badass fighting knife. However, many people use it as a utility knife too. 

Also, people carry it as a weapon for self defense against the attackers. So, for which purpose this knife is actually made?

Karambit knife has a curved blade. It is great for stabbing and thrusting actions. Moreover, it can also be used for cutting (not very price cutting though). 

So, to me, it is a comprehensive knife that can be used for every task required. 

Karambit as a Fighting Knife

Karambit knife is basically a fighting knife. Such knives come handy in a close quarter combat. You see this knife has a ring on its handle. 

This ring is known as tactical ring. It can be worn in your thumb or any finger. This makes it impossible to disarm the wearer. 

This is why it can be extremely useful in close quarter combat. This is a great thrusting and stabbing weapon and was originally used for fighting. 

Karambit as a Self Defense Knife

Karambit knife hails from the Philippines where it was used by the women for self defense. It was also used for agricultural work but the women and men carry it for self defense as well. 

Even today, you can use it for self defense against the attackers. You can use either fixed blade knife or folding blade karambit for self defense. Both versions can be useful in this regard. 

Karambit as a Utility Knife

For utility work, people tend to use folding karambit knife. It is easy to carry because its blade can be folded inside the handle. 

Anyways, its blade is curved and the design is identical to a fixed blade karambit. For a fixed blade karambit, you need to cover the blade with a sheath. Folding Knife is small and good for precise cuts. 

Conclusion

To conclude, I think karambit knife is a great allrounder knife. It is good for fighting, self defense and utility work. So, if your purpose is any one of these , get this knife in your arsenal.  

Read Also: Samurai or Ninja Katana Sword - Which is Better?

Different tricks to grip Karambit Knife

Karambit knife is not among the easiest to operate knives. You need to be skilled to perform different tricks with this extraordinary knife, specifically the tricks to grip it. The skilled karambit players tend to grip the knife in several different ways, and watching him doing so leaves you in a surprise. The expert karambit players are no less than talented dancers who stun you with their moves. 

Karambits have a unique design which allows the users to change their grip on the blade. However, without proper understanding, knowledge, and expertise, you cannot change the grips and flow freely from a position to the other. In other knives, the blade is often straight, and you can either hold them in reverse or forward position. In case of karambits, there are more than three ways to grip the knife. Each grip of karambit offers different use and degrees of reach, security, effectiveness, power, and maneuverability. Hence, before changing your grip position, determine the purpose of using the karambit knife. We explain the three karambit knife tricks to grip the blade depending upon your needs. 

Forward Grip

The forward grip is not as frequently used, but it is pretty useful in some ways. This grip position is useful when it comes to chores, utility tasks and everyday use when there is a requirement for exceptional accuracy and control. 

• For best gripping it, position your hand on the knife in a way that it’s flat and palm-up. 
• Position the karambit on your palm in such a way that ring is towards your left, the spine is facing your body, and the tip is opposing your body. 
• Place your pinky into the ring and then close your fingers on the handle, your karambit is secured in the forward grip. 

For enabling a variation to this grip, rather than closing your thumb to make a fist, position it on the back brake for achieving more accuracy and stability for perfect cuts. Shift your hold on the knife in a way you hold the pen for tasks that require careful attention and finest motor control. This grip is also called Sak Sak, standard grip and utility grip. It lacks reach, power and maneuverability, but provides excellent accuracy, leverage, stability and control. 

Reverse Grip

The reverse grip is the most widely seen, recognized, and demonstrated grip on the karambits. Most of the users rely on the reverse grip for operating their karambits. Also known as regular grip, tactical grip, Pikal grip and combat grip. This grip is most frequently utilized in combative and tactical applications of karambit knife. There is an easy trick to reverse grip your karambit perfectly. 

• Position your hand on the knife in a way that it’s flat and palm-up. 
• Position the karambit on your palm in such a way that ring is towards your right, the spine is facing your body, and the tip is opposing your body. 
• Then, slide the index finger into the ring and close the finger around the handle, your karambit is secured in a reverse grip. 

In order to vary the position, keep your karambit in the similar orientation, but change your finger placed in the ring for getting more reach. The less number of fingers around the handle result in reduced power and stability on the knife. However, the reverse grip offers more control, power, leverage, stability and maneuverability. But, the lack of reach and accuracy are huge concerns with this grip. 

Extended Grip

Also known as Upward grip, the extended grip results by a flipping of the karambit knife when held in the reverse grip in vertical position and in anti-clockwise manner, enabling the blade to land across the user’s hand with the index finger still holding the safety ring. Because of several drawbacks of this grip, it is used quite rarely. However, it offers extra reach, making it useful for combat. Amid utility, work, or field applications, it can be helpful in snagging anything which is out of reach. The trick for this grip is probably the easiest.

• Hold your karambit in the reverse grip,
• Rotate the blade over your index finger and towards the body until it is rested against your fingers’ backs
• The tip of the blade must be upwards

To vary, enable the blade protrude through the fingers with a couple of fingers wrapped around the handle for achieving extra stability. This grip is helpful in leverage, maneuverability, and specifically reach, but lacks control, power, stability, and accuracy. 

Grip your karambit knife according to you requirement

There are other grips for karambit knife as well. However, these three are the most frequently used. There are benefits and drawbacks of each grip, but before you apply a trick to grip your karambit, make sure to know your requirement.

Read More: How is a Karambit used?