Find the Best Karambit Knife

Karambits, otherwise known as Karambit knives, are becoming more popular for use as utility and self-protection tools. Perfect for technical use, bushcraft, and karambit knife fighting in martial arts settings, these ancient knives have recently found a strong foothold in the US market.

Based on Indonesian knife technologies that have been refined and studied for centuries, the modern Karambits in this list represent a combination of cutting-edge materials and time-honoured blade styles.

The key things to look out for in each knife are blade style, length, and materials used, as these will define not only the usage scenarios of the blade but also the legality of carrying one in your particular country or state. Read on to find the best karambit knife for sale in your locality.

1. Karambit Fox 599 G10 Black Emerson Folding Knife

The Fox 599 G10 from Karambit (yes, that’s a brand name) is a retractable karambit knife with a clip point blade and a unique Emerson Wave opening mechanism. The edge is sharp and precise, smelted from high-quality stainless steel at 2.25” long, and the handle is finished with a Teflon coating for extra-sturdy grip. The Emerson Wave mechanism and finger-ring handle make this an extremely competent quick-access knife.

2. CRKT Provoke Morphing Karambit Knife

Designed with a military aesthetic, the CRKT Provoke karambit combines a traditional hawkbill blade with an interlocking joint mechanism for a sleek and powerful knife. A Ti nitride coating gives the handle supreme grip friction, and the black and chrome colorway makes this one slick tactical knife.

3. Ka-Bar TDI Karambit Fixed Blade Knife

This karambit pocket knife from infamous knife maker Ka-Bar (they also used made the Rambo bowie knife) uses a more traditional fixed-edged blade that cannot be retracted, meaning it’s closer to the original Indonesian karambit than most Western editions. This particular knife comes with a nylon sheath for open-carry and has an overall small form factor with a short 2.3” blade. A nylon sheath is also included with the package.

4. Fox Karambit OD G10

Another G10-handle karambit folding knife from Fox, the OD, is very similar to the 599 aside from one important difference; the slightly longer 2.5” blade. Aside from this, the OD uses a khaki colorway for a tactical aesthetic and also includes a lock tab to prevent the knife from opening on its own.

5. Emerson Super Karambit Knife

The Emerson Super karambit training knife is a double-panelled knife with a super-strong titanium lock and a long 3” blade. The thumb extension button makes it easy to open in a flash, and a lanyard hole means it can be worn about a paracord lanyard as well as tucked into a pocket with a handy steel clip on the back of the main handle.

6. CRKT Du Hoc Karambit Fixed Blade Knife

If you are looking to get into karambit knife fighting in a martial arts context, then the CRKT Du Hoc could be a good karambit training knife for you. This knife uses an extra-long 5” blade, not unlike an Indonesian kris, and to support this length, the steel is carbon blended, while the handle is constructed from extra-strong fiberglass.

7. Boker Plus Wildcat Karambit Flipper Knife

Combining delicate curves with a sharp blade, the Boker Plus Wildcat karambit folding knife uses a tanto chisel-shaped blade style for precise cutting action. A thumb ring and pocket clip make it practical for carrying, while the D2 steel used in its metal parts ensures a long-lasting and scratch-resistant finish. This is one of the best-looking and most functional Karambit knives on the market.

8. Fox Karambit Folder Knife

The Fox Knives karambit pocket knife sports a brown stonewashed handle and a hawkbill blade with Bohler N690 steel. A relatively long 3.1” blade and large handle make this a large knife, but the Emerson Wave opening mechanism means it’s just as fast to open as smaller karambits and folding knives.

9. Ontario Ranger EOD Karambit Knife

This heavy-duty karambit from Ontario Ranger has been designed in collaboration with the Marine Corps for a high-fidelity military-spec blade. USA-made from carbon steel and with a micarta linen handle, this is a simple but effective fixed-edge knife that’s built to last. Plus, the lack of moving parts means it’s unlikely to ever suffer for wear and tear.

10. Hogue Knives Hawkbill Karambit Knife

This black knife is a short-bladed karambit blade from Hogue Knives. This hawkbill knife uses a wider edge than most, with a contoured handle to help increase maneuverability. A sheath is included as, like some of the knives above, this uses a fixed blade rather than a retractable one, while overall, the curved structure of the handle gives the karambit a compact 6” length.

11. TOPS Knives Fixed Karambit

Very few karambit knives come with a blade as long as this one, and as such, it should not be considered a tool for casual carrying or untrained use. This is a knife designed only for specialists. The glove-size finger ring is large enough to allow safe use of the knife in a training environment, and the dual grip handle allows for two different stances to be practiced with this blade.

12. Fox 479 Folding Karambit

A complete inverse of the seven-inch blade karambit we’ve seen previously, the Fox 479 opts for a long handle and a small blade for long-range usage scenarios. An aluminum steel handle allows for a lightweight knife without skimping on handle size, and a liner lock prevents the blade from retracting once opened.

13. Cold Steel Tiger Karambit

This knife is one of few karambits you will find on the market with a serrated edge and should not be considered a self-defence tool, unlike others on this list. Instead, this is a work tool designed for electricians and engineers to be used for cutting through wires, ropes, and cables. Designed by Andrew Demko, a lot of care has been put into making this one great practical sawing tool.

14. Schrade SCH110 Karambit

An outdoor survival knife made to keep you safe and assist in outdoor locations. This weather-resistant karambit from Schrade uses a traditional hawkbill blade made from finely worked carbon steel. A relatively large knife at 7.9” long, this is a useful tool for hiking, camping, and bushcraft and has an extremely sharp edge.

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