Post by Lobster on Jun 8, 2016 9:01:52 GMT 3
The uses for a karambit knife have been hotly debated, opinions range from useful utility knife to defense weapon only, from great EDC knife to totally useless, you name it. I decided it was time for me to add the karambit style to my collection and form my own opinion on them. I bought 2 fake Fox Knives models on AE, this is my review of the fake Fox 478 with aluminium handles.
When I received the knife, my first impression was was a very positive one. Despite the under 15$ price tag, this knife looks and feels very well made and is very close to the original in appearance, although there are a few things that give the fake away, the pocket clip and the markings on the blade are different from the original.
The handles are made of 2 aluminium slabs over steel liners. Fit and finish are impeccable, the aluminium is machined very precisely, the screws are sitting flush and everything is lined up perfectly. The handle is very comfortable to hold and combined with the typical karambit ring it provides a very secure grip in any position. The tip up clip is left and right side carry. At 129 grams and 12mm thickness the knife is light and easy to carry.
The 7.6cm long hawksbill blade is flat ground, 3mm thick and advertised as 440 steel. Combined with the swedge that runs 2/3 of the spine it makes for an extremely acute tip. Out of the box the blade was shaving sharp. Due to the strong detent it takes some practice to open the blade one handed using the thumb hole but it is possible, the flipper doesn't work at all! This knife also has the Wave feature allowing deployment of the blade when pulled out of the pocket. The blade moves smoothly, has no play when the solid liner lock is engaged and sits centered when closed. The jimping on the short thumb ramp and on the “flipper” tab provide excellent grip and protection from slipping forward onto the blade.
To me it seems that this karambit was designed as a weapon but despite this I found that it can be useful as an EDC knife. While the shape of the blade is not ideal for every task, the handles with the ring and the hawksbill give you incredible blade control that makes up for a lot. The extreme tip excels in cutting carpets and slicing open boxes, bags and bales, the curved edge cuts webbing, string and rope easily and with minimal effort. Great to use in tight spaces, the fine tip is also fantastic for precise and delicate cutting work.
If you do a lot of food prepping there are knives much better suited for the job. The shape and appearance of the knife are very “tactical” and it will raise eyebrows pretty much anywhere it is seen so it is not suitable for every environment. I also find sharpening to be a challenge due to the acute curve of the edge but other than that I cannot find much fault with this knife. I use mine occasionally at work where it has proven useful for many jobs. However, due to its rather aggressive looks I would hesitate to buy this knife again.
When I received the knife, my first impression was was a very positive one. Despite the under 15$ price tag, this knife looks and feels very well made and is very close to the original in appearance, although there are a few things that give the fake away, the pocket clip and the markings on the blade are different from the original.
The handles are made of 2 aluminium slabs over steel liners. Fit and finish are impeccable, the aluminium is machined very precisely, the screws are sitting flush and everything is lined up perfectly. The handle is very comfortable to hold and combined with the typical karambit ring it provides a very secure grip in any position. The tip up clip is left and right side carry. At 129 grams and 12mm thickness the knife is light and easy to carry.
The 7.6cm long hawksbill blade is flat ground, 3mm thick and advertised as 440 steel. Combined with the swedge that runs 2/3 of the spine it makes for an extremely acute tip. Out of the box the blade was shaving sharp. Due to the strong detent it takes some practice to open the blade one handed using the thumb hole but it is possible, the flipper doesn't work at all! This knife also has the Wave feature allowing deployment of the blade when pulled out of the pocket. The blade moves smoothly, has no play when the solid liner lock is engaged and sits centered when closed. The jimping on the short thumb ramp and on the “flipper” tab provide excellent grip and protection from slipping forward onto the blade.
To me it seems that this karambit was designed as a weapon but despite this I found that it can be useful as an EDC knife. While the shape of the blade is not ideal for every task, the handles with the ring and the hawksbill give you incredible blade control that makes up for a lot. The extreme tip excels in cutting carpets and slicing open boxes, bags and bales, the curved edge cuts webbing, string and rope easily and with minimal effort. Great to use in tight spaces, the fine tip is also fantastic for precise and delicate cutting work.
If you do a lot of food prepping there are knives much better suited for the job. The shape and appearance of the knife are very “tactical” and it will raise eyebrows pretty much anywhere it is seen so it is not suitable for every environment. I also find sharpening to be a challenge due to the acute curve of the edge but other than that I cannot find much fault with this knife. I use mine occasionally at work where it has proven useful for many jobs. However, due to its rather aggressive looks I would hesitate to buy this knife again.