One of the most popular knives in recent years is karambit. The bizarre shape of the knife and its small size make it an extremely interesting choice for both household needs and self-defense.
What is karambit?
According to various versions, the word "karambit" means either "tiger's claw" or "cock's spur", depending on whether the inhabitants of the Malay archipelago or Sumatra are considered the inventors of this knife. However, the most popular point of view is that the knife appeared in Malaysia, where cockfighting is very popular. To enhance the effect, curved blades were tied to the feet of fighting roosters, and, according to legend, this was the reason for such an unusual shape of karambit.
The knife is a curved blade with a sharpened inner side, which continues with the same curved handle. Another distinctive feature of karambit is a finger ring at the end of the handle, designed to more confidently hold the knife. In shape, the karambit really resembles a claw or a rooster's spur. Traditionally, the knife is held with a reverse grip so that the index finger is inserted into the ring and the tip of the knife is directed outward.
The shape of the knife is well suited for household needs, since the internal bend allows you to apply less effort to cut various ropes and surfaces.
Practical use
Such a grip makes the karambit quite convenient for applying cutting blows from the bottom up, with the main target being the tendons and arteries. This is why many people buy karambits for self-defense. Most experts in knife fighting consider karambit not the most effective melee weapon, referring to the small length of the blade (5-10 centimeters), as well as the specifics of the reverse grip, which limits the radius of destruction. Nevertheless, karambit is quite effective in battle with opponents, since it allows you to inflict sufficiently deep lacerated wounds.
Karambits are folding and awkward. The second option is more reliable and durable, but a folding knife is better suited for carrying.
Some styles of martial arts use karambit as their primary self-defense weapon. The nature of the blows with this knife is not much different from ordinary punches, so basic training in any kind of hand-to-hand combat greatly facilitates the use of karambit. It is no coincidence that the image of a kerabit is present on the emblem of one of the special forces of Malaysia.
The United States intelligence services are also developing karambit-based knives for their units. In addition, there are larger knives, which are mainly designed to be held in a straight grip. In this case, the little finger is inserted into the ring on the handle. You can buy such a knife in weapon stores.
