I don't think there's a more distinctive tactical knife than the mighty Karambit. It began life as a farming tool in Indonesia, where it served a similar purpose to the sickle.
But practitioners of the Silat martial arts have helped this blade strut its stuff. Just as its curved blade gathers and slices the long fibers of rice stalks, it does a good job of gathering and slicing through the skin, muscles, and tendons of your enemies.
This biomechanical advantage combined with the Karambit's small, concealable size has allowed this blade to stand the test of time. Today, martial artists, self-defense instructors, military and police personnel, and even ordinary citizens appreciate the Karambit for its tactical utility. If you're one of them, you've come to the right place. Here are the best Karambits of 2024!
Best All-Around Karambit: LionSteel LEOne
No matter why you carry a Karambit, the LionSteel LEOne will excel at the job. It was designed by tactical knife legend Ernest Emerson and is equipped with the Emerson-branded Wave Opener. When you need your LEOne, simply clip the Wave to your pocket and the knife will open when you pull it. LionSteel is known for its SOLID knives with integrated handles, and the LEOne is one of them. Its handle is milled from a solid block of aluminum with an additional steel locking bar insert for locking stability. Its blade is made from state-of-the-art CPM MagnaCut, so you won't have to worry about breakage or rust. For a versatile Karambit, it's hard to beat the LEOne!
Best Tactical Karambit: CRKT Provoke
If you're a police officer or military officer, your knife isn't just a tool—it's one of your last lines of defense. These high-risk jobs require a knife designed for them, and the Provoke is exactly that. Its blade relies on a unique kinematic opening mechanism designed by Joe Caswell. To open it, simply loop your finger through the ring, rest your thumb where it naturally falls, press the jimping, and the knife opens and locks into place. In a sticky situation, the Provoke can go from sheathed to open and be combat-ready in less than a second!
Best Spring-Powered Karambit: Kershaw Outlier
Some people love the reliable opening action offered by an assisted opener, and Karambit fans are no exception. Kershaw created the Outlier for you—with its SpeedSafe assisted opener and liner lock. My favorite feature of this knife is its oversized thumb stud. If you pull the knife out by hooking your index finger through the ring, there's no way to reach the flipper. But with a little practice, you can open the thumb stud with your pinky! And for all you lefties or weak-side carry types, the pocket clip and thumb stud are reversible for left-side carry!
Best Folding Karambit: Fox Knives Black Bird
Designed in collaboration with Bastinelli Knives, the Black Bird possesses all the elements of a self-defense masterpiece. Its short blade allows the whole thing to be small and compact without sacrificing cutting power. With a little training, the user can clip the blade's hook to their pocket and launch the knife into action in a split second. This hook comes in handy during a fight, helping you move the attacker's limbs to your advantage.
Best Concealed Carry Karambit: Bastinelli PiKa
The PiKa is tiny . Its blade is only an inch long and weighs 1.37 ounces, but it packs all the cutting power you need to get out of a jam. It was designed as a collaboration between Bastien Coves of Bastinelli Knives and Doug Marcaida. These two blade experts put their years of experience into this blade, and it shows. Even though the knife is small, it fits perfectly in the hand, and the blade's hook may be small, but it cuts incredibly deep. It's amazing how much work such a small knife can do!
Most Unique Karambit: Reate EXO-K
My friend Tomas Alas of Tactical Tavern is famous for his ability to flip knives all over the place for fun and profit, but is knife flipping useful in a self-defense situation? Honestly, I don't know, but there's something to be said for a cool opening mechanism, and the EXO-K has a really cool one. To open it, you press the button, open the knife, and catch it when it comes back together. With a little practice, you can do it pretty quickly, and when you do, it's the coolest thing you can do with a knife.
But before you run around flipping a live Karambit like Tomas, get a trainer and master it. I decided to switch to a live-edge Karambit for flipping and earned four stitches and a scar on my pinky. Be careful!
Best EDC Karambit: WE Consider
The Karmabit's distinctive blade isn't always the practical blade shape for everyday carry. Sometimes a little belly comes in handy, and inward curves are difficult to sharpen. That's where the Envisage comes in. WE made this knife with the iconic Karambit ring, but with a more conventional drop-point blade shape. Other than that, it has all the luxury WE Knife Co. touches, like a milled titanium handle and ultra-smooth ball bearing. If you're an EDC-er and want to carry a Karambit, check out the Envisage!
Best Budget Karambit: Schrade SCH111
When the police intervene in a self-defense situation, they tend to gather all the evidence they can, often including the weapons involved. I've never experienced this, but I imagine it's heartbreaking to see some officers put your beloved knife in a plastic bag and walk away with it. And if they do, there's a 90% chance you'll never see it again, even if you were justified. So, if you're carrying a Karambit for self-defense, I'd recommend something affordable like the Schrade SCH111 . It's an effective last resort option, and if the cops take it from you, you're only out $25.
Best Fixed Blade Karambit: Cold Steel Steel Tiger
Fixed-blade knives are the fastest knives available, which is why many people in high-risk tactical jobs prefer them. If that describes you, the Steel Tiger is the knife for you. Its Secure-Ex sheath can be mounted on a pack, vest, belt, or boot, and in a split second, a skilled user can pull this knife out of its sheath and engage an assailant. And you don't have to worry about your hands getting John Wick-esque wet during the fight. The Steel Tiger's rubberized handle becomes even more grippy. If I were building a tactical rig right now, the Steel Tiger is the knife I'd choose!
Best Oversized Karambit: TOPS TAC-TOPS
With all this talk of self-defense, it's often forgotten that Karambits are also extremely useful cutting tools. Whether you're cutting grass in the field to build a shelter, chopping fruit, or chopping wood, that forward curve can be a welcome boon. However, when the cutting jobs get serious, so does the knife. The TAC-TOPS will do all that work and more. As for its battlefield prowess, let's just say I'd rather not meet anyone wielding one!
Why buy a Karambit?
Karambit knives are cool. They offer self-defense users a compact, concealable package that they find intuitive to use, and its downright wicked tip opens cans like nothing else. Karambits may not be for everyone, but if its features seem like they'll make your life a little easier, then by all means, pick one up.
