OT - A pair of Malaysian Kerambit..

[samosaurus]

Folks,



The Kerambit does not enjoy a good reputation here in Malaysia unlike their high-tech cousins in the States and other parts of the world. These small edged tools are mainly concealed carried. Cheap and lethal, the Kerambit have seen plenty of action in grudge-killings among Indonesian migrant workers here... A simple an effective tool, the Kerambits here are made of high-carbon steel and are housed in a leather sheath. The typical handle material is made from Asian Black Buffalo horn. Well, usually, those who pack the Kerambit are not really concerned about inhibiting rust on the blade. The dirtier it is, the better.. For an effective strike, the Kerambit is sometimes laced with poison made from tree roots and bark. For centuries, the Kerambit have been carried around the Malay archipelagos and some of the ones that I've came across in Indonesia are similar to the ones I found here in Peninsular Malaysia. Martial art practitioners or Silat folks do train to use the kerambit as a defensive tool.. Here's a coupla shots of a typical Malaysian Kerambit which I would like to share.. Note that the workmanship is just average and this is no-frills cutting tool.. Tell me what you think..



Sam



"have scars will travel.."<br /><a href="/forums/attachmentarchive/10849-7-kerambit1_low.JPG" target="_new">View Attachment...</a><br /><br /><a href="/forums/attachmentarchive/10849-7-kerambit2_low.JPG" target="_new">View Attachment...</a><br />

[samosaurus]

Okay, here's another shot with only the blade exposed..

"have scars will travel.."

[silverback]

Always nice to see the roots of a particular design.
Did they originate as work tools before becoming martial arts weapons?
The design suggests a specialized need for a pulling cut.
Are there more elaborate designs?
Other interesting knives?
Thanks for the info!<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>


Few people think more than two or three times a year; I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week. -George Bernard Shaw

[EarthDog]

Very interesting, Sam. Thanks for the post with images.

EarthDog

[CKE]

Great Pics Samo! I am totally interested in the history of the Karambit. I have the Emerson version and hope to get the Spydie soon. They are such a history rich blade. I have Tarani's Safety and Personal Protection video and it has tons of info. A very cool design. I hate when people call it &quot;the latest fad&quot; they have been around for hundereds of years...time proven in my opinion. Would love to get my hands on one of the old school originals from over seas. They have so much character. Take Care!!!

"everything else is just a jeep"

[Rex G]

Nice pics! Theses blades are not as curved as some I have seen. Regarding the use of karambits: they can indeed be used for pulling cuts, but can also be used to puncture and then rip, and even a dull karambit can be used as a control tool. In fact, I consider the karambit to be a control tool that is also able to cut and puncture the target/adversary, assuming it is large enough.

[samosaurus]

Thanks for the feedback guys.. The Kerambit, well, we call them &quot;Kerambit&quot; [curr-rumbeit] rather than the usual &quot;Karambit&quot; which you'll find on Tarani's site. Nah, the Kerambit has never been used as a working tool. Its design is primarily based on the &quot;Sabit&quot; [sah-beit] or sickle which is used on the paddy fields... The Kerambits you see at Emerson's, Strider, Taranis and Cutter's are modified to suite the ages. Back here, these tools are kept at the bare minimal to operate at optimum level.. Pulling-cuts! Yes guys! You got that right! Only one side is sharpened with devastating results.. <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0><img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0><img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

"have scars will travel.."

[CKE]

Samo, how much do Kerambits go for in Malaysia? Equivalent to US funds. If they are common I assume they are quite cheap as is the SAK in other parts of the world. Thanks again for more info. Take Care!!!

"everything else is just a jeep"

[samosaurus]

Hi CKE! The Kerambits are not &quot;common&quot; items per say. They are hard to find and are never cheap. A typical piece will take about two to three months to produce. Each of them is estimated to cost about US$50-US$70 a piece depending on size. These so-called &quot;original old school&quot; kerambits are just slightly above average when it comes to quality, fit and finish... Hope this helps...

Sam

"have scars will travel.."

[Chris_H]

Samo,

Thanks for posting some great history &amp; info on this knife design/style!

[CKE]

Cheers! Thanks again Samo!
Take Care.

"everything else is just a jeep"

[samosaurus]

My pleasure dudes! <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0><img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0><img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

"have scars will travel.."

[dialex]

Thanks for the infos and pics, Samo. Indeed, they look sort of &quot;primitive&quot; as I've got used to seing much more elaborated designs.

<a href="http://users.pcnet.ro/dialex"><font color=blue>(my page)</font></a>

[samosaurus]

Hi Alex, its an honour to share with you guys! Well much of the aspects of producing a kerambit in this part of the world is left to the bare minimal.. There are no CNCs and Boring machines to mass-produced these blades since demands are only nominal.. Even the level of quality, fit and finish is determined by the mood and personal feelings of the maker. I found that it is harder to find young people making knives than there is with the older generation who are fast-fading. While attending a knifeshow last year, I met Japanese knifemaker Koji Hara who share similar experiences. Hara told me that he only managed to train a few individuals over the course of his career. Some of his understudy did make it while other dropped out.. The Malaysian kerambit is pretty much in its twilight as I'm talking.. <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

"have scars will travel.."

[death-bringah]

Hey! Spyderco should totally make a fixed-blade Karambit!

I envision a sort of upside-down S.P.O.T. (my favourite Spyderco) with a similar sheath, similar ergos...

Keep the tradition alive.