What’s the best karambit knife out there that you can get right now this 2022? While trends tend to come and go, the truth is that when it comes to gear, the tried and tested reign supreme. Karambit knives may look flashier compared to your typical pocket knife, but you’re still looking at a multi-use tool that doubles as a combat weapon specially designed for slashing at assailants.
But why a karambit knife? The arching blade of a karambit knife makes it really good at clawing into things. It’s handy for slicing, hooking onto surfaces, and tearing. Shorter karambits typically only have a finger hole for you to slide your fingers into rather than a proper handle. Though that and the curved blade may seem impractical, the blade’s shape makes it particularly deadly in the hands of a trained user.
If you don’t happen to practice any martial arts that leverage the karambit, though, it’s still a useful tool that, frankly, looks really good.
So, here are just some of the best karambit knives you can order online this 2022.
TOP CHOICES
Best Overall
Smith & Wesson ExtremeOps CK33
- G10 laminated handle with wide, spacious grip.
- Made from 7Cr17MoV High Carbon Stainless Steel.
- Slip-free liner lock with thumb grips.
- Quick deploy and easy refolding of the blade.
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Best Aesthetics
CRKT Keramin Fixed Blade Knife
- High carbon stainless steel blade.
- Ultrafine tip perfect for tasks that require precision.
- Comes with a sheath and additional carry options.
- Polished resin infused fiber handle.
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Best Budget Option
MTECH USA Mt-665Bk Neck Knife
- Includes a nylon fiber sheath.
- G10 fiberglass laminate handle.
- Full tang knife with finger hole at the edge.
- Made from wear resistant 3Cr13 stainless steel.
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1Tops DEVCL-02 Devils Claw 2
The Tops DEVCL-02 Devils Claw 2 is a fixed blade karambit knife that offers you a balance between your typical straight edge knife and the more drastically curved traditional karambit.
This knife features a high-pressure fiberglass laminate handle with a comfortable yet subtle groove that lets you curl your fingers around it fully without having to worry about making them fit. Compare this to some knives that have separate finger grooves and you can see how the Tops DEVCL-02 Devils Claw 2 can be better if you have larger fingers or would just like to hold your knife differently.
The Tops DEVCL-02 Devils Claw 2 has a stainless steel blade. Unfortunately, there are no serrations or a serrated version of the knife. But it is black traction coated and comes with its own sheath.
PROS
- Fixed blade knife so you don't have to fumble with the opening the blade.
- Straighter edge versus other karambits for easier all-around use.
- Black traction coating protects the knife blade from wear and tear.
- Comes with a black Kydex sheath.
CONS
- Knife screws sometimes snag on the sheath.
- Since it's designed for concealment, this is a rather small knife.
2MTECH USA Mt-665Bk Neck Knife
Best Budget Option
If it’s a more traditional karambit knife you’re after, the MTECH USA Mt-665Bk Neck Knife is a great budget option. At its price point, it’s honestly a pretty great knife that can perform at a fairly competitive level with the pricier knives on this list.
The MTECH USA Mt-665Bk Neck Knife features a more drastically curved blade made of stainless steel. Again, no serrations, but this fixed blade karambit also comes with a sheath and uses the same G10 fiberglass laminate as the previous knife.
PROS
- Includes a nylon fiber sheath.
- G10 fiberglass laminate handle.
- Full tang knife with finger hole at the edge.
- Made from wear resistant 3Cr13 stainless steel.
CONS
- Needs a little sharpening first before use.
- Injection molded sheath and rivets feel a tad flimsy.
3CRKT Keramin Fixed Blade Knife
Best Aesthetics
For ten people looking for a karambit knife due to practical reasons, there’s bound to be one person who wants a karambit knife because it looks good. And who can blame them? These badass knives look great but the CRKT Keramin Fixed Blade Knife is a cut above the rest. Pun intended.
The CRKT Keramin Fixed Blade Knife boasts a beautiful resin-infused fiberglass handle that gives it this almost iridescent blue-green color. The knife comes in a number of styles. Aside from the karambit style blade, you can get it as a bowie knife, cleaver knife, drop point knife, etc.
Like the earlier knives mentioned in this list, this one comes with a plastic injection molded sheath complete with a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck or hang it off your belt loops.
PROS
- High carbon stainless steel blade.
- Ultrafine tip perfect for tasks that require precision.
- Comes with a sheath and additional carry options.
- Polished resin infused fiber handle.
CONS
- Blade tends to fall out of the sheath when held upside down.
- Plastic loop on the sheath is a little small for some conceal carry belts.
4FOX 479 G10 Black Emerson Wave Folding Karambit
The FOX 479 G10 Black Emerson Wave Folding Karambit may look like it’s more handle than knife, but this well-designed blade is great for people who’d like their own karambit knife but are turned off by the more common fixed blade designs available on the market.
The FOX 479 G10 Black Emerson Wave Folding Karambit features a 3-inch blade that folds into a 5-inch long handle so you don’t have to worry about remembering where you last placed your sheath. The blade is made from NC690Co stainless steel so you can count on this knife to be corrosion resistant. It’s also coated with black Teflon to help it keep its edge.
PROS
- Sheath-free carry since the knife folds into the handle.
- Spacious 5-inch handle gives you a lot of room and a lot of grip surface.
- Made from corrosion resistant stainless steel.
- Adjustable pocket clip for ambidextrous use.
CONS
- The blade can be hard to unfold according to some users.
- Requires frequent sharpening.
5Smith & Wesson SW995
Here’s a name you’re bound to recognize since it never disappears from knife lists like this one. Smith & Wesson’s SW995 is a full tang karambit knife with a clip point blade.
This simple knife is a no-frills, no-nonsense blade with a straightforward design. You get a sheath with a chain for hanging it off your belt loops or bag and that’s it.
The Smith & Wesson SW995 is made of 8Cr13MoV high carbon stainless steel with a stonewash that gives it a fine, tastefully weathered look. It’s attached to a black nylon handle that, like most karambit knives, has a finger hole at the end.
PROS
- Black stonewash finish.
- Easy to grip black nylon handle.
- High carbon stainless steel blade.
- Comes with a sheath and chain for carrying.
CONS
- The sheath is a little tight for the knife according to a few users.
- Does not have a top edge.
6Smith & Wesson ExtremeOps CK32C
Back to the pretty knives. The Smith & Wesson ExtremeOps CK32C is a folding karambit knife with a hawkbill blade. Now, you’ll want to be a little careful with this since some users say it slips in and out of the handle so smoothly that you can end up cutting yourself. That’s either a pro or a con, depending on how you like your folding knives.
The Smith & Wesson ExtremeOps CK32C is an 8-inch long knife that weighs about 5 ounces and has a 3-inch long blade made of 7Cr17MoV high carbon stainless steel.
As you can see, it has a black camo pattern to it. Descriptions don’t say whether it’s hydro dipped or not, but it certainly looks that way.
The Smith & Wesson ExtremeOps CK32C is designed for ambidextrous use and comes with a convenient pocket clip for everyday carry use.
PROS
- Black and white camouflage pattern all throughout the knife.
- Folding blade requires no sheath.
- Designed for ambidextrous use.
- Quick deploy pocket knife with liner lock to keep it in place.
CONS
- Cannot be opened with just one hand.
- No thumb studs for opening the blade with.
7Smith & Wesson ExtremeOps CK33
Best Overall
The Smith & Wesson ExtremeOps CK33 is another folding karambit knife from Smith & Wesson. This hawkbill blade knife has a length of 3.8 inches and is made of 7Cr17MoV high carbon stainless steel. Despite the blade’s thickness, it’s sharpened to a fine point and has a sharpened edge on the reverse.
The knife’s handle is made from G10 laminated fiber to give you a slip-free grip. Finger grooves are easy to fit your hands onto regardless of your hand’s size. It comes with a pocket clip and ambidextrous thumb knobs so you don’t have to fumble awkwardly with it even if you’re left-handed.
PROS
- G10 laminated handle with wide, spacious grip.
- Made from 7Cr17MoV High Carbon Stainless Steel.
- Slip-free liner lock with thumb grips.
- Quick deploy and easy refolding of the blade.
CONS
- A bit too heavy versus most pocket knives.
- Top edge needs to be sharpened a bit out of the box.
