Best Karambit Knives of 2023

If personal safety, on-the-go protection, and utility are important to you, you’ll want a knife that can meet your specific needs. We’ve handpicked 7 of the best Karambit knife options on the market that give you what you’re looking for. We’ve taken the time to wade through countless Karambit knives that don’t live up to their claims.

Personal safety is important – so choosing the right knife for the job is just as essential. You’ll be guided through what to expect from the knives at different price points and specialties. Our goal is to get you ready to choose a reliable knife that’ll be by your side for years to come. Let’s go!

Top 7 Best Karambit Knife Reviews in 2023

Here’s where we’ll take an in-depth look at each of the Karambit knives we’ve carefully selected. You’ll find out what’s unique about each of them and why they’re worth your attention.

We want to help you build a clear idea of what you’re looking for in your next knife. We’ll conclude each review with what we did and didn’t like about each of the knives – so that you have realistic expectations and can gauge how they’ll perform in the real world. Let’s dive into the reviews!

Snake Eye EDC Tactical Karambit Knife

We’ll kick it off with one of the most popular folding Karambit knives. The 3” blade folds smoothly into the frame of the knife, giving you a closed length of around 4”. This is small enough to use as a discreet EDC knife and light enough to go unnoticed. The 3” inch blade is assisted and can be opened in a flash with the thumb stud. You’ll find the action to be swift and smooth.

You’re getting an impeccably sharp edge that comes to a sturdy and extremely sharp tip. It’s perfect for quick piercing and cutting movements. The sleek black profile gives this knife an intimidating appearance. It’s capable of self-defense and basic utility work.

We loved the ergonomic handle with the rubberized easy-to-hold inlays. There are molds in the handle for each finger and a finger ring for your index or pinky finger (depending on how you grip the knife). It’s one of the best Karambit knife options and comes in at a very affordable price.

GrandWay Fixed Blade Karambit Knife

Here’s a Karambit knife that’s been designed with ease-of-use and comfort in mind. The handle is made from Micarta and has a smooth, warm feel to it. Its anti-slip properties help you get a good grip in wet or moist conditions. You can grip the knife is either a forward or reverse grip with ease thanks to the intelligently placed finger-ring. You get plenty of thrusting and cutting power in different grips (left-handed grips too).

This knife is ideal for self-defense, tactical, and hunting use. You’re getting a slightly larger and longer blade just over 4”. It’s a very functional length and this gives you the versatility you need for basic outdoor and hunting use. We love how easy this knife is to sharpen to an exquisitely sharp edge.

The 440c steel is durable and holds its edge well – but doesn’t come very sharp out the box. If you’re a beginner to EDC knives, you’ll need to get this professionally sharpened or have somebody teach you good technique if you want to get more from this knife. Overall, it’s one of the best Karambit knife options for self-defense and light hunting use.

SOG Survival Karambit Knife

If you’re looking for the durability and strength of a full tang best Karambit knife, here’s a fantastic option for you. It’s been expertly crafted from one piece of steel. The blade has less of a curve than many other Karambit knives but doesn’t sacrifice any performance as a result. You’re getting a knife that’s very easy to hold and use.

This might be a better choice for the beginner or new enthusiast who hasn’t handled curved knives like these in the past. This SOG knife has quite a short blade which is a minor letdown. At 2.58”, it’s not quite as big as we’d have liked. That being said, it’s capable of handling basic utility and protective use.

It’s a great addition to an EDC setup that has a larger knife to handle heavier and tougher work. You’ll quickly fall in love with how to handle feels. It’s smooth and sleek, while still offering you a strong grip and ergonomic finger molds that work for left and right-handed users.

The finger grip can be used with the index or the pinky finger – depending on how you hold the knife. It comes with an excellent quality sheath that helps protect the blade and extend its lifetime. You’re getting one of our favorites for best-fixed blade Karambit knife.

CRKT Provoke Karambit Knife

Here’s a futuristic and intimidating Karambit knife. You’ll immediately notice how the unique handle and sleek black profile appear to stand out. The unique Kinematic deploy means you can spit the blade out in a flash using only your thumb. We loved how minimal the action was. There’s no delay and the result is a snappy and reliable opening motion.

Unfortunately, there is only one sharpened edge to the knife. At 2.4”, it would have given the knife quite a bit more functionality and practical applications. That being said, the edge is exquisitely sharp and has edge retention similar to much more expensive knives.

Despite having a smaller handle, you’ll be surprised how well this CRKT knife fits into your hands. It’s comfortable and easy to hold – though, a little on the slippery side. Overall, this is one of the best Karambit knife options if you want something compact and capable.

Andux Land Karambit Knife

Here’s an ultra-lightweight best Karambit knife with an attention-grabbing gorgeous blue steel blade. It has a strong curve and a well-designed ergonomic handle. It fits gracefully into your palm and your finger naturally rests where their molds are. The finger mold closest to the blade has a steep incline that helps keep your finger safely away from the blade.

Although the handle is made from ABS, it’s durable enough to use daily and shave quite a potion off the total cost of the knife. There’s a thumb ridge on the spine of the handle for improved grip strength and helps keep the handle non-slip.

We would have liked to see a tactile click that keeps the knife locked into the sheath – but even without it, this sheath is one of the best fittings at this price point. You can quickly pull the blade out of the sheath with one firm motion without much friction. Overall, this is a knife that makes some sacrifices to make room for its stunning appearance – all while keeping costs low.

Smith & Wesson Karambit Knife

If you’ve been dying to get your hands on a good quality large Karambit blade, this might be for you. At 3.1”, it’s slightly over the legal EDC size in many places. You’ll need to check your local laws if you want to use this as an EDC. Our favorite feature of this knife is the hawkbill blade design. It’s impeccably sharp and has piercing power on par with some tanto knives.

It’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for a tactical knife. The capable and robust design is simple and sturdy. This is a knife that doesn’t need tons of care and maintenance just to stay in shape. You’ll quickly fall in love with the G10 handle. It’s large and fits large hands just as easily as it fits small ones.

We’d have liked an extra finger mold in the handle, but the anti-slip grip and finger ring give you all the grip strength you need for tactical use. These are excellent quality and affordable Karambit knives for the outdoors and tactically minded enthusiast.

CRKT Du Hoc Fixed Blade Karambit Knife

Our final knife in this review is a premium beauty. It has all the features you’d want in a premium Karambit knife such as dual sharp edges and a well-designed handle. The G10 handle is one of the best in this price range and makes the knife almost effortless to use. It fits well into various hand sizes and gives you fine control over the blade.

Speaking of the blade, it’s made from SK5 steel that can be sharpened to a razor-like edge. It easily stands out as one of the best blades on a Karambit knife. With top-class edge retention, this is a good choice for an experienced user – or if you’re looking to level up your knife game. We loved the sheath that comes with the knife.

It’s Molle compatible and does an excellent job of keeping the blade protected and in place. If you’re willing to invest in a premium quality blade, you won’t go wrong here. You’ll get long-lasting durability and impeccable performance worthy of the price. This is a top-rated best Karambit knife that has earned its place near the top.

How to Choose the Perfect Karambit Knife for You!

We’re going to point out a few aspects and features you need to pay careful attention to when choosing your next (or first) karambit knife. Getting a great knife comes down to how well it matches your needs, budget, expectations, style, and planned uses. Let’s take a look at where you should focus your attention.

Folding Vs Fixed

Folding karambit knives are the newer of two – and less common than the fixed variant. There are a couple of concerns with choosing one over the other. If you don’t mind the extra size and bulkiness of a fixed karambit, that would be the better choice for you. They offer you a little more cutting power and are less likely to fail due to fewer moving parts.

If you need a folder for everyday use, or you simply don’t like having a fixed knife swaying from your belt – a folding karambit might be better for you. It’s also worth noting that you’ll need a sheath for a fixed karambit and they can be a little awkward at first.

Handle

Many good quality karambit knives pay special attention to the handle. Firstly, ergonomics are essential. We advise you to get one with finger contours/molds that match your hand size. Most standard size karambit knives have 3 contours to fit 3 fingers. You should also try to get a knife that has a finger-ring.

The finger ring lets you slide your pinky or pointer through to massively improve your control and grip strength – and it supports reverse/downward grips.

Cutting Edge

Stainless steel with high-carbon content is essential. This improves edge retention and gives the steel more corrosion resistance. Karambit knives are built for utility, meaning you can safely take a harder steel HRC58 as it will hold a sharper edge. This knife is great for self-defense and increasing cutting and slicing power.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do I Need to Sharpen Both Sides of a Karambit Knife?

A: Yes, you do. Unless the edge has been file sharpened (just on one side) then you need to sharpen both sides with good equipment to get it to its sharpest point.

Q: Are Karambit Knives Good for Piercing and Stabbing?

A: Yes, they are. These knives are designed for tactical and light utility work. They have excellent piercing power and are great at making quick accurate cuts.

Q: How to Sharpen a Curved Cutting Edge?

A: Karambit knives are tricky to sharpen. Due to the curved cutting edge being on the inside of the curve, you’ll need a rounded sharpening stone. The process and sharpening angle will remain the same – just make sure the stone’s curve is steeper than the curve of your karambit.

Q: Are Karambit Knives Legal?

A: You need to check your local and state laws (or national if you’re outside the US). Different countries and states have different regulations, with the most common being related to blade length and concealed carry. Visit a local knife shop or seek legal advice before buying a karambit.

Final Thoughts

You should feel ready to choose a knife now. Remember to keep your needs at the center when you make your choice. Feel free to go over the options and take a more careful look at any knives that caught your attention. Once you’re ready, go ahead and make your order. Once you’ve got the best Karambit knife for your need and budget, you could take on the world and still come out on top! Good luck!