{"product_id":"damascus-karambit-black-micarta","title":"Damascus Karambit Knife, Black Micarta Handle with Steel Bolster","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt 5 inches along the curve this is the larger karambit in the batch, and a polished steel bolster sits where the black micarta meets the blade. The shape is a hawkbill, ground so the point turns back in toward the handle instead of forward, which is what makes it cut on the pull. At the butt the steel closes into a ring for one finger. It goes to people who cut packaging daily.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 inches along the curve\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDamascus over a high carbon core\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEtched ladder pattern\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade shape\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHawkbill, point curving back toward the handle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack micarta, steel bolster\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull tang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTooled leather sheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 dollars per piece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifetime warranty against defects, free sharpening for life.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe blade\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe steel is Damascus, pattern welded over a high carbon core and etched so the light and dark layers show. The pattern is ladder, straight bands running across the blade like rungs, and the etch runs the whole blade including the bevel. The edge runs 5 inches along the curve, so the cut happens as you pull. Carbon under the pattern means it darkens with use and rusts if put away wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe finger ring\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSet the knife down and the ring gives you somewhere to hook a thumb when you pick it up, or hang it off a nail by the ring alone. It is forged from the same bar as the blade rather than fitted on later, a closed circle with no join. The circle is sized to the index finger, and the knife rests on that finger while the edge does the cutting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe scales are black canvas micarta, woven cloth set in resin, matte with a fine tooth rather than glossy. A polished steel bolster sits where the handle meets the blade, bright against the black and capping the end that takes the handling. Three brass pins run through into the steel. The tang is full, so the steel runs the length of the handle and shows as a bright line all round the micarta.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat it is for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese go to warehouse and stockroom work. Pallet wrap comes off once the point is under it, cable ties part with no sawing, cartons open down the taped seam, banding gives way too, and a sack of feed splits along the top. A curved edge draws itself into whatever it catches instead of skidding off. On a board it is clumsy, and the point is too fine to lever anything open.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLeather here is vegetable tanned, wet formed round the blade so the pouch carries the same arc as the hook. A welt between the two faces sets the stitch line back out of the edge's reach. Cream stitching runs by hand down the outer edge, and a strap crosses the mouth onto a snap. Across the face is a basket weave, the square stamp struck row by row inside a plain border.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a working shape for anyone whose day involves cutting things open, and it lands well as a gift.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeople who cut cord and packaging every day\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGardeners and growers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFarm and yard work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors of the shape\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe karambit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe tooled leather sheath\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery blade is forged, ground, heat treated and sharpened by hand, so runs stay small and no two finish alike. The ladder bands land differently on every blade, and the micarta and leather vary from the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWipe the blade dry after use and never put it away wet. Damascus darkens with use, and that gray patina is normal and protects the steel. A light coat of oil before it goes away, and never a dishwasher. Take a stone round the curve in short passes on the bevel there. More in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003eknife care page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePut a name on it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLaser engraving is 20 dollars per piece and you add it on this page. Around 30 characters fits on the blade, so a name or a date fits. We send a proof image before the laser runs, and it adds 3 to 5 business days. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a karambit?\u003c\/strong\u003e A curved knife whose point turns back toward the handle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a hawkbill blade?\u003c\/strong\u003e It curves down and back so the point aims toward the handle, and it cuts on the pull.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat Damascus pattern is this?\u003c\/strong\u003e A ladder pattern, straight bands running across the blade like rungs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it legal to carry?\u003c\/strong\u003e Knife carry laws differ by state, city and country, so check the rules where you live before you carry it. We cannot advise on that.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Damascus rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can, since there is carbon steel under the pattern. Wipe it dry and oil it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I sharpen a curved blade?\u003c\/strong\u003e Work in short sections round the curve, following the bevel already on it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn wood there is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-karambit-olive-wood\"\u003eDamascus karambit in olive wood\u003c\/a\u003e, and in tool steel the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/karambit-knife-d2-brown-micarta\"\u003eD2 karambit in brown micarta\u003c\/a\u003e. The rest sit in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/karambit-knives\"\u003ekarambit knives\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-steel\"\u003eDamascus steel\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/edc-knives\"\u003eeveryday carry knives\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44141853442166,"sku":"VEF-KAR-DAM-MIC-902","price":179.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/damascus-karambit-black-micarta_3414c443-c54b-4f55-87f2-2cf87b7c5a7b.jpg?v=1788816300","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-karambit-black-micarta","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}