{"product_id":"damascus-karambit-olive-wood","title":"Damascus Karambit Knife with Olive Wood Handle and Finger Ring","description":"\u003cp\u003eOlive wood in honey and dark brown carries the handle, and the blade is Damascus etched in a twist of long swirls. The shape is a hawkbill, hooking back so the tip points rearward and the edge bites on a pull. The butt ends in a closed ring the index finger drops through, so the knife hangs off one finger. Four inches along the curve, 8.5 overall, for people cutting cord and packaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 inches along the curve\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.5 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 twist pattern, whole blade including the bevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade shape\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHawkbill\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOlive wood, two brass pins\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, layers forge welded over a high carbon core and etched so the light and dark bands show. The pattern is a twist, long spiralling swirls running down the blade. The etch went on after the grinding, so it carries across the whole blade including the bevel instead of stopping at the flat. The edge runs 4 inches along the curve. Carbon sits under those layers, so it darkens with use and rusts if left wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe finger ring\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhere the wood ends the steel keeps going and turns a full circle. That ring comes out of the same bar as the blade and closes with no gap. Your index finger sits inside it while you cut, so the weight rides on the finger and you are not clamping the wood. Set the knife down and the ring is a loop to hook a thumb on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe scales are olive wood with strong wavy grain, honey colored with dark brown streaks running across. It is oiled rather than lacquered, so you feel the wood instead of a coat of gloss. Two brass pins run through into the steel. The tang is full, so the steel runs the whole length of the handle and shows as a bright line round the wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat it is for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMost of its work happens outdoors. Plant ties come off in one pull, garden twine cuts to length, netting over fruit opens without tearing, and a compost or seed sack splits along the top. Vine and soft growth cut back cleanly, because the hook catches the stem and draws it onto the edge where a straight blade skates. It will not slice on a board, and the point is not for levering.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA hooked blade needs a sheath cut to its own shape, so this one follows the curve of the steel. The hide is vegetable tanned, which is why it takes a stamp. A welt keeps the stitching clear of the edge, the sewing is cream thread by hand down the outer edge, and a snap strap crosses the mouth. Over the face goes a basket weave, the square stamp struck one row at a time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a working shape first, and the olive wood gives it enough presence for a collection or 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\u003cli\u003eGift buyers\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 twist pattern never repeats, the grain in the olive wood is its own, and the stamped leather varies.\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. A hooked edge is sharpened piece by piece, moving along the curve on the existing bevel. Oil the wood now and then. 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, added on this page. Around 30 characters fits on the blade. 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 small hook bladed knife that came out of Southeast Asian farm work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat Damascus pattern is this?\u003c\/strong\u003e A twist, long spiralling swirls running down the blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does full tang mean?\u003c\/strong\u003e The steel runs the whole length of the handle in one piece, and on into the ring.\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, there is carbon steel under the layers. Wipe it dry and oil it lightly.\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 there.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the same steel there is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-karambit-stag-antler\"\u003eDamascus karambit in stag antler\u003c\/a\u003e, and in plain carbon the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hand-forged-karambit-rosewood\"\u003ehand forged karambit in rosewood\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\/olive-wood-handle-knives\"\u003eolive wood handle knives\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44141863075958,"sku":"VEF-KAR-DAM-OLV-903","price":169.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/damascus-karambit-olive-wood_b5f64089-4a34-469a-b88f-5fe03180caeb.jpg?v=1788816300","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-karambit-olive-wood","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}