{"product_id":"damascus-karambit-ram-horn","title":"Damascus Karambit Knife with Ram Horn Handle and Finger Ring","description":"\u003cp\u003eRam horn in gray and black, ridged with its own banding, and a sheath hand carved with a rose rather than stamped. Between them a twist pattern Damascus blade, 5 inches along the curve, 10 inches overall. The hawkbill curve carries the tip round to face the handle end, and the forged ring at the butt takes the index finger while the edge cuts on the pull. Bought by 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 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\u003eRam horn with natural banding, 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\u003eHand carved 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 layers stand apart. The pattern is twist, long swirls turning down the blade. The etch went on after the grinding, so it runs the whole blade including the bevel rather than stopping at the shoulder. The edge runs 5 inches along the curve, so the cut happens as you pull. There is carbon underneath, so it darkens with use and rusts if left wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe finger ring\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat circle was drawn from the same bar as the blade, closed in the fire rather than welded, and it comes round with no gap. Your index finger sits inside it while you work, so the ring carries the knife and your hand need not clamp on it all day. When the cutting stops, a thumb through the ring lifts it off the bench.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe scales are ram horn in dark gray and black, with natural ridged banding running across them. The ridges are left standing rather than sanded flat, so no two sets read alike. 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 all round the horn.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat it is for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis shape earns its keep in a workshop. Webbing and cord, hessian, tape, cable ties, leather lace off the hank, and the string round rolled carpet and foam. Hook the edge under the strand and pull: the curve draws it deeper into the belly of the blade, where a straight edge rides over and slips. It will not slice on a board, and the tip is no lever.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA carved cut goes deeper into the hide than a stamp. The swivel knife opens the line in damp leather, then its walls are beveled and shaded until the rose stands off the ground in a rope border. A stamped face is struck row by row; a carved one is drawn, cut and worked over by hand, so fewer get made. Vegetable tanned, shaped round the hook of the blade, welted seam, cream stitching, snap strap over the mouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA working shape for anyone who opens packaging all day, and one people buy 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 Damascus karambit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe hand carved 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 banding in the ram horn is whatever that horn grew, and the carved leather varies 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. Because the edge curves, sharpen it in short runs rather than one long stroke. 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 a blade, so a name or date works. 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 blade knife, the point facing back, with a finger ring forged at the butt.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the Damascus pattern on this one called?\u003c\/strong\u003e Twist, long swirls turning 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.\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 Yes, there is carbon steel under the pattern. Wipe it dry and oil it lightly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill my knife look exactly like the photo?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Every etch and every set of horn scales is different.\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 the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-karambit-buffalo-horn\"\u003eDamascus karambit in buffalo horn\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":44141876969590,"sku":"VEF-KAR-DAM-RAM-906","price":199.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/damascus-karambit-ram-horn_bbe3045c-8194-462a-8ff7-7118466b3d0d.jpg?v=1788816301","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-karambit-ram-horn","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}