{"product_id":"hand-forged-karambit-black-horn-brass","title":"Hand Forged Karambit Knife, Black Horn Handle with Brass Bolster","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe karambit is a small curved knife from Southeast Asia, and the shape began as a farming tool. The blade is a hawkbill, curving down and back so the point aims toward the handle, and a closed ring at the butt takes the index finger so the knife hangs from the hand. This one is 1095 carbon steel, black horn and a brass bolster, for people who cut 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\u003e4.5 inches along the curve\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9.5 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\u003e1095 high carbon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDark gray forged finish\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\u003eBlack horn, brass 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 1095 high carbon, one plain bar under the hammer rather than pattern welded. The flat is left dark gray from the forge with faint hammer marks, and the bevel is ground to a mirror bright line down the hook. The edge runs 4.5 inches along the curve, so the cut happens as you pull. It takes a keen edge and comes back on a stone quickly, and it darkens with use and rusts if put away wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe finger ring\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ring at the butt is forged from the same bar as the blade, not added afterward, and it is a complete closed circle with no gap. The index finger goes through the ring, so the knife hangs from the hand and needs no tight hold while you cut. Set the knife down and the ring gives you something to hook a thumb or a finger on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe scales are polished black cow horn, with faint amber streaks running through the black. A polished brass bolster sits where the handle meets the blade, capping the horn where it takes the most handling. 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\u003eA hooked blade pulls into the work instead of sliding off it, which is why the shape exists. It suits cord, twine, tape, strapping, shrink wrap, cable ties, netting, seed bags and feed sacks. Open a box from the side, take down garden twine, trim small branches and vine where a straight blade skates. It is a poor slicer on a board and the point is not made for prying.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sheath is vegetable tanned and cut on a curve so it follows the hook of the blade. A welt is sewn into the seam so the stitching sits back from the edge, and that stitching is done by hand in cream thread down the outer edge. A snap strap closes over the mouth. The face carries a basket weave, the square woven stamp struck row by row across the panel, inside a plain border line.\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 for someone who already keeps a knife on them.\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 hammer marks, the amber streaking in the horn and the stamped 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. Carbon steel 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. Sharpen the curve in short sections, 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 from Southeast Asia with a closed ring at the end of 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 is the finger ring for?\u003c\/strong\u003e The index finger goes through it so the knife hangs from the hand.\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 1095 steel rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can if left wet. Wipe it dry and oil it lightly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it come with a sheath?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, a hand tooled leather sheath is included.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn wood there is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hand-forged-karambit-rosewood\"\u003ehand forged karambit in rosewood\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\/high-carbon-1095\"\u003ehigh carbon 1095\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":44141893353590,"sku":"VEF-KAR-HC-HRN-910","price":149.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/hand-forged-karambit-black-horn-brass_def4dd1c-fa8e-4303-941d-bb6917f22f12.jpg?v=1788816301","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/hand-forged-karambit-black-horn-brass","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}