Episode 26 - Comparison between Emerson and 5.11 Karambit

[theoldgeezernextdoor]

Zip tie mod!

[tacketja032995]

like the looks of the 511, but the emerson has the wave feature which is more ideal for self defence i think.

[applevalleyjoe]

EXCELLENT video! How about some more comparative videos?

[deadcue]

I love your review! I recently switched from the Spyderco Harpy to the emerson Karambit, and I'm loving the wave function and the G10 grip.

[fake1009]

Are Karambits mostly for self defense? If so then it seems that the 5.11 seems close to impractical for that role.

[wishbone1138]

@fake1009 I use one as an urban every day use knife. I find it quite useful in that respect. Of course for some reason a blade curved the opposite direction scares the hell out of people. I still haven't figured that out. So I don't carry it just for self defense, but lot of people all over the world do. I just think it's a useful shape for more than just that.

[Rapist87]

@wishbone1138 I think it scares them because the blade resembles a claw or tooth on some hideous huge creature that would eat you alive in times past, and taps into a primal instinctive fear, on top of the fear of the knife. End result - brown pants!

[johnnycache]

@fake1009 I would say these two are. Hawksbills in general are very practical for certain tasks, but these are a little pricy for tools.

[aikido10]

@fake1009 I beg to differ...all you have to do is put a zip tie on the thumb hole and loosen the pivot screw and you have a knife in the 511 that has a better steel, same deployment and action for well over half the price...511 wins this on all the way..

[aikido10]

@fake1009 Also I would never use a liner lock knife for self defense unless you want to loose some of your own fingers.

[hitman259]

i just bought a mantis mk1 karambit and the quality is fine so i have no idea what this guy is talking about

[soul111smasher]

It's probably worth mentioning that yeah its not as strong, but a chisel grind will excel in cutting flesh, which is what your looking for in a kerambit.

[knifelover78910]

@soul111smasher a "karambit", as it is spelt. although the emerson might have a sharper edge compared to the 5.11, the 5.11 excells where the emerson fails, the curved body on the 5.11 is much better than the straight feel that the emerson gives, a karambit is supposed to be curved, thats what makes it different to every other knife, the emerson can be mistaken for a straight blade if you compared the two lol. both are effective knives, nothing against the emerson, but the 5.11 makes up for it.

[MrMeatBullet]

I like them, but jesus christ the prices are insane. I know it's quality but good god.

[MisterAvis]

Owned an emerson for a few years and had it stolen at work- broke my heart. For the wave you'll never miss if you draw it forward, which also forces it into your palm. Used to practice an alternate deployment by twirling it around my pinky-Took the corner of my thumb off- it is plenty sharp. You can also flip the pocket clip and grab it with your pinky or ring finger for a forward deployment (pull back) The liner lock is rock solid. It was my all time favorite knife gonna pick up another one.

[EnduringEagle]

Fantastic Review! I subscribed to your channel as a result of your presentation and clear representations. Question: How is the lockup on both knifes. Are they very tight up/down-left/right? Any wiggle? Again, thanks for the great review.

[soodlorr]

I hate liner lock.

[Kylef7735]

@soodlorr Why?

[soodlorr]

@Kylef7735 Feel like separate my nail and finger every time I unlock. 

[Kylef7735]

@soodlorr Use the pad of your thumb instead of your nail.

[DeltaMartialArt]

Excellent comparison. I was trying to decide which one is better. Even tho its pricier i think i agree with you about the Emerson being better especially since i have a bit smaller size hands. I was wondering what your thoughts on the Emerson super karambit were, that is if you have experience with it?? Thank you for the great video

[jorgeandresmunos]

Check the FOX Karambit (my current carry). Italian made wave WAVE FUNCTION liner lock, 3 handle & blade variants. Full dissasembly with standard Torx.

PRO's:

-3 variants

-Solid stainless steel pinky ring (replaceable!)

-N690Co blade doesn't rust as easily as 154CM when exposed to body sweat (I know, since I caried a Waved Commander)

-Price (at least in Europe) Emerson= 300 euro, Fox= 100 euro. That's one carry blade, one blunted trainer & one spare for the price of 1 emerson!

[wishbone1138]

@jorgeandresmunos I'd like to get my hands on one. They're a little harder to come by here in the states, but I'm sure I could find one for review.

[DeltaMartialArt]

@jorgeandresmunos Where did you purchase your FOX karambit? i'm considering it but i dont know who carries it.

[jorgeandresmunos]

@DeltaMartialArt

Bought it at the store I work at, in NL. It's a beauty

[Relix90]

Hey!

Great review!

I'm also looking into both these, and i love the wave-feature.

Did you ever experience the ''wave'' missing the edge of your pocket, so that the knife did not deploy when you ripped it out?

Thanks!

[amosjsoma]

Great video and comparison. I'm new to karambits and am interested in the "fast draw" concept such as you demonstrated. I noticed you did it lefty." Can the clip be put on the other side of the knife so a "righty" can do it also? Thanks and keep up the good work. Your reviews are all a cut or two above the rest.

[eagle9516]

Good video. Just a note and a little trick, you can make just about any knife have a wave feature like the emerson by simply using a large zip tie. Simply place the zip tie through the thumb hole (providing the knife has a thumb hole for deployment) and pull the zip tie tight then cut off and the zip tie lock making sure the lock of the zip tie is at the top of the hole. What you have created then is a catch to grip your pocket. Works great on spiderco knives and will work on the 5.11 karambit.

[faraon001]

Sorry but I have a master's 5.11 & I can do a 1 handed opening w/ it (it takes a little practice), there's no argument that the emerson is easier for a 1 hand opening, but it can be done. I have about 6 different Karambits and only 2 are folders. The 5.11 version which goes by C.U.B. (Curved Utility Blade) can be used for self-defense but not specifically made for that purpose, Emerson (which I also have) is made for self-defense and it is a great blade and therefore called Kombat Karambit.

[tradfan]

I have both, and the 5.11 master locks up much better. Both draw easily and move very well.

[CaptainMacNasty]

It's just an opinion thing...but the Wave feature is a big negative for me. Generally, I loosen up folders with a lot of repeat open/ close work. ..plus, the price the Emerson being 60 dollars more..when it's actually in stock. :)

[RocOutWithYoCaulkOut]

what is this knife designed for?

[mongomondomongo]

Well, the Emerson knife is called the "Combat Karambit".

[TheAaronGreen]

@RocOutWithYoCaulkOut Karambit blades are designed for one thing only usually......killing people.

[wishbone1138]

I've done that. I just haven't gotten a chance to put up a video about it. It close but the emerson still deploys smoother.

[M923]

@wishbone1138

Please post when you have time! :) Thank you!

[familyphotoshoot]

The Emerson wins, IMHO, based on the Wave.

[Hissatsu5]

i know that its not as good as thous knives but i always liked the spyderco karambit

[wishbone1138]

I agree! Spyderco made a great karambit (warren thomas design), but unfortunately it's no longer in production.

[Grof616]

iw got S&W camo karambit, what do you think about it?

Iw got him for 10 USD

[colt45irish]

cool man im thinkin bout an emerson

[nycdave212]

Great comparison review. Very much appreciated. Thanks! -Dave

[counterterror101]

oh and one more thing. I like waved karambits because I can keep the knife hidden in my pocket, not clipped to the pocket, and I can get a secure grip on the knife by using the hole in the handle to pull the knife out and wave it open as it exits the handle. Other waved knives require you to hold the knife in such a way that you need to shift the grip after it opens. With a waved karambit, I always have a secure grip inside the pocket and I can't lose my grip on it as it deploys.

[counterterror101]

I put a zip tie on my Journeyman and it opens the knife quickly in reverse grip. the only problem is that you need to push the zip tie a little against your pocket to get it to engage. I don't have an Emerson so I can't compare the two as "waved" knives. the journeyman is well made and the 154cm steel is very good. I would recommend this over the emerson only if the user attaches zip ties to it. If not, the emerson with the opener wins. It's just a great way of deploying the knife

[iwanttofight69]

so you think this emerson is one of the best knifes for self defense

[wishbone1138]

That's a tough general question. If you have to conceal the knife in an urban environment and you can get some training with the karambit design, then yes I think it's ONE of the best. The best advice I can give is stick to what you can get training with.  Without proper training most tools can be more of a danger to the user.

[DonHuffo]

Only want to mention that FOX Knives from italy make or made a pretty good karambit too.

It has the wave option, a aluminum handle with rubber like coating, a blade made of N690CO and more reach than this two.

[iwanttofight69]

Hey what knife would you rather have, a emerson karambit or a strider sng. Im buying one or the other, please reply!!!!!

[wishbone1138]

Completely depends on what you're looking for. I will say this. I own two folding striders and I never carry them. If it was me and it was for self defense/urban tool, I'd pick the emerson every day. I think Mick makes an awesome knife, but I personally do not care for them. Speed of deployment there is no comparison.  On the flip side, If you want an indestructible knife you can take into battle and it had to be between those two, then I'd pick strider.

[wishbone1138]

It is, but the street price is MUCH less than retail.

[blan101]

Wishbone, have you tried the zip tie method on the 5.11 to simulate the wave feature? It should make deployment speed quite similar.

[wishbone1138]

I have not, but I've seen others do that. I'll try to give it a shot here soon and post up a video.

[wishbone1138]

Just made a video on my thoughts on this. See the video response.

[Izhmash47]

The curves on the knives will also make it hard to sharpen. Thanks for this comparison.

[MarchingBlueNGold]

Really great vid. But in my opinion , fixed blade karambits are the best way to to go , because i only think of karambits as fighting knifes

[wishbone1138]

I need to make a video on the utilitarian use of karambits. While they're not the perfect survival knife, for urban use I prefer it to any other...

As for fixed blade, I absolutely agree. If you can carry one comfortably it's always going to be superior.

[jamesdouglastx]

Excellent video as usual.

Question: Have you ever had a problem with the blade (on the Emerson) opening up inside your pocket?

I like the way you're able to deploy the blade quickly on-handed (and in reverse grip), but i always carry my blades in such a way that they could only open towards the back of my pocket -- and not where my hand would be sliding in.

[wishbone1138]

I've never had a problem with it opening. It has a very nice detent. However, when removing the knife from your pocket you have to be aware of the wave feature. If it catches on anything it will start to open. This takes some minimal training to get a hang of, but it's a big deal at all. If carried facing the rear you'd have to deploy with your pinky finger. This would put the knife in the saber or hammer grip instead of reversed. Might take a bit more coordination but still not difficult

[wjkaiser65]

Excellent presentationa and good information - thanks a bunch

[Monster10mm]

Great review!

[icychap]

A ton of information here, very well presented. Both are knives I have considered in the past, although for my money a fixed karambit is vastly superior for fighting (which is a karambit's primary purpose, IMHO). Excellent vid, thanks!!

[wishbone1138]

I agree fixed knives are always superior, but a weapon is worthless if you can't carry it daily and fixed knives aren't the easiest to carry. Don't discount the karambit as a good urban tool! Although not as sheeple friendly, I prefer the blade design for most common tasks.

[0girle]

thank you for makeing .,.,.,.

[kenthenoob]

could use your ring finger on the 5.11? i'm not familiar with karambits at all, but the emerson is really nice.

[wishbone1138]

I haven't seen anyone ever use one that way. It's either index or pinky depending on how you're holding it. That doesn't mean it can't be done, but for me feels pretty awkward and disadvantageous.

[kenthenoob]

no, no, i mean when you pull it out. have you tried using your ring finger to open it while your index is in the hole?

[wishbone1138]

Oh, sorry misunderstood you. Yes I've tried. I cannot do this with my hands, maybe if someone had much larger hands than I do it would be possible. However, the force necessary on to deploy the blade on the 5.11 might make this very difficult. If anyone can do this on video I'd love to see it.