A “morphing karambit?”  Sure enough.  The CRKT company’s unique take on the classic folding karambit caught my eye right off in today’s EDC submission.  David French from KC, MO sends his daily load out.

A retired Marine, French, 44, says he’s a shop manager.  And look, he’s another member of the S&W M&P Shield fraternity.  He likes his in the potent .45 Auto, with a spare mag loaded with hollow-point ashtrays.  Not shown, he notes, is the Alien Gear Cloak 3.5 carry rig.

In the blade category, he has that karambit and a well-worn from years of use Benchmade Pagan.

And a Leatherman Super Tool.

(Oh, and just wait until tomorrow’s submission from Brazil!  We’re going to have fun with it!  Brass knucks, electronic ears, a bevy of knives – it is a knife culture down there – and a Beretta 25 auto with extra mags…)

 

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26 COMMENTS

  2. Good caliber. Decent pistol. Thumbs up on extra mag. Okay on multitool. Knives are ridiculous. I’d rather have a sharp piece of flint.

  3. That CRKT Provoke is interesting. A neat take on a pocket knife karambit.

    I’m not sure about the utility of it but… still cool. Now I want to find one to play with.

    • Karambits have a different configuration than straight-edged blades made for thrusting. It’s a slashing cutter based on a “tiger claw” and similar to a hawk’s bill. In my opinion, the best utility comes from a pocket folder that can cut wire insulation, stuck seat belts, or being your fancy, expensive box cutter. Somewhat safer than a double-edged, non-folding dagger and much more concealable than a non-folder. That said, it makes a great defensive slasher or a field gutting tool for game. A metal ring can doube as a glass breaker – or you can put a D-ring or para-cord on it as loss prevention security.
      You’ll need a different means to sharpen a karambit. A round or half-round stone will do.
      This EDC version is a good mix, but I’d prefer dropping the Benchmade and take a second folding karambit.
      Why?
      Simply because a good Leatherman will already have a built-in utility knife.

  4. Other than being cool, I don’t get this Provoke Karambit. Amazon reviews ave 4 stars, but many of the written reviews say its not reliable. So it’s not the best choice for self defense; what other purpose does it have?
    For the Shield, I don’t think there’s night sights, but that’s what the laser is for. Hopefully the spare mag is not in an Alien Gear mag holder; I have one and it’s bulky.
    The rest of the EDC ensemble is GTG.

      • My 2 Shields had plain factor sights, and they always seemed to shoot low at 25 ft. Then I added Ameriglo front sights only and now I shoot higher and more on target.

    • Honestly, how many people who have a karambit know how to use it the way it’s designed to be used? How many of them know the risks inherent in using such a knife, when that ring is present, as it’s meant to be used?

      Not many on either count. Most people buy them for intimidation and cool factors. They don’t actually understand much about the theory or practice of using it. Mostly it boils down to “punch with one side, slice with the other and it’s hard to lose control of”.

      *I’m not saying that I’m well schooled in the use of a karambit, but I enjoy and study knives and still don’t know the depth of that weapon very well, even having cross-trained with some people who are rather skilled at wielding one. I doubt very strongly that your average karambit carrier is a student of Silat or Eskrima. In fact, I’d bet a fair bit of coin that most of them don’t know what Silat is.

        • It’s funny you mentioned him, I saw an instructor zero video years ago, was produced by funker tactical, which led to Doug Marcaida and his blade work. Then those two guys did a video on knife vs gun within 21 ft.

      • Understood. One of my shooting buddies is a knife person like you. Knowledgeable. He makes mostly full tang knives for skinners and hunters, and is a collector. And has yet to give me one as a present. Funny thing is he only EDC’s a $100 folder and keeps the nice stuff in a glass display cabinet.

  5. Just shot my new Shield 45 over the weekend. It has quickly become my favorite EDC pistol. Surprisingly soft shooting and accurate. Good job S&W!

      • Shredding pork or bone scraping, either one. Makes an excellent gut hook but not a filet knife.
        A really good traditional karambit is double-edged and made from one solid hunk of steel. A folder that locks open without all the complication on the handle is preferable for normal carry, but that’s just me.
        In some places seeing someone use the blade on a Leatherman – even at work – can threaten the paranoids, so I wouldn’t bother with the Benchmade at all. A lot of people won’t quickly recognize a hawk’s bill or folding karambit-style for what it is. That for YOU to know and OTHERS to find out.
        Anyone who can manage basic boxing skills can employ punch/slash with a karambit defensively and a legal 3-3.5″ blade is more than adequate for that.

  7. Hmmmmm….I carry fighting knives when I cant carry a gun.

    My knives would become fighting knives if I ran out of bullets or had a catastrophic failure with my carry. ( and maybe my backup).

    To each his own….

    If i was going to carry a 45 today, it would probably be a Shield.

    • Picture this: You’re in a crowded area ( concert, subway, line waiting for a movie) and someone starts lipping off to you. You ignore him, which gives him offense and he pulls a weapon. You are at extended arms reach. Do you:
      1) Draw and fire. Your bullets my miss, or they may overpenatrate, and hit bystanders.
      2) Grapple bare handed, while he is slicing/cutting/shooting you and the surrounding area.
      3) Draw your knife, which creates a danger zone that stops 3″ past the end of your hand. It’s kind of like golf. Which club do you use? Oh, all of them!

  8. I’m ready to dump the iron. for a polyme( pistol and in a 9 mm. ,,,,,. Wait ,what, almost 2:00 sheesh I forgot to take my dementia meds

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