Karambit
A karambit ( Tagalog Karambit , Malay , Javanese , Indonesian Kerambit , Minangkabau Kurambiak ) is a type of knife originating from the Indonesia , Malaysia and the Philippines .
The first documentations of this type of knife date from the 11th century. Typical of these knives are claw-shaped blades and a ring at the end of the handle. It is an agriculturally used knife (mainly by women) that was or is primarily used in the garden. The typical ring at the end makes it possible to hang the knife on the little finger, e.g. with both hands. B. to bundle rice plants, swing the knife in one movement and cut the plants. In principle it is a sickle reduced to knife size with a finger ring.
Karambits are often used as a weapon in the western world these days. For this reason, all types of karambits, for example in Germany, can only be acquired after the age of 18. Due to the characteristics of a weapon determined by the BKA, they are prohibited from being kept in public, but are not prohibited items that fall under the category of fist, drop, butterfly or switchblade knives (not all types, only certain models e.g. blade length> 8, 5cm or jumping forward out of the handle etc.).
With the popularization of the martial arts Pencak Silat and Kali , the popularity of this knife slowly increased from the 1980s onwards. The video game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive , which was published in 2012, increased its popularity again, especially among young people. Especially the colorful versions, which also appeared in the game, were very popular. Several larger US knife companies now have karambits in their range. The pioneers were the Emerson company and the US close combat expert Steve Tarani .
literature
- Albert G. van Zonneveld: Traditional weapons of the Indonesian archipelago. C. Zwartenkot Art Books, Leiden 2001, ISBN 90-5450-004-2 , pp. 19, 75
- George Cameron Stone : A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in all Countries and in all Times. Together with some closely related subjects. With an introduction by Donald J. LaRocca. Dover Publications, Mineola NY 1999, ISBN 0-486-40726-8 , p. 374.
