What Is a Karambit?
The curved blade was employed by farmers for cutting vegetation or general utility.
One could also be utilized as a defensive weapon if the need arose.
Springfield Armory teamed up with CRKT for this special edition version of the Provoke: a folding karambit knife.
A karambit can lacerate, thrust, strike, trap, lock and block.
Because of its power and versatility, the karambit can be found in many countries martial arts systems.
For the use of any weapon, c’mon receive proper training.
The CRKT Provoke is a morphing karambit designed by Joe Caswell. The Springfield Armory version uses high-visibility orange handles.
I am not an instructor.
However, as a first-generation Filipino-American, I have much love for karambits.
Engineers, feel free to school me in the forum.
Traditionally, karambits were used in agricultural pursuits — beginning in Indonesia and migrating throughout the Pacific.
The linkage movement causes the blade to extend forward into a locking position.
This is not an assisted opener; there is no spring mechanism in play.
For this, I discovered the lever to be inset and stiff in operation.
Unlike a common folding knife, the CRKT Provoke does not rely on a singular pivot point to deploy the blade.
However, CRKT does make a sheath that can be purchased separately.
It includes multiple attachment options for belt andMOLLE carry.
Affixing these to the grommets gives the user many carry variations.
From this position, the Provoke’s blade can be deployed with the thumb of the grasping hand.
This elevates the spoon to mate with the material of the pocket.
It makes for a relatively deep carry while still enabling the Provokes user to reach the finger ring.
The materials injection molding results in a strong and durable handle.
When the knife blade opens, the knife can immediately be used for self-defense or more mundane uses.
The two links of Grivory connecting the main handle to the blade are reinforced with steel.
The pivots are very large and sturdy, befitting this sized folder.
While the CRKT Provoke may seem a bit husky, I felt it was unobtrusive in a pocket.
The CRKT Provoke is compact enough to be carried in many places, including this small covered pouch on the author’s pants. It also has a belt clip.
It is light at 4.70 ounces.
Closed length is 4.96 and open, it is 7.19.
A German stainless steel named 1.4116 is used by CRKT for the Provokes blade.
The bright orange thermoplastic is called Grivory. It is considered to be very durable and has high strength characteristics.
1.4116 is a steel best known for its inclusion in surgical instruments and Swiss Army knives.
The hawksbill blade is asymmetrically ground on its right side so the edge fits flush with the handle.
While the grind is predominantly on one side, there is a secondary bevel on both sides.
CRKT’s Provoke can be used with either hand and from a variety of positions. Carrying on the opposite side of your body from your pistol allows you to access the knife with your reaction hand.
This being the case, when slicing through paper or other flat media, the blades cut tracks straight.
Hardness of the blade is reported to be 55-57 RHC.
The length of the sharpened part of the blade is 2.47.
CRKT uses 1.4116 steel from Germany. This stainless steel is used in surgical instruments. It is also used by Victorinox in its Swiss Army Knives.
CRKT gives this blade an interesting black stonewashed finish, which is an amazing offset to the orange handles.
While the Provoke is built for right-side carry, it can be placed in a left-side pocket.
Its not as hard as it sounds.
With the Provoke’s pocket clip, it rides low and out of sight in a pair of jeans.
Maybe youre lucky and left-handed.
Or, you could wear 5.11 pants like me and put the knife in the left front utility pouch.
Disclaimerde jour, this activity can be extremely dangerous.
The author worked with the Provoke and a partner as part of his knife review. Note that the author thickly taped the blade for safety during training.
Do this if you are just plain fidgety.
It is certainly a knife worthy of closer examination.
Go to forum thread
CRKTProvoke Karambit
CRKTProvoke Sheath
For the trained fighter, the CRKT Provoke offers a range of responses to a violent attack. Note that the author thickly taped the blade for safety during training.
