karambit ?, korambit ?, lawi ayam ?

[Miguel]

Have no idea what this knife is or where it comes from but it is a little beauty, quite viscous looking really if you give your imagination free rein. Do you know what they are used for? It looks very small, how long is it? Might it be a female, weapon? Reminds me of a parrots beak Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Miguel

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Have no idea what this knife is or where it comes from but it is a little beauty, quite viscous looking really if you give your imagination free rein. Do you know what they are used for? It looks very small, how long is it? Might it be a female, weapon? Reminds me of a parrots beak Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Miguel

Hello Miguel,

here a link which answers hopefully your questions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karambit
There is one picture posted with a scale, the knife is approx. 7 inch (ca. 18 cm) long. And yes, it is mainly a female defense weapon. To the karambit family belong in Indonesia the korambi and lawi ayam (tail feather of the cock) and in the Philippines it's called karambit. The Indonesian knives are without guard normally so my question.
Here some related threads:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=lawi+ayam
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=lawi+ayam
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=korambit

Best regards,
Detlef

[drac2k]

I agree,that with the exception of the guard, it looks exactly like a kerambit.It is as stated in these previous posts that it was originally for agriculture, but as in so many cases, across cultures, these items became incorporated into martial arts as this one has in Silat.
For a truly scary example of this knife used in a fighting style, you should watch "The Raid 2."

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by drac2k

For a truly scary example of this knife used in a fighting style, you should watch "The Raid 2."

Will look if I can find somewhere the complete film, have only seen trailers.

Best regards,
Detlef

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Miguel,

here a link which answers hopefully your questions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karambit
There is one picture posted with a scale, the knife is approx. 7 inch (ca. 18 cm) long. And yes, it is mainly a female defense weapon. To the karambit family belong in Indonesia the korambi and lawi ayam (tail feather of the cock) and in the Philippines it's called karambit. The Indonesian knives are without guard normally so my question.
Here some related threads:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=lawi+ayam
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=lawi+ayam
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=korambit

Best regards,
Detlef

Hi Detief, Thanks for the info, they are certainly curious weapons, Apologies for missing the ruler
Regards
Miguel

[kai]

Hello Detlef,

And yes, it is mainly a female defense weapon.

I don't think there is enough evidence to claim these predominantly were women's weapons (nor vice versa).

The Indonesian knives are without guard normally

The guard is more likely to catch onto something and become a problem rather than a help; I've never seen any antique example with a guard and believe this is a recent "invention" (I'd guess at after WW2, well possibly later).

Regards,
Kai