Medford’s Folding Karambit is a Must-See — SHOT Show 2016

Knives S.H. Blannelberry SHOT Show 2016

I’ve long been a fanboy of Medford Knife & Tool.  What appeals to me about Medford is their unique dystopian aesthetic. The knives they make are thick and chunky and built to survive the collapse of civilization.

At SHOT Show 2016, Medford debuted the “Burung” (which means “bird” in Indonesia), a badass folding karambit with a D2 steel finger ring.  The Burung is just over 7 inches in length and comes standard with carbon fiber sides and a titanium spring.

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The Burung!  It means "bird," in Indonesia.

The Burung! It means “bird,” in Indonesia.

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The Burung feels great in the hand.

The Burung feels great in the hand.

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As Greg explains in the video above, there are multiple ways to deploy the blade depending on one’s preference for pocket carry.    

The sheepsfoot blade design makes it a great all-purpose knife.  One can use it for self-defense or any number of utilitarian tasks.  Compared to some of the other 7-inch blades in Greg’s lineup, it’s on the light side, making it a desirable EDC blade.

Specs: 

  • Total Length: 7.2″
  • Blade Length: 3″
  • Blade Thickness: .190″
  • Blade Width: 1 1/8″
  • Scale Thickness: 1/8″
  • Total Thickness: 7/16″
  • Closed Length: 4 3/4″

MSRP: $600

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Sharp!

Sharp!

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The finger ring, made of D2 steel.

The finger ring, made of D2 steel.

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With a price tag of $600 the Burung isn’t cheap.  But this is probably a case of you get what you pay for.  Plainly stated, the Burung is awesome.  It feels great in the hand, it’s super easy to deploy, and it is built with the same American-made quality that we’ve come to expect from this boutique knifemaker.

Buy one on the Medford website (If you do pull the trigger on this bad boy, please let me know how it is.  I’d really love to know).

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Another new blade.  The

Another new blade.

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Another new blade.

I like the looks of this little guy.

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  • Homebrew August 11, 2017, 6:05 pm

    Overpriced, ugly, pretty much useless piece of CRAP.

  • sifter August 8, 2017, 6:59 pm

    For that amount of money i can buy a Microtech, a Protech, and have money left over for dinner.

  • Mike Dillion May 30, 2017, 1:00 pm

    In reviewing the comments here, I wasn’t going to say anything…but I just felt like I needed to SUGGEST some perspective on this knife (and others like it which come from a CUSTOM Knifemaker). First off, anyone who says a $600 knife (FULL CUSTOM, put together by Greg and his team IN THE USA) should check other full custom knifemakers first. Now imagine you’re paying for a full custom 1911 or other firearm. A Nighthawk 1911 usually STARTS at around $1500…anyone who says you can get a gun for $600 isn’t comparing a apples to apples, they are comparing a custom item to a production item (like this Burung getting compared to a factory stock Glock…not a “fair” comparison). Don’t compare guns and knives together as they aren’t the same thing…I remember hearing a great comparison between a Saturn sedan (when they were in business and a Ducati motorcycle. For ALMOST the same price you could buy either one…On the Saturn side you’re getting a middle of the road family style sedan. On the Ducati side, you’re getting (arguably) a top-of-the-line motorcycle. This is the same with the Medford Burung (or other custom knives just like it). Know WHAT you’re paying for and you’ll get your money’s worth EVERY time, but don’t think you sound reasonable or intelligent when you say that something isn’t “worth” the money OR you can get the same type of quality from an item which cost $75 – $100…That just isn’t reality.

  • Mak April 7, 2017, 11:05 am

    To pay in advance and a lead that stretches from 45 weeks to beyond 60 is utterly ridiculous !…..and you cannot cancel too .!
    You further get discouraged when in the meantime you see your knife being sold in multiples at a knife show by the maker ! While you are waiting for the never ending lead .

  • Michael Williams January 31, 2016, 8:08 pm

    I think the design of this Medford looks great but am definitely not a knife expert and will respect the forums opinion that this knife is overpriced for the quality. Can anyone recommend a better Karambit for the price that has similar assisted open function…I am willing to pay for the best as long as it is not tremendously over priced,,thanks all

    • Gary Albert August 5, 2017, 6:25 pm

      I’ve had an Emerson for about 15 years and go nowhere without it. You can switch the clip from left to right, is devastating in its sharpness. I paid around 175.00 dollars for it then, not cheap, but 600.00? If that includes a booty call, well then… overpriced I think. Wait time? Ridiculous. I think cold steel makes one as well. Say what you want, but cold steel makes a hell of a knife, always at a reasonable price.

  • Eric K. Moore January 27, 2016, 4:51 pm

    I have a folding karambit with a folded steel 4 inch traditional blade that is much nicer and only cost $75 and will do even more damage than a 3 inch blade, $600 please for a blade made from that steel get real.

  • george radu January 24, 2016, 12:11 pm

    It is expensive than a rifle !
    May by the blade grease with shit, or long not 3″, but 3 yards..

  • Mr. Jame January 23, 2016, 3:16 pm

    Looked at Medford’s home site, 32 weeks leed time they need to move offshore, expand and reduce there MSRP. Sorry to say Good product out of touch with the Guns America public. To many companies over make their products, then can’t pay there bills. This is the new American business model we can make the best but we can’t afford to buy it.

  • Magic Rooster January 22, 2016, 4:55 pm

    At $600 per, that fellow probably has a orgasm every time one goes out the door.

  • Magic Rooster January 22, 2016, 3:08 pm

    $600??? What else comes with it? At that price I bet the distributor orgasms every time one goes out the door. ( he knows somebody just got f*cked)

  • Jerry January 22, 2016, 9:35 am

    $600.00 dollars for piece of crap ?

  • DutchMaster January 21, 2016, 4:54 pm

    Priorities are important to me. So is purpose, ergonomics, structural integrity, etc. Versatility is great but not when its versatile attributes are useless for killing and cutting. Knives are tools not designer underwear. I like Victoria’s secrets whispered into my wife’s ears, not in my weapons’ engineers’!…too many weapons not enough trained operators….600sucks. so does D2 steel. Titanium might as well have been used on the whole dog gone tang of that pricey pig sticker. I call the blade style this knife should have “A TALON”. God bless the U.S. , it’s Military, and Patriotic civies. Go to an Instructor, previously enlisted in the U.S.Military, survival training class or check out some youtube footage. lots of bad ass’s on their trying to help their fellow comrades. also keep your name under the radar, to all you Concealed Carry fanatics! your just a primary target for easy firearm confiscation. Semper Fi till I die!

  • Petrushka January 21, 2016, 1:07 pm

    $600 for attitude
    Short blade
    Nasty screws and sharp edges sticking into your hand
    Waste of money

  • BDub January 21, 2016, 12:00 pm

    A karambit should have a concave edge. The concave edge and the blade-angle relative to the grip are where a karambit gets all its bite. A straight edge simply makes a less effective cut on a karambit.

  • Dennis January 21, 2016, 11:46 am

    $600, amazing what people will pony up for! I have Chris Reeves and ZT and the quality is exceptional…..absurd to think that you have to pay more for a piece of sharp steel when $600 can buy a decent pistol imho….

  • iRev January 21, 2016, 11:08 am

    Nice, but for the price I unfortunately will have to wait for the knock offs and the imitators

    iRev

  • Cyrus January 21, 2016, 10:42 am

    Almost Uglier than Hillary Clinton!

  • Dan January 21, 2016, 10:13 am

    32 weeks??

  • Rip January 21, 2016, 9:10 am

    Yeah, 600 beans pony up suckers!

  • Manse January 21, 2016, 8:49 am

    Had my attention until the number 600 slapped me back to reality.

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