The Gunting Revisited for Martial Blade Craft

[Zac]

This talks about self defense and impact weapontry.

So I got to play with a Gunting and I liked it despite the unusually large clip. It definately sports the idea of a close range, fast moving, impact weapon that can also be your EDC. The Chinook II/III does this well too as the countour offers a no slip grip, the thing weighs almost 1/3 a pound, and the dual SS liners do not have any give...this is enough to make a good impact weapon without having to open the knife itself and legally speaking, that is a plus.

Has anyone trained much with the Gunting and/or used it?
Did a combo edged S30V model ever actually see production?
Any other thoughts on it any way?

[smcfalls13]

Has anyone trained much with the Gunting and/or used it?

I was big fan of the Gunting prior to my realization that I would never be able to dedicate enough time to be properly trained in it. Bram Frank still offers classes on it's instruction, and there are instructional videos that can be purchased from his site.

www.cssdsc.com

Did a combo edged S30V model ever actually see production?

There were a lot of variations of the Gunting. Not counting the trainer and the CRMIPT(blue Gunting, for Law Enforcement) the Gunting was available in both combo edge and plain edge. The early models were 440V, and the majority were plain edge. The later models were S30V, and only about 100 were made in PE, which makes them "mythical."

Had two of those at one point, kinda regret letting them go.

[JD Spydo]

I would say that any serious Spyderco collector should at least throw one in their collection. It is a one of the most well built Spyders of all time IMO.

They are still easily available now by just throwing a few dollars at one. But they are already showing up less and less on Ebay and other marketplaces. The trainers are even getting to be somewhat of a tough find.

The knife will probably end up having more of a cult following than about any other Spyder in it's era.

The Gunting is one of the big reasons that I personally think that the era of 1998 to 2003 is probably going to end up being the GOLDEN ERA for Spyders as far as collectibles is concerned.

[stonyman]

I cannot say enough about this knife. It just continues to grow on me. This knife is the total package when it comes to its versatility in a self defense application. I have not received Bram's training, but so far it has lend itself well as a former l.e.o. tool and current security applications. I will order the tapes shortly just to get the full perspective of the designer. This was my first Spyderco and the folder in which I compare all my other purchases to. I have the 440v combo edge model and do not even think twice about it. I do not go overboard about steel in a SD blade, I know the thing is, functionally reliable. Spyderco is known for that type of assurance. If another one especially a full plain edge crosses my path, I would snatch it up. Good design once fully understood. Take care and God Bless You All!----Stonyman

[Michael Cook]

If we're talking MBC then I'm a Janich man through and through. To me the gunting looks weaponized and martial which means a freaked out jury when it comes to the inevitable trial phase of edged weapons use in self-protection situations.

If I need a blade to protect me and mine I'm gonna open it as soon as I can, I'm not going to willingly use a knife as a blunt force weapon. I'm either justified in my use of lethal force or I'm not, that's for the jury to work out, but if I decide to draw a knife and use lethal force I'm not gonna goof around trying to kin-op the thing off of the perp who is attacking me. In the same vien I wouldn't try to draw a gun defencively and then try to use it to pistol whip the perp, I'd shoot the fool.

I will allow that the ramp can be used to get the blade open during the truth of the moment rather than planning on kin-opping off the bad guy. But if yer unarmed in extreme close range both hands would better be used for fighting rather than trying to fight with one hand and draw a blade with the other. Getting a blade into play takes a bit of time and space and if your battle plan includes drawing and presenting a blade while already in the ring of fire I hope you also train grab defences.YMMV

[markg]

To add to what Mike just said...

There has been some discussion on the true legal question of whether or not you can actually use a knife as a non-lethal weapon. If you take the knife out and have it in your hand... It is using a lethal weapon. This then goes one step further. If you do use that knife to kill... Did you really mean to? Did you really mean to use it as a less than lethal tool instead and just goofed up?

Now the moral question is another one, it is best to use less than lethal if possible.

That being said, the Gunting is just cool. It is also only one of the few knives that really scares me. Mine has a nasty disposition, and it gets a lot of respect from me.

I really wish I would have gotten two when I had the chance.

[Civilian]

It's on my short list to get as well. At least 2 of em

[zenheretic]

Nice pics Simona, the large one really shows off the gorgeous grind and grain of that steel.

Now to the original thread topic: The only problem I have with the Gunting is that it is uncomfortable for pocket carry. To really ease the carry you need a good sheath such as the one in Simona's picture. Now if you need a pocket knife in a sheath, I ask why bother with a pocket knife at all? Why not choose a nice fixed blade? Say a Ronin or Frank's Albinoko (or however you spell that thing.)

[smcfalls13]

Nice pics Simona, the large one really shows off the gorgeous grind and grain of that steel.

Now to the original thread topic: The only problem I have with the Gunting is that it is uncomfortable for pocket carry. To really ease the carry you need a good sheath such as the one in Simona's picture. Now if you need a pocket knife in a sheath, I ask why bother with a pocket knife at all? Why not choose a nice fixed blade? Say a Ronin or Frank's Albinoko (or however you spell that thing.)

Abaniko.

A folded Gunting is much easier to carrier than a fixed Abaniko, at least for me. The folder is also less conspicuous.

And Simona, you're really making me regret selling mine with that picture...

[Zac]

Mythical One


Gunting S30V PE ::::: MYTHICAL ONE 1024x768

I like it...now I really want one in S30V. I realize the Janich standpoint but using anything large and hard as an impact tool is effective...take a kubaton for example.

Does anyone EDC their Gunting? Is it a practical EDC knife?

[zenheretic]

Abaniko.

A folded Gunting is much easier to carrier than a fixed Abaniko, at least for me. The folder is also less conspicuous.

And Simona, you're really making me regret selling mine with that picture...

I was just being polite, Ronin for me.

[smcfalls13]

I was just being polite, Ronin for me.

But how many do you carry at one time? That's the real question

[zenheretic]

But how many do you carry at one time? That's the real question

Usually not as many as Doc...

[smcfalls13]

Usually not as many as Doc...

Yes, but he's got psychic powers and can use 12 Ronins at one time. They levitate around him like a giant portable Spyderco blender.

He's not a mere mortal though, so he doesn't count

[zenheretic]

Yes, but he's got psychic powers and can use 12 Ronins at one time. They levitate around him like a giant portable Spyderco blender.

He's not a mere mortal though, so he doesn't count

Are you going to tell him he doesn't count?

[smcfalls13]

Are you going to tell him he doesn't count?

Nope, I don't have enough Ronins. The guy with the most Ronins gets to tell him.

[zenheretic]

Nope, I don't have enough Ronins. The guy with the most Ronins gets to tell him.

PHew...Doc has way more than I do, so he will have to tell himself.

[smcfalls13]

PHew...Doc has way more than I do, so he will have to tell himself.

But who's gonna tell him he has to tell himself?

[zenheretic]

But who's gonna tell him he has to tell himself?

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

[ruxton]

I handled a Gunting a few years ago and I really didn't like it at all. But then I don't know much about Bram's system, could someone explain how the gunting functions as an impact weapon outside of the normal bottom of the knife, kubotan type usage? (Which the Yojimbo excells at by the way).

From what I understand Gunting entails snapping joints in a scissor like movement to "defang the snake". How does the Gunting knife help accomplish this task?

Also the huge hump over the hole is for opening the blade on someones clothes when you foul up an opening, right (like a wave almost)? Or does it serve some other special function? I can see it might be used to protude between fingers for punching type attacks maybe? Although it doesn't look particularly comfortable, I've seen a few guntings where people have cut the hump off and they looked alot better to me.