A Strange Gunting CRMPIT

G

greater

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A Gunting CRMPIT version (Blue G10 handled) was recently scored from the ivlB#y at about $75.00

This one is strange (including the price.) The whole knife is sterile inside as well. It came with a live blade (the blade was pretty dull with nicks it needed some reprofiling) and a trainer blade.

The live blade is not made of any super steel, definitely not CPM 440V or CPM S30V which is even stranger. The clip on it is not a gunting clip my thoughts were somebody replaced the original clip with this one. On the clip are the words US PATENT 4347665 FOREIGN PATS PEND

The knife uses the compression lock which is what made me believe it's not a knockoff. I remember reading the compression lock is a pain to get right. Everything else about it including the weight (5.9 oz [168 gm]) right down to the dimple on the non clip side of the handle checks out.

The blade washers used are the thin brownish gold squishy type I see on a lot of high end knives. There is no blade play anywhere. The knife does require some skill to reassemble properly due to very tight tolerances.

The lack of a 440V or S30V blade triggered my counterfeit alarms but this thing has too much precision in my opinion to be a counterfeit.

The work and quality control involved would make this an unprofitable knockoff. So what gives?

These CRMPIT (Blue G10 handle) versions were not sold to the general public but to only LEO and they did not come with live blades.

Did Spyderco make sterile live blades (and sterile trainer blades too) of lesser quality than CPM steel for special orders ?

I also would like to get a gunting clip for this thing (yes I am pretty sure it would fit) would anyone know of good source ? Does LLC sell clips that may fit this ?
 
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Nice score! :thumbup:

The patent on the clip hails back to one of Sal's original claims for the original clipit series.

Not sure on the LLC clip but here's a clip side view of the Corto set

2.jpg



j
 
Seller is either an alias, protege, or competitor of "travis...." who has earned the nickname "Dr FrankenSpyder". Both of them peddle "Spydercollages" - knives assembled out of parts, at least some of which are of questionable heritage. As an example, Sal has commented that unfinished blades are never sold or given away.

Paul
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My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
The origin of the unmarked blade/blades has me stumped. I am almost positive the live blade is not any of the CPM series of steel. Was any other type of steel used for the live blades like GIN 1 or 440C ?

I believe the gunting blade made to fit a Spyderco compression lock model, in this case the gunting is not a generic mass produced part that typically comes out of counterfeit factories. Would it be practical or profitable for them to tool up to mass produce such a specialized blade whatever the steel they choose. All of the fake guntings I have seen are liner locks not compression locks.

The gunting was also discontinued around 2004 if I am correct. I don't think the Spyderco factory is still making any blades or parts for the gunting. It's not like there is a current steady supply of gunting parts ready for the pickings. The entire knife including the live blade is far from immaculate and looks quite used. It does not look as good close up as in the pictures.

Aside from the non gunting clip the rest of this story is not clear cut either way for me.

It is possible that there may be a high quality (except for the blade maybe) counterfeit being made but I have never heard of it.
 
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I wasn't suggesting the knife or any of its parts are counterfeit, but rather that some or all of them left the factory without the knowledge or consent of Spyderco.

Paul
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My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twisted up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
The thought that it may be a fake did cross my mind but due to the compression lock I found it unlikely. I have heard of other knife companies making sterile knives and I thought perhaps Spyderco may have made some. The non gunting clip could have been placed by someone who does not like the style of the original clip.

After reading some comments on the Spyderco forum where you posted as well and here I now see that the above is unlikely and that it is possible this may be a true "lunchbox special" as in stuffed into the lunchbox before leaving work (a figure of speech only who knows how this was acquired.)

Before now it didn't cross my that this thing may be hot, if it did, I would have distanced myself from this subject.
 
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Hi Greater,

Thanx for the offer, but I think you should keep it.

As Deacon suggested, it was probably stolen. We had a problem in the factory with less than honest crew for a while.

sal
 
All of the blue handled Guntings went to Bram. None were sold on the open market by Spyderco. It was Bram's exclsive.

sal
 
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