While there have been many reviews of Bram Frank's new Gunting self-defense system by way of Spyderco from the points of view of the martial artist or self-defense enthusiast, I am here giving you an impression of the Gunting as a simple tool from the point of view of a dedicated non-violent type. As a Quaker-by-convincement and one who is too bound up with arthritis to be able to be very active in a fight situation, I have two reasons not to be viewing any knife that I carry as a weapon but as a tool. Also, I work in a federal office in Washington, DC, a very restrictive environment where blades are concerned. They humor my eccentricity, but they have made it clear that the law in DC is 3" blades and that I had best abide by it.
So, I have been in the market for a rather specialized knife. This knife would have a large grip so that I might be more able to hold it, something that most 3" knives lack as they size the grips to the blade. I also need a large openning arrangement, hole or stud, so that my stiff fingers may manipulate it. Small knives such as the Mini-Dyad won't do. Finally, I do need the 3" blade. Well, I looked at the specs on the Gunting and it seemed to be perfect, but, boy, was it weird to look at. I really wanted to hold one before committing to pay for it. After some two months of looking, sending emails, and posting here, Terry Prichard (bladebroker@email.com) worked out an arrangement with me whereby I could take one on approval, but only if I also bought the vhs tape, "Spyderco Presents The Gunting By Bram Frank". I was somewhat puzzled by that, but the price was right and the terms were good, so I agreed and received the Gunting and tape about two weeks ago. Now, on with my imoressions.
First, the tape. It took me until this weekend to get some privacy to watch it, as the rest of my family would heartily disapprove of the whole thing. I now know why Terry was so insistant that I get the tape. Firstly, Bram explains his philosophy behind the system, which did answer one of my more glaring questions. Everyone was talking about all of the features that allow the device to be used as a martial arts assist with the blade closed. This puzzled me, as it seemed to me that pulling a knife, blade open or closed, escalates the confrontation to the level of deadly force, so you might as well open it and use the blade. Bram makes the point on the tape that, if the other person does not have a knife or other weapon, slicing him up leads to many legal and ethical complications that you don't need, so the Gunting gives you an option short of that to be used in subduing him. And, if you do need to open it quickly, he shows how to use the extra tall ramps over the hole for a "kinetic openning" where you whack the ramp on your opponent's arm or hand and pull it down or up sharply, as the case may be. This will snap the blade open. This brings up the other point of the movie for me. He uses a red knife trainer to show you how this is done and how you may practice these opennings on yourself. But he is very clear in his warning that you should NEVER practice these opennings with a live knife, for you will assuredly wind up slicing your hand or your arm. He says that he did it and he believes that you will as well. He also is very clear that you should never do a kinetic openning on your leg, as the leg is too wide and you wll surely slice your pants and. most likely, your leg as well. The rest of the movie is a series of demonstrations of arm-bars and take-downs using the Gunting, all good stuff if you are familiar with the basic steps and with, say, a kuboton.
Now to the knife, for that is what it is to me. The blade is stated as 2 7/8", but mine measures exactly 3" from the end of the scales to the tip. The 2 7/8" is from the beginning of the cutting edge. Well, most cops that I have seen measure a knife measure it from the scales to the tip, so I would count on that measurement. The hilt is just under 5 1/4" long, with several flares that are designed into it for striking purposes. These are also very good swells to index your fingers. This grip is a full handful and very ergonomic in the bargain. I like it. I would like the clip placed higher up on the hilt so that the knife would ride deeper, but I suspect that the reason that it is set where it is is to allow easy access to the knife when under stress. That I understand, given the knife's primary purpose. I should like the ramp smaller, but I have already explained part of the reason for its size. The other part is that it can also be used as a hammer against your opponent's hand or arm, and with good effect, as Bram shows on the tape. I would, however, suggest that the hole might be made larger and that the inner edges of it be chamfered or someyhing so that they are not so sharp. Or is there a reason for the sharpness? The blade and the hilt combine in a very useful shape for many of my utility chores. and the ramps do allow for greater force to be exerted if necessary. I am uncertain if this is for the best in the long run, as pushing really hard on a knife is a sign that it needs sharpening or that you are doing something wrong and are about to lose control of your knife, frequently with disastrous results.
I am very interested in how people see my views of the Gunting, so please, I welcome questions and feedback on this.
------------------
Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
So, I have been in the market for a rather specialized knife. This knife would have a large grip so that I might be more able to hold it, something that most 3" knives lack as they size the grips to the blade. I also need a large openning arrangement, hole or stud, so that my stiff fingers may manipulate it. Small knives such as the Mini-Dyad won't do. Finally, I do need the 3" blade. Well, I looked at the specs on the Gunting and it seemed to be perfect, but, boy, was it weird to look at. I really wanted to hold one before committing to pay for it. After some two months of looking, sending emails, and posting here, Terry Prichard (bladebroker@email.com) worked out an arrangement with me whereby I could take one on approval, but only if I also bought the vhs tape, "Spyderco Presents The Gunting By Bram Frank". I was somewhat puzzled by that, but the price was right and the terms were good, so I agreed and received the Gunting and tape about two weeks ago. Now, on with my imoressions.
First, the tape. It took me until this weekend to get some privacy to watch it, as the rest of my family would heartily disapprove of the whole thing. I now know why Terry was so insistant that I get the tape. Firstly, Bram explains his philosophy behind the system, which did answer one of my more glaring questions. Everyone was talking about all of the features that allow the device to be used as a martial arts assist with the blade closed. This puzzled me, as it seemed to me that pulling a knife, blade open or closed, escalates the confrontation to the level of deadly force, so you might as well open it and use the blade. Bram makes the point on the tape that, if the other person does not have a knife or other weapon, slicing him up leads to many legal and ethical complications that you don't need, so the Gunting gives you an option short of that to be used in subduing him. And, if you do need to open it quickly, he shows how to use the extra tall ramps over the hole for a "kinetic openning" where you whack the ramp on your opponent's arm or hand and pull it down or up sharply, as the case may be. This will snap the blade open. This brings up the other point of the movie for me. He uses a red knife trainer to show you how this is done and how you may practice these opennings on yourself. But he is very clear in his warning that you should NEVER practice these opennings with a live knife, for you will assuredly wind up slicing your hand or your arm. He says that he did it and he believes that you will as well. He also is very clear that you should never do a kinetic openning on your leg, as the leg is too wide and you wll surely slice your pants and. most likely, your leg as well. The rest of the movie is a series of demonstrations of arm-bars and take-downs using the Gunting, all good stuff if you are familiar with the basic steps and with, say, a kuboton.
Now to the knife, for that is what it is to me. The blade is stated as 2 7/8", but mine measures exactly 3" from the end of the scales to the tip. The 2 7/8" is from the beginning of the cutting edge. Well, most cops that I have seen measure a knife measure it from the scales to the tip, so I would count on that measurement. The hilt is just under 5 1/4" long, with several flares that are designed into it for striking purposes. These are also very good swells to index your fingers. This grip is a full handful and very ergonomic in the bargain. I like it. I would like the clip placed higher up on the hilt so that the knife would ride deeper, but I suspect that the reason that it is set where it is is to allow easy access to the knife when under stress. That I understand, given the knife's primary purpose. I should like the ramp smaller, but I have already explained part of the reason for its size. The other part is that it can also be used as a hammer against your opponent's hand or arm, and with good effect, as Bram shows on the tape. I would, however, suggest that the hole might be made larger and that the inner edges of it be chamfered or someyhing so that they are not so sharp. Or is there a reason for the sharpness? The blade and the hilt combine in a very useful shape for many of my utility chores. and the ramps do allow for greater force to be exerted if necessary. I am uncertain if this is for the best in the long run, as pushing really hard on a knife is a sign that it needs sharpening or that you are doing something wrong and are about to lose control of your knife, frequently with disastrous results.
I am very interested in how people see my views of the Gunting, so please, I welcome questions and feedback on this.
------------------
Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
