Comments/Reviews on the Spyderco Gunting?

Cosmic Superchunk

Cosmic Superchunk

Joined
Jan 28, 2001
Messages
3,709
Anyone have comments or reviews on the Spyderco Gunting?
How secure is the locking mechanism? What do you like and what don't you like about it?
 
The lock is amazingly secure and inspires quite an amount of confidence in the user. The ergonomics are great and the knife feels quite strong in any grip. You can even use edge-in grips with this knife and still feel like it's glued to your hand.

What I like:
  • Blade length legal almost anywhere
  • Cool options with impact use
  • Skunksworks belt sheath: get one!
  • Materials
  • Fit and finish

What I don't like:
  • Clip placement
  • Blade shape
  • Blade won't stay in the handle

Sorry this is brief but I'm stepping out the door. If you have any more questions I'll try my best to answer.

BTW - I would appreciate it if people refrain from jumping down my throat about my list of dislikes. He asked for opinions and I offered mine. I have never seen a knife that got people so angry when you questioned the design.
 
ThinkOfTheChildren, thanks for your honesty. In fact, that's the kind of review I'm looking for. The pros and cons.

Is it easy to unlock the blade with one hand? Also, you mentioned that the blade won't stay in the handle. Can you clarify?
 
I find the placement of the opening hole to be a little awkward. To open it smoothly I would have to loosen the pivot, something I'm not likely to do after reading many posts about the blade opening unexpectedly. There isn't any belly to speak of, but I stil like the design of the blade. The clip placement and horn make it impossible to access my wallet, which I carry in my right front pocket, while the blade is clipped in place. I don't mind it riding high though, an untucked t-shirt covers it well enough. All designs have limitations, just gotta decide if the trade off is worth it.
 
Since the pocket clip is placed rather low, do you find it cumbersome to carry? Also, is there some kind of ball detent like on linerlocks in order to keep the blade in the handle?
 
El Cid says:
Is it easy to unlock the blade with one hand? Also, you mentioned that the blade won't stay in the handle. Can you clarify?
Click to expand...

I assume you mean closing the blade with one hand and not accidental disengagement? Closing with one hand is awkward even with a lot of practice. It can be done but takes a lot more time than unlocking any other folder one-handed. If you are talking about accidental disengagement: this is close to impossible. I only say "close" because nothing is impossible when you are talking about folders closing by mistake.

The compression lock does a poor job of keeping the blade in the handle: like a liner lock.

Hardheart says:
I find the placement of the opening hole to be a little awkward.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. I forgot to mention this in my first post. The opening arc is awkward and does not feel secure as opening my other spydies with one hand. The ramp works well as an opener, either with your thumb or against something else.

El Cid says:
Since the pocket clip is placed rather low, do you find it cumbersome to carry? Also, is there some kind of ball detent like on linerlocks in order to keep the blade in the handle?
Click to expand...

Yes, I find clip carry cumbersome and I don't like the balance. For this reason I use the belt sheath from Skunkworks.

The compression lock does not have a ball detent but more like a detent for the lock itself in the tang of the blade. Hard to explain. There is a small degree to which it will keep the blade in the handle. Everyone will tell you to keep the pivot tighter on the Gunting than on other knives. I keep my pivot the way I keep my other knives and just carry it in the holster so accidental openings are not a worry for me.

I like the knife alot and it is one of my daily carry pieces but I am giving you honest concerns I have with it.
 
The knife is fairly thick and heavy. On the plus side, this gives me a secure grip and aids in use as an impact weapon.

Mention was made of opening the Gunting with the ramp. You don't want to do this on any large surfaces of your own body, like your thigh or chest (seen it done on a chest and it cut about an inch long and quarter inch deep before the user could disengage). I've opened it (very carefully) on the back of my forearm, after trying it first with the training drone. The best advice is to get a training tape and drone if you're really serious about the Gunting.
 
well i have had one a while, and its ok - i really think ya need the training to do anything w/it, and in my neck of the woods ya dont pull a knife on someone to use it as a yawara stick and not expose yourself to the possibility of being shot - but here are my likes/dislikes

the knife has a great locking system, very smooth to snap it open or to use the jole as intended

has a good sized grip that feels good in your hand

the blade length USED to make it legal to fly with

the thing WILL open in your pocket, and the positioning of the pocket clip just doesnt work, not for me anyway - if ya get one add in the expense of a skunkworks sheath to carry it

all in all its ok, i dont hardly ever carry mine, i like a longer blade, and just have several others that are more practical to carry - i mean if i am gonna strap on a sheath, might as well strap on my polkawski custom companion fixed blade

i have posted about it opening in my pocket, and numerous people have said they dont have that prob, well MINE WILL OPEN, its the worst knife about that i have had except a spydie joht singh khalsa - i mean it when i say, it will open too darned easy for me

they are ok, but not the best by any stretch, imho

this is just my opinion, formed after carrying it off/on for about 4 months - and no i have no training w/it, a knife to me is strictly a back up to my glock, which i have had training with - and for that reason i prefer a 4" minimum blade, if for nothing else, it makes me feel better about it lol

but they are a good knife, if ya want one, get it, BUT get a skunkworks sheath.........


sifu
 
Second all the positives about ergonomics, and would like to add I have no problem closing one-handed. Not quite as easy as a liner-lock, but at least as easy as most Spyderco lockbacks. I also really like the position and ergonomics of the clip, but I should note that I too carry mine in a Skunkworks sheath, for the reasons mentioned above (accidental opening, horn gets in the way of the pocket).
 
and yes, w/practice, they can be closed ojne handed - i really do like the compression lock too - would be interesting to take brams classes, have the tapes but its just not the same......




sifu
 
Very interesting posts. What I find impressive is the Compression lock and the unique design of the knife as well as it's defensive capabilities, but I am concerned about the knife easliy opening up in your pocket. Does this happen if you clip the knife at a specific angle or can it happen while clipped vertically?
 
There's the million dollar question. Some will say it can open at any angle on any pants, some will say certain angles on all pants, and finally there are those who will tell you it is only possible on some pants.

This is where people will really get jumped on for telling their experiences:

"Well it's your fault the thing opened in your pocket."
"You should have had the pivot tighter."
"You should run down a 10 step checklist of clipping the Gunting to your pocket." :rolleyes:

I'll just say that I only feel comfortable with the Gunting in kydex. I'll leave it at that for risk of starting yet another flame war about this issue.
 
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