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- Apr 23, 2007
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EDITTED to add crappy cell phone pics. These will have to do til I get out my DSLR. Just been really busy as of late, but I promised pics, so for now:
Click to get slightly bigger pics-
EDIT: It's worth noting that this is a proto of the one knifecenter is getting, meaning stuff could change from now until then. I basically have it as a test bed for the m390.
I have in my hands a demo unit of an exclusive assisted HTM Gunhammer in m390 steel and non-glare bowie profile! Until today, I hadn't actually seen one of the always-updated Gunhammers. Since I have an older s30v version, I can tell right away the subtle changes from revision to revision. I wrote about these changes in other threads before, but to have one in the hand to actually see and feel the differences is something else. There's an overall higher fit and finish on these new Gunnies, which sounds a bit strange at first since the older ones were pretty high quality pieces to begin with. I don't even know where to begin, but here goes nothing!
The military type III hard anno on this m390 version is matte finished compared to the glossy anno of my s30v version. Whether that's an option or not, I'm not sure, but I'm digging the matte finish because it provides more grip over the slicker glossy anno. Down south, humidity really makes even the grippiest of grippy get real slick for me. Hell, stippled handguns feel like I'm holding a bar of soap after a good range session, so any extra grip is welcome for me even if it only gives me 10 minutes or so of extra time before sweat makes holding something an exercise of patience (before I feel like wiping the sweat off with a rag). So more grip = more gooder (wish I could find this Shotshow 2012 video where a representative says "more gooder")! There's a bit more texturing on the finger grooves that my older s30v version doesn't have too. It's a nice touch, pun not intended or was it?
The clip is longer now and inset into the aluminum grips.
Jimping is more refined and more frequent. On the s30v version the jimping was more coarse. I also think Darrel has a better water jet cutter now. It's either that or he used a CNC machine for the jimping. One thing I'm indifferent towards is the new jimping on the lockbar. I'd say most people probably welcome this change, but I'm more of an aesthetics kind of guy. What I mean is that on the m390 version the lockbar extends ever so slightly past the grip due to how the jimping is designed. It's "toothier" for lack of a better word. Does it make it easier to release the lockbar? Yes, but I never had problems to begin with even when a lockbar is flush with the grip, a design feature I prefer due to aesthetics, and for the same reason I don't like lockbar relief cut outs. It's functional though. On my custom DDR, my lockbar will be flush by personal request.
Finally the blade profile. The swedge or clip if you want to call it is taken higher. It's ground further back. I think this gives the blade a more distinct bowie shape compared to the spear point (Torpedo as Darrel calls it) shape. It's a good move because the older bowie and spear point looked pretty similar. The blade is also slightly thinner, not in metal stock thickness, but in width from spine to edge. It all makes for a sleeker looking blade. The blade is also stamped HTM, Made in USA and DDR.
I swore never to have an assisted knife again, but this is really nice and different from the conventional torsion bar set up. It uses a coil spring.
Pics to come when I get out the lightbox again.
EDIT: Celtic cross pivot pin is no more. I suspect from here on out, only DDRs will have the Celtic cross pivot pin. The HTMs have this tri-wing swirly design. The pivot pin itself is also thicker than previous versions.
Click to get slightly bigger pics-
EDIT: It's worth noting that this is a proto of the one knifecenter is getting, meaning stuff could change from now until then. I basically have it as a test bed for the m390.
I have in my hands a demo unit of an exclusive assisted HTM Gunhammer in m390 steel and non-glare bowie profile! Until today, I hadn't actually seen one of the always-updated Gunhammers. Since I have an older s30v version, I can tell right away the subtle changes from revision to revision. I wrote about these changes in other threads before, but to have one in the hand to actually see and feel the differences is something else. There's an overall higher fit and finish on these new Gunnies, which sounds a bit strange at first since the older ones were pretty high quality pieces to begin with. I don't even know where to begin, but here goes nothing!
The military type III hard anno on this m390 version is matte finished compared to the glossy anno of my s30v version. Whether that's an option or not, I'm not sure, but I'm digging the matte finish because it provides more grip over the slicker glossy anno. Down south, humidity really makes even the grippiest of grippy get real slick for me. Hell, stippled handguns feel like I'm holding a bar of soap after a good range session, so any extra grip is welcome for me even if it only gives me 10 minutes or so of extra time before sweat makes holding something an exercise of patience (before I feel like wiping the sweat off with a rag). So more grip = more gooder (wish I could find this Shotshow 2012 video where a representative says "more gooder")! There's a bit more texturing on the finger grooves that my older s30v version doesn't have too. It's a nice touch, pun not intended or was it?
The clip is longer now and inset into the aluminum grips.
Jimping is more refined and more frequent. On the s30v version the jimping was more coarse. I also think Darrel has a better water jet cutter now. It's either that or he used a CNC machine for the jimping. One thing I'm indifferent towards is the new jimping on the lockbar. I'd say most people probably welcome this change, but I'm more of an aesthetics kind of guy. What I mean is that on the m390 version the lockbar extends ever so slightly past the grip due to how the jimping is designed. It's "toothier" for lack of a better word. Does it make it easier to release the lockbar? Yes, but I never had problems to begin with even when a lockbar is flush with the grip, a design feature I prefer due to aesthetics, and for the same reason I don't like lockbar relief cut outs. It's functional though. On my custom DDR, my lockbar will be flush by personal request.
Finally the blade profile. The swedge or clip if you want to call it is taken higher. It's ground further back. I think this gives the blade a more distinct bowie shape compared to the spear point (Torpedo as Darrel calls it) shape. It's a good move because the older bowie and spear point looked pretty similar. The blade is also slightly thinner, not in metal stock thickness, but in width from spine to edge. It all makes for a sleeker looking blade. The blade is also stamped HTM, Made in USA and DDR.
I swore never to have an assisted knife again, but this is really nice and different from the conventional torsion bar set up. It uses a coil spring.
Pics to come when I get out the lightbox again.
EDIT: Celtic cross pivot pin is no more. I suspect from here on out, only DDRs will have the Celtic cross pivot pin. The HTMs have this tri-wing swirly design. The pivot pin itself is also thicker than previous versions.
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