Following an e-mail discussion with fellow BFC member fourcycle, I recently acquired a Gunting, #316, along with a Skunkworks holster for it. I should note that I acquired this knife primarily because of an interest in the kinetic opening system, and the new Spyderco compression lock, not because I am a martial artist, or because I am a disciple of Bram Frank. However, I have always taken an interest in the mechanics of how locks work, and in the ergonomics of knife design, and this particular knife provided an excellent opportunity to get a look at both. What Im trying to convey is the idea that this review is from the viewpoint of a knife-knut, and not a martial artist, so Im going to try to cover some of the aspects of this knifes construction that have not been covered in previous reviews Ive seen.
First, fit and finish. This knife is absolutely one of the best Ive ever seen. Scales and liners match perfectly. Grind lines are comparable in quality to Microtech, and the solidity of this knife is impressive. In terms of handle rigidity and strength, this knife feels absolutely rock solid. Lock-up with the compression lock is outstanding. This knife easily passes spine-whack tests, including the standard whack it against your desk and a few full pressure swings with the back of the blade against a tree, as well as slashing motions. The blade is CPM 440V, and has a fairly standard satin-type finish (its my understanding that CPM 440V doesnt really take a mirror polish). The edge is hollow ground, with a not particularly high grind, but it is extremely sharp, and though it doesnt exhibit, in my not-so-scientific testing, above-average edge holding, it is extremely easy to return to hair-shaving sharpness with a few passes on a white Spyderco Profile stone. This is, I think, one of the tradeoffs of the lower RC on Spydercos 440V. Ill gladly take the ability to get a knife this sharp, this easily, along with increased toughness, over a few percent more edgeholding. The only fit and finish flaw I can find with this knife is in the second set of screws used to reinforce the back. They are sunk extremely deep into the handle, in such a way that they reduce the attractiveness of the handle. Using a screw with a taller head, or countersinking the G-10 less would fix this.
Second, ergonomics. This is one of the primary reasons I was interested in this knife. I understand that Mr. Frank, along with Spyderco, engineered it to be extremely comfortable and secure, while still allowing for enhanced grip manipulation, and striking with exposed surfaces of the grip and blade in the closed position. This is comparable to the use of the balisong, another knife that allows tang and butt strikes while in the closed position, as well as use as a fist load. Ergonomics is a highly subjective category, so I should mention that I have fairly large palms, and short, stubby fingers. My hands are also fairly calloused and muscular. Please take this into consideration while reading the following subjective comments. The most striking (pun intended) feature about this knife in the closed position is the ramp. This is also the device intended to allow kinetic opening. I find that, when held by the bottom half of the handle, this protrusion juts out in a such a way as to allow tomahawking, as mentioned by many martial-artist users of this knife, or to allow jabbing strikes to be reinforced with the front radius of the ramp, and front of the handle. I would guess that a sufficiently hard strike in this fashion would cause pressure cuts, in addition to the bruising one would normally expect. However, I find that this position results in my little finger covering the bottom of the handle, meaning that when held in this position, the knife is not effective as a fist load for hammer strikes with the bottom of the fist. When I choke up on the knife, so that my index finger rides over the bottom part of the ramp, I feel that tomahawking effectiveness is reduced. Ive seen comments to the effect that one might allow the ramp to poke out between ones fingers in a fist. I find that when I do this, the ramp is actually below the level of my knuckles, making it not particularly effective as a striking implement. In summary, I would like the ramp to be either shifted slightly higher up the blade (to afford more grip space), or else a slightly longer handle, so that I could make fuller use of the striking possibilities of the closed knife.
I actually found that one of the most effective closed positions of this knife was upside down, with the clip on the inside of my right palm, and the ramp cradling the swell at the base of my thumb. This allowed comfortable striking with both the front and back of the handle, and raking with the slight guard swell present at the top, front end of the handle (protruding below my little finger).
The clip on this knife is one of its best features. I found that not only did the clip disappear in my hand in almost any grip, the indentation in it, coupled with that on the front of the handle, allowed for more comfortable secure grips and grip manipulation. Definitely the future of clip design (though some have mentioned they dislike its size and shape, I suggest you hold it before you knock it). I also understand that in the future this clip will have a subdued finish. I think this will make the knife much less obtrusive in the pocket.
In terms of open ergonomics this knife is also excellent. The clip is still unobtrusive, the rest of the knife very secure in the hand due to the long, sculpted handle. I would like a slightly wider handle, as this would fill my hand a little better, but this is the case with almost every knife I hold. Grip changes are easy to accomplish, and aided by the clip and indentation on the opposite side of the handle. The lock seems, in my limited testing, to be resistant to accidental closing of the white-knuckle type, though I would like its position reversed (I know Bram has explained his reasoning for designing it in the way he did (opposite from other compression locks) but I cant help feeling it would work better for me the other way).
Other thoughts and observations: The ramp is an excellent opening/closing device. It even allows for opening on an object while wearing gloves, which is helpful. While the knife is open, it also serves as an excellent guard for the thumb in saber grip, preventing the hand from slipping forward. Ive also used it to break apart the bottoms of cardboard boxes, saving my knuckles from my usual technique of simply punching through the tape. My sole word of warning about it is that, when one is inserting the knife into a pair of pants, it can catch on the top of the pocket and open the blade. This results in approximately a one-inch slit in the front of your pants. For this reason, I tend to carry the knife with the action screwed down tightly (use a 2.5mm allen wrench for this), to minimize the possibility of an accidental opening.
The shape of this blade, with a distal taper, and spear point tip allows for excellent penetration on a variety of media, including a frozen tub of ice cream (I work in an ice-cream factory), a phonebook, and raw steak. The hollow ground blade also provides good slashing ability, as tested on a phonebook and the steak.
Alterations I would make: As I mentioned above, I would like a slightly longer handle, engineered for those of us with bigger hands. I would also find the compression lock easier to use if it were reversed (as it will be on all other compression lock knives). Id like to see the dent in the G-10 on the front of the handle made slightly larger, and oval, as I think this would improve both grip and grip changes. Finally, I think the closed striking ability of this knife would be maximized if the front and back of the handle (the striking surfaces when the knife is closed) were given checkering like the ramp.
Please note that this is a great knife, and I really like it. The highest compliment I can give it is that it has stimulated me to think in new ways about the various methods of using a knife, open and closed. Im happy to clarify any points about this knife, and my experience with it in this thread, or via email at brkriete@yahoo.com, but I would like to reiterate that I am not a martial artist, nor am I affiliated with Spyderco, Bram Frank, or any other party involved in the manufacture and distribution of this knife, nor am I qualified to comment on its use as a self-defense tool in comparison to a gun, a sword, a leatherman micra, or a rottweiler.
First, fit and finish. This knife is absolutely one of the best Ive ever seen. Scales and liners match perfectly. Grind lines are comparable in quality to Microtech, and the solidity of this knife is impressive. In terms of handle rigidity and strength, this knife feels absolutely rock solid. Lock-up with the compression lock is outstanding. This knife easily passes spine-whack tests, including the standard whack it against your desk and a few full pressure swings with the back of the blade against a tree, as well as slashing motions. The blade is CPM 440V, and has a fairly standard satin-type finish (its my understanding that CPM 440V doesnt really take a mirror polish). The edge is hollow ground, with a not particularly high grind, but it is extremely sharp, and though it doesnt exhibit, in my not-so-scientific testing, above-average edge holding, it is extremely easy to return to hair-shaving sharpness with a few passes on a white Spyderco Profile stone. This is, I think, one of the tradeoffs of the lower RC on Spydercos 440V. Ill gladly take the ability to get a knife this sharp, this easily, along with increased toughness, over a few percent more edgeholding. The only fit and finish flaw I can find with this knife is in the second set of screws used to reinforce the back. They are sunk extremely deep into the handle, in such a way that they reduce the attractiveness of the handle. Using a screw with a taller head, or countersinking the G-10 less would fix this.
Second, ergonomics. This is one of the primary reasons I was interested in this knife. I understand that Mr. Frank, along with Spyderco, engineered it to be extremely comfortable and secure, while still allowing for enhanced grip manipulation, and striking with exposed surfaces of the grip and blade in the closed position. This is comparable to the use of the balisong, another knife that allows tang and butt strikes while in the closed position, as well as use as a fist load. Ergonomics is a highly subjective category, so I should mention that I have fairly large palms, and short, stubby fingers. My hands are also fairly calloused and muscular. Please take this into consideration while reading the following subjective comments. The most striking (pun intended) feature about this knife in the closed position is the ramp. This is also the device intended to allow kinetic opening. I find that, when held by the bottom half of the handle, this protrusion juts out in a such a way as to allow tomahawking, as mentioned by many martial-artist users of this knife, or to allow jabbing strikes to be reinforced with the front radius of the ramp, and front of the handle. I would guess that a sufficiently hard strike in this fashion would cause pressure cuts, in addition to the bruising one would normally expect. However, I find that this position results in my little finger covering the bottom of the handle, meaning that when held in this position, the knife is not effective as a fist load for hammer strikes with the bottom of the fist. When I choke up on the knife, so that my index finger rides over the bottom part of the ramp, I feel that tomahawking effectiveness is reduced. Ive seen comments to the effect that one might allow the ramp to poke out between ones fingers in a fist. I find that when I do this, the ramp is actually below the level of my knuckles, making it not particularly effective as a striking implement. In summary, I would like the ramp to be either shifted slightly higher up the blade (to afford more grip space), or else a slightly longer handle, so that I could make fuller use of the striking possibilities of the closed knife.
I actually found that one of the most effective closed positions of this knife was upside down, with the clip on the inside of my right palm, and the ramp cradling the swell at the base of my thumb. This allowed comfortable striking with both the front and back of the handle, and raking with the slight guard swell present at the top, front end of the handle (protruding below my little finger).
The clip on this knife is one of its best features. I found that not only did the clip disappear in my hand in almost any grip, the indentation in it, coupled with that on the front of the handle, allowed for more comfortable secure grips and grip manipulation. Definitely the future of clip design (though some have mentioned they dislike its size and shape, I suggest you hold it before you knock it). I also understand that in the future this clip will have a subdued finish. I think this will make the knife much less obtrusive in the pocket.
In terms of open ergonomics this knife is also excellent. The clip is still unobtrusive, the rest of the knife very secure in the hand due to the long, sculpted handle. I would like a slightly wider handle, as this would fill my hand a little better, but this is the case with almost every knife I hold. Grip changes are easy to accomplish, and aided by the clip and indentation on the opposite side of the handle. The lock seems, in my limited testing, to be resistant to accidental closing of the white-knuckle type, though I would like its position reversed (I know Bram has explained his reasoning for designing it in the way he did (opposite from other compression locks) but I cant help feeling it would work better for me the other way).
Other thoughts and observations: The ramp is an excellent opening/closing device. It even allows for opening on an object while wearing gloves, which is helpful. While the knife is open, it also serves as an excellent guard for the thumb in saber grip, preventing the hand from slipping forward. Ive also used it to break apart the bottoms of cardboard boxes, saving my knuckles from my usual technique of simply punching through the tape. My sole word of warning about it is that, when one is inserting the knife into a pair of pants, it can catch on the top of the pocket and open the blade. This results in approximately a one-inch slit in the front of your pants. For this reason, I tend to carry the knife with the action screwed down tightly (use a 2.5mm allen wrench for this), to minimize the possibility of an accidental opening.
The shape of this blade, with a distal taper, and spear point tip allows for excellent penetration on a variety of media, including a frozen tub of ice cream (I work in an ice-cream factory), a phonebook, and raw steak. The hollow ground blade also provides good slashing ability, as tested on a phonebook and the steak.
Alterations I would make: As I mentioned above, I would like a slightly longer handle, engineered for those of us with bigger hands. I would also find the compression lock easier to use if it were reversed (as it will be on all other compression lock knives). Id like to see the dent in the G-10 on the front of the handle made slightly larger, and oval, as I think this would improve both grip and grip changes. Finally, I think the closed striking ability of this knife would be maximized if the front and back of the handle (the striking surfaces when the knife is closed) were given checkering like the ramp.
Please note that this is a great knife, and I really like it. The highest compliment I can give it is that it has stimulated me to think in new ways about the various methods of using a knife, open and closed. Im happy to clarify any points about this knife, and my experience with it in this thread, or via email at brkriete@yahoo.com, but I would like to reiterate that I am not a martial artist, nor am I affiliated with Spyderco, Bram Frank, or any other party involved in the manufacture and distribution of this knife, nor am I qualified to comment on its use as a self-defense tool in comparison to a gun, a sword, a leatherman micra, or a rottweiler.
