IGX

For those who carry knives for general utility and who fancy them for self defense...this is a quality , inexpensive, well thought out piece. Endorsed by James Keating...that says alot. It is large, but dissapears in the pocket..super smooth and fast opening....very pleased with mine.

I've never handled one, though I understand it's James Keating's design - rather than just being something he endorses.

Nice piece. James is a blade junkie and big time collector. He designed that and actually designed the old Spyderco Gunting,.. but that is a long story

Oddly enough he has a dvd, (one of many) called Panantukan, Boxing With Blades, that I suggested he make some years ago. I gave him about 20 ideas in a rather long exchange of knife talk.

I'd love a Pikal, or Yojimbo, but a think and waved Endura would fit nicely into the jeans. I'd prefer carrying a fixed Disciple by Trace Rinaldi,... but I need to get my concealed weapons permit to cover that sort of thing. You can do a fast draw with a Pikal and close well with a couple of thousand reps of practice.
Good luck with your Chinook. Real good choice.

--Tom

I thought the gunting was done by Bram Frank due to the full name of the knife and the pressure point syllabus he endorsed at the time. Why would Keating design it then let it be taken over by another - or do you mean it was copied?

There as many politics in the knife world as there are in any group. BTW, Gunting means to "Scissor". Many use it as a general term to mean, 'Destructions', "Finger Picks", etc. The idea was to use the knife closed as a non lethal weapon, with the option to open it for lethal force. ......Now, when exactly do you make that decision???? The drunk bully in the bar is not responding to pressure on his "triple warmer" and so you cut his throat??

Use of a blade, other than a tool or a life saving mechanism (cutting a seat belt, or freeing someone, or perhaps a tracheatomy) is probably an excursion into the use of Lethal Force. Now you have opened a HUGE can of worms.

I have old collectable stuff from my dad's WW2 collection, an Indonesian Kris, and mainly work associated tools like Gerber Multi-Tool, and Spyderco Endura -type tools. I used them daily when working the theater as did the entire theater crew. I use them to open packages and for shipping packages now since I mail out DVD's and T-Shirts. They are TOOLS first, and may be used in a more aggressive fashion if myself or family were threatened. Then again I could use a Diet Coke bottle, rolled up newspaper, screwdriver, etc. if I need to. Martial Science should be broadly adaptable.

--- Tom

Tom, what's your opinion of the Emerson Combat Karambit?

Tom,
I know what you mean re the weaknesses of the gunting, more an idealist's approach that would likely leave the 'defender' open to accusations of escalating a non lethal scenario into a lethal one.

That's why I was suprised when you call it Keating's design, he reccomends lethal force as a last resort and I just can't see him designing the gunting. I also remember Kelly Worden and Robert Hummelbaugh making fun of the gunting on an episode of 'on the edge' but no mention of anyone stealing a design.

The Kerambit, Lawi Ayam, or Kuku Makan, is a VERY specific knife. I have heard Emerson's have small openings for your index finger,... I've never handled one. Use the Sayoc Karambit DVD for a guide and watch Ray Dionaldo on YouTube for methodology. I LOVE Ray's stuff. There are some nice models on 5-11, that are economical BTW.
I put Kerambit's and "LeGriffe's" in the category of short blade and the movements kind of track the scissoring and elbowing methods of Filipino boxing/Pangamut.

For me personally,... I am really sold on the Floro Fighting Systems. I think Sayoc and Atienza are definitely PhD knife methodology, but Ray's stuff is taught fast, leaned quickly, and widely applicable. I can meld it with my empty hand silat very easily and give people a real smooth method of staying alive on an airplane with terrorists. Improvised weapons and SIMPLE moves refined by Ray's thousands of hours of sparring and playing with really top notch Special Forces/Law Enforcement/ and other Defensive Tactics instructors make this a really, really, hot item.

-- Tom