Shifting without the clutch on a tranny WITH syncros is a good way to end up with a tranny WITHOUT syncros. Unless you are perfect every time, the syncros will jam and produce major wear on the blocker rings.
OTOH, I've driven a few miles without a clutch several times in an emergency. You want to be very careful. The last time was in traffic. I tried a quick test to see if the engine would start in first. When I found that it would (geared starter, light car), I just drove it to the garage in stop and go traffic and had them put in a clutch cable (Honda Civic) to replace the one that had snapped. It's really not hard, but you need to be very gentle with your shifts. As the engine approaches the speed where it will be when the gears are meshed, gently ease up against the syncro. When the engine passes the right speed and the match is right, the syncro blocker ring will let the collar pass, and it will drop in. Whatever you do, don't force it in. That's a sure way to cause some damage.
It helps to have driven a few crash boxes. The worst I ever had to drive was a '42 Chevy school bus that had a box full of sliding gears. Not even one constant mesh gear, except for top, which was straight through. Like a whole tranmission of unsyncronized first gears. What a bitch to drive, but it developed your skills.
-- Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)
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