Gold Member
Post retracted - I must have joined this thread late and never read the first few pages. I love my XM-18's and XM-24s.
Rick Hinderer and Rob Orlando - the only men at Hinderer Knives that I've ever spoke to are very cool, up front, stand-up guys.
Rick does a lot of work at prices that are far less than he could charge, to supply Military, LEO and first responders with knives they'd never be able to touch if it weren't for Rick's policies.
Last edited by cziv; 09-28-2012 at 09:55 AM.
Registered User
I'm talking about the reasons why he's received so much negativity from forum administrators and knife company representatives/owners.Originally Posted by cziv
Rolex John's reputation wasn't built in this thread alone.
I'm not trying to insult Rolex John.
I'm trying to set straight some of the reasons why he's caught so much flack.
It is not simply because he's angered the fanboys with his review.
Gold Member
Incorrect. I posted my reviews on USN for many months without any complaint whatsoever from their administrators. It was not until my comparison review was posted on USN that I was banned there without warning or explanation.
I don't try to please all the people all the time - I'm sure there are people who dislike me for any number of arbitrary reasons and perhaps "attitude" might be on the list. However, we can agree to disagree if your suggesting there's something about my "attitude" which is acutely or inordinately bothersome.It is not your reviews that are angering people, it is your attitude.
Gold Member
I've read this thread, and personnally don't believe Rolex John deserves what he's enduring over a review. Everyone has an opinion, and there all going to be different. That's the way it is. Take it with a grain of salt and move on. I'm one of the individuals that paid the horrendous price for a 3" hinderer, and it's a great knife- but not worth the money that I payed. And that's my opinion. That being said, I'm one who doesn't understand why Rick doesn't control the vendor pricing either? Matter of fact-Rick the next time you send a batch of knives out to one of your vendors that sell a 3.5" for $385, please email me so I can pick one up, as I'll never pay what I payed again, I'm just a normal Joe trying to make it, and there are alot of great knives out there for less money to try.
Registered User
I've read the posts/threads that lead up to your banning on two separate, respectable forums.
The reasons for both of the bans were stated by the admins in both circumstances, and you were also warned.
(You can read it for yourself.)
In both cases, you weren't banned for your reviews.
In one case you were banned because you spammed your review across many sub-forums.
In the other case you were banned because you threatened legal action against the forum because they removed your (spam) link and posted the images on the forum.
Anyway, I'm done. You obviously didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry the world is out to get you.
Gold Member
Here's the conclusion of the journey that started nearly two months ago when I posted Rolex John's review here.
I was lucky enough to be able to try models from each of the Big Three knife makers -- Strider's SNG, Chris Reeve's Umnumzaan and Hinderer's XM.
Here are my findings:
The Strider SNG is one of the sexiest folders on the market. I can't imagine a knife nut who wouldn't want it or one of its stablemates.
I tried two of the latest SNGs, with the new improved lock. Each had the same defect: while the lock opened reasonably smoothly for a folder of this size, closing it was another story. I lost skin, part of my thumb nail and partial use of my thumb for nearly a week.
I asked Strider for help and never received a response.
I also had lock issues with a Strider SJ-75 Baby Huey I had previously praised on this forum. It, too, had the latest lock.
Out of the box, the Baby Huey opened and closed as smoothly as you could wish for. Within weeks, it was off-center, difficult to disengage and needed constant adjustment. Sadly, this left me without confidence in the Strider locks.
A dealer told me that "Striders are different" and I accept that. Apparently, they aren't for me. YMMV.
I've had excellent luck with all my Chris Reeve folders and looked forward to trying the highly regarded Umnumzaan. I was lucky to find the StarTac version in stock at Wilson Combat.
No sooner had it arrived when CRK came out with a version with a new pivot. Controversy is still raging on the CRK site over whether the old or current version is better. The old version requires a proprietary tool to adjust the pivot; the new doesn't.
I didn't like the idea of having to buy a proprietary tool and exchanged my Zaan for one with the new pivot.
(According to CRK, the new Umnumzaans and the forthcoming Model 25 use a standard 1/8ths Allen wrench for the pivot and a 5/64ths wrench for the rest of the screws.)
To me, the new Zaan has a cleaner look. Like my other Reeve models, it opens and closes smoothly, the detent is perfect and the lock is 100 percent reliable. The Zaan feels like it will not fail you.
Communication with CRK is effortless; the company responds quickly to questions and follow-ups. This is the important second step in building customer confidence, after producing a trouble-free knife. Viewed in this light, the hefty $425 price seems almost reasonable.
As noted throughout this thread, Hinderers are harder to come by and prices for non military or first responder customers approach $1k. By any standard, that's a lot for any production knife.
I went for the 3-inch XM model, which seem plentiful right now -- if you are willing to pay a dealer $885.
With such pricing, it's difficult to put the Hinderer in context with SNG and Zaan. Unlike the Strider, there were no issues of any kind. The flipper and studs work perfectly. And as smooth as my Zaan is, the Hinderer is at least as smooth.
The little Hinderer is the perfect size and weight for my hand or pocket-EDCing.
I earlier remarked that we would have to be on crack to pay such inflated prices for a production model available to other customers for $385. Even so, I bought a second XM from a dealer for $650.
I still can't decide whether I got a bargain or got fleeced a second time.
Finally, here's how I rank the three folders:
Without regard to price, the small Hinderer XM is my favorite. That's based solely upon aesthetics and personal preference.
With price as a consideration, the CRK Umnumzaan is a clear winner. In materials, manufacture, design and customer support, it is second to none and this well-made folder easily ties for first-place.
Based upon reliability, customer service from the manufacturer and my own experience, the Strider SNG doesn't finish the race. Strider fans will have different opinions and I respect their views. Again, YMMV.
Thanks to all who commented and a special thanks to Rolex John for the review that got me to try these three folders.
Last edited by flash900; 10-01-2012 at 10:12 AM.
Gold Member
This thread has been discussing the situation as it happened on USN. You vaguely mention "two other forums" but you don't seem to want to acknowledge we're not discussing other forums except here on BF and on USN (and only on USN because that's where Hinderer and Strider have brand sponsored forums).
If you're referring to USN, no I didn't do anything wrong when I posted my review. In the case you mention where I "threatened legal action" I do have vague memories of that happening some time ago though I don't remember the forum. I recall that the site removed a link to an article that I wrote and instead posted my content directly on their site. My images and content is clearly copyright protected and may not be posted elsewhere without my explicit permission. For them to take content directly from my site and post it to their site was illegal, so if I did threaten legal action (which I've had to do with many sites in the past...more times than I can remember) it was entirely appropriate. If I was then banned from a forum as a result, that's no reflection on me...as your thinly veiled attempt at a character assassination would seem to be asserting.Anyway, I'm done. You obviously didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry the world is out to get you.
Gold Member
This has more drama flakes in it than a soap opera.
Gold Member
Very special little snowflakes.
Knife Sharpening & Modifying
Wow. This is the exact reason I don't do YouTube videos anymore. Try to do good things for the community, and get punished for it. Any opinion is allowed, as long as it doesn't even remotely hint to a problem or issue.
I don't know the details surrounding this, but I know from experience that doing HONEST reviews gets you in trouble. The pack mentality takes over and it's down hill from there.
Registered User
My favorite "honest" review was the one where you recorded yourself driving around Atlanta calling a guy on a motorcycle a "faggot", repeatedly.
Also, if you "don't know the details surrounding this" how can you form a useful opinion?
Gold Member
Wow! I wondered why I kept checking the channel and nothing! Well there was a couple minuted video the other day. Maybe just a rest and you'll feel like making one just because a knife or a sharpening technique turn you on enough to share.
Trust me, there's a lot more of that like your material than you'd ever think. Plus, not everyone who watches and is entertained or helped has an account and subscribes. Hope to see you back before too long. If not, thanks for the videos, I've enjoyed them.
Registered User
Jdavis, I also think you had many useful, informative videos.
I've enjoyed many of your reviews.
but... when I watched a review, and you'd bring up some argument you had on the forum, or some other drama, I'd lose interest.
Anyway, I hope you keep sharing useful information with the knife community.
SUPPRESSING FIRE
Yeah JDavis your videos are great but it's really tiring when you bring up people hating your stuff on forums. I wouldn't even be aware that happened unless you brought it up. Why focus so much on the negative people when so many enjoys your stuff?
Knife Sharpening & Modifying
Hmm, I have over 300 videos and I think I mention the forums (other than directing to useful info) about 5 times or less. I'd say that I rarely bring up the forums in a negative way.
Dark Sider - Come over to the Dark Side
One can do honest reviews that aren't completely positive........ It's all in the wording....
Although with a real issue it's best to contact the maker 1st to give them a chance to make it right before posting it all over the place.. That's unless one really wants to cause a lot of issues and draw attention to themselves...
Gold Member
Sorry to hear that - I subscribe to your channel and certainly appreciate your contributions to the community.
I for one have always reported things exactly as I felt they should be, with little regard to potential negative response from both manufacturers and fans. I think you've probably done the same thing, and I know I'm not alone in having respect for your integrity.
Have you run into any problems from the manufacturers/knife makers themselves or just the fan base?
Knife Sharpening & Modifying
To be honest, I rarely get any replies to my calls/emails from makers, even when I tell them that I am going to discussing their knife in a video. People always preach the "contact the maker" idea, not knowing that there have been VERY few instances where I have not contacted the maker first. Once I try to call/email, it's out of my hands. What I won't do is wait around for 3 weeks waiting on a reply from a maker. After 3 or 4 days, the vid goes up.
Chris Reeve knives is about the only company that has stayed in regular contact with me, despite my open critique of their heat treat. People think just because I make a video showing a problem with a Sebenza that I must hate CRK, which is so far from the truth that it's laughable.
Anyway, I could ramble about this all day. Sorry if my post wasn't well constructed, I'm typing in a rush so I can get back to work.
Knife Sharpening & Modifying
Since the attention is negative, I can't fathom why someone would do that intentionally.
I agree with you, but I do believe that there are some instances where contacting the maker is kind of a moot point.
Gold Member
I think I smell a mod.
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