I've done a search on the forums but still don't have a clue. Are Rick's XM-18/24 still midtech folders(i.e has a certain amount of handiwork done by Rick himself), or are they already full production folders(i.e fully made by Rick's employees). Could Rick/Rob or anyone else in the know clarify this?
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Are Rick's XM Folders Still Considered Midtechs?
- Thread starter nilfire77
- Start date
The XM series can have either a CNC produced blade or a custom ground blade by Rick (either way, Rick sharpens them as Mike pointed out).
Call them whatever you want. Naming these knives is cause for much confusion, Rick produces much of his own hardware in house to his specifications, does that increase the "custom" factor? They hand bend the clip and fit the knife by hand, does that increase the "custom" factor? At the same token, machinery abounds from fancy 72" variable speed belt grinders to CNC machines, does that reduce the "custom" factor? Is a knife maker using only a hand powered drill, a file and piece of sandpaper more custom than one using mills, lathes, a belt grinder and a CNC machine?
Personally, call them whatever you want, I like the precision and consistency that Rick's shop and crew bring to the XM.
Thanks for the info, Mike and RDA.
Like you guys, I'm an admirer of Rick's products. That's why I own one of his gen4 XM-18 3.5", and another 3" slicer grind flipper on the way(most probably still in mid-air) as we speak. So, I'm just one short (XM-24) to complete the XM trio of folders.
Like you guys, I'm an admirer of Rick's products. That's why I own one of his gen4 XM-18 3.5", and another 3" slicer grind flipper on the way(most probably still in mid-air) as we speak. So, I'm just one short (XM-24) to complete the XM trio of folders.
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Enjoy the knives Nilfire and the pursuit of rounding out your collection. For those interested in the category, apparently Ken Onion authored the descriptive term and explains it as such.
Mid-Tech is a class of knives I created a few years ago to put a dividing line between custom and production .I wanted to discontinue my Boa knife a few years ago due to bordom but the demand was still so high I didn't dare . So I decided to get the parts cut out for me and I would do the grinding shaping and finnishing myself .Problem was , I didn't want everyone to assume I did all my knives this way. I needed to devise a way to differentiate between my custom and these knives I had subbed out part of .The answer was Mid-Tech ,by creating a new category of knives somewhere between custom and production and marketing as such these "Mid-Tech" knives would clearly establish a dividing line between custom and Mid-Tech or less than 100% authorship. Honesty is the key here . Since then there are those that have adopted the term Mid-Tech and defined it differently than I ,which I don't agree with . I installed a dividing line between custom and Mid-Tech but failed to mention that if a knife is all subbed out it is still a PRODUCTION KNIFE. There are alot of makers and posers that think that by assembling a knife they farmed out 90% ,sharpening it and logoing it it is Mid-Tech . It is not a Mid-Tech it is primarily factory made and there for is a Production knife . Now I don't know what % authorship a knife needs to have to be called a Mid-Tech , didn't think it necessary but things bieng as they are there are those that will split hairs and do as little as possable by hand and use the term Mid-Tech where the spirit of the term is lost . Again always ask how much was hand made by the guy or gal whose name appears on the knife . Honor and Honesty are key and as much as we don't like to hear it there are some sneaky ,treacherous ,predators out there who will deliberately mislead in order to turn a quick buck . Most are credible ,honest folk just trying to make a living . Don't let the 10% ruin the credibility of the 90%.
I certainly think that our beloved knives fall closer to the side of the scale "semi-customs" if a label is warranted (just my opinion) Parts made in house, painstaking attention to detail, flawless F&F, amazingly consistent performance.
All in all, just an Quality Product made by Quality Folks.
Mid-Tech is a class of knives I created a few years ago to put a dividing line between custom and production .I wanted to discontinue my Boa knife a few years ago due to bordom but the demand was still so high I didn't dare . So I decided to get the parts cut out for me and I would do the grinding shaping and finnishing myself .Problem was , I didn't want everyone to assume I did all my knives this way. I needed to devise a way to differentiate between my custom and these knives I had subbed out part of .The answer was Mid-Tech ,by creating a new category of knives somewhere between custom and production and marketing as such these "Mid-Tech" knives would clearly establish a dividing line between custom and Mid-Tech or less than 100% authorship. Honesty is the key here . Since then there are those that have adopted the term Mid-Tech and defined it differently than I ,which I don't agree with . I installed a dividing line between custom and Mid-Tech but failed to mention that if a knife is all subbed out it is still a PRODUCTION KNIFE. There are alot of makers and posers that think that by assembling a knife they farmed out 90% ,sharpening it and logoing it it is Mid-Tech . It is not a Mid-Tech it is primarily factory made and there for is a Production knife . Now I don't know what % authorship a knife needs to have to be called a Mid-Tech , didn't think it necessary but things bieng as they are there are those that will split hairs and do as little as possable by hand and use the term Mid-Tech where the spirit of the term is lost . Again always ask how much was hand made by the guy or gal whose name appears on the knife . Honor and Honesty are key and as much as we don't like to hear it there are some sneaky ,treacherous ,predators out there who will deliberately mislead in order to turn a quick buck . Most are credible ,honest folk just trying to make a living . Don't let the 10% ruin the credibility of the 90%.
I certainly think that our beloved knives fall closer to the side of the scale "semi-customs" if a label is warranted (just my opinion) Parts made in house, painstaking attention to detail, flawless F&F, amazingly consistent performance.
All in all, just an Quality Product made by Quality Folks.
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- Messages
- 7,247
Short n sweet...
A lot of confusion stems from the language used to describe things. We commonly say this or that is custom when in fact it is customized. We also understand a term like "mid-tech" to generically refer to knives that see both production parts and some hands-on labor.
In the case of Hinderers, it is a blend of things that come together to create each knife. And since most complaints on these great knives revolve around availability and not quality, whatever methods bring them to life are fine by me.
As for what to call them...awesome works of useable art crafted by skilled professionals in the USA.
Please feel free to quote me on that.
A lot of confusion stems from the language used to describe things. We commonly say this or that is custom when in fact it is customized. We also understand a term like "mid-tech" to generically refer to knives that see both production parts and some hands-on labor.
In the case of Hinderers, it is a blend of things that come together to create each knife. And since most complaints on these great knives revolve around availability and not quality, whatever methods bring them to life are fine by me.
As for what to call them...awesome works of useable art crafted by skilled professionals in the USA.
Please feel free to quote me on that.
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I for one just consider the Hinderer XM's...awesome.
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Yes, as my teenager(s) might be heard saying, "True dat".
Now, if I could just pull the trigger on my "Hoarder" side, I would sell the entirety of my "other than Hinderer knife collection" (which just sits like birds on a wire) and buy a small island in the South Pacific, well maybe a bucket of sand from that general vicinity. Or, maybe just take a trip to Camden NJ
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I understand the island.
If my multi-state lotto numbers ever hit...it's private island time. With generator /wind/ solar power, water catchment, desalinization....bourbon, beaches, island life with frequest visits from family and friends by boat or seaplane...and well...not a whole lot else.
If my multi-state lotto numbers ever hit...it's private island time. With generator /wind/ solar power, water catchment, desalinization....bourbon, beaches, island life with frequest visits from family and friends by boat or seaplane...and well...not a whole lot else.