Are the New Hinderer XM-18's worth the wait?

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sideshow

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Apr 30, 2008
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Just wondering if anyone else has seen a 3rd generation XM-18 From rick? I was able to handle a friends and it just didn't seem to have the same "Solid Quality Feel" as the first and second generation models I was priveliged enough to be able to handle in the past. Just trying to decide if it's worth all the hype to buy one of the new ones at the ridiculous premium everyone will be asking for them. I also heard that the blades were being sourced out and ground by someone else. Can anyone verify this? I would love to hear something straight from the maker himself, but his website has not changed since January. :confused:
 
Hi sideshow,
Heres a quote from Rick off another site. In my opinion, the 3rd Gens are just as cool and just as desirable as the first two Gens. In fact, , I paid another dealer secondary market prices just to get one.
Hope this helps,
Phillip :)

Guys! The XM-18 is still made in my shop by my hands! Just like before..The ONLY thing different is that I send the blade out to have it ground. I still mill it to shape and all just like before. All the hardware is still made by me in my shop.
I decided to send the blades out for grinding because there was no possible way for me to grind all the blades I needed to grind to keep up with the demand from those that wanted to use the XM-18 including a large bunch of military and law enforcement guys and gals.
I designed the XM-18 as a USING knife. Its great that people want to collect them but first and foremost to me is that it is to be used, and having a large bunch of our soldiers wanting my knife to help guarantee my freedom is what pushes me!
I have not forgotten about the collectors though! I will be grinding blades in my shop for a very limited number of XM-18's but only when I have the time to. And these will most likely be for the shows.
Thanks for all your interest in my XM-18!

Rick Hinderer
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"Are the New Hinderer XM-18's worth the wait?"

No, in my opinion, they are not...although the ones he grinds himself, in his shop, may ultimately fetch a premium on the market and there will people that will think that it is worth it.
 
I own 3 XM-18's; one first gen. and 2 second generation Duratech 20CV ones. I think they are some of the best knives that I own. Rick makes an awesome knife.
 
i was on the waiting list but when i heard about the blades being ground somewhere else i decided i didn't really need the knife. what if you were on the wait list to buy a ferrari and when your name came up the ferrari dealer called and told you the engines are now being built in china but tuned at the factory? :jerkit:
 
Rick builds the XM-18 to be a work knife first and foremost. The gen. 3 version is still a great value and in my opinion will still be sought after by users and collectors. sideshow if you could shoot me an e-mail I can send you some additional info. If you do buy one from a dealer and aren't impressed I'm sure you'll be able to sell it for what you paid for it if not more.
Mike
 
well ... arizona custom knives had 7 last week .. and they were gone by seconds. I do not think you can find XM-18 in knife dealers / forums around ... :) :) some of my friends from overseas asked me to buy xm-18s for them in the blade ...
 
Thanks for the replies guys!

First let me point out that the ONLY thing different about the Gen 3 XM-18's is the outsourceing of the blade grind. That is the ONLY thing! Everything else is made by me the EXACT same way as the older XM-18's. So how can quality go down??
The XM-18 is and was designed as a hard use working knife. Due to the fact that the demand for these from our military and law enforcement customers was outstripping my ability to supply them I decided to have a shop grind the blades. I want to be able to supply our troops plain and simple. And do you think I'm the only maker who does this? I may be one of the only to actually SAY that I have my XM-18 blades ground outside.
People are using and loving the new XM-18 and more people will now be thrilled that they are actually able to even get one.

And my knives are 100% American made, by ME! Nothing made in China! :)

Rick Hinderer
 
I have one on the way. I ordered one almost two years ago, so I'm just happy to be getting one. That being said, I didn't want a flipper. It looks like they all have flippers now. I hope mine comes in stonewashed. If it is stonewashed I can live with it. I do not like beadblast at all.

Rick's knives are in high demand. I understand why he chose to decrease production time by going to a midtech. It just makes good business sense and will get more of his knives to people that want them. I also couldn't blame someone for not being thrilled at the prospect of not getting exactly what they wanted or getting a midtech when they wanted a custom.

Would I have bought one if I had known it would be like this? I don't know. I'm going to keep an open mind and see how I like it when it gets here. If for some reason I didn't like it I could always sell it. Seems like a win/win situation for all.
 
Hey Dennis! Actually I make them in non-flipper as well. Do you want the non-flipper? it wont be any problem to ge tthe non-flipper to you. And yes you will be getting the stonewash finish. Let me know what you think when you get it. Thanks!!

Rick
 
Rhind64 said:
Hey Dennis! Actually I make them in non-flipper as well. Do you want the non-flipper? it wont be any problem to ge tthe non-flipper to you. And yes you will be getting the stonewash finish. Let me know what you think when you get it. Thanks!!

Rick
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Thanks Rick. I am soooo excited about this. I do think that you made the logical decision when faced with a huge demand for your knives. This should get more knives into the hands of people that want them and should not have a negative effect on quality.
 
I am happy that more people are going to get a chance to own an XM-18!!
Mine are my most carried out of all my customs.
 
Looks like my XM-18 will be here in a few days. Can anyone post some more pics to tide me over?
 
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