Detent Concer

C

Cait_Sith

Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
381
Just recently picked up a Hinderer XM-18 and couldn't be happier with the purchase in terms of fit/finish and function considering it's my first and most definitely not my last. The only issue I have at the moment is that it has a incredibly strong detent. It's so strong that using the thumbstuds is nearly impossible and pushing on the flipper feels about the same as stabbing my finger with an acute blunt tip. The lockbar moves in resistance as the blade tries to overcome the detent and open and makes this loud snapping noise.

I was wondering if anyone had similar issues and what would be the best way to fix this?
 
Contact Rob Orlando and send it in to RHK.....they will look at it and make sure you get taken care of........

rob@rickhindererknives.com

The Ranch is awesome about customer service......and Rob is usually very responsive to emails.......you will usually get a response within hours.......
 
If this is a 3" model (a distinct possibility since they seem to be making a lot of those lately), check to make sure that your fingers on the back of the knife are entirely off of the lockbar - effectively, keep them on the clip while you open the knife.

I ran into a similar situation with my 3" Slicer, purchased a few months back, which felt at first like the detent ball was more like a pin dropping into the detent and locking the blade closed. Combined with the smaller thinner end of the flipper, it was biting into my finger a bunch. I'd never had this problem with my 3.5" Spanto, but that pits roughly the same detent mechanism against a much longer lockbar, and a much heavier blade. After a drop or two of oil into the detent, and working the action a bunch while training myself to not put any finger pressure against the lockbar (holding it closed) while opening, it now opens quite quickly with no finger irritation whatsoever, and has become my favorite of late, getting carried everywhere.

I don't mean to downplay falcon's advice, BTW - Rob is very responsive and RHK has awesome customer service - by all means, consider chatting with them and possibly sending it in. It's just that, if this tip clears up the problem, then you won't have to wait, empty handed and forlorn, while your shiny new XM-18 makes a round trip to The Ranch.

Also, FWIW, I never use the thumbstuds on my Hinderers - flipper all the way. It was a definite change from my previous knives, now I can't go back.
 
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Use the knife. Cycle the action. Get used to the "new" knife.
That is what you need to do.
 
I just purchased a new XM-18 3" slicer blade and have the same issue you are experiencing. Please post your fix when you find one. Thanks, Robert
 
Perhaps my reply in post #5 was too vague.

Gentlemen, You have perfectly functioning knives with strong detents. These Knive are Hand Crafted, Hand Fitted and Tested before they leave the Ranch. They arrive to You As Designed and Functioning as Designed.
There is nothing to "Fix". That is How Your Knife is going to function - with a Strong detent.
As I said, Use it - Cycle it and get to know it.
There is a reason why these threads have been dubbed "Goldilocks threads" over the years.
Weak/Strong/Just Right.

Use your knives for several weeks and check back, in the meantime........
 
Very important....... please remember that the XM-18 is a "push" type flipper and not the "pull" type flipper, that you may be more accustomed too.

If you have the time to view it....... I think this video will help you immensely with your ordeal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6DQcv7KpmA

Have fun and enjoy!
 
Thank you for the video. You are correct my finger is wasted from trying to get a good flip. I will PUSH now and not PULL. I will wait until my index finger gets better.
Happy New Year!!!
 
Thanks guys for the quick responses. I understand that the matter of detents has been very dependent on each user, some prefer light, some prefer heavy, so I don't mean to sound negative. It's just one of the most ridiculously strong detents I've come across to the point where it physically hurts to even try and overcome the detent. I will most definitely contact Hinderer about it and see what can be done. Thanks for the response and Happy New Years everyone.
 
Poor RHK, first the detents were considered to light, and now they are too strong. They can't win.
 
Cait_Sith said:
It's just one of the most ridiculously strong detents I've come across to the point where it physically hurts to even try and overcome the detent.
Click to expand...

Again, I had the exact same experience with my 3" Slicer, for the first day or so, until I looked closely at what was happening, and taught myself to keep my fingers entirely off the lockbar while opening (even just lightly touching it kept the knife locked closed) - now it opens easily, and is my favorite Hinderer.
 
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hazy said:
Poor RHK, first the detents were considered to light, and now they are too strong. They can't win.
Click to expand...

Nope, they can't, I have said this numerous times, detent = politics, you'll never please everyone.

Why is my detent too light/too tight/just right?Quite simply, this is one of those cases where you just won't make everyone happy (Goldilocks syndrome). Rick has worked hard to make the detent just right. If 90% are happy with the detent, while 5% say it is too light and 5% say it is too tight, the detent is in the sweet spot for all intents and purposes. If you aren't happy with it, you might try tweaking the lockbar some (towards the lock if you feel the detent could be tighter or towards the outside if you want it to be lighter) by disassembling the lockside. Don't overadjust or overspring the lockbar and if you aren't comfortable disassembling/reassembling your XM, then it is best you don't mess with the lockbar.

Rob described it better than I could with this:
There are 3 ways to deploy an XM, the thumbstud, the flipper, and inertia opening, so yes you can expect it to open when shaken. It is no mystery, nor does it have anything at all to do with user error. We build them to a certain spec, it is not for everyone.​

It used to be you could open the knife using three methods and they still received complaints it opened too easy. So they have changed the specification to make it more firm and lo and behold, the complaints start rolling in that it is "too firm".
 
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