Detent question

Mhgarcia114

Mhgarcia114

Joined
Aug 5, 2014
Messages
105
Hey BF,
I'm hoping you can help me out! I just got a xm-18 3.5" and the detent is very strong! I think it is stronger than it should be from what I've seen and felt from others, when closed the detent ball sits so far in the hole that the tang touches the blade. Is there anything I can do to relieve some of the pressure so I don't take my finger off!!?
 
Sell that shing to me! Mine has a weak detent. I've always wanted it to have a strong detent. I prefer a heavy detent
 
This detent stuff cracks me up...

To the OP, it is doubtful there is anything wrong with your detent, there has been a conscientious effort to make them a bit stronger in order to tip the scales in favor of those that will complain it is too strong from those that complain it its too weak.

It was inevitable that the minute they made any type of change, the "too strong" complains would start, I have seen a few complaints already.

Politics...
 
I really didn't want to post about it and seem like I was complaining, I'd rather have my detent strong opposed to weak. I'm just concerned about the lock bar resting on the blade when closed.
 
To RDA's point, He and many of us who have been around for awhile and especially those close to the guys at the Ranch have witnessed many many times the "No Win" plight of the detent.
There is no happy medium - it really is a Goldi Locks issue and much like the beds and the porage - it is a too firm/too weak conundrum.

Every Hinderer I own is ...... just loved by me just the way it is whatever way that may be.
 
I purchased a new Hinderer XM-18 3.5" production Skinner last week and the detent on my new knife is a little stronger than the one on my 3.5" Spanto. However, I have also noticed that Hinderers can be sensitive to the grip you use when opening the knife. Make sure you are not gripping the knife in such a way as to put undue pressure on the lockbar as you are pressing the flipper, thereby making the detent feel stronger than it actually is.
 
OP..did you buy this brand new? It could be someone drilled out the detent hole to make it stronger. I'm by far no expert but have never heard of the tang touching the blade unless it has been modified.
 
No I did not get this knife new. And saddlesc I'm sure that my grip isn't putting extra pressure. The tension isn't what's bothering me, it's actually nice that it flips right open, its just the fact that the lockbar is touching the blade. Oldbugr, how would I know if it was drilled out?
 
There again I'm not as educated as most in the hinderer forums, but out of the couple that I have, not one had a lock bar that touched the blade. I have seen video's on the net that show how to modify the detent, and the lock bar on the modified ones come really close to touching the blade, that is how I know about it. If you take it apart and show the pictures here maybe some of the veteran hinderer crew will chime in. Don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but I beat that is the case. The detent hole is drilled straight if I not mistaken and the modified ones use a tapered countersunk type bit (I think that's the term).
 
Hope my explanation makes sense and is true. Maybe some of the seasoned veterans will chime in.

MHG, I don't think you need to take it apart to look at the detent hole, I just looked at mine, open the blade till you can see the detent hole thru the lock bar cutout. Mine have a very slight taper to the hole, the one I saw on youtube had a very noticeable taper too it. Hope this helps.
 
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Couple info nuggets:

Some people do drill out their detent holes...I'm not one of these people.

Some XMs travel from the Ranch a tad on the tight side...simply break the pivot loose and ever-so-slightly retighten it...bam!

If one does not use thread tape/goo of some sort on the pivot screw after finding their desired sweet-spot, over time---w/ use, etc...they can move a bit.
 
Got a reply email from rob this morning, he said they have been drilling the detent holes deeper since May and it was fine. From looking at my hole it doesn't look rough or like it has been drilled after leaving the ranch. I really hope it wasn't drilled out, but I'm just going to live with my lock bar touching the blade, in exchange for perfect tension and blade deployment.
 
MHG, I was by no means trying to put any fear into you. I just never heard of the lock bar touching the blade. Eric:thumbup:
 
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