Go custom or not?

shooter81

shooter81

Joined
Mar 15, 2007
Messages
203
Well guys I have come to a crossroads, to jump into the custom market or not. Lately there has been alot of discussion about Rick Hinderer XM-18's, and I love the looks of it. (I missed the passaround.......damn it)But I have to wonder are the customs worth it. Let me say now that I am not a collector. My knives get used. I don't intentionally abuse them, but I don't baby'em either. If I get a custom job it will have to be something that can go were I go. The XM looks like it is begging to be carried and used. I guess my question is if I buy an XM or any other type of truly custom knife will I notice the difference. My current everyday carry is a sebenza and I recently got a busse game warden that I carry when appropriate. Both are great blades, so how would a Hinderer compare? I am in the category of people that think CRK Sebenzas are about as good as it gets, I have several sebbies, some spydie militarys and para militarys in BG-42, benchmades, ect... but like any true knife nut....excuse me..blade enthusiast:D I still think there is another level to be reached. So after going the long way around the barn, question: is an XM-18 a good custom knife
what are the pros over something like a sebanza
is the flipper spring assisted like on some of the kershaws
anybody have anything bad to say about this knife or maker
what good things can you tell me about this knife and maker
will this madness ever end
Thanks guys, always value yalls opinions, anyone with first hand experience will really be a big help.
 
I have been looking for a spanto XM-18 flipper for about two months. I have the money in paypal ready to go. but I can not find one. I have seen a tanto or two, even a few non flippers.

Good luck trying to find one. I f anybody reading this knows where one is Please PM me...:D

I just wish he would go midtech with the XM-18, then there would be enough for all of us...:cool:
 
Shooter81,
I'am carrying a custom at this time. It feels good to me knowing that a person, a craftsman, made this knife for me with his own hands by himself.
Lycosa
 
The only reason I can think of for getting a custom knife is... to customize it.
There are certain features I do and don't like on a folder. If I bought a custom knife I would have it fine tuned to my liking. In which case it is entirely worth the money.
That or if I see a custom knife that already has all the features I like, in which case customization is not needed.
 
I dont own a hinderer YET but it is at the top of my list. From what i have read and heard they are top notch knifes. Most who own them would say maybe even a step up from the sebenza or strider. The quality of a sebenza and a toughness of a strider rolled up into one package. From what i understand Rick makes all parts of the knife including the screws and back spacers. Also from what i understand he is a top notch guy, Serving his community as a fireman. I read a post a while back where a soldier ordered a knife from him and when the knife arrived a care package from rick and his wife came with it.

So to sum it all up Quality knife from a quality maker who happens to be a quality guy. If you are willing to spend that kind of money for a knife then they are well worth it.
 
I too love my sebbie it was my EDC for the past 4 years they are great blades truely excellent imho.

I am one of the lucky ones in that I just recieved a Hinderer Flame II flipper. If you can belive it they seem to be even harder than the XM-18 to come across. The flame is the same design as the XM-18 but has sculpted ti for both handle slabs and uses slightly less robust hardware. It is still very substantial and everybit as robust as my Striders. I agree totally with what you have heard my Hinderer F&F is everybit as good as my seb with the addition of a very smooth flipper and more robust blade. I have no safe queens in my collection and my flame will be no different. I work in the construction field and it will see many different cutting mediums from wire to carpet to rope and the list goes on. I have no doubt that my Hinderer is up for the task. Not to mention Rick is good people and if I ever have a problem I can always send it in for some spa love.

As much as I am digging my flame and I cannot reccomend Rick's work highly enough he is not the only game in town. There are countless other supremly talented custom makers out there who's work is a bit easier to obtain (for now) who supply great knives that would also make equally dependable EDC's. Just checkout the custom maker forums here on the boards for just a few examples.

Customs can be had well within the same price range as top end productions IE sebs, strider, surefire etc. except you get some thing a bit more unique and in some cases (not always) better quality and attention to detail.

So what I am trying to say is go for it!! I sure was not dissapointed and I don't think you will be either good luck!:thumbup:

all the best,
Jason
 
I am lucky enough to currently own 2 XM-18's. (And many other customs.) I USE my knives too. The XM-18 is one of the toughest knives I own. If you get a chance to get an XM-18, DO IT!! All I buy and use IS custom knives.
 
you got the disease man-
qball3inxm18.jpg
 
An x-18 compares very well with a sebenza in terms of fit and finish and attention to detail. Way better then a Strider for example.

The major differences from a sebenza are different blade grinds and different approach to handle ergonomics which may better suit you. You can also get somewhat different blade lengths.

Definitely reccommended, IMO.
 
Whe you buy custom - you buy a design look nobody else has. Put that ti flamed baby in a Walmart case of cheap stainless resin handled knives and it will stand out like the proverbial diamond . . .

And you get the high standards of one persons tight QC and technical specs, not an interpretation by someone on the line pushing hundreds of blades a day. They try their best, but they have a quota to make, and tolerances have to be looser.

So you do get what you pay for. If the specific design features of Rick's knives meet your list of desires, you love the style, and you get what you want, how can you go wrong?

I did the same with another expensive maker - outlined the features I felt would serve me best, took time to understand the maker's reasoning, and got the knife. It has been so superior in so many ways it became the benchmark for all the knives I got after. They either make the grade or don't, which really slows down the impulse buying - and the disappointment with inexpensive factory stuff. "Almost as good" just isn't.

Get a custom and you get spoiled. For some who otherwise must watch every penny and live a very mundane life, carrying a custom can be one thing that makes you different from the rest of the crowd.
 
The XM-18 is definitely worth what Mr. Hinderer is selling them for. Now some of the aftermarket prices are a little bit more than I would pay. $400 to $500 is OK, but the $600 & up prices I think are too high.

I wish I had gotten in an order for one when he was still taking them, but I am very cautious and don't buy much without first handling it. Sadly by that time, I was out of luck.
 
Thanks for all the opinions. I appreciate it.
T.K.C. said:
I am lucky enough to currently own 2 XM-18's. (And many other customs.) I USE my knives too. The XM-18 is one of the toughest knives I own. If you get a chance to get an XM-18, DO IT!! All I buy and use IS custom knives.
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This is exactly the kind of stuff I wanted know.

rosconey2 said:
you got the disease man-
qball3inxm18.jpg
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:eek::eek::eek::eek:That is one of best looking knives I have ever seen PERIOD
lmeister said:
the river of no return...cross over brother!
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My wife hates you now:D
Lycosa said:
Shooter81,
I'am carrying a custom at this time. It feels good to me knowing that a person, a craftsman, made this knife for me with his own hands by himself.
Lycosa
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I really think you hit the nail on the head. I like the idea of knowing that a knife was made especially for me, not the mass market. To know that a master craftsman put a little of his soul in the blade I am carrying, very cool. Also I was really glad to hear about what a stand up guy Rick is. Anyone who sends a gift bag along with an order to our soldiers automatically qualifies as a good ol boy:thumbup:. I am one of those people who judge what I will buy based on how I feel about the person or company selling it. Thats why I quit using Heinz ketchup:D. Anyway thanks again for all the info, I have decided when Rick starts taking orders again an XM is going to my first truly custom knife:thumbup:
 
You CAN find XM-18's on Rick's dealer sites. DO check Rick's site to see what dealers he uses. AND they DO pop up for sale on occasion too.
 
I just got xm-18,last thursday,and they are awesome.I tried the one in the passaround and ended up buying one almost exactly like it.My ti is beadblasted where the passaround is stonewashed.This was my first custom,but not the last.My friends told me i was crazy speding that much on a knife,but hey you only live once.So my suggestion is to enjoy while you can and definately go for the xm!You won't be disappointed.
 
Congrats baliblaster on scoring an XM-18!! That is cool that you got to handle one in the passaround.
 
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