Help me diagnose my Knife purchase

N

No.Body

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Jun 28, 2020
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I recently purchased a Hinderer XM-18 3" on pure impulse.

It was the exact model, size, blade, scales and color combo I liked. Came with original box and materials. Since it was a used knife, I acted quickly, this "correct" combination for me is not likely to come up often in the used market. I purchased it from a very reputable, high# 100% feedback seller on eBay (I've been on eBay for 22 years). Transaction with my counterpart was smooth, no problems.

When it arrived, it was very nice, but wasn't really what I had expected. Although I have many knives, I had never touched a Hinderer before. Just went by its reputation on the Internet.

My ZT knives, especially my 0562 has a lot smoother action. I realized, after the fact of course, that the knife I purchased doesn't have bearings. Although it is smooth and drop closes, it needs wrist action to open it. I prefer my knives opening without the need for wrist action.

I bought the knife for $285 - please help me identify which Generation this is exactly and diagnose my purchase. Here are some pics. Thank you in advance for your more experienced insight, as I learn more about Hinderer knives:

RFG-XM18-3-1.png


RFG-XM18-3-2.png

RFG-XM18-3-3.png
 
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Yours looks like a Gen4 which doesn't have a lockbar insert. Gen 5 introduced them and gen 6 is the introduction of tri-way. Hinderers tend to be hit or miss in term of action. But they seems to hit the nail on gen 4 but then again it is a hit and miss. ZT are pretty much more better Hinderers in term of action. I have a gen 4 fatty on PB washers that flipped beautifully, even better than my gen 6 xm-18 on bearings and another gen 4 xm-24 that struggles without the help of a wrist flick. So i wouldn't worry if i were you and i know sometimes its quite disappointing.

Edit: Quoted Hinderer's Warranty:
"We do not do “custom” detent work, meaning we do not make detents lighter or stiffer, all folders are made to a certain spec, however it may not be absolutely perfect for “you”. An example would be for those of you that have trouble flipping your knife without using wrist, we do not stiffen detents. Or in the case of someone who finds the detent too stiff, we do not lighten them either."
 
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The 0562 is a very high benchmark for Hinderer knives
ZT has made a hit with the 0562.

I had a flipper gen 6 XM18 and IMO the price was not worth it compared to my ZT0562 and I returned it
I have found a second hand gen 4 non flipper that has better action and ergos for me

On flippers you should not expect better action that ZT
Some may be better ( I have a halft track and a triway Eklipse 3.5 that are better than my best ZTs) but Hinderers will not be about smooth action and drop shot blades
You should consider the quality and thickness of the materials, the grinds and overall “really build like a tank”

compred to a ZT, Hinderer Knives are a
Solid mechanical piece of gear that you can customise as you want

if what you are looking for is flipping action... meeeeeh save some cash and by a Koenig
 
945fR7t.jpg

t5gDHTE.jpg

that is my experience with ZT and Hinderer (also had a 0550 gen.3)

the best action is Half-track, Eklipse 3.5 triway, 0562, 0393, gen 4 non flipper XM18, 0550, gen 6 XM18, slippy

I think I had a bad gen 6 XM18
the first picture is what I kept in my collection

at some point I think I will get a slippy again, it is a great knife, or maybe I will give a try to a non flipper 3” XM18

The comparison of the material thickness between ZT and Hinderer is interesting too
zTUdZGJ.jpg

B69SbRB.jpg

and the 0562 has all the strength to be a beater

what I like about Hinderer knives is the way it manage the lock bar tension
These knives are much smoother to disengage that most of the knives I have experienced
 
Hinderers Gen 5 or below are not great flippers, I own 4, and none have an action that compares to my ZT, its a good price, but the action wont improve, thats just how they are
 
I believe that is a Gen 3 3". Some are going to state latter Generations, but they are thinking of what the 3.5" generations are. 3" and 3.5" are not on the same generation.
You can look in the archives for the Hinderer forum which has a stickie on generations-until the forum died.
There is a technique for flipping XM's of that period, which I never mastered. The 3" was the hardest to flip
 
Peter Hartwig said:
I believe that is a Gen 3 3". Some are going to state latter Generations, but they are thinking of what the 3.5" generations are. 3" and 3.5" are not on the same generation.
You can look in the archives for the Hinderer forum which has a stickie on generations-until the forum died.
There is a technique for flipping XM's of that period, which I never mastered. The 3" was the hardest to flip
Click to expand...

Not a Hinderer savvy but are you sure its a Gen 3? The difference in gen 3 and for is the relocation of the stop pin. Based on the lower right picture, it seems its the latter gen.

RHK0206-6.jpg


 
Kmikaz3 said:
Yours looks like a Gen4 which doesn't have a lockbar insert. Gen 5 introduced them and gen 6 is the introduction of tri-way. Hinderers tend to be hit or miss in term of action. But they seems to hit the nail on gen 4 but then again it is a hit and miss. ZT are pretty much more better Hinderers in term of action. I have a gen 4 fatty on PB washers that flipped beautifully, even better than my gen 6 xm-18 on bearings and another gen 4 xm-24 that struggles without the help of a wrist flick. So i wouldn't worry if i were you and i know sometimes its quite disappointing.

Edit: Quoted Hinderer's Warranty:
"We do not do “custom” detent work, meaning we do not make detents lighter or stiffer, all folders are made to a certain spec, however it may not be absolutely perfect for “you”. An example would be for those of you that have trouble flipping your knife without using wrist, we do not stiffen detents. Or in the case of someone who finds the detent too stiff, we do not lighten them either."
Click to expand...

Wow, for what they charge, that's a bunch of BS. I never owned a Hinderer, though I did have a ZT 0561 and it flipped ok. Not a rocket. I have no desire to own a Hinderer, and this just makes me not want to own one even more.
 
I have two older models of the XM-18, and while neither will win a flipping competition, the 3.5" is much better than the 3".
 
I had both the ZT 0560 and 0561 back in the day and thought if the ZT's are this good I need a "real" Hinderer. Went through about 4 3.5's and never got one that flipped well. There is a big, long thread on this and all of the Hinderer fans say it is purposely made this way for first responders and all you have to do is watch Rick's video to learn how to flip it correctly.

That was back when they were $700+ and I was not happy that I paid that much, more than once trying to find a "good one", and was told that I had to watch a video to learn how to flip a flipper :rolleyes: Needless to say, I sold them all but did buy a Gen 6 Skinny that you could actually flip with no wrist and the blade would not fall out of the handle due to the lack of a decent detent so it seems he did finally bow to the masses and make a flippable flipper.
 
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I have a gen 4 XM24. Would have to agree the flipping action was not the best, initially. It worked decently if you used the right technique;)
Screwed with the detent, voided the warranty but man is it a smooth flipper now.
It's a beast but a great knife none the less. Regrind by REK didn't hurt either:D
Cheers
 
OP Here - thank you guys for your helpful responses. Really appreciate it.

I did a little research and digging, and it seems I do have a Gen 4. I didn't realize how high the bar was set by the Hinderer ZT's and the 0562, makes me appreciate it more. As for this Hinderer, I am also appreciating it for what it is.
 
UPDATE: After adding a couple drops of lube on the pivot, the action is completely transformed into something that is really awesome for a non-bearing knife. I'm very pleased about this. No more wrist flick needed. Just a "press" motion on the flicker is all it needs. The closing action is also extremely fast. Video below:

 
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