Recommendation? Hinderer choil or no choil

Having owned XM-18s both with and without choils, I'd say that I didn't mind either variation. The choil was fine on my Bowie 18, and my Spanto is fine without it. I'd probably say on a knife I planned to use for detailed cutting, I'd rather have one with, but for more general use, I'd probably want one without. Easier to use a 3.5 inch blade to cut a sandwich when more of the blade is sharp, and all that.
 
I own both, you wont loose much amount of cutting length with no choil, but you would gain a lot of more control on precise cuts with one, so for that I prefer with a choil
 
I prefer the choil. It makes the knife look more visually attractive, especially on a bowie.
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I just got this beauty from DLT Trading. It’s a 3” XM-18 with stonewashed DLC, Spanto blade and no choil.

I was a little worried about going no-choil as my other Hinderers have a choil, but I love it. Skipping the choil on a 3” blade has a huge impact on cutting edge.

Now I’m looking at a 3” Skinny or Eklipse!
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I've got both also and actually use them. I prefer a choil for the uber solid grip, I like that choked up feel and haven't really missed the extra blade when using one that way. Separating joints on big game is an example of where I would want to be up on the choil, or caping a skull (Hinderer's aren't the best knife for that kind of work). For skinning and long cuts or when I don't need extra pressure I like the no choil or not using a choil for the extra pivoting leverage with a more rearward grip and some wrist action. My 3" skinny is choiled and while one would think if would be a disadvantage on an already shorter blade I've never found it to be the case and probably choke up on that one more than the 3.5"'s.

I'ts nice to have the option, choking up on a knife and using a choil that fits well just feels 'right' to me, not just Hinderer's :)
 
I own a 3" and have handled plenty of 3" and 3.5's now at a couple different stores. I like the choil on the 3.5 and like my no choil on my 3". I can cut about anything I run into with 3" of cutting edge comfortably.

But for the most part I do prefer choils. I like the looks of them, they are fun to fidget with, and I tend to rest my middle finger in the choil area when I pinch grip.
 
Sigsog226 said:
I own a 3" and have handled plenty of 3" and 3.5's now at a couple different stores. I like the choil on the 3.5 and like my no choil on my 3". I can cut about anything I run into with 3" of cutting edge comfortably.

But for the most part I do prefer choils. I like the looks of them, they are fun to fidget with, and I tend to rest my middle finger in the choil area when I pinch grip.
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No choil on 3"s makes sense as the blade is already pretty short.
 
On my 3.5" XMs the no choil resuts in .360" more blade edge length which to me in minimal. To some it might be a deciding factor...
 
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