Hinderer detent expectations for Gen 6?

[jacobconroy75]

I have owned one Gen 4 3.5 XM-18 for a decade and didn't pay much attention to it. The detent is very weak and it took LOTSA wrist action to flip/flick. Nice knife, but it just didn't click with me at the time. It works better when opening by thumb stud on bronze washers ala "slow roll" IMO.

Fast forward to 2023, and I'm on a Hinderer bender. The Gen 6 are a step in the right direction (for me). These puppies will flick!

I've tried these lately:
Halftrack Wharnie - Very strong detent and flips great
XM-18 3-inch Slicer - Mid-level detent and flips pretty good (this is the only XM that I bought second hand)
XM-18 3-inch Spanto - Very weak detent and is hard to flip...but it's much easier on the index finger when fidgeting
XM-18 3.5-inch Skinny Slicer - King Kong-level detent and though it is hard on the index finger...it is the most reliable flipper I've had yet. Impossible to open via thumb stud (but it's very new at this point).

So, here's the question, are the detents on Gen 6 XMs all over the place? Is this a situation where a fella simply buys a lot of them, keeps the ones he likes, and sells the ones he doesn't?

Also, what about the non-filpper Tri Ways? Do they have softer detents than the Gen 6 flippers?

Info from experienced Hinderer aficionados would be appreciated.

 

[ferider]

In Tri-way, I only have Halftrack, Fulltracks, 3.5" XM18 and Eklipses. They all had very strong detents out of the box, which break in a bit, making the knives nice in use.

No experience with 3" XMs. Did you buy them new or used ? Some people soften the detent by softening the lock-bar tension ...

Don't know about non-flippers either.

 

[jacobconroy75]

In Tri-way, I only have Halftrack, Fulltracks, 3.5" XM18 and Eklipses. They all had very strong detents out of the box, which break in a bit, making the knives nice in use.

No experience with 3" XMs. Did you buy them new or used ? Some people soften the detent by softening the lock-bar tension ...

Don't know about non-flippers either.

The 3-inch Spanto was new (weak detent). The 3-inch Slicer was second-hand on the forum (mid detent). They both work, but the one with a weak detent requires some concentration and purpose to flip open. I suspect that the second-hand slicer is the way Hinderer intended it to be and has a strong detent that has been broken in by flipping.

Generally, I do not purchase second-hand knives...for exactly the reason you mentioned. It has to be something special to get me to take the risk.

 

[ferider]

One more note: late Gen4 and Gen5 3.5" XM18 have a strong detent, too. For me it was only earlier Gen4 that were bad.

 

[Dadpool]

Here's my anecdotal sample.

Current-gen Hinderers I've owned:

- XM-18 3.5 Swedged Spear
- XM-18 3.5 Skinny Slicer
- XM-18 3.5 Fatty Wharncliffe
- Eklipse Bowie (3.5")
- XM-18 3.0 Slicer
- Half-Track Harpoon Spanto
- Project X
- XM-24 Bowie

I'd put all of them around medium on the detent strength spectrum.

The Project X and Fatty were on the lighter side of medium. The 3.5 Swedged Spear hits my sweet spot for crisp deployment, the very scientific name for which is "strong-ish medium." The XM-24 probably has the strongest detent, but heavy blade + breaking-in settled it into the perfect zone. The Skinny and 3.0 were the easiest to slow-roll open, while still having snappy flipper action.

So for me they haven't quite been all over the place, as they've all been medium-ish, but they have varied a fair amount.

 

[jacobconroy75]

One more note: late Gen4 and Gen5 3.5" XM18 have a strong detent, too. For me it was only earlier Gen4 that were bad.

Good to know. My Gen 4 was second-hand too...so who knows how many people have played Dr. with it on it's way to me.

 

[jacobconroy75]

Here's my anecdotal sample.

Current-gen Hinderers I've owned:

- XM-18 3.5 Swedged Spear
- XM-18 3.5 Skinny Slicer
- XM-18 3.5 Fatty Wharncliffe
- Eklipse Bowie (3.5")
- XM-18 3.0 Slicer
- Half-Track Harpoon Spanto
- Project X
- XM-24 Bowie

I'd put all of them around medium on the detent strength spectrum.

The Project X and Fatty were on the lighter side of medium. The 3.5 Swedged Spear hits my sweet spot for crisp deployment, the very scientific name for which is "strong-ish medium." The XM-24 probably has the strongest detent, but heavy blade + breaking-in settled it into the perfect zone. The Skinny and 3.0 were the easiest to slow-roll open, while still having snappy flipper action.

So for me they haven't quite been all over the place, as they've all been medium-ish, but they have varied a fair amount.

Lol, that's a great post. And, we are talking about the same XM-18 3.0 Slicer my friend. It's the first one that I've had (other than the Halftrack) that flipped open properly IMO.

It's good to learn that a fella can expect the detent to lessen on new XMs. That means that the new, King Kong 3.5 might be expected to wind up at the level of that 3.0 you sold me.

 

[tony281sc2]

I have several Eklipses (all current gen tri-way), 1 XM-18 3.0 and 2 XM-24s.
The Eklipses (all Tri-way) are pretty consistent, I have a couple that are a little weaker than the others, but they aren’t bad by any means. Maybe like a 7/10, instead of ~8/10.

My 2 24s are the same. Both Tri-way, and both perfect IMO, I’d say 8/10 as well.

My XM-18 3.0 is a non-triway on the nylon. It’s lousy. When I bought it the detent was like a 2/10. I sanded the blade gently where the washers sit, bent the lockbar in a tiny bit. It helped, and can be push buttoned now, but it’s only a 4/10 for detent strength.
That has kept me away from the non-triways, and XMs in general, tho if I were to buy one made in the last year or two (a tri-way), I would expect it to have a good detent, regardless of the size.

ETA
Many of mine have skiff bearings installed, but that was mostly because I was changing the scale anyway and wanted to upgrade, for the extra stability and corrosion resistance. They help the action slightly also. Not absolutely necessary but it’s a cool upgrade you can do for like $12

TLDR
: all the tri-way Hinderers I’ve tried (about 9) have fairly consistent medium-strong detent. They can be opened with the thumb studs, it just takes practice keeping your fingers in the right spot. The 24s are heavy, but the flipper tab is so big they can easily be lightswitched.

 

[jacobconroy75]

I have several Eklipses (all current gen tri-way), 1 XM-18 3.0 and 2 XM-24s.
The Eklipses (all Tri-way) are pretty consistent, I have a couple that are a little weaker than the others, but they aren’t bad by any means. Maybe like a 7/10, instead of ~8/10.

My 2 24s are the same. Both Tri-way, and both perfect IMO, I’d say 8/10 as well.

My XM-18 3.0 is a non-triway on the nylon. It’s lousy. When I bought it the detent was like a 2/10. I sanded the blade gently where the washers sit, bent the lockbar in a tiny bit. It helped, and can be push buttoned now, but it’s only a 4/10 for detent strength.
That has kept me away from the non-triways, and XMs in general, tho if I were to buy one made in the last year or two, I would expect it to have a good detent.

I haven't tried an Eklipse yet. You are the second "vote" for XM-24s so far in this thread. When they drop again, I'll make an effort to grab one. The bowie has been catching my eye.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Dadpool]

Lol, that's a great post. And, we are talking about the same XM-18 3.0 Slicer my friend. It's the first one that I've had (other than the Halftrack) that flipped open properly IMO.

It's good to learn that a fella can expect the detent to lessen on new XMs. That means that the new, King Kong 3.5 might be expected to wind up at the level of that 3.0 you sold me.

I'm glad that 3.0 Slicer is treating you well!

I'm likely to be selling my XM-24 Bowie in the not-too-distant future. I'll shoot you a PM in case you want to help me stop dragging my feet on it.

 

[ferider]

My favorite 24s don't exist in tri-way yet: Wharncliffe and Skinny slicer. But the older knives flip great on PB washers.

One of my best "flippers" is my Gen4 XM18 Fatty Harpoon Tanto. A heavy blade helps

 

[950SBK Rift]

You can always adjust the detent yourself, or send it in, I've seen a few cases were they were sent in and adjusted at the ranch. I have three Hinderers, XM-18 3" Slicer, 3.5" Spanto Harpoon, and a XM-24 4" Spanto. I only had to adjust one to my liking. I have them all running on PB, and they all run so smooth that I just sitting around and opening and closing them while watching tv. Lol

All are Tri-way, full Titanium.