I've had my Firetac (spearpoint, working finish) for a few days now, and here are some initial thoughts and comparisons to the Sebenza 21 and Inkosi. I will upload images later which I'm sure will be more instructive.
I will start by saying my first impressions of the Firetac are pretty good, but certainly not astounding or "wow"-ing. That is probably no surprise as the Firetac isn't exactly a complicated or technically impressive achievement, it's just sort of an exercise in simplicity. I'm not necessarily sure I would recommend it to someone who isn't a Hinderer fan or isn't looking for certain specific criteria the Firetac matches.
Blade:
The Firetac and the Inkosi have more in common here than the Firetac and the Sebenza 21. Both are 0.14" stock, the Hinderer in CPM-20CV and the Inkosi in CPM-S35VN. For just about everyone, CPM-20CV will be preferred over S35VN. The Firetac, at least in Spearpoint configuration, has a thin flat grind that terminates at 0.022" behind the edge on my model. This is slightly thinner than the 21 (hollow ground) or Inkosi (very shallow hollow), but just barely. It should be noted that the Firetac's blade is less wide than either the 21's or Inkosi's, so I'm quite pleased they got the edge as thin as they did.
Unsurprisingly, it cuts well, far better than the slicer grind XM-18 3.5" I had previously. I can't really see why someone would need the spanto version here as the tip is not super thin on the spearpoint, and it has limited visual appeal (you can barely see change in grinds at least in the pictures I've seen). The sharpening job on the Firetac was exemplary. This isn't super important, but the thumb disc on the Firetac is really nicely knurled, the knurling looks very precise and well done in comparison to an Emerson thumb disc.
Handle:
The Firetac takes the usual Hinderer construction of G10 and a Ti liner with a Ti framelock. This allows for weight savings that makes it more comparable to the CF scaled Sebenza 21 or Inkosi than the full Ti models. Surprisingly, the handle is slightly thinner than the 21 or Inkosi's, and dramatically thinner than an XM-18 3.5". The working finish is quite nice in person, I was happy they came out so quickly after the stonewash models were released.
The Firetac is constructed more similarly to the 21 than the Inkosi, using hex-headed screws (conveniently the same size hex key can be used for both the Firetac and the Sebenza 21). The body screws on the Firetac thread into the standoffs, which are shouldered in the Ti. The pivot is not a conventional Hinderer pivot but much smaller, and has hex key heads on both sides so you will need to use one to immobilize it and the other to adjust the screw. Unlike the 21, the pivot screw is a different size than the body screws. The pocket clip screws are Phillips head as on most Hinderer models, and the lockbar insert screw is a very small Hex key.
Ergonomics are quite similarly neutral across the Firetac and 21. I find them both equally comfortable in hand due to their unoffensive designs. The Firetac handle swells more towards the rear unlike the CRK models, which keep a similar height across the handle, and that could make it more secure. The jimping on all models is equally functional. I find the Firetac to feel a lot better in hand when it is tip-up rather than tip-down.
Action:
All three of these knives are very smooth, but the CRK's feel completely different than the Hinderer in the way this is achieved. I should first add that the Firetac came with the pivot over-tightened from the factory and with a rather effortful, but smooth action. As I suspected, loosening the pivot helped dramatically and didn't introduce issues with centering or blade play.
CRK's are known for generally having very high lockbar tension, and generally have a very effortful kind of smoothness. They never feel "loose" unless you full release the lockbar pressure. I've found this consistent across the 7 CRK models I own.
The Firetac, is the opposite; it has very, very light lockbar tension. So light actually that every time I unlock it, I'm thankful for both overtravel stops as it hits them. Consequently, the knife is very smooth and much more fluid than the CRK's I own. I switched in some phosphor bronze washers I had lying around (they are not the same size as the XM-18 3.5" washers FYI) and I'm not sure I really feel any difference from the original teflon.
As a result of the light lockbar tension, the retention of the blade in the handle on the Hinderer is not superb. I cannot shake any CRK's out (but nor are they hard to open), whereas with the Firetac it's rather easy to do so. Mine appears to be easier to shake out than
@Topcatpt, who sent me a video of his, so perhaps this isn't consistent across models. I think the Firetac could benefit from some increased lockbar tension. Unfortunately, I don't think this is something Hinderer will do for you judging by the conditions of their warranty as stated on their website (they don't change detent strength).
Preliminary Conclusions:
Ultimately, the Firetac seems to be a cool, no-nonsense EDC knife aimed at being purely utilitarian. I think it achieves that. Whether that appeals to you for $425 is something you personally need to decide. Hinderer will surely support this with a glut of accessories which is something you might not get with an equivalent CRK or Strider.
