Hinderer Knives: Overpriced, or Worth it?

Are Hinderer knives overpriced, or are they worth their sale price?

  • Overpriced

  • Worth it

Results are only viewable after voting.
I keep buying knives of all sorts, but, my Fulltrack always seems to find it's way back into my pocket.

I'd like to try a XM24 skinny slicer, but, I'm not sure if this beast even exist.
 
I couldn't wait to get one before I retired from the Army and I finally got one after my deployment to Iraq. I heard so much about them for years and the prices were so high on the secondary market. It was made with good steel, very good quality, and very smooth. I did think the ergonomics weren't good at all and I'm not a fan of one G10 slab on one side and titanium on the other side. I ended up trading it to a buddy of mine.

Kind of turned me off when Hinderer stop giving the LEO/MIL discounts, esp when my cop buddy was on the waiting list to get one for almost a year prior to him changing that policy, then when the knife came in right after that change he didn't give him the military/LEO discount. My buddy emailed hinderer and his email back was something to the fact is that people are flipping them for almost double the discount price, so that's why he stopped the military/leo discount.
 
Not sure if it says anything about Hinderers but one thing I have noticed is that typically on secondary, Hinderers retain value a little less than CRKs. That is potentially because of the difference in the free spa treatment that CRK offers.
 
For the sum of its materials, I'd say it's slightly overpriced. $250-275 is a fair price, since it's made in the USA. Personally, I've only owned one, it felt like wedging instead of cutting.

However, I'd say it's the best value if you want diversity within the blandness of its platform. It means that if you like the ergonomics, design and perceived image of self, you can customize it to your heart's desire. You can keep it stock on Monday, and garner some likes from the hype crowd. Tuesday slap on some aged brass scales and post it for the old-school crowd. Then Wednesday slap on some carbon fiber scales and titanium screws to impress the tactical boys. The whole time people think you own three super-duper knives, when you only paid for one. Just like how McD's sells real estate and not burgers, Hinderer sells accessories, not knives.

They also trail-blazed the secondary market bubble phenomenon, now occupied by the Grimsmos, Holt and Bull. And the knife platform and accessories variety also created what we know (and still can't define) as the line between custom and mid-tech. I'd argue that Hinderer is a pillar of the industry because it's the first major example of these two phenomenon.

For me, if I want to try another chonky knife, I'd most likely look to Reate or Southern Grind.
 
JAB said:
Also, aside from CRKs, they’re the only folders I’m aware of that easily go back together exactly right everytime.
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Is this only applies to xm-18s? Because yes they are rather easy to put them back together without being off centered. I owned 2 of them a gen 4 and a triway gen 6, but im not sure if its luck or they are really that easy. I also got 2 others, a xm24 gen4 skinny slicer and a triway vintage... They on the other hand go off centered quite easily if not immediately after reassembly. Yet again, im not sure because they’re large or its just i ran out of luck.
 
Quapukulu said:
They also trail-blazed the secondary market bubble phenomenon, now occupied by the Grimsmos, Holt and Bull. And the knife platform and accessories variety also created what we know (and still can't define) as the line between custom and mid-tech. I'd argue that Hinderer is a pillar of the industry because it's the first major example of these two phenomenon.
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Through no fault of their own RHK was caught up in that bubble.
Unlike Grimsmo, Holt, and Bull. Hinderer kept their prices static. Meaning that he did not take advantage of the XM-18's popularity, and jack up his price to match what it was fetching on the secondary market.
Not only that, they stopped selling directly customers. With the exception being made for first responders and military personnel. At a discount, no less! All to try and get his knives into the hands of people whom he felt they would serve best.
He had to stop discounting eventually because even some of those people were taking advantage of the hype and flipping them for 100% profits.
 
The y are no perfect but they are worth it

for sure they are not the best slicers, they are over engineered and the action can be « variable »

But.... The materials are up to date with titanium, triway pivot and 20CV
They give you a lot of options for blade shapes, finishes, colours and customisation

Are the ZT a better option dollar for dollar ? Yes
Are the Hinderer worth the extra cost? Yes
 
I can only speak for the 3" and 3.5" Skinnys as I always felt the blade stocks were too thick on the normal models. Skinnys are only slightly less, but this works for me as does the smaller pocket footprint.

Both skinnys I own are fantastic pieces. Amazing action, good fit and finish. Easy to maintain and good customization. The feel in hand is topnotch.

I realize this is subjective but I voted worth it. Good value.
 
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I would lean towards a little of both. They are to me a little overpriced when brand new, but can be had for less on secondary market. This is I just my opinion. The build quality is there so I can see where they are worth it to some even at the brand new price point as well.
 
ferider said:
Well, strictly speaking, any knife over - say - $150 is overpriced as a user, i.e., man jewelery; there are cheaper alternatives. In particular if you (or me) have 3 or more. So I had to vote Yes. I still use them though. :)



Agree with that. And I like your avatar :)

These days, RKH offers so many blade shapes and geometries, some cutting better than other ones. E.g., not everybody likes Spantos and still likes Hinderers. In some ways, the customization/Barbie doll culture around Hinderers is kind of weird when, e.g., people spend more money on a pocket clip then on the knife. Then again, it allows you to make a knife your own, and for me really fun to use. And finally, if you feel the geometry is too thick, it can always be reground :).

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BTW, I bought most of my Hinderers used, it's a great time to do that if you like brass washer flippers (like all three knives above). I suggest to avoid ebay, though, you can find great deals here or on FB.

Cheers,

Roland.
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Really digging that yellow Bowie
 
For my needs and use, pretty much any knife over $100 are not worth it.

At this point in my "life", I don't need to buy another knife. I already have more than I need, or will use, to be honest.
I really have to like a knife that costs over $30 or so to buy it. All but two of my knives cost under $50. Most cost under $20. All my knives, from my call it "$7.⁰⁰" "Demo Knife", sub $12.⁰⁰ Mora's with carbon steel blades, sub $20.⁰⁰ Rough Rider/Marbles/Colt (440A or T10 carbon steel) to $100.⁰⁰ Buck SFO's with S30V, CPM154, and D2 blades, do what I need a knife to do in my boring daily existence, and the on/in the rare occasions I can go fishing, hunting, and/or camping.

Truth to tell, I've reached the point where unless I can justify buying a knife -- regardless of price, (to myself; no "she whom must be obeyed" or anyone else I need to explain my purchases to, for several decades now. I don't see that situation changing in what remains of this lifetime.) I don't buy it. I really don't foresee adding anything to my knife accumulation in 2020. Come to that, 2021 isn't looking too promising, either... maybe a Buck 110 with a 5160 blade in 2021, (or if there is a second round of stimulus funds) but that is about it.
 
NorthernSouthpaw said:
Through no fault of their own RHK was caught up in that bubble.
Unlike Grimsmo, Holt, and Bull. Hinderer kept their prices static. Meaning that he did not take advantage of the XM-18's popularity, and jack up his price to match what it was fetching on the secondary market.
Not only that, they stopped selling directly customers. With the exception being made for first responders and military personnel. At a discount, no less! All to try and get his knives into the hands of people whom he felt they would serve best.
He had to stop discounting eventually because even some of those people were taking advantage of the hype and flipping them for 100% profits.
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Maybe "trailblaze" is the wrong term. My understanding is that RHK, Grimsmo and Holt have kept their primary market prices constant. So I'd say these companies got caught up in the phenomenon, but RHK is the first notable company. Bull allegedly participates and encourages the second market bubble. But good for RHK for providing to these brave men. Respect.
 
Absolutely worth it in my opinion, I love my 3.5" no choil spanto w/ brass scale and accents. At this point I have handled alot of knives(some more than double the price) prior to finally purchasing one and They feel amazing in the hand and the action is great. It's also built in such a way that I'm not worried about using it at all. I'm just waiting for them to make a batch of tri-way bowie blade XM-18s.
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Quapukulu said:
Maybe "trailblaze" is the wrong term. My understanding is that RHK, Grimsmo and Holt have kept their primary market prices constant. So I'd say these companies got caught up in the phenomenon, but RHK is the first notable company. Bull allegedly participates and encourages the second market bubble. But good for RHK for providing to these brave men. Respect.
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Nope.
Grimsmo knives were initially somewhere in the $600-$700 range. After the Norseman craze started they suddenly charging $900 plus for essentially the same knives. Holt is doing the same thing. Bull is Bull, but to his credit, so far he's the only one who consistently makes leftys.
RHK has kept their prices pretty consistent at $400-$600 for almost a decade now.
 
mendezj said:
Any product worth it’s price ought to provide first rate customer service. Hinderer doesn’t.
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My experience with Hinderer when my detent ball fell out of a XM 18 couldn't have been better. They had it back within two weeks and fixed perfectly at no charge, not even for return shipping.
 
"If you really love the Hinderers then you probably should start from a ZT."​
For me, they are sort of eye-candy, I don't carry them around because the weight is a bit too much and the design is chunky as well. I had two from different times, one Gen4 and one Gen6. End up selling both of them. Now I carry a CRK or a Spyderco.
 
Like someone said before, a knife is worth its price as long as you decide so.

I bought my XM-18 new at DLT trading, paid 425 USD + 35 USD for shipping to France, and was blessed not having to pay duties for this one. Only knife I paid more was my Inkosi. When you hold a Hinderer in your hand, you immediatly get the meaning of "build like a tank". Mine also had perfect fit and finish, with glassy smooth action. My wife, who frowns upon my knife hobby, told me "finally you buy a knife worth its price"...

To resume I would say that my XM-18 is like my wife : beautiful like a jewel, tough like a bull.
 
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