Hinderer MP-1

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monkeyboy_marcus

Joined
Jul 16, 2016
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Hi guys, total newbie to this forum, so apologies in advance is some of this stuff is stupid. Anywho, just got a Hinderer MP-1 on Friday from a dealer in Finland (I'm in the UK) - Lamnia Knives - excellent customer service. Not had a Hinderer before or a $700.00 knife, so had high expectations. You may guess where I'm going with this but although it looks/feels great, it flips like shit. I appreciate that a flick of the wrist or a different push rather than pull approach works but really, I expected this to be easy/lightening fast/butter smooth and it ain't. So, I emailed Rob Hinder HQ about this and have had no reply (other than confirming that there are no accessories available, so the HMBS platform on this knife is currently useless). Having researched online, I'm guessing that it is a "feature" of these knives and therefore I either accept that and keep an expensive knife that won't deploy consistently, or return for a refund, or get the weak detente modified (either buy the tools/bit or send it away). I'm conflicted basically, as when I look at/hold the knife I like it lots but then I flip and it disappoints. Any thoughts/advice welcome...
 
Try flipping it by putting your finger in front of the flipper. Then use a follow through method, where your finger follows the flipper tab as it moves. It's not going to load up and release suddenly, like a bearing flipper. But, it will open with the thumb stud and by flinging the blade out. This one can be opened all three ways, a bit of practice should have you able to flip it just fine.

[video=youtube;1FqxxE5aVlY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FqxxE5aVlY[/video]
 
I've never owned one but a $700 knife should operate flawlessly.
$700? Is that the going rate?
 
You need to use the power of the internet to research what you're buying.

There are a lot of great reviews of knives discussing pro's and con's and if you watch a number of reviews on any RHK you can get a good idea of the flipping action and what to expect.

Some are better than others and personally I have always enjoyed the way they flip compared to knives on bearing pivots.

I think a little bit of time with the knife, and some practice will help you get the most out of the flipper tab...
 
I have a 3" xm18 and I hear most of those don't really flip. I held two at the knife store. One flipped really well and the other didn't flip really at all. I ended up choosing the one that didn't flip because I liked it more, go figure. The quality is pretty awesome but they are known for not really being amazing in the flipping department.
 
Wel, £650.00 in GBP so close to £700.00 in USD. If it was a couple of hundred I'd be less bothered but as you say, at this price it should be flawless/effortless...
 
Appreciate what you're saying about research but there's only a couple of commercial/blog reviews for the MP-1 and they don't touch on what I have since realised is a common Hinderer/flipper theme.

Since writing this I have spent a lot of time practising and have got better but then I pick up a ZT knife and without any effort, wham!

Got a bit of time to consider my options and have also got a ZT 0562CF on order - knife that got me into this and is a replacement for one with a chipped tip. If it is as good as I remember, will really have to consider whether the MP-1 is really worth the money, especially with the current lack of accessories.
 
monkeyboy_marcus said:
Wel, £650.00 in GBP so close to £700.00 in USD. If it was a couple of hundred I'd be less bothered but as you say, at this price it should be flawless/effortless...
Click to expand...

You're fabricating what the idea of "flawless" is. There is no such thing as $700 flipping action, nor should a knife be judged on that alone.
 
The MP-1 seems to flip quite well in the GP Knives overview video. They go for $695.00 in the U.S. but don't seem to sell that well. Perhaps it's the price or the blade length of 3.3 inches. Remember a Hinderer XM-18 3.5" goes for $450 and that's with G-10 on the presentation side. A Hinderer titanium scale costs another $200. So, the price of the MP-1 is in line with a full titanium XM.

[video=youtube;_unDQGQpYB8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_unDQGQpYB8[/video]
 
When I bought my first Hinderer, I pulled the tab and the blade halfway opened. When I realized that I was trying to open it exactly like my bearing flippers and changed to pushing through on the front of the tab, it opened just as well as the bearing flippers for me. Now, I have 3 Hinderers and surprisingly enough all flip very well.
 
I don't own one of these but own and use several XMs in every size and most blade shapes and even DLC coating...have you tried a drop of lubricant on each Teflon washer then working the blade around its pivot a few times to help coat the washer without disassembly...then try to flip?
 
Sorry to hear that you are not completely satisfied. I can't speak to the Mp-1 but I own four Xm-18's, an Xm-24 and an Eklipse. Often, if you have a Hinderer tool or can make an improvised one, some tuning can really improve the action. All my Hinderer's have strong detent's and flip great. Granted I did slightly "modify" one to strengthen the detent. I ask the retailer to pick me out a good one before I will buy one now. If the detent won't hold the blade in whil giving the knife a good shake, I won't purchase it. Their knives are well made but their detent strength is all over the map.
 
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jill jackson said:
When I bought my first Hinderer, I pulled the tab and the blade halfway opened. When I realized that I was trying to open it exactly like my bearing flippers and changed to pushing through on the front of the tab, it opened just as well as the bearing flippers for me. Now, I have 3 Hinderers and surprisingly enough all flip very well.
Click to expand...

I am not saying anything bad about Hinderer knives because I dont have any first hand experience, but with any ZT bearing flippers I have, either of the two methos works equally well and perfectly fine.
 
Contrary to the ideals put forth thus far, not only is there a quantitative measure for a $700 flipping action, but I am also certified to grade your knife. Send it to my home address and I will let you know how long it takes me to reach that $700 worth of flipping. I won't charge for this service as I have yet to see this specification available online. We can do the Hinderer community a great service!
 
sharp_edge said:
I am not saying anything bad about Hinderer knives because I dont have any first hand experience, but with any ZT bearing flippers I have, either of the two methos works equally well and perfectly fine.
Click to expand...

Right, but Hinderers aren't bearing flippers, they are designed to be opened by thumbstud, inertia or flipper. The video I posted in this thread was made by my dad, after a member said it was impossible for a knife to open all 3 ways.
 
I was fortunate enough to own only the 2nd MP-1 off the assembly line and mine had a short break in period. It now is one of the best and smoothest flippers I own.

I will say that out of the anodized ones, the working finish and the stonewashed versions the working finish seems a little harder to flip. I still think the break in period of a couple of weeks will fix that problem.

The MP-1 in full ti is one of my favorites. I hope the OP will keep working with it. Let us know if it is working finish or one of the other finishes?

https://flic.kr/p/KektFX https://www.flickr.com/photos/57703464@N02/

I forgot to add that Rob was out of town some last week so I am sure he will be in touch soon.
 
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I bought a new XM-18 3.5, when I received it it flipped like shit. It was two things, it needed a break in, and I needed to learn the trick to properly flip this knife. You need to preload it, it feels weird at first but after a bit of practice it's a breeze. Now that it's broken in and I've learned the trick it flips like a dream every single time. As for the price it's relative to the XM-18 as they cost $425.00 + 200.00 for the ti scale = $625.00. I agree the modular back spacer thing is not necessary. I would like to see this knife come in at $600.00 not $695.00 and he can keep that "modular back spacer"... I'm more interested in the Eklipse, I don't ever see them for sale. I don't get it he just keeps making heaps of the XM-18 3.5 Skinner, Bowie, and Spanto's. The market is flooded with those knives with no Eklipse's in sight!
 
whitty said:
I was fortunate enough to own only the 2nd MP-1 off the assembly line and mine had a short break in period. It now is one of the best and smoothest flippers I own.

I will say that out of the anodized ones, the working finish and the stonewashed versions the working finish seems a little harder to flip. I still think the break in period of a couple of weeks will fix that problem.

The MP-1 in full ti is one of my favorites. I hope the OP will keep working with it. Let us know if it is working finish or one of the other finishes?

https://flic.kr/p/KektFX https://www.flickr.com/photos/57703464@N02/

I forgot to add that Rob was out of town some last week so I am sure he will be in touch soon.
Click to expand...

Mine's the stonewash ti version. Looks lovely, which is why I'm persevering with it! I'd provide an image but the site is asking for a url rather than a folder location. I'll try and see if I can get it to work.

/Users/GreenLink/Downloads/IMG_3238.JPG
/Users/GreenLink/Downloads/IMG_3239.JPG

I'm not holding my breath for contact from Rob given that I imagine he's sick of this particular feedback. I'm sure he's got his reasons for designing it this way but it just seems strange that it is unreliable in terms of flipping other than acquiring a particular technique, especially when it is marketed as a flipper and has no gimping on that particular location to aid in the process.

Been practising today and getting moire to grips with it though...
 
Blues Bender said:
You're fabricating what the idea of "flawless" is. There is no such thing as $700 flipping action, nor should a knife be judged on that alone.
Click to expand...

Take your point, although when an expensive knife is marketed as a flipper the expectation is that it will perform well out of the box. That having been said, I am persevering with it because it has many other good attributes.
 
Need2Know said:
I don't own one of these but own and use several XMs in every size and most blade shapes and even DLC coating...have you tried a drop of lubricant on each Teflon washer then working the blade around its pivot a few times to help coat the washer without disassembly...then try to flip?
Click to expand...

That was going to be my next approach, although I was expecting to disassemble - you saying that's not necessary? Will have to see what lubricant is around the house.
 
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