Hinderer Non Flipper with finger choil or Hinderer Flipper without finger choil

[JJ_Colt45]

Hi all, I have been considering buying another Hinderer XM-18 3.5" and am trying to decide between two models ...

the first is a non flipper Spanto grind but still has the finger choil ... the second is a flipper but choiless in a Slicer grind.

I have a flipper Slicer and was leaning towards the non flipper Spanto ... but wondered opinions on whether those who have used both have as to which they prefered or which you might be more inclined to try?

In a perfect world I could buy a non flipper without a choil ... but so far these are the options I've found. I only have experience with the Slicer Grind Flipper ... so I'm open to suggestions and peoples opinions on all these options ... what would your choices be?

My one other thought was how much would it cost or if anyone had modified a Hinderer Flipper to remove the flipper tab if the action was still smooth ? ... and if that might be a legitimate option to get the perfect non flipper with no finger choil.

Thanks JJ

 

[Peter Hartwig]

? What's wrong with slicer non-flipper with choil. If you find the flipper slicer redundant, I would look at a trade vs modification.
The spanto non-flipper is pretty nice also
I like the 3" better, but love the non-flippers.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

I don"t think I would say there is anything wrong with either model ... I own a flipper slicer with the finger choil ... I like flippers but I also enjoy non flippers ... and think the extra cutting edge on the choiless blade might be nice ... the two models I've found were a Spanto non flipper with the choil or the Slicer without the finger choil ...

and was just considering if the extra bit of cutting edge was worth it or if giving that up to have a non flipper model might be a good option to try ... just asking opions from those who may have used both.

 

[Peter Hartwig]

I probably am not the one to help. I already find the 3.5" a little big , so more edge really isn't a plus for me. I have owned 3.5" slicer and spanto non-flippers and I would prefer the spanto, but that may be more nostalgia then anything else-It was my 1st Hinderer.
As you said-nothing wrong with any of them. I am sure you will enjoy whatever you buy.
I'd buy the spanto, but that is just my choice of the options and based on my own likes.

 

[dalefuller]

I have a 3.5" slicer NON-flipper with choil. I love the knife. I can work a 3.5" non-flipper... slowly... but I can work it. And I like not having the tab sticking down on that model. I also have an MP-1 and a 3" slicer flipper. On the 3" the flipper's necessary for me to open the blade. It's too small a knife for me to work otherwise. My hands are old and arthritic, so I have a pretty limited range of what I can do with them.

As far as the choil goes, I've never needed that last .5" of cutting edge that's taken for the choil. I don't care whether it's there or not. If you're considering modding a flipper XM-18, I think I heard that there's a difference in the detents between a flipper and a factory non-flipper, so you may not get a true "non-flipper" action with a mod.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

Thanks Dale that was one question in my mind ... whether a modded flipper would still open smooth like a non flipper or if the detent might be enough different to matter.

 

[Ajack60]

I’ve often thought about getting the flipper tab removed from the two Hinderer’s I have, but the thing that always comes to mind is that I think(and it’s solely my thought process) that the flipper tab doubles as a finger guard when I stab with the knife to start a cut. I am selective with which knife I’m carrying whether I’ll make a stab cut. It gives me peace of mind knowing I have some protection.
The choil/no choil thing is a non issue for me. I’ve got other knives that don’t have a choil and I really haven’t noticed a difference.

 

[dsalazar]

I am on the hunt for a choil less xm18 3.5. for me its not really the extra cutting length but more of stuff getting snagged on the choil. I would get the choil less one. You can always remove the flipper tab. You cant add metal to fill the choil.