Hinderer: not so cool, mebbe

mendezj

mendezj

Joined
Nov 24, 1998
Messages
993
Within the past month I’ve purchased my first two Hinderer knives. The first is an XM-18, 3.5”, M390 steel, Spanto grind blade. I was so impressed with its Sherman tank built that I bought another: Jurassic, CPM20CV steel, slicer grind blade.

The grind on the XM-18 blade would be great to perforate car doors (?), but not the very best for more normal chores like cutting boxes or for field work. So I wrote Hinderer asking if they would grind the blade a bit thinner, or if they could help me find a new XM-18 with a slicer blade. No response. I waited a couple of weeks and wrote again, to no avail.

So I bought a new Hinderer, the Jurassic with slicer blade. However, the picture on the Monkey site clearly depicted a knife with a lanyard attachment. The knife has the new spacer system for changing applications. So that prompted me to click the buy option. Except that the knife arrived without the lanyard extra. I wrote the merchant and they responded promptly and kindly: Sorry, Hinderer delivers what Hinderer delivers. So now I’m waiting to see if the vendor can get me the attachment from Hinderer. I offered to pay for it.

I think the Hinderer burnish is wearing thin on me. What do you think? Flame all you want to if that’s your heart’s desire. Cheers.
 
The world is moving in slow motion due to the pandemic and reopening shutdowns and shutting down reopenings
 
Agreed, customer service these days is slow nearly everywhere.

Perhaps a Skinny Slicer XM-18 may suit your needs, with its thinner blade stock.

In my experience, Hinderers don't come with lanyards. The presence of one in the picture is the vendor's fault, in my opinion.

I've had a couple Hinderers. Honestly, they aren't for me. But that's just me, no particular reason other than personal preference to a handful of design choices.
 
I'd bet that ME put one one to show what it looks like. Hinderer doesn't offer accessories with a knife that I know of. However, they have an assortment of add on's for their knives. Highly doubt Hinderer will alter the blade in any manner. Usually, if you want a blade thinned out/regrind, you have to send your knife to someone like Josh @razor-edge-knives, he does excellent work and has pics of some of the re grinds he's done.
This is a Spanto that Big Chris reground to a slicer. That's what you need.

XLJsokg.jpg
 
Thank you so much for all the very generous and respectful responses. Thank you in particular, MacLaren, for the email address.

Yes, I understand the pandemic is being a disgrace. I never would have imagined we would be thrown back to the Middle Ages all of a sudden. We can only hope to recover soon. Again, thank you.
 
Oh, by the way, yesterday when trying to cut down a large box I ground the XM-18 hard against some clips, several times. The edge lost the razor edge but it kept cutting thru the cardboard, and after a few passes on a hard stone it was razor sharp again.
 
The website doing the bait and switch with new photos to flush out old stock is the problem.

And as noted regrinds are a thing for someone else than the maker. I don't think many production knife companies will take a knife back and do a custom regrind on request.
 
Hinderer is not going to re-grind the XM-18. They don't do re-grinds, but you can find someone else to do one, if you desire. I would have to look over their present warranty to see if it would be void. Likely yes.
They will get back to you, but it is not a fast process. You are not the only one contacting them. But I do understand it can be frustrating to wait for an answer that was needed now.
 
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