Hinderer XM-18 3" slicer Gen 6 disappointment

B

Born200yrs2late

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Dec 31, 2018
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First thread ever started/new member. Been looking at this forum on and off for years. I recently bought the above mentioned knife In dlc black handle, black g10, black dlc blade with satin silver flats. Good looking knife with great action, detent on the money. However........blade did not come centered and favored the lockbar side. I tried the bearings, phosphor bronze, and teflon in the knife....all of which put the blade back into the same exact spot favoring the lockbar side. The blade did not rub the scale.....but came close. I almost kept the knife.......but just couldn't and sent it back for refund. The only way I could get the blade centered was to loosen the pivot. Loosening the pivot would allow the blade to be centered.......but I introduced blade play. I own a zt0393, reate JACK and Torrent. In my humble opinion........both zt and reate have way better tolerances. The only thing better on the hinderer was the pocket clip. Wish I had that clip on all my knives. Just my 2 cents............the knife was absolutely functional but for that price.......it has to be spot on or I'm out. Will probably never buy another.........
 
Born200yrs2late said:
First thread ever started/new member. Been looking at this forum on and off for years. I recently bought the above mentioned knife In dlc black handle, black g10, black dlc blade with satin silver flats. Good looking knife with great action, detent on the money. However........blade did not come centered and favored the lockbar side. I tried the bearings, phosphor bronze, and teflon in the knife....all of which put the blade back into the same exact spot favoring the lockbar side. The blade did not rub the scale.....but came close. I almost kept the knife.......but just couldn't and sent it back for refund. The only way I could get the blade centered was to loosen the pivot. Loosening the pivot would allow the blade to be centered.......but I introduced blade play. I own a zt0393, reate JACK and Torrent. In my humble opinion........both zt and reate have way better tolerances. The only thing better on the hinderer was the pocket clip. Wish I had that clip on all my knives. Just my 2 cents............the knife was absolutely functional but for that price.......it has to be spot on or I'm out. Will probably never buy another.........
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I wouldn’t let it sour your opinion of Hinderer. Every company, even Reate, ZT and even Chris Reeve put lemons out the door. Hinderers with these kind of flaws are extremely rare, especially the newer gen Hinderers.

If you like the knife order it again. Tell the people you are buying it from to make sure it is a good example just incase.
 
I can imagine, that you were disappointed. When you spend that kind of money on a knife (or everything else) you kinda expect to be perfect, in your case not close to be perfect centered, but perfectly centered.
On the other hand, Lapedog has a point, if you really want that knife, you can still order one in the future. Worst case, you return it again.
 
Nothing wrong with sending it back if you were not happy, but if you like the knife try again.
I am not familiar with the new pivot system but on the old their were techniques to center-that can be found in the Hinderer forum(archives). They likely still apply.
You could also sent it to Hinderer to be adjusted
They are not like a Sebenza that falls in just right each time you take them apart, they can take a little playing to get them just right, and since I am not obsessive pretty close works for me.
 
Peter Hartwig said:
Nothing wrong with sending it back if you were not happy, but if you like the knife try again.
I am not familiar with the new pivot system but on the old their were techniques to center-that can be found in the Hinderer forum(archives). They likely still apply.
You could also sent it to Hinderer to be adjusted
They are not like a Sebenza that falls in just right each time you take them apart, they can take a little playing to get them just right, and since I am not obsessive pretty close works for me.
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I did alot of research into this......one thing I can say is the fiddling to get the blade centered is probably a thing of the past with the gen6. It didn't matter how you put it back together........all techniques yielded the blade in the same exact spot. I guess that's a good thing if it was centered.
 
I'm considering trying another.......if I go down that road again I will call and speak to someone who knows what they're doing. The knife had the potential to be fantastic. Excellent flipping action and the clip was perfect.
 
My experience was different. I bought an XM-18 3.0 G10 Gen6 Slicer and it was perfect. My only "complaint" was that it seemed so small when compared w/my ZT/Hinderers (550/560/562/566).

Only bought the XM-18 3.0 to have for the purpose of comparison w/these ZTs but probably should have bought a 3.5 Slicer or an XM-24 instead. I just like bigger folders.

If you're interested in buying mine, drop me a line at sgt1372 at gmail dot com.
 
sgt1372 said:
My experience was different. I bought an XM-18 3.0 G10 Gen6 Slicer and it was perfect. My only "complaint" was that it seemed so small when compared w/my ZT/Hinderers (550/560/562/566).

Only bought the XM-18 3.0 to have for the purpose of comparison w/these ZTs but probably should have bought a 3.5 Slicer or an XM-24 instead, which I may do if I find one I like for the right price.
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Yes sir......it is small. Even more so in person. Smaller than I thought it would be.......but I didn't mind the size. Been looking for a smaller knife to fit into the collection. The J.A.C.K. is huge and took a little getting used to but makes a great food prep knife due to size......makes quick work of even the largest apples. The 0393 is excellent all rounder.
 
Was the knife New? Nobody builds a perfect knife everytime. too bad you received one not quite centered.

I wouldn't avoid the brand over one experience. I have multiple and all have been perfect.
 
Born200yrs2late said:
I'm considering trying another.......if I go down that road again I will call and speak to someone who knows what they're doing. The knife had the potential to be fantastic. Excellent flipping action and the clip was perfect.
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I love the 3" though prefer their non-flippers. Try Whitty at USAMADEBLADES if you are interested in another. He seems customer friendly and has a good knowledge of Hinderer.
 
Makael said:
Was the knife New? Nobody builds a perfect knife everytime. too bad you received one not quite centered.

I wouldn't avoid the brand over one experience. I have multiple and all have been perfect.
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Knife was new......ordered online. Nowhere close to buy in person.
 
It happens sometimes. I would just be happy you bought from a place that allows returns. Should've just had them exchange it for another. If you don't get another xm18 what do you have in mind?
 
highestpoint said:
It happens sometimes. I would just be happy you bought from a place that allows returns. Should've just had them exchange it for another. If you don't get another xm18 what do you have in mind?
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I've been really considering a W.E. knife wisp........has a very thin slicer blade with ceramic bearings and metal washers for the bearings to ride on. Knifeworks is only about an hour away from me......might go check em out later this week. Haven't made up my mind.
 
Makael said:
Big difference in choices. Hopefully you try another Hinderer. Good luck
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I'm going to take a little advice from above and call USA made blades. Just went through their offerings on Hinderers. They have one gen 5 XM-18 left and I would like to speak with him about that one. It has the steel lockbar insert but no bearings. I wanted either a hinderer or a reeve for outdoor camping and hiking........so I'm preferring a nonbearing knife for this role. I believe the gen 5 can run on phosphor bronze. If that one checks out I will give it another go and pick up the full Ti scale to go along with it for a full Ti knife. Really wanted a hinderer to begin with.
 
I don'thave any 3" XM-18s but I have several 3.5" ... and three of the new Gen 6s ... they are all centered perfectly and you can usually correct any slight off centering loosen the pivot and handle screws and pushing the blade towards the opposite side it favors as you tighten the screws slowly and evenly ...

but no harm in sending it back if you weren't happy with it ... but it is not the norm for Hinderers ... so if you liked the knife try another ... I would even recommend calling DLT Trading and ask them to hand pick you one and check for centering.

Hope you can get one you like.
 
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Born200yrs2late said:
I've been really considering a W.E. knife wisp........has a very thin slicer blade with ceramic bearings and metal washers for the bearings to ride on. Knifeworks is only about an hour away from me......might go check em out later this week. Haven't made up my mind.
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The people at Knifeworks are great.

Just checked my Hinderer 3.5 flat grind, generation 4 (I believe). The blade is very close to being centered . Maybe 45/55, just like my Sebenza 25. I consider a blade that close to be centered. 40/60 doesn t bother me.
 
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