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Hinderer XM-18 First Impressions

S

scion88

Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
111
Bought my first Hinderer (received it on valentine's day, how apropos). It's a new 3.5 flipper, Wharncliffe, and I'm mostly impressed. Lockup is amazing, blade centering is perfect, fit and finish are great. It doesn't quite flip as well as my other flippers (ZT 0560, de-assisted ZT 0566) and I was wondering if there was a break-in period for Hinderers where the "flip-ability" will get better? Detent is good and thumbstud deployment is already pretty smooth.
 
There is definitely a break in period required for it to flip better. Dont expect it to flip like a ZT 0560, it wasnt designed to be that way. Ive had my 3.5" flipper spanto for 3 months and its getting better at flipping. I will say that it is by far my smoothest folder hands down. Even smoother than my Sebenzas.
 
The flippability? of XM flippers has long been a topic of conversation here. You'll hear every side, good and bad. My findings were that the XM was never designed as a flipper, but the popularity of flippers brought the addition of that feature. Most, with practice and lube can be flipped without any wrist action. To me, its nice to have the option of both opening styles, the choil guard the flipper creates, and the solid build quality from Hinderer.
 
For me, it's more about technique than breaking in. My Hinderer has probably the weakest detent of any knife I've had, but I can flip it powerfully with no wrist action.
 
I don't care for flippers to start. My xm never got very easy even after monkeying with the pivot. Then I got a Shirogorov f3. That's how a flipper should flip. I'll probably monkey with the xm a little more before I decide to try to swap it for a non flipper.
 
Finedges said:
The flippability? of XM flippers has long been a topic of conversation here. You'll hear every side, good and bad. My findings were that the XM was never designed as a flipper, but the popularity of flippers brought the addition of that feature. Most, with practice and lube can be flipped without any wrist action. To me, its nice to have the option of both opening styles, the choil guard the flipper creates, and the solid build quality from Hinderer.
Click to expand...

^^^What he said.
 
XM's can be great flippers. Just need some break-in, a little lube and maybe adjust the pivot tension. I agree that they're not for everyone, but there is a technique to get them to flip easily, its more of a push on a 45* angle toward the pivot instead of pulling on the flipper.

They're a great heavy duty multi-purpose blade, and as such are not necessarily the best at any one task, but are very useful for wide range of tasks.
 
Hinderers if lubed and tuned properly are awesome flippers with very little effort.
I have a number that are all easier and smoother to flip than a ZT 0560. Go on YouTube and search Hinderer XM-18....you'll find a number of videos that will show and teach you how to disassemble, lube and tune the XM properly.
 
dwdickey said:
They're a great heavy duty multi-purpose blade, and as such are not necessarily the best at any one task, but are very useful for wide range of tasks.
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This. No fan-boy bias here. That is exactly what a hinderer is. One thing, multipurpose folder.
 
I would love to try one but won't pay the ridiculous mark up on them. I still don't get why he can't keep up with demand.
 
Both of mine required a break end to flip 100% of the time.
I have a Gen 4 Spanto flipper coming in the mail and I'm sure it will be a good flipper once broken in too.
 
dwdickey said:
XM's can be great flippers. Just need some break-in, a little lube and maybe adjust the pivot tension. I agree that they're not for everyone, but there is a technique to get them to flip easily, its more of a push on a 45* angle toward the pivot instead of pulling on the flipper.

They're a great heavy duty multi-purpose blade, and as such are not necessarily the best at any one task, but are very useful for wide range of tasks.
Click to expand...

In my experience it didn't work well as a flipper due to the weak detent. I could shake the blade open, and if I tightened the pivot, then flipping was no longer possible. The thumbstuds worked better.

I'm not too sure about it being a multi-purpose knife. It's really too thick to be as useful as a thinner blade.
 
mmarkh said:
I would love to try one but won't pay the ridiculous mark up on them. I still don't get why he can't keep up with demand.
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If you were ever gonna try one now would be the time other than the fact there's no telling how low they are gonna go. Mine had always flipped great though with no break in. However there are much better flippers out there.
 
My 3" XM-18 still does not have a great flipper action. It's the only minor disappointment I have with it. These days there are so many better flippers but not better folders.
 
I have to agree with Ramzar. I have plenty of flippers that flip better, but with an XM you are getting CRK tolerances in an extremely tough and aesthetically pleasing package, with exceptional ergos and a perfectly heat treated steel.
 
Apparently now the claim is that they are knives with flippers, they're not flippers. Whatever that is supposed to mean? The simple answer is, as has been said, they have weak detents. Firmer detent, more energy stored before the detent is over come, good flipping knife. The one major flaw in a great design but they are not going to change it and they don't want to hear about it, so take it or leave it.
 
Thank you for all the comments, they provided a very good snapshot of the iconic XM-18. Despite the Hinderers flipper idiosyncrasies I don't think my first Hinderer will be my last, I just wish that they were a little more affordable on the secondary market. Will the Hinderer business model for selling the XM knives to the general public ever change?
 
scion88 said:
Thank you for all the comments, they provided a very good snapshot of the iconic XM-18. Despite the Hinderers flipper idiosyncrasies I don't think my first Hinderer will be my last, I just wish that they were a little more affordable on the secondary market. Will the Hinderer business model for selling the XM knives to the general public ever change?
Click to expand...

I think he's selling far more to dealers than he used to - Hinderers are going for 500-600, and they used to go for much more. However, the majority are S35VN. I'd love to see 20CV go for those prices, but it certainly seems like I'll just wait on the 0562CF.
 
Comeuppance said:
I think he's selling far more to dealers than he used to - Hinderers are going for 500-600, and they used to go for much more. However, the majority are S35VN. I'd love to see 20CV go for those prices, but it certainly seems like I'll just wait on the 0562CF.
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To be fair though, Hinderer does S35VN very, very well :)
 
There is definitely a break in period. It will also take a while to learn how tight the pivot should be. Also, as you practice, your fingers will get better at it.
 
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