Hinderer XM-18, gen 3 to gen 4 conversion

[REK Knives]

I have never understood Rick's decision to go with the stop pin placement on the gen 3 models. After several sharpenings, the blade becomes almost useless w/ detent slop.

With that in mind, I got a flipperless gen 3 (or earlier) XM-18 in for a regrind. I did not feel comfortable doing a regrind on this particular blade because it wouldn't have taken much for the blade to develop detent play, so since my customer was up for it and I was as well, I set in for a stop pin placement change!

Had to do some grinding on the blade tang itself for fitting, but turned out perfect.

Then I was able to knock the grind out w/ no fear!

 

[cbwx34]

Good job... and you're right, I hadn't seen that before, but judging from your picture, that Gen 3 was a bad idea.

 

[Officer's Match]

Fantastic work Josh, both the regrind and the stop pin conversion. I guess that is an advantage of the blade mounted stop pin/thumb lugs - no worries about lockup timing being altered.

 

[REK Knives]

Fantastic work Josh, both the regrind and the stop pin conversion. I guess that is an advantage of the blade mounted stop pin/thumb lugs - no worries about lockup timing being altered.

Thanks dude!

The pin placement actually doesn't touch the blade tang, but is a close "backup" for it - the double lugs provide the stop when the blade opens, the pin provides the stop when it closes.

 

[dsalazar]

That is one nice regrind. I've been contemplating on that for my spanto as it is a little thicker than I like. Is the blade polished where the washers rest against it.

 

[RadialBladeworks]

Damn, you do good work, man. I love it!!

 

[adamlau]

Yup. Good stuff.