- Joined
- Aug 25, 2016
- Messages
- 200
I recently came across a listing on eBay for a Hinderer XM-18 3.5" knife, with a 'spanto' blade, made from M390 steel.
Exactly what I was looking for. The G-10 was even my first choice of color, too. THe knife was listed as used, but in virtually new condition.
The only thing that I wasn't looking for, because I didn't know they existed, was that the 'spanto' blade was one with the harpoon grind. I had seen photographs of Hinderer tanto blades with the harpoon grind, but not the spanto blade.
It was up for sale at auction on eBay. Nobody else bid on the knife. So I got a fairly decent buy, especially for eBay, money wise. The knife is near pristine. I had to REALLY go over the knife to find a scuff in the stonewash underneath the pocket clip. Uf I didn't know it wasn't new, I doubt I would have found it.
So I am quite pleased with this purchase. But the 'spanto' blade does have that curious ridge in the spine near the tip. It appears to extend further (towards the pivot) than the 'harpoon ridge' does on the conventional tanto blade, but not by a lot.
So my question is: does the harpoon grind make the blade significantly stronger, or, as I suspect, is it mostly a way to add a new and slightly different blade to the Hinderer line up, to sell more knives?
I know that while I personally never saw the point of having a tanto grind on a small pocket knife blade, the blade tip is stronger than most or all other small blade grinds. (Pun definitely intended!).
And, while it looks a bit strange, the spanto grind certainly doe appear to reinforce the tip of the blade, while maintaining the blade curvature that I find much more appealing, and useful, IMHO, to the standard tanto grind.
Given this innovation by Hinderer, with which I am frankly very impressed, I would be foolish to think that the harpoon grind isn't a worthwhile innovation, as well.
Hmm. I just this moment noticed that the spine of this 'harpoon grind' spanto blade is lacking two cutouts normally found on the spine of 'regular' spanto grind blades. I can't believe I didn't notice it before. So almost the entire length of the blade has more metal at the spine.
So this blade HAS to be stronger than the 'non harpoon' spanto grind blade.
Until recently, the main difference I knew about in knife blades was flat grind vs. hollow grind. When you spend as much money as a Hinderer costs, you get more than just a pretty knife.
Well, it should be obvious I know little to nothing about knife blade geometry, and I welcome comments from those who are knowledgeable in this area. Thank you!
Exactly what I was looking for. The G-10 was even my first choice of color, too. THe knife was listed as used, but in virtually new condition.
The only thing that I wasn't looking for, because I didn't know they existed, was that the 'spanto' blade was one with the harpoon grind. I had seen photographs of Hinderer tanto blades with the harpoon grind, but not the spanto blade.
It was up for sale at auction on eBay. Nobody else bid on the knife. So I got a fairly decent buy, especially for eBay, money wise. The knife is near pristine. I had to REALLY go over the knife to find a scuff in the stonewash underneath the pocket clip. Uf I didn't know it wasn't new, I doubt I would have found it.
So I am quite pleased with this purchase. But the 'spanto' blade does have that curious ridge in the spine near the tip. It appears to extend further (towards the pivot) than the 'harpoon ridge' does on the conventional tanto blade, but not by a lot.
So my question is: does the harpoon grind make the blade significantly stronger, or, as I suspect, is it mostly a way to add a new and slightly different blade to the Hinderer line up, to sell more knives?
I know that while I personally never saw the point of having a tanto grind on a small pocket knife blade, the blade tip is stronger than most or all other small blade grinds. (Pun definitely intended!).
And, while it looks a bit strange, the spanto grind certainly doe appear to reinforce the tip of the blade, while maintaining the blade curvature that I find much more appealing, and useful, IMHO, to the standard tanto grind.
Given this innovation by Hinderer, with which I am frankly very impressed, I would be foolish to think that the harpoon grind isn't a worthwhile innovation, as well.
Hmm. I just this moment noticed that the spine of this 'harpoon grind' spanto blade is lacking two cutouts normally found on the spine of 'regular' spanto grind blades. I can't believe I didn't notice it before. So almost the entire length of the blade has more metal at the spine.
So this blade HAS to be stronger than the 'non harpoon' spanto grind blade.
Until recently, the main difference I knew about in knife blades was flat grind vs. hollow grind. When you spend as much money as a Hinderer costs, you get more than just a pretty knife.
Well, it should be obvious I know little to nothing about knife blade geometry, and I welcome comments from those who are knowledgeable in this area. Thank you!
