Review Hinderer XM18 3.5 - Real or Clone?

[ferider]

Do you run Teflon on one side and Teflon/a spacer on the other? Just curious lol

Yep. Well, PB washers and spacer.

Here’s is a secret: all of my Gen4 regrinds (3) had some lock-stick coming back from the regrind - no idea why but consistently … beautiful blades, so they got new frames. The steel insert (and tighter tolerances ?) helps.

 

[Hackenslash]

This is a fake. A deal “too good to be true” is just that. I’d say to use it and enjoy it, but proceed with caution as it’s likely nothing is as claimed.

 

[Ozmose]

Hinderer doesn't use domed thumb studs.
No lock bar insert.
The box looks printed. All of mine just have a sticker with the logo applied.
There's quite a few smaller things that stand out too.
Yeah, too many red flags there. Glad you didn't get taken for retail at least.

 

[DocJekl]

Seems like a decent knife for free, even if it's a replica. I'm glad you got your money back for the counterfeit knife.

I got my money back on a PM2 Tanto that arrived as a counterfeit where I'd paid below the genuine knife price, although I didn't get to keep the fake. The seller claimed he didn't know it was a fake, and he made me send it back as "not as described" for a full refund, and I wasn't out the money in the end. I later investigated, and he was selling several of them at a lower price, so apparently he'd bought a bunch and realized he couldn't pass them off as real anymore.

I had the same issue with Benchmade Griptillian in 20CV with the grey G10 and blue liners, and got my money back.

 

[Richard Coyle]

At the very least, how’s the fit and finish on the knife?

 

[DennisM]

At the very least, how’s the fit and finish on the knife?

It seems good to me but then again ... I am the one who fell for a fake.

I’d say to use it and enjoy it

I am going to use it like an entitled teenage son beats the crap outta his parents car.

 

[crk1984]

Its 100% a fake. Value is about 50 dollars on aliexpress. Theres a large group or people on reddit that are big on clones and a lot of em have that exact knife.

 

[DennisM]

Its 100% a fake. Value is about 50 dollars on aliexpress. Theres a large group or people on reddit that are big on clones and a lot of em have that exact knife.

Thanks!

 

[sharp_edge]

It doesn’t have to be so complicated. Anytime you see a Hinderer folder for sale for below $300 you should be extremely careful If it's a fake. If it's below $200 it's 100% fake.

 

[Therom]

Looks like a clone to me

Some points that makes me cautious:
Wrong box
Thank you card
Blade grind
Thumb studs
CPM20cv on gen.4 is uncommon
Pivot
Jumpings on top of the blade