Hinderer XM18 3.5 vs SNG vs CRK Ummmnum

Thanks for all the info everyone ..... much more than I anticipated.
Feel free to keep adding to it!
 
I have two SNG's and two XM-18s. I have handled a dozen or so Sebys and a couple of Ums. XM-18 over the other two for sure. I would like the CRK stuff better but must have some G-10 or something on one side of the knife otherwise too slick handle-wise
 
Although the XM-18 looks to be the most durable in both handle and blade, the thickness of the handle might be a bit much for every day carry in my front pocket. Haven't ruled it out though.
Lot's a good info in this thread. Thanks!
 
PorcupineMtns66 said:
Dang! I had to go have a smoke after looking at that knife pron!

You have great taste in knives. Let's see the liquor cabinet next! :thumbup:
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my thoughts exactly

I carry an emerson my self, haven't decided which one of the three i want yet, don't have the $600 yet either
 
the only thing i ever disliked about the sng is the clip. unrefined and the lip will tear up car seats. and ive found tension on strider clips to be inconsistent. i had an smf that i could practically hang myself from when it was in my pocket. i could pull on that knife and almost ride my pants up to my throat without it coming out.

clip is much better on the xm and reversable (if that matters). though i would like a little more clearance for thicker seamed clothing, like my work pants, from which it is difficult to remove.

i dont have an sng, or any strider, right now, but i dont recall it being thinner. the xm is heavier, but i dont think so much heavier that it will make carrying it a chore. i always thought the two knives carried similarly.

i have the spanto blade, and my only complaint with this one is the obtuse saber grind. i dont mind thick blades, but i have been considering sending it to krein for a regrind, full height flat.

if you can find one in your price range, i would say you should definitely try an xm. the sng is widely available and you can easily sell the xm to fund an sng should you decide to.
 
Now on to Generation ID on the SNG and XM-18's.
Can someone enlighten me on this subject?
 
PorcupineMtns66 said:
Now on to Generation ID on the SNG and XM-18's.
Can someone enlighten me on this subject?
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early sng's had a smaller pivot, no hinderer lock stabilizer, and were bos treated. i think the lock stabilizer was added in gen 5.

the stonewash finish seems to be the first indicator of a gen 3 xm. other than that i dont know how to tell the difference.
 
Gen 3 has Hinderer on the scale, another good indicator is the price. Earlier gens have Hinderer on the blade I think. Gen 3's don't have handground blades by Rick unless they are custom.
 
I've held & used the SNG & The XM-18,never owned them though,so I was a little leary about using them hard.They were just great.I'd give the XM a couple points over the SNG,as far as F&F go,& handle comfort(the SNG I borrowed had a gunnergrip,which I didn't care for).
I own an Umnumzaan & I just love it.I can't understand all the negatives coming out about this knife.It opens extremely smooth & it locks up like a vault.It's comfortable in my hand,in many different holds.I guess I just got a good one.
Now if you're gonna be cutting open car doors,I'd opt for the XM,because it is the most overbuilt of the three mentioned

Zaans are pretty easy to find

SNG's a little bit harder to find

XM-18 are extremely hard to find,unless you don't mind paying 2 or 3X's the list price.Me,I'm not willing to do that,but people are doing it all the time,everyday.

You really can't go wrong with any of them IMHO

Good Luck :)
 
I like the XM-18 better than the other two. I think it is just a better knife all around.

If you like the ergonomices of the Sng, then you will like the XM-18 better than the Zaan.

If you like the speed and ease of deployment on the Sng, then you will like the XM-18 better than the Zann, or any CRK for that matter. Chris Reeve himself states that his folders are not desiged to open fast, and they don't.

Here is a 2 part review of all three folders I did a whle back.

BTW, I still have the Sng and the XM-18, but I gave the Zaan to a friend, that should tell you something.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=705178&highlight=xm+18
 
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I strongly prefer the XM-18 to the SNG and the Umnumzaan. My second choice seems to be a little different than the others here because I prefer the Umnumzaan to the SNG. I think it is a better built knife personally. I may have a bad SNG though. It is not nearly as solid as the other 2 are. All 3 are comfortable in my pocket and are a great size for EDC. The XM-18 gets the most pocket time, followed by the Umnum, and the SNG gets none.
The ergonomics of the XM-18 are the best of the 3. It does not have the best blade shape for slicing, but it is still very useful for all EDC tasks, short of peeling an apple for a snack. With the flipper, the XM-18 is the fastest to open, but for pure smoothness of opening, the Umnum wins for me. Both are incredibly smooth though. I don't think you would be upset with any of the 3, but my two favorites would be the HInderer and CRK.
closed%20scale%20side.JPG

Lock%20Side.JPG

lockup.JPG

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thickness.JPG
 
I own all three knives.
I would rank them in this order:
#1 XM 18 (I have the 3.5 inch and the 3 inch I prefer to carry the 3 inch)
#2 Umnumzaan
#3 SNG

If I had to rank the Sebenza, XM 18, or SNG It would go like this:
#1 Sebenza (I carry the small)
#2 XM 18 (I have both the 3.5 inch and the 3 inch I prefer to carry the 3 inch)
#3 SNG

My criteria is only how it feels in the pocket.
With my small seb I do not notice it being carried.
With the 3 inch XM 18 I notice it but it does not bother me.
With the 3.5 inch XM 18 it is heavy and it bothers me when I am being active.
Umnumzaan carries (feels) like a small knife.

I tend to favor a 3 inch knife over anything else (in case you have not noticed).
 
bearcut said:
I like the XM-18 better than the other two. I think it is just a better knife all around.

If you like the ergonomices of the Sng, then you will like the XM-18 better than the Zaan.

If you like the speed and ease of deployment on the Sng, then you will like the XM-18 better than the Zann, or any CRK for that matter. Chris Reeve himself states that his folders are not desiged to open fast, and they don't.
Here is a 2 part review of all three folders I did a whle back.

BTW, I still have the Sng and the XM-18, but I gave the Zaan to a friend, that should tell you something.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=705178&highlight=xm+18
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you keep saying this, it is entirely untrue.

both of my sebenzas can be easily thumbflicked open, and both pivot screws are tightened all the way. the sng's and smf's ive owned could also be thumbflicked open.

a flipper on an xm is the only thing that makes it any faster.

and ive sold or traded every strider folder ive ever owned, 6 total. and that should tell anyone absolutely nothing, except they just weren't for me.
 
Great information from everyone who contributed to this thread.
I still haven't made a choice yet.
 
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PorcupineMtns66

Send So-lo a pm as well. He might give you some more info, he has all three the same as jdraizor. Also look at his video channel on youtube, he discusses all his knives there and recently gave an review of the SNG after a year of EDC.

His Umnumzaan video also shows that the knife can be easily opened.

I dont have any of these knives, hopefully one of each one day, but that is the best advice I can give.
 
I've had an SNG, a 3" xm18 flipper, and still have an Umnumzaan.
I prefer slicers, so I ended up selling the first two.
If it were between the SNG and xm18, I'd take the xm18 in a heartbeat. Just better overall fit and finish.
 
I didn't warm up to the XM-18 at all. The spanto grind in particular just felt useless to me.

I have had several SMF's. When I had a SnG it just felt small. It would be very generous to say you had 3" of cutting edge. Ergos on both rocked though I went back to the SMG for pure blade length reasons.

I traded the SMF for a Umnumzaan and I couldn't be happier. So happy now I have two of them. The knives work. They cut exceptionally well, never have issues, and backed by some of the best customer service I've ever had. The first one I got felt a little odd so I gave them a call. On Friday. Expecting to leave a message, Chris picked up the phone and answered every question I had. Ended up sending it in for a quick tune up and now it's perfect. :thumbup:
 
Well, I bought a 3.5 non-flipper XM-18 which will be a work knife. I'll probably pick up a Umnumzaan also for EDC outside work.

Thanks for all the informative posts. :thumbup:
 
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