I really like my ZT 0562cf, do I really need a Hinderer XM18 3.5 skinny?

Cscotttsss

Cscotttsss

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Mar 3, 2015
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I've had my ZT 0562cf for several years and it honestly doesn't see much pocket time even though it's a real "gem". I hope to change that this winter as it's time to start carrying my heavier/bigger knives. The 0562cf is absolutely amazing, the action, the ability to disappear in my pocket, the fit and finish and of course it's stunning good looks.

It seems my EDC go to as I work in the office 90% of the time consists of a lightweight smaller knife (Bugout, Para 3 LW have both dominated my carry this spring/summer).

My dilemma is do I really need a Hinderer XM18 3.5" skinny? I've been going back and forth and just can't decide. I see some mention that they were honestly more impressed with their 0562?

Do I buy a Hinderer or grab an 0562ti and use the left over money on another knife?

Oh, and here's a pic of that sexy 0562cf from this past summer because every thread is better with a pic or two.

Untitled by Caleb Bender, on Flickr
 
I think this is like one of those Shiro, Hinderer, CRK, etc...things it might be an itch that if you are able to just needs to be scratched. Talking about it might not get you off the cliff. That said I've literally been asking myself the same for months about a skinny wharnie as ZT doesn't really have a true equivalent to that model.
 
I don't need 200+ knives in my collection. But I have them. I need 5 maybe 6 nice knives and 5 or 6 really nice knives for each pocket. So 25-30 tops. And then maybe some autos ya I need some autos so 10 of them. Oh let's not forget OTF's. Got to have a few of them so 5 OTF's. And butterfly knives need 5 of them. Can't flip them but I need them. You see we don't really need any of these. But we can convince our selves we do. Super easy. And go from 5 or 6 knives to almost 100 in a blink of an eye. What your ask is for support. I for one support you brother. You get that Hinderer. I'll never own one. Rick Hinderer hates left handed people.
 
As pointed about above, the real issue here is the "need vs. want" conundrum. If the Hinderer Skinny will do things that your present knives just can't do, then you might actually need it. If it can’t do anything that all your present knives can’t do, you definitely don’t need it.
 
I have owned both, and ended up selling both. I don't think the Skinny is worth the very high price they're asking for it, but it is ground thinner than the ZT and is thinner BTE. If that's worth paying almost double the price, then go for it. You kind of know exactly what you're getting into if you already like Hinderer designs. If you just want a knife that cuts well, there are better options out there.
 
Need:
9k1k.jpg


Want:
9k1j.jpg
 
OP - XM-18 3.5" skinny slicer is very different from ZT 0562CF; it is also very different from the standard XM-18 3.5" slicer. If you want a framelock folder that slices well, I say yes - go give the skinny slicer a try.
 
The skinny is lighter so there's your justification! I want one too.
 
cchu518 said:
I think this is like one of those Shiro, Hinderer, CRK, etc...things it might be an itch that if you are able to just needs to be scratched. Talking about it might not get you off the cliff.
Click to expand...

This is where I land as well. Sometimes I look at I knife that I want, look at my collection (which I keep pretty lean by BF standards), see that I have enough/too many other knives that are similar to that one, and know I won't actually carry it; I don't buy it. :cool:

But sometimes I just can't get the damned knife out of my head (so to speak), even if it is too similar to others in my collection, and it haunts my dreams; I usually buy it. :D

...And at least 50% of the time, when I buy the dream-haunting knife, I don't wind up holding onto it. o_O
 
I have a 0562cf that is have carried for a while but I preferred the thickness of the 0550 over the slimmer profile of the 0562
Then I got an half track which is in feasible and a 0393 that I carry on a regular basis
I finally got a slippy and i like it a lot
IMO the slippy and the 0393 are my favorite in term of carry and ergonomics
And the half track is the best in term of action
I am waiting for an spanto XM-18 3.5 non skinny to be released to compare with the 0562
 
Cscotttsss said:
Do I buy a Hinderer or grab an 0562ti and use the left over money on another knife?
Click to expand...

I would go for the Hinderer. I have a 3.5” skinny sheepsfoot and a 3” slicer and I love them both... for me, I couldn’t justify having a 0562cf and buying a 0562ti... just too similar. That’s just how my brain works though.
Can’t beat the feeling of holding a knife and thinking “I paid $425 for this, wow! This is special.”
 
ßäD ßöß said:
I would go for the Hinderer. I have a 3.5” skinny sheepsfoot and a 3” slicer and I love them both... for me, I couldn’t justify having a 0562cf and buying a 0562ti... just too similar. That’s just how my brain works though.
Can’t beat the feeling of holding a knife and thinking “I paid $425 for this, wow! This is special.”
Click to expand...
As a lefty this is how I feel about my crk. Both have that " special feel" to them. If only Rick would make one so I could have that same feeling with one of his knives. But I have the 561. And it's the closest thing I'll get. O.P. pull the trigger. And that 562cf. Is a sweet knife by any standard.
 
One important difference that nobody is pointing out is that the Skinny is a liner lock and the 0562 and standard XM-18 are framelocks. That can have a huge difference if, for example, you just don't like liner locks.

I have an XM-18 3.5" and really don't carry it much except for weekends. It has a Bowie blade in Battle Bronze/FDE finish so it looks a little murdery for the office.

The same can be said for for the ZT0562.

I can picture myself getting a Skinny 3" with a slicer blade someday. Personally, the Hinderer that ends up in my pocket most often is the Slippy with CF scales. I love that little Slippy.
 
I would recommend the Skinny Sheepsfoot over the slicer. The ZT has a wider blade (edge to spine) so much so that I find it to be the more aesthetically please knife. Hinderer blades often seem too small for the handles to me except for the sheepsfoot.

If you do get it used. Hinderers go for much less on the secondary market in LNIB condition.
 
One thing is the pocket clip on 0562 allows deep carry. I would go with a xm18 3 no choil slicer. It’s smaller than the others but same blade thickness as skinny. Doesn’t overlap in size.
 
I have had both the ZT0562CF & the Hinderer XM-18 3.5” Skinny Slicer.
I had to let the ZT go.
Now I have 2 - 3.5” Skinny’s (on washers)
I just like the Skinny better.
Oh yeah, I’m a sucker for DLC too.
 
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