Is the hype genuine?

FCM415 said:
...And who are you to judge? Seriously, what merit do you have to criticize? Hey man, you yourself said you wouldn't pay more than $400 for it. I actually would, but couldn't afford to spend that much. I just further elaborated my situation on how I could actually get one. It is meant so that people who serve can get a tool fast and at msrp. It's not a perfect world,the program is meant well but it does have its shortcomings. For one,it just isn't fair. In the end I want one for $400 just like you did and am considering having someone get it for me at that price. I'd rather do that than get one for 7 to $900, half of which I don't know whose pocket it goes to. My money is hard earned, I want 100% of the price I pay to go to Rick. I'll just keep my ideas regarding the subject to myself moving forward. I shouldn't even have to explain myself. Being called "classy" is enough for me.
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I agree. If I had a friend that was an EMT or something, I'd go through them to get one. Unfortunately I don't know anbody that is, so I have to go without. $400 is great for that quality, but $700 - $900 is too rich for my blood.
 
Daft Slice 1986 said:
I agree. If I had a friend that was an EMT or something, I'd go through them to get one. Unfortunately I don't know anbody that is, so I have to go without. $400 is great for that quality, but $700 - $900 is too rich for my blood.
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I have friends in the military and still wont use them to get his knife at 400$ because its simply taking advantage of ricks generosity to the military
that being said I have no intention of spending 800$ on 1 of his knifes I simply just wont ever own 1
 
Natedog351 said:
I have friends in the military and still wont use them to get his knife at 400$ because its simply taking advantage of ricks generosity to the military
that being said I have no intention of spending 800$ on 1 of his knifes I simply just wont ever own 1
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Rick could just sell all his knives at the $400 range, but put military, emt, firefighters, ect... at the top of the priority list. Then make the average Joe wait a year or two to get theirs. He chooses not to sell to the average Joe, so people that ARE in the military, emt, ect... take advantage of him by turning a profit on his generosity.

Either way, I'd still go through someone that was an EMT to get one regardless. I don't care what you or anybody else thinks of that.
 
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They are not worth it to me right now as one runs about a months rent. That's too steep for my current salary. OnceI've finished my education my salary should, roughly, triple. At that point I'll be slightly surprised if I don't cough up for an XM-24.
 
I think they're worth it,even with the markup.I traded a custom DDR for my 3.5" G3 Spanto flipper.It flips smoother than the knives I've had with bearings(with the exception being a Todd Begg custom).The lock-up hasn't moved one bit in the years I've had it.Nice and early,zero play in any direction.

If they were more available,I'd probably replace most of my folders with them.I understand where Rick & Rob are coming from with their policies & I respect that(even if it is abused on a regular basis).That money should be going to them instead of the flippers IMHO.
 
Just asking but why is it so difficult to keep up with demand? From what I have read Rick doesn't even personally make all the knives himself.
 
recon1s14 said:
Hey guys, for awhile now I've seen thread after thread and hundreds of posts about Hinderer knives, from xm18s to xm24s and I'm curious as to whether or not everyone's excitement about them is really genuine? From what I've seen the construction consists of the same materials as a Zero Tolerance or high-end Spyderco but at a sub $400 price tag, I know maybe the fit and finish may be a step higher, and attention to detail, heck maybe even the steel is a bit higher end, but is it really worth it?

I'm definatly not trying to bash Hinderer knives, not atall, just genuinely curious about what makes these knives so great, I do find myself attracted to his "spanto" blade shape, but for me the rest of the design doesn't catch my attention, what makes his knives so desirous? Personal preference? If so I do understand that, and I will drop the subject right here, without further argument.

Thanks,

Zach
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Many companies and knives are guilty of excessive hype to various degrees. None of them come close to approaching the incredible amount of hype that surrounds Hinderers. The hype is not justified for the following reasons:

1. The hype is primarily caused by inflated after-market prices that are a result of Rick's unreasonable and borderline absurd business practices. Supporting individuals in active duty public service roles is a reputable concept, but creating an elitist "holier than thou" aesthetic around your product by selling your product exclusively (for all intents and purposes) to them is a distasteful marketing concept that has created abuses in the system. By all means, offer reasonable discounts to LE, but going so far as selling products at twice the price to "everyone else" is disrespectful to most consumers, untastefully elitist, and serves to do little more than artificially inflate product value.

2. The Hinderer "holier than thou" aesthetic has bred the misconception that his knives are greater than the sum of their parts. Do not misunderstand: Hinderers are outstanding knives. But they are not better, and are indeed surpassed, by a number of other "hard use" folders on the market at half the price: ZT, BM, Spyderco, CRK, and Strider offer comparable or better models to name a few.

3. Hinderers' designs are also riding a major fad right now for flippers and titanium frame locks. These are fads because superior materials (various blade steels and handle materials) and deployment mechanisms exist on the market (axis lock, triad lock, arc lock, speed safe, etc). However, flippers and ti frame locks have enjoyed disproportionate popularity the last few years. All trends die.

4. Finally, the hype is sustained by collectors who drop $400-$700 on knives that do not justify such a high price tag considering the factors discussed above. People go to -extreme- lengths to defend the validity of their purchases, especially when those purchases are expensive.
 
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I got an XM-18 in a pass around a few years ago. It was made very well, but I didn't like the design at all.
I don't like a handle with that much drop in it, and prefer a straighter handle.
And even if I did like the design I wouldn't pay aftermarket price for it. I know people that could get me one at his price, but I'm not going to buy one just so I can flip it.
 
I think the ZT0560 is a better knife. It has bearings, so it flips like it should, instead of having to force it to flip via extreme pressure or wrist action. The deep pocket carry clip is a far superior design to the Hinderer clip. It has 4-way pocket clip ability. It's 1/4 to 1/2 the price, depending on your source for an XM. In my opinion, the only downside to the ZT is the sharp points on the thumb stud stops. The Hinderer has the same stops, but they're flattened instead of pointed.
 
Oakengroves hit the nail on the head.
The hindered business model has good intentions, but it has more holes than the swiss cheese on my sandwich.
Ive handled several and id much rather have my ZT 560...especially for the price.
 
I disagree with you. It's not meant to be fair it's meant to give a advantage to a specific group of people who put there lives on the line to protect or treat people. And that's just fine with me. I know it's not perfect some people will take advantage of whatever they can to make a buck and there is nothing anyone can do about that. But if I was your friend I would not order one for you because I'm not one to take advantage of something like that. At the same point I wouldn't get mad at you for trying we're not all millionaires here and let's face it we all are knife addicts here so it is what it is.
 
Zach, I wondered the same thing before I scored my first XM-18. I justified my purchase by saying that if I didn't like it, I could sell it for what I paid. Now it is the main knife I use and collect.
 
Rick's price for it is 400 bucks. Thats what I can afford. Who is really taking advantage here, could it be dealers and persons selling it for twice the price? I might be way off base here. Im just assuming that the prices are at a premium because of demand, but msrp is really 400 bucks.
 
FCM415 said:
Rick's price for it is 400 bucks. Thats what I can afford. Who is really taking advantage here, could it be dealers and persons selling it for twice the price? I might be way off base here. Im just assuming that the prices are at a premium because of demand, but msrp is really 400 bucks.
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while some ppl might be able to get them at 400$ then turn around and sell them for around 800$ there are others that pay the 400$ then sell them for just that 400$
In a perfect world everyone could just buy them at 400$(or less) but that is just not the case
 
In short NO, they aren't worth the hype nor those inflated aftermarket prices, not many knives are worth twice or more their original cost unless they are limited editions that won't be made again. This is NOT the case with these however, there are more being made.

IF someone can get one at Rick's price of $385 then yes they are worth that as they are good knives.

Opinions will vary, but this is mine.
 
I found that I couldn't ENJOY my xm-24 when I had it.

I kept reminding myself on how much money I had tied into the thing, and I came to the conclusion that I had better keep it mint and sell it to get my money back, so I did.

Who wants to "own" a knife and have that experience...not me
 
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