I've had to face the fact that I will probably never own an XM-18 - and I blame ZT

I forgot to add that my comments regarding ZT are in reference to the 0560, I have no experience with the 0550.
 
I've had three 550s, two 551s and five XMs(all three flavors) and sold them all. Not because they weren't very nice knives in their own right, but they just weren't my thing. However, I can say that the XMs were definitely beefier than the ZTs but for average use I doubt you'd have any problems doing the same things well with the ZT vs the XM.......will say that when you lock that flipper XM 24 open it's like Dirty Hairy just loaded his revolver and said "Go ahead punk, make my day!!"
 
I actually moved a bit in the opposite direction. I never wanted a Hinderer at all and didn't see the attraction until I got a0560 and a 0550.
 
I got a 3-inch XM for two reasons:

My experience with ZTs made me want to see how the XMs compare.

AND because ZT doesn't make a 3-inch version.

I like my XM well enough to want a 3.5-inch model. But not well enough to pay double the preferred rate that a retailer would charge. So I eagerly look forward to ZT's forthcoming 566.

I appreciate Rick's own models as well as his designs for ZT. No, they're not the same, but both are outstanding.
 
EZ Bake, while I agree with your assessment that the Zero Tolerance/ Hinderer collabs are almost as good as the real thing, I feel that you started this thread to convince yourself not to get an XM. But it is only a matter of time my friend! The ZTs are some of my favorites and get a ton of pocket time, while my XM only comes out for special occasions, but I LOVE knowing I have it at home in my safe for those occasions. Both products are top notch and have their place, but my money is on you eventually giving in to the XM bug.
 
jstn said:
EZ Bake, while I agree with your assessment that the Zero Tolerance/ Hinderer collabs are almost as good as the real thing, I feel that you started this thread to convince yourself not to get an XM. But it is only a matter of time my friend!
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Haha - there might be a little more truth to that than I realize! :D

Let me make sure nobody misunderstands my post for talking smack about the XM-18 or Hinderer knives in general (or even trying to equate the the XM to the ZT in terms of value or quality) - I still love the XM series and Rick Hinderer's overall designs in both his own knives as well as his collaborations. I just find that I'm happy enough with my 0551 (and I presume I will be with my 0566 when they come in) in the first place, but after handling the XM - I'm just not sure I prefer it to the 055X's design overall (which is weird, because not that long ago, I preferred smaller more slender folders to medium/larger ones overall - I'm just recently starting to get into medium-sized folders).

Had I not handled one in person, I probably would have bought one to find this same thing out (and it could just be my tastes in knives changing that makes me feel this way).

Fit/finish are no contest - the XM is a mid-tech and the 055X are production knives. I've seen tooling and machine marks on a lot of my Kershaw and ZT knives, and that doesn't bother me a bit (especially when I consider the value in design/materials/customer-service vs. the price). I've yet to have a QC issue with a KAI knife, so I can't really speak to their customer service but it has a pretty good reputation around here so I have total confidence in using it should I ever need to.
 
3" slicer-grind XM-18 was too small for my hand...like a small Sebbie, and the 3.5" spanto was overkill for my use. So they went.
I've had a bunch of ZT's; they are very nice folders. I think the 0550 is about the right size for me.
 
I have never had a XM but have both ZT's and the 0560 was to big for me so I sold it. I have an 0550 and love the knife so much! You can't go wrong with it! I would like to at least hold a XM one day.........

Eddie47 said:
Have both and the only advantage the zt has is; it's a better flipper because it's assisted. Nuff Said.
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:confused:
 
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