least-tacticool hard-use folders?

Jaxx said:
There's a Gen 4 XM-18 already??? :confused::confused:
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Yes but it is no longer hand ground by Rick, Here is the Announcement he made......

Official Announcement regarding my XM-18 folder

Due to a very large demand for my XM-18 I was not getting orders out in a very timely manner. I needed to find a way to get more knives in customer’s hands which included a lot of our law enforcement and military personal. I was not about to sacrifice quality or workmanship as I feel that is a hallmark of the XM-18.
To that end I decided to have the blades ground outside of my shop on a state of the art cnc grinder. This company nailed the Spanto grind that has grown so popular! In a lot of ways I like it even better than my hollow grind. The grind is truly a very good slicer! Everything else is the exact same with the grind. These blades also have a very nice tumble finish. Another change that I made with the production of the XM-18 is that I am now working with much larger batches. What this means is the customer will be getting his or her knife a lot faster. And in some cases will even enable one to obtain a XM-18!
Does this make the knife any different? Absolutely not! Everything else regarding the hand production of the knife is still the same. The only difference you will see from the ones I’ve made in the past is the flat grind on the blade.
This change will take effect immediately on all the XM-18’s coming out of my shop including the ones I have had on order.
Thanks so much for all your past and future support of Rick Hinderer Knives!
 
I believe that's the Gen III (Med-tech)...

Here's my Gen. 1 XM-18. It has recently been upgraded towards a Gen 2. The parts & G-10 to the right are what's been changed...

Hinderer_XM-18_with-GenI-parts.jpg


Gen 2's have an easier to read Hinderer logo on the blade, plus a full titanium slab under the G-10, a different type of pivot screw, and other slight variances.

Gen 3's have a blade ground elsewhere but are still assembled in-house by Mr. Hinderer, & the Hinderer name is now on the titanium frame (clip side)...

You had me there for a sec... I thought that he had changed it again! ...Or did he?? :)

Bkultra said:
Yes but it is no longer hand ground by Rick, Here is the Announcement he made...... snip
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Take a look at the Bradley Cutlery Alias series. They are very similar to the Sebenza, but seem a bit slimmer and carry very well. They are top quality. Spyderco's are very good also.
 
- medium size folder
- nearly bullet proof
- not all tacticool

Well generally the more bullet-proof, the more likely it is to be tactical-looking as opposed to the fine GEC that Moonwilson posted. You can get those with 3.25" or 4" blade but they are cutters, not slab-bladed cement-choppers.

Other sturdy knives that aren't all scary-looking / tacticool:
this might be too big or too tactical but it's a great & solid knife, the Outdoor Edge Magna (discontinued but some are still available)
Outdoor-Edge-OEMA-10.jpg


CRKT Elishewitz Anubis
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CRKT Sentinel
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CRKT Carson M4
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Fallkniven PXL
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KaBar Dozier is very inexpensive yet tough
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I personally would call the small Sebenza a small knife rather than medium, and it's a little tacticool. One option that comes to mind is the Buck/Strider 880, if you (easy to do if you're a bit handy) change out the G-10 handle scales for some wood ones. That would be a VERY sturdy knife that wouldn't look too intimidating with natural instead of black handles.
 
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Paddling_man said:
...maybe one of the Hossom Retribution?? I've never actually held one of the Retribution but they do look beefy...
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Yes, this one would definitely be a good choice. I have the Model 2 and even though it's the "smaller" of the two, it's still very beefy with a blade close to 4 inches long. The fit and finish are top shelf for a production folder and the micarta scales are wonderfully shaped for a comfortable and secure grip. Grip comfort is further enhanced due the fact that Jerry prefers his folders without pocket clips. A cordura pouch is included, however, to increase your carry options.
 
I would suggest a Benchmade Griptialin 551. It is what I current EDC and personnally I would not consider it to be tactical. Also another reccomendation for Kershaw. They make some nice stuff.
 
As per $ value as said above, the Manix's and the Ruckus 610, all 3 great handling and comfortable.
 
nice knives, great suggestions.

I have to say, I'd only heard (somewhat distantly) of the Hinderer, but now that I've checked them out I'm going to go with one of those - it's at least worth a try.

Jaxx said:
Gen 2's have an easier to read Hinderer logo on the blade, plus a full titanium slab under the G-10, a different type of pivot screw, and other slight variances.
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this is what I'd like to have, a 3" Gen 2 non-flipper with black G10.

now I know what to look for...

thanks everyone, I knew you guys would know what's up...
 
DowntownDM said:
nice knives, great suggestions.

I have to say, I'd only heard (somewhat distantly) of the Hinderer, but now that I've checked them out I'm going to go with one of those - it's at least worth a try.



this is what I'd like to have, a 3" Gen 2 non-flipper with black G10.

now I know what to look for...

thanks everyone, I knew you guys would know what's up...
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I might be wrong about the pivot screw being different... but the Gen 1 screw was able to be tightened/loosened with a flathead screwdriver, however there were no grooves for a tool to fit into it and hold it motionless on the back side, so if the locktite gripped the screw the whole pivot assembly would just spin. The Gen 2 XM-18 has two grooves back there on the clip side, [pivot---> (- -)], for a type of screwdriver (I don't recall the name of the type) to fit in and hold steady while the flathead side can be tightened or loosened.

Be prepared to pay top dollar, or hit knife shows where Rick Hinderer is attending and enter his lottery drawing at a chance to buy one for his price. :) These days, you'll have a better chance at a Gen 3 new. He does make a heckuva folder! :thumbup:
 
Had I the dough, I would opt for a Warren Thomas SP Folder. Discrete and untacticool, but packs a nasty bite at the same time. Go for it :) .
 
My EDC is a Benchmade Nitrous Stryker Assisted Opening 913SBKD2. I have six of them, 1 satin, 1 satin/serrated and 1 black, 1 black/serrated. Also a Chantix custom 913 and a 912-71 Gold Series which are both Strykers and safe queens.
I feel its the perfect knife for EDC. You can pick one up on Ebay for about $90. I've had zero problems with any of them. Love that assisted(cough-50 state legal-switchblade) opening design! These are all liner locks but the liner id beefy and will never release while using it. Try the satin finishes for less tacticool. They sit tip down and ride low in the pocket. I've yet to chip or fold an edge or break a blade on the users I have and they get hard use daily.
I have a large Rukus also which is a BEAST yet sits low in the pocket tip up! Thats my day hiker knife. It's almost a 11 inches long open and the axis lock is smooth as butter. The blade floats smoothly open and closed even though its so big.
 
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Yea, P-Mil, Strider or Emerson. There are more but you could stop here.
Gooluck!
 
Striders are pretty heavy duty. :D

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The small Sebbie is fairly heavy duty, but it is, well... small. If you're going for a CRK, then maybe a Umnumzaan might be more fitting... if you can wait. I wouldn't wait that long since I wanted one now, and got a Strider SMF. So far I love it, and using it, but it does get some alarming looks from sheeple.
 
DowntownDM said:
this is what I'd like to have, a 3" Gen 2 non-flipper with black G10.

now I know what to look for...

thanks everyone, I knew you guys would know what's up...
Click to expand...

If you are a USN member you will see they have 2 Gen 3's for sale atm, one is a flipper and one is not. Jaxx was correct on there being only 3 gens. If you have your hart set on a Gen 2 or 1 then it will be harder to find and much more money
 
I know you mentioned no Strider, BUT, the SNG is a perfect size knife and tougher than hell. If you go with the stonewashed finished there not tactical looking at all. Heres mine:

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