Lets see some Hinderer action

+1 - think I’m holding out for Skinny 3.5 and Skinny 3.0.

I think by Bladeshow time, at least the Skinny 3.0 will be out.

Let’s hope it’s a great knife. I’m a bit nervous as it sounds like a brand new design, yet still uses the XM-18 moniker. My guess is the 2-scale design choice was done for lock-side strength?
And I’m 99% sure the “liner-lock” is actually a Ti frame lock under a scale. But could be wrong - hope I’m not.

Almost pulled the trigger on a non-flipper, and I still might. A Skinny would be perfect.
Am really hoping for something a little lighter than the usual 5.6oz 3.5. Really want to carry my 3.5s more and an ounce lighter + thinner profile would make a world of difference M-F, for me anyway. Weekends it’s game on with the big knives.
 
FWIW, I talked to one of our awesome dealers and he said the detent is really good on the new non-flipper.
Pretty much between a Gen6 XM-18 Flipper and the old non-flipper.
That the issues of not enough detent tension are gone and the knife’s not going to be popping open.
And at the same time, the tension is not too strong that deployment is difficult.
Said he was happy with how they turned out.

Must...resist...
 
KVT said:
My guess is the 2-scale design choice was done for lock-side strength?
And I’m 99% sure the “liner-lock” is actually a Ti frame lock under a scale. But could be wrong - hope I’m not.
Click to expand...

My guess is that it will be done like the Fulltrack, which is more like a bolster lock if we're going to split hairs. In the end Liner Locks and Frame Locks are essentially the same thing, with the same weaknesses. I find it odd when people criticize Liner Locks, but then are ok with Frame Locks. Personally I'd like to see this Liner Lock version make its way to the 3.5 inch XM, maybe as an "Extra Skinny" XM-18 3.5 inch with the same thicknesses as the 3 inch skinny.
 
I wouldn’t say I’ve criticized anything - I’ve got tons of great beefy liner lock knives.

I’m just not sure I want a traditional Liner Lock in a Hinderer. Lots of reasons.

I think we’ll be pretty happy with whatever Rick has designed - he knows the industry and knows his rep is on the line.
 
I wasn't saying you criticized anything, that was more of a straw man argument on my part.

Why wouldn't you want a traditional liner lock on a Hinderer? As long as it's at least as thick as the lockbar cutout, it will be as strong as the frame lock. Personally, I find liner locks more aesthetically pleasing, and often times they're more comfortable in my hand. I'm happy that Hinderer is experimenting with different looks and locks, and I hope we see more of it.
 
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I personally love the aesthetics of the Hinderer frame-locks, and all of his ZT collaborations. I’ve found I don’t really need a pretty or grippy scale on both show side and lock side, at least with his knives. It just works.
I find every one of his XMs and most all his ZT collabs to be extremely comfortable in hand.
Thousands of other 2-scale liner locks available already out there to choose from, and I already have a bunch of those.
Sometimes brands get diluted when they are branched out for the sake of trying to offer something for everyone. I don’t think that will happen here or if that’s even Rick’s intent, but it happens all the time.
I’m sure he will still infuse all of the strong Hinderer design roots/aesthetics into all of his knives.
I’m very excited to see the thing personally. Wish I was going to Blade.

As far as deployment, closing, manipulation etc, I just still prefer a good frame-lock’s lock bar over a liner lock all day.
 
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While we are on this subject, in terms of the lockup between the lockbar and blade tang, how skinny will it be too thin? I understand the desire and preference for thin blade stock and I am turning to that camp too, but I imagine at certain point the blade tang will become too thin to render a safe and strong lockup. Not saying this is the case with Hinderer skinny though.
 
Well, in the case of this new Skinny 3.0, the width is hardly any thinner at all compared to the std 3.0.
Which to me means Rick probably found the point before ‘too skinny.’
At least with his design(s).
On a 3.5 or 4.0, there’s a lot of room to Skinny up before sacrificing real strength / rigidity.

As far as lock-bar insert <> tang contact, there’s a very tiny point that actually makes contact. As those points wear/migrate, is where you need the greater width.
 
Skinny FTW!
o0lRmhp.jpg
 
KVT said:
Well, in the case of this new Skinny 3.0, the width is hardly any thinner at all compared to the std 3.0.
Which to me means Rick probably found the point before ‘too skinny.’
At least with his design(s).
On a 3.5 or 4.0, there’s a lot of room to Skinny up before sacrificing real strength / rigidity.

As far as lock-bar insert <> tang contact, there’s a very tiny point that actually makes contact. As those points wear/migrate, is where you need the greater width.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, the 3.0 skinny is going to have stock thicknesses of 0.12", which is still plenty thick for secure lockup and hard use. I'm sure they could keep making them the blade stock skinnier, but below .12" they'd probably start losing the perception of a "Hard Use" knife, although I'm sure they would be tougher than many would give them credit for. I'd love to see Hinderer experiment with more skinnys, or even an extra skinny 3.5. I'd buy a skinny Fulltrack in a heartbeat.

Anyway, here's a bad pic of my skinny on a dreary cold rainy day where I can't be outside:
9T4uexE.jpg
 
While I am a fan of the skinny variants of XM-18 3.5" and XM-24. I am skeptical on what exactly XM-18 3.0" skinny can offer? The regular 3" handle is already only 0.425" thick and weights 3.3-3.6 oz... how much skinnier can the handle get? How much weight really can be reduced?
 
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KVT said:
FWIW, I talked to one of our awesome dealers and he said the detent is really good on the new non-flipper.
Pretty much between a Gen6 XM-18 Flipper and the old non-flipper.
That the issues of not enough detent tension are gone and the knife’s not going to be popping open.
And at the same time, the tension is not too strong that deployment is difficult.
Said he was happy with how they turned out.

Must...resist...
Click to expand...
Totally comes down to the detent. Really want one but not if the detent is a thumb
buster. Also, which color? Ugh....thinking black or natural.....
 
Gideons said:
While I am a fan of the skinny variants of XM-18 3.5" and XM-24. I am skeptical on what exactly XM-18 3.0" skinny can offer? The regular 3" handle is already only 0.425" thick and weights 3.3-3.6 oz... how much skinnier can the handle get? How much weight really can be reduced?
Click to expand...
Here’s the specs I posted many pages ago:
Overall Length 7.00"
Blade Length 3.00"
Sharpened Length 2.63"
Blade Thickness 0.12"
Blade Material CPM-20CV
Blade Type Stainless
Blade Rockwell 60-61 HRC
Opening Mechanism Flipper
Lock Liner Lock
Closed Length 4.13"
Handle Thickness 0.415"
Handle Material G10
Liner(s) Titanium
Clip Titanium
Weight 3.00 oz.
 
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