Older Hinderers, where are they and does anyone collect them?

[John Phillips]

Why aren’t there hardly any older Hinderers posted for sale/trade or even posted to show the history?

The Hinderer booth at Bladeshow Atlanta is one of the most packed and fever pitched places every year. It’s literally a madhouse with 20 people wide and about 6 people deep. I realize a lot people are there flipping Hinderers for a profit but so many of the models are not money makers and just people wanting unique Hinderer models to carry/collect.

Knowing how sought after, used and collected Hinderers are currently, why isn’t there more posts, mentions or even “for sale” posts for older Hinderers like there are for CRKs? Are there just far less available? Are they traded on Reddit, Facebook, etc?

I primarily collect Chris Reeve knives but Hinderer and Demko are right behind CRK for me. I know CRK has been around longer and is possibly considered the gold standard of pocket folders but it seems there are infinitely more posts of older CRK knives as well as older models for sale compared to Hinderer. I actually cannot recall seeing too many posts for an older Hinderer, Gen 1-2 or early customs, for sale here on the forum in the last 6-7 years or posts showing early models.

Thoughts?

Also, I currently have 5 older Hinderers that I’ve posted in another Hinderer thread, all made between 2003-2007 and I’d really like to what else is out there!!!

Feel free to post pictures if you have any older models or older customs from 2000-2010 (or older).

Here is my Flame model, made in 2005 by Rick, the precursor to the XM-18.

 

[Peter Hartwig]

I don't have any at this time, but I like the old Hinderers. One reason for not being a lot for sale is that they didn't manufacture huge numbers of them back then. It started out as a very small operation, and they were very hard to obtain, even then.

 

[Mk-211]

denverknifeguy

 

[jfk1110]

denverknifeguy

I was having the same ripple in.my grey matter too..

 

[jmj3esq]

The MP-1 is as old as they get for me. I sure would like to have more and see more that’s for sure.

 

[BP Green]

I had a crap ton of them back in the day. It’s a weird dynamic for me with Hinderers. For some reason they don’t really appeal to me aesthetically. I did like that they were good quality, overbuilt, US made, hard use folders though. The fact that they were hard to get unless you were active duty military or a first responder made them more attractive and accessible to me.

As an active duty LEO, I was able to get my hands on quite a few, back when they were all the rage, and while I liked them for duty carry, in all honesty, they were basically just sharpened pry bars - horrible cutters.

I remember the day that really brought it home to me is when I tried to peel and slice an apple with my Non-flipper spanto. It was more like dismantling than slicing it. The knife was actually great for what I was doing on the job because I was a narcotics K-9 officer and taking apart or breaking into hidden compartments in vehicles and buildings all the time. But for every day, edc cutting tasks, I started carrying something else as a secondary.

Eventually, when I became a supervisor and got further away from the field tasks, I got away from carrying Hinderers entirely till I eventually sold them all off. That is up until last year when I picked up an XM Skinny slicer. In my opinion, this is the knife they should’ve led with. Great little edc and still tough as nails.

One sticking point I still have is the oversized flipper tab. I still think they could make the thing about half as big but whatever. It’s not a deal breaker. If I can find a non-flipper skinny slicer one of these days I’ll probably jump on it.

 

[John Phillips]

I had a crap ton of them back in the day. It’s a weird dynamic for me with Hinderers. For some reason they don’t really appeal to me aesthetically. I did like that they were good quality, overbuilt, US made, hard use folders though. The fact that they were hard to get unless you were active duty military or a first responder made them more attractive and accessible to me.

As an active duty LEO, I was able to get my hands on quite a few, back when they were all the rage, and while I liked them for duty carry, in all honesty, they were basically just sharpened pry bars - horrible cutters.

I remember the day that really brought it home to me is when I tried to peel and slice an apple with my Non-flipper spanto. It was more like dismantling than slicing it. The knife was actually great for what I was doing on the job because I was a narcotics K-9 officer and taking apart or breaking into hidden compartments in vehicles and buildings all the time. But for every day, edc cutting tasks, I started carrying something else as a secondary.

Eventually, when I became a supervisor and got further away from the field tasks, I got away from carrying Hinderers entirely till I eventually sold them all off. That is up until last year when I picked up an XM Skinny slicer. In my opinion, this is the knife they should’ve led with. Great little edc and still tough as nails.

One sticking point I still have is the oversized flipper tab. I still think they could make the thing about half as big but whatever. It’s not a deal breaker. If I can find a non-flipper skinny slicer one of these days I’ll probably jump on it.

Thanks for the input!!! The fact that smaller numbers were made initially and mostly available to active duty or first responders makes a lot more sense as to why so few are available today.

Where did you buy yours or where did Hinderer sell his knives to law enforcement and active duty? Dealers or his own website?

And I agree, the skinny slicer is a phenomenal cutter and the early model Spanto is definitely built as a hard use tool overall rather than a slicer. I imagine Rick was picking a lane to stay in at the time for a specific group of people with the design.

 

[BP Green]

Thanks for the input!!! The fact that smaller numbers were made initially and mostly available to active duty or first responders makes a lot more sense as to why so few are available today.

Where did you buy yours or where did Hinderer sell his knives to law enforcement and active duty? Dealers or his own website?

And I agree, the skinny slicer is a phenomenal cutter and the early model Spanto is definitely built as a hard use tool overall rather than a slicer. I imagine Rick was picking a lane to stay in at the time for a specific group of people with the design.

Back then I used to order directly from them when they would drop. Here’s a pic of a couple, the one with the fly rod was my favorite. Wish I still had it actually. . .

 

[sharp_edge]

I don't have any at this time, but I like the old Hinderers. One reason for not being a lot for sale is that they didn't manufacture huge numbers of them back then. It started out as a very small operation, and they were very hard to obtain, even then.

This sounds to me the most plausible explanation. Newer/current models of RHK do not appear to be sold well in the secondary market likely due to the same but opposite reason.