Personal stories of Hinderer compliments.....

[RubiconSS]

We ALL have them, I would find them interesting for those who would like to share.

I told a story a long time ago of a young man in a Sears store (I was in exchanging a broken rake) I had produced my XM18 3.5" spanto to remove some of my duct tape (repair) to show the break in the handle. I thought the young man was going to faint dead away he exclaimed,
" Is that a REAL Hinderer!!?" I of course replied in the affirmative.
He was sporting a Gerber rescue (I believe he was a young volunteer Fireman/EMT) working his way thru college and just as proud as could be of his pride and joy. I had not seen Rick's interview yet but did assure the young Man that his Knife was indeed a Real Hinderer as well and shared a little history of what I knew of Rick's backround and the Knifes design etc.
We spent a good bit of time talking....it was a nice exchange across generational lines fostered by a common bond - our knives.

Earlier this week, I was in a well known Wood Working Shop (chain I believe) I always wanted to visit. I was there to look at everything but wanted to check out their sharpening devices (paper wheels, etc) I got talking to an older gentleman that worked there, turns out he teached the classes in how to sharpen tools, chisels, knives etc. - hit paydirt finding him.
A good ways into the discussion he said, " Mind me asking what it is you find yourself sharpening the most". I said, "My knives" and produced my EDC ( XM18 3.5" spanto flipper with the textured Ti scale) that I always carry. That started the discussion of my knife.
He was flabbergasted at the build, fit/finish and (I was proud) the edge it had on it.
He said, " This is what we shoot for when we finish with a piece in a class, we would call this very very sharp and with a strong edge profile - best of both worlds".
I have never "sharpened" my EDC persay, it has the factory edge and as some of you have seen (in pics) I strop it regularly on my old belt with some car polish.
That is the edge that bout took my finger off a couple weeks ago.
The "expert" proclaimed how the quality of the steel, heat treat and edge geometry told him what the appearance spoke as well, "The guy making these knives not only cares about what he is doing but He Knows what He is doing too".
I thanked him and we said our Good Days.
I think we both silently agreed, just keep doing what your doing to keep your knives sharp.

Love my knives but when they serve as an entre' to meet and share with another .....
that is an added bonus.

 

[Need2Know]

Excellent stories.

Mine fall short in terms of detail. My knives are sometimes noticed, but rarely discussed outside of the forum / living room.

Most often someone may ask what it is, but it's rare to have someone recognize it. I travel, often without the XM and notice that the XM does gain more accolades and compliments than any more mainstream knife I may have with me.

I posted photos of an XM dump at a restaurant, no one cared about the tools on the table. I find this to often be true. A knife in my hand does not intimidate. As right as the tool feels in my hand, it appears to convey that image to onlookers. Nothing to see here, no imminent threat.

Once the conversations begin, the response is much like mentioned above. Someone unfamiliar with these knives is more often than not impressed in one or more ways by them. There are also the guys that say its far too much knife for them, then produce from the depths of their pocket an older style pocket kinfe that requires at least two hands to operate with very thin blades (that I know I'd break). But there is room for everyone. I never disrespect their choice in knife, in fact I compliment them on their decision to carry such a practical tool.

 

[Final Option]

I took my mother and father out yesterday for our weekly lunch date. My 86 yr old dad is a retired farmer who is recovering from a minor stroke he had recently. He has loss some use of his dominant hand and part of his therapy is to resume former activities as much as possible. Dad ordered the usual open face sirloin steak sandwich, and when it arrived it was evident he was having difficulty cutting the meat with the resturante's 30 yr. old dull serrated knife.

I could see the frustration mounting on Dad's face and mom proclaiming that the meat was tough and had grizzle which precluded my dad from being able to cut his own meet. As mom took the knife from dad to cut his meet I could sense his independence ebbing away.

I reached for my EDC XM 18 3.5 flipper, opened it and handed it to him and said try this. The handle was the perfect fit for him, especially with the curved design. He started slicing his own steak and cut right through the thick bread beneath the steak. He was able to easily cut up his own food and everything else that was on his plate. It was so gratifying to see dad re capture his simple dignity back by cutting up his own food! Yes I'm sure any sharp knife would have been better than what was provided by the resturante, however seeing dad use my XM, cutting his own food and smiling was absolutely priceless!

After lunch dad handed me the knife back and said "nice knife."

 

[RubiconSS]

Thank you for sharing that story, I felt like I was there. God bless your Mom and Dad.

 

[wowcoop]

I took my mother and father out yesterday for our weekly lunch date. My 86 yr old dad is a retired farmer who is recovering from a minor stroke he had recently. He has loss some use of his dominant hand and part of his therapy is to resume former activities as much as possible. Dad ordered the usual open face sirloin steak sandwich, and when it arrived it was evident he was having difficulty cutting the meat with the resturante's 30 yr. old dull serrated knife.

I could see the frustration mounting on Dad's face and mom proclaiming that the meat was tough and had grizzle which precluded my dad from being able to cut his own meet. As mom took the knife from dad to cut his meet I could sense his independence ebbing away.

I reached for my EDC XM 18 3.5 flipper, opened it and handed it to him and said try this. The handle was the perfect fit for him, especially with the curved design. He started slicing his own steak and cut right through the thick bread beneath the steak. He was able to easily cut up his own food and everything else that was on his plate. It was so gratifying to see dad re capture his simple dignity back by cutting up his own food! Yes I'm sure any sharp knife would have been better than what was provided by the resturante, however seeing dad use my XM, cutting his own food and smiling was absolutely priceless!

After lunch dad handed me the knife back and said "nice knife."

That story hits home for me in many, many ways.....I've gone through the same thing with my Dad, and others. We all forget the gift of independently doing for ourselves what we need to do, and often forget the dignity of others when helping them with tasks they used to do with ease....FO you should be published somewhere, your a writer! Oh...IMO!

 

[dwcliff]

Great story! Thanks for sharing

I took my mother and father out yesterday for our weekly lunch date. My 86 yr old dad is a retired farmer who is recovering from a minor stroke he had recently. He has loss some use of his dominant hand and part of his therapy is to resume former activities as much as possible. Dad ordered the usual open face sirloin steak sandwich, and when it arrived it was evident he was having difficulty cutting the meat with the resturante's 30 yr. old dull serrated knife.

I could see the frustration mounting on Dad's face and mom proclaiming that the meat was tough and had grizzle which precluded my dad from being able to cut his own meet. As mom took the knife from dad to cut his meet I could sense his independence ebbing away.

I reached for my EDC XM 18 3.5 flipper, opened it and handed it to him and said try this. The handle was the perfect fit for him, especially with the curved design. He started slicing his own steak and cut right through the thick bread beneath the steak. He was able to easily cut up his own food and everything else that was on his plate. It was so gratifying to see dad re capture his simple dignity back by cutting up his own food! Yes I'm sure any sharp knife would have been better than what was provided by the resturante, however seeing dad use my XM, cutting his own food and smiling was absolutely priceless!

After lunch dad handed me the knife back and said "nice knife."

 

[DrOpPoInT1110]

I've never had any cool experiences like that where the person knew what the knife was but I've had people who aren't knife nuts be impressed with it. One friend said "man, this is the most well made pocket knife I've ever seen- I'd pay $200 EASILY for this..." I was just thinking to myself "If ONLY that was what they cost. I'd buy 10!"

 

[wowcoop]

I've never had any cool experiences like that where the person knew what the knife was but I've had people who aren't knife nuts be impressed with it. One friend said "man, this is the most well made pocket knife I've ever seen- I'd pay $200 EASILY for this..." I was just thinking to myself "If ONLY that was what they cost. I'd buy 10!"

Funny how owning one makes you want more......

 

[MRaymond]

I agree with the others, thanks for sharing this great story. I can only hope that when I am 86 my son hands me his XM-18 Gen 26 to cut my steak

I took my mother and father out yesterday for our weekly lunch date. My 86 yr old dad is a retired farmer who is recovering from a minor stroke he had recently. He has loss some use of his dominant hand and part of his therapy is to resume former activities as much as possible. Dad ordered the usual open face sirloin steak sandwich, and when it arrived it was evident he was having difficulty cutting the meat with the resturante's 30 yr. old dull serrated knife.

I could see the frustration mounting on Dad's face and mom proclaiming that the meat was tough and had grizzle which precluded my dad from being able to cut his own meet. As mom took the knife from dad to cut his meet I could sense his independence ebbing away.

I reached for my EDC XM 18 3.5 flipper, opened it and handed it to him and said try this. The handle was the perfect fit for him, especially with the curved design. He started slicing his own steak and cut right through the thick bread beneath the steak. He was able to easily cut up his own food and everything else that was on his plate. It was so gratifying to see dad re capture his simple dignity back by cutting up his own food! Yes I'm sure any sharp knife would have been better than what was provided by the resturante, however seeing dad use my XM, cutting his own food and smiling was absolutely priceless!

After lunch dad handed me the knife back and said "nice knife."

 

[DrOpPoInT1110]

Funny how owning one makes you want more......

I think thats just how it goes for nice knives in general haha but Hinderers have an especially addictive quality to them.

 

[Final Option]

Thanks for the compliments and Rubi for starting the thread. I spoke with dad today to check up on him and he thanked me again for the use of the knife, cause those damn restorante knives aren't no good. He told me the next time I'm at the farm store pick him up one (Hinderer Knife). He also said that the steak was tougher than hell!

If he only knew the journey that knife made to reach his hand!

 

[RubiconSS]

And the fact that it will now likely never leave yours.

( except when Dad gets to use it )

Btw: My 16 year old Son is getting ready for his SAT's (tomorrow morning) He is practicing his writing skills for the essay portion.
I said, " Come here, I would like you to read something. This is an example of what I have been talking about, extemporaneous writing of high quality."

Thank you He was very moved by your story.

 

[wowcoop]

You could get him a Gerber rescue for $60.00 and there pretty easy to open..... But he might be insulted by the dull tip...I'd be sure to explain that it's a rescue knife for saving lives designed by Hindrer, so he's not insulted....It really sounds like he needs a folder...

 

[Final Option]

You could get him a Gerber rescue for $60.00 and there pretty easy to open..... But he might be insulted by the dull tip...I'd be sure to explain that it's a rescue knife for saving lives designed by Hindrer, so he's not insulted....It really sounds like he needs a folder...

Thanks for the suggestions I think I will get him the Hinderer Rescue Knife. The serrated edge would be best for him, great idea!

 

[wowcoop]

Mine has never let me down..... I've had it for seven or eight years, I even pried open a window on a call with it... It's opened a lot of beers too.... Wish your dad well! Let him know most stroke survivors improve with time, at least the ones I've known...

 

[Need2Know]

I cannot be in the minority as often I find myself either using my XMs to the benefit of others or on occasion hand it to another to perform a task. I really like when someone asks, "hey you got something sharp enough to cut this?"--Damn skippy!!

Great read, FO. btw--one seriously popular and cult-followed "slicer" made by a respected (even by me) maker (not the one who's forum this is) failed at a dinner to cut/slice a roll...I haven't carried it since. Now I carry XMs, and cut/slice whatever needs cut/sliced. ETA---the knife that failed had a brand-spanking-new factory edge on it..was proud to own and try to use it at dinner..fail.

 

[RubiconSS]

Last week I was in the midst of a project in which I had some of my house torn apart (installing wanscot and chair rails)
I was alone in my basement workshop when I was distracted by movement in my makeshift ceiling (basement workshop, it isn't fancy) I was sitting where I usually am when I am conversing with my Hinderer Forum Brethren.
I live in the woods as many of you know, we do not have rats on top of this particular mountain but, we do have other Large ani-mules of which this apparently was one gone awry.
I'm thinking, "Jeez, squirrel, racoon, what?" So, I pick up one of my weapons which reside around me (this one being a particularly mid-evil example of Mans creation called a scythe or sicle) my intent was to slash up thru the white paper/plastic ceiling killing the uninvited guest and probably showering myself with unwanted blood and gore (the last part delayed my action, thank God).
When I got my F.A. up on a ladder to more closely examine the decreasingly active invader I realized "it" was inside one of my heater plenums. Cause for pause.
How the hell did this happen?
OMG. The heater vents are open in the house, it crawled down into the pipes - Up the stairs I bounded to the source of entry.
Wow. What fit in there? I'm going to Home Depot anyway, I'll just buy a trap and be done - Hopefully the Wife doesn't beat me home and all will be well.
Now, where is everybody before I leave?
Dogs, Pete and Mason? Check
Cats, Sam and George? George, where is Sam? H O L Y Crap. Sam is less likely to fit in small spaces than me, No Way!
I fly down the stairs and up the ladder - No Movement.

I pull my EDC and feeling where the weight was not - fired the knife full force into the pipe and God Bless Rick, the XM cut the pipe like butter allowing the weight of the pipe to fall into my arms and out slid one of the Best Friends I have ever had and loved in my life - Sam barely alive.
The following is a blur but whatever I did instinctively and as a result of years of training slowly brought Sam back to alive and alert .
I didn't let him out of my arms until they ached and Sam was back to his crabby " Don't frigging touch me unless I ask" old self.

Thanks Rick. Sam says thanks too:thumbup:

 

[Need2Know]

Sam is one lucky kitty to have you around. All "9 lives" still intact..:thumbup:

 

[Final Option]

Rubi, I don't know what to say, that would have been terrible if it went south! Saving a pet from certain death and breathing life back into its body is nothing more than miraculous! Sam is so lucky that you were there, God bless both of you!

 

[RubiconSS]

I can't believe how close I came to swinging that weapon, I would have killed Sam with my own hands - I don't know what I would have done.
It simply never crossed my mind that one of my own was in the ceiling - not possible.
Then, IF I had left to go to the store I would have come home to the unthinkable also.
SO many things could have gone wrong but they didn't.
I swear, when I pulled out my XM I thought to myself " God let it all be true" My knife sliced into that pipe and through it like it was paper.
I touched it up days later and it is as sharp and blemish free - like "What? You thought that was a big deal?"
Sam is doing fine. He is yelling and swiping at the dogs and sleeping with me at night just like nothing ever happened.
God, I love that cat. Me and Sam have been through a lot together and we both know when the other needs something.
I'm glad I listened to the voice that morning.
The story of how Sam came to me is almost unbelieveable and one that maybe I will tell another time, suffice it to say
Sam is very very very dear to me.
I wish a "Sam" on all you guys