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Please Confirm XM-18 3.5" Authenticity
- Thread starter benm11
- Start date
- Joined
- May 3, 2011
- Messages
- 14,011
Just checked. No mention about blue standoffs let alone anything blue
No, there's no blue. It's an all stock stonewashed knife. And it was a deal at that price. Bet the seller wishes he hadn't sold it 2 weeks before Christmas.
ElConquistador
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2007
- Messages
- 606
One thing that may have kept the price low is his feedback, only 20, only as a buyer, and all since September. He has spent a lot on knives in the last couple months, everything from $800 knives to $6 ones.
Yeah I noticed that too. I don't know how one goes from a cheap 6 dollar chinese replica knife to some of the CRK and Hinderers but who knows. He was friendly when I messaged him and answered all my questions. I'll be sure to post some pics when I get the knife in hand because everyone likes to see new members of the family!
- Joined
- May 3, 2011
- Messages
- 14,011
Yep, that we do! :thumbup: And if you decide you want your purchase price back.............
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2011
- Messages
- 1,242
Don't say that... My XHP stamp is not really deep into the steel like I see on some others...
I can feel a little lifted metal from the stamp as well.. Very faint but I feel it.
- Joined
- May 31, 2012
- Messages
- 102
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2011
- Messages
- 498
It's very real & genuine. I had the highest bid for a week & I was surprised it didn't sell for more. It does look like its been used a bit but not abused. The standoff pins are easy to make look like the newer ones, surprised the standoff pins had dimples but had the newer body & pocket clip screws.
Everything on it looks stock except the blasted pocket clip.
Enjoy it & you can't be afraid to use it at that price.
Everything on it looks stock except the blasted pocket clip.
Enjoy it & you can't be afraid to use it at that price.
Here are some pictures I took of it this morning that I have gotten a chance to open the package and play with it. I have noticed a few differences between the new one and the other XM-18 3.5" I have. I don't doubt the authenticity of the knife anymore but I was just kinda wondering about some of these differences since they are both gen 3's. Is this new one an earlier version?
1) This one is not nearly as stonewashed as the other one.
2) This one has phillips head screws for the LBS and blade stop instead of the usual torx.
3) The Hinderer text is a lot thicker on this one.
4) The angle for the spanto on this one is different from the other (see picture)
Overall, I really like this one too and I am a big fan of the non-flipper and here are some pictures!
1) This one is not nearly as stonewashed as the other one.
2) This one has phillips head screws for the LBS and blade stop instead of the usual torx.
3) The Hinderer text is a lot thicker on this one.
4) The angle for the spanto on this one is different from the other (see picture)
Overall, I really like this one too and I am a big fan of the non-flipper and here are some pictures!
Answers in-line:
1) This one is not nearly as stonewashed as the other one. - Stonewashing is a fickle thing, the media wears out, run times vary, different steel (CTS-XHP versus 20CV) and different materials reflect the stonewashing differently.
2) This one has phillips head screws for the LBS and blade stop instead of the usual torx. - Yep, screws have changed over time.
3) The Hinderer text is a lot thicker on this one. - Not unusual, I have seen even greater differences, bits wear out, programming differences, etc.
4) The angle for the spanto on this one is different from the other (see picture) - Again, not unusual depending on when the run of the production blades was done.
There are all sorts of subtle and not so subtle changes; the thumbstud profile, the hardware, the female standoffs, the pivot screw machining, the blade tang, the clip profile (bent by hand), the flipper groove machining, etc.
Is this new one an earlier version? Yes, it is.
1) This one is not nearly as stonewashed as the other one. - Stonewashing is a fickle thing, the media wears out, run times vary, different steel (CTS-XHP versus 20CV) and different materials reflect the stonewashing differently.
2) This one has phillips head screws for the LBS and blade stop instead of the usual torx. - Yep, screws have changed over time.
3) The Hinderer text is a lot thicker on this one. - Not unusual, I have seen even greater differences, bits wear out, programming differences, etc.
4) The angle for the spanto on this one is different from the other (see picture) - Again, not unusual depending on when the run of the production blades was done.
There are all sorts of subtle and not so subtle changes; the thumbstud profile, the hardware, the female standoffs, the pivot screw machining, the blade tang, the clip profile (bent by hand), the flipper groove machining, etc.
Is this new one an earlier version? Yes, it is.