Q's about my XM-18 3" Gen2: Finish & Scale

M

Mark in Oz

Joined
Jan 4, 2012
Messages
173
I've had this XM 3" Gen2 for about 7 months now, its in my edc rotation and I carry it atleast twice a week. I flippin' love it, carrying it and using it, but do have two questions.

Q1. What finish is on the lock side? Is it bead or sand blasted? I show it below next to my XM-24 with stonewash for reference. I ask because I would like to purchase another pocket clip filler tab.

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Q2. I have a textured CF scale on it, which I also really like. Around the thumb stud cutout, the edge of the scale doesn't match the liner, instead protruding abit and making it alittle hard to get my XL thumb in there. Why is this?

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Excuse all the pocket lint, I've never noticed it until that last macro shot.
 
Interesting Tidbits of XM Information (FAQ):

I am curious why there is discoloration in the pivot screw slot and gimping? This is a product of heat treat, the discoloration results and it is retained in those areas that don’t receive any further machining/tumbling/etc.

Why doesn’t the scale thumb cutout match the cutout on the liner? Rick designed the XM that way intentionally, by making the scale side the same profile as the lockside, it reduces the chance that your finger unintentionally disengages the lock.

What are the washers made of? They are Teflon and the smaller outside diameter washer goes on the lockside with the larger one on the scale side.

Is your filler tab stuck? Take a small hex wrench just small enough to fit in the filler tab hole and pry it out. Other alternatives include a toothpick, small screwdriver, drift pin, etc.

What is the story on the lockbar stabilizer (LBS) and what purpose does it serve? Rick overextended a lockbar on one of his personal knives he was using in an emergency as a fireman while dealing with a car accident. This led to Rick designing his LBS to avoid overextending the lockbar and preventing potential loss of lock-up.

What is the difference between stonewashing (tumbling), working finish, and blasting? There are a variety of surface finishes used on XMs as follows:

•Stonewashing is one of the more common treatments, it consists of tumbling the metal parts with ceramic media to impart random scratches

•The working finish results when they take a ground or tumbled part, it is then sand blasted and then tumbled with ceramic media for a short period resulting in a hybrid blasted/tumbled finish.

•Blasting can either be sand or bead, sand blast is coarser and generally appears darker while the bead blast is smoother and more matte.
•Satin / Hand Rubbed results when the blade is hand ground by Rick and the flats (either blade and/or Ti lockside) are hand rubbed.
Click to expand...

This should help...
 
It is stonewashed and the FAQ excerpt from the XM Generation thread above contains the information about the scale cutout. Before you ask, stonewashing varies based on the type of media used, how old it is, length of time spent in the tumbler, etc.
 
RDA said:
It is stonewashed and the FAQ excerpt from the XM Generation thread above contains the information about the scale cutout. Before you ask, stonewashing varies based on the type of media used, how old it is, length of time spent in the tumbler, etc.
Click to expand...

So even though the finish is uniform and even (except scratches from use, like under the DER), and exactly as described in the Hinderer FAQ, and much closer resembles my sandblasted Sebenza Micarta than than my stonewashed XM-24 that is also pictured, you say its stonewashed?

Riddle me this RDA, if I was going to order a clip fliller tab for this knife, what would you ask for to get the best match?
 
Mark in Oz said:
So even though the finish is uniform and even (except scratches from use, like under the DER), and exactly as described in the Hinderer FAQ, and much closer resembles my sandblasted Sebenza Micarta than than my stonewashed XM-24 that is also pictured, you say its stonewashed?
Click to expand...

I don't know what "DER" is, but yes, I believe it is stonewashed despite the fact that it looks different than the XM-24. Without seeing it in hand, that is my best guess. There is no way it is sandblasted IMO and the only way it is bead blasted is if you have effectively imparted even scratches all over the surface (just like stonewashing) through your daily carry and in that case, you have effectively duplicated the working finish...

:)

Mark in Oz said:
Riddle me this RDA, if I was going to order a clip fliller tab for this knife, what would you ask for to get the best match?
Click to expand...

The best match would be the one that is on there now that appears to match perfectly but if you are trying to eliminate the pocket clip and replace with a second filler, I'd go with a stonewashed one (which will look clean, shiny and lint free in comparison but another 7 months of carry use should have it looking similar).
 
Send a pic to Rob O. and ask him. My guess is stonewashed but get the answer from the horses mouth.
 
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