So I got an XM-18

T

tricker

Joined
Sep 14, 2007
Messages
581
I got a 3" flipper....it about the same size as my small micrata sebbie.....I EDC the sebenza, and after some time with the XM, it will stay this way.

The XM seems to be all the rage now these days, and i don't quite get how anyone thinks this is tougher than the sebenza. The only way, i guess, you could consider it tougher is when it comes to the blade. But I use ky knife to cut, not pry, so this is null in my book. The titanium portion of g10 side is quite thin, looks thinner than even the pocketclip on the knife:confused:

The action is no where near i would expect it to be, no CR smoothness that i have became acustom too.

Ergos are pretty sweet on the XM, so i will keep it. But if any of the CRK loyalists are wondering if maybe they need to drop some outrageous price for the new kid on the block, forgetaboutit.
 
Good to know. I've been eying an XM18 since I've been following the rage on the forums (and they've usually been true to their words). I always like to hear both the good and bad sides of a knife. When everything I hear is good, I get a little suspicious (I feel people are adulating a knife just because they want to fit in).
 
Yea I wanted to play with one on the pass around but missed it,I wanted to get one for a friend for a USMC boot grad gift but the more I think about it I think its all hype and flashing lights like a busse and I am able to order one direct because im LE but I could do better by sinking the cash into a Chris Reeve and I have already bought my friend a Randall Made 14. I would still like to play with one a bit to check it out. Is the detent ball steel or ceramic?
 
I agree.... I put up pictures of it on one of my posts in here.. but here they are again. In fact.. the regular sebenza has a pretty fat tip too.. not as fat as the XM-18, but plenty good enough. I think the sebenza is a tough as the XM-18.. really.. I don't see the XM-18 doing anything the Sebenza couldn't do... except not cut as good. It does feel good in the hand and has excellent fit and finish.. but I still think sebenza is better.

IMG_7022.jpg


IMG_7021.jpg


IMG_7023.jpg


IMG_7027.jpg
 
Having spent a good little chunk of cash, i would love to say great things about it....but i am an objective person.


I can't tell the material of the ball detent, but i can tell you it doesn't keep the blade closed(no hole for it to sit it when closed) but it hasn't came open so its OK....but this makes the flipper even more useless for flipping(can't really store up any energy)
 
I got to play with a few XM's today at the New York Custom Knife Show (including the new AP Dagger grind XM-18) and I must say that I was a bit underwhelmed. In all honesty they are awesome knives for their list price but beyond that I don't really know if they are worth it.
 
Detent hole mod with a drill press.... Well I think I will save $385 for a sebenza or another south african one piece
 
Quote: I put up pictures of it on one of my posts in here.. but here they are again. In fact.. the regular sebenza has a pretty fat tip too.. not as fat as the XM-18, but plenty good enough. I think the sebenza is a tough as the XM-18.. really.. I don't see the XM-18 doing anything the Sebenza couldn't do... except not cut as good

Are you serious about this????................except for the cutting part you maybe right, for the rest, I do not think so,sorry...........................just my 2 cents........................
 
If the xm had thick ti slabs on both sides and used proper bronze washers and a detent on the blade I would be more in line to buy it. In a fight I bet a Zaan or a Seb would win overall who prys with a knife anyways? And if the xm was made for prying why does it have one slab ti handle and one skinny ti side with g10 if you wanted it bullet proof why not make both sides slab ti sides ? And why plastic washers?? Chris used those kinda washers in the 1st gen Sebenza 1991 but now uses the better bronze. These are just things that have been keeping me from buying one.
 
I almost got caught up in the craze too. . . . But I held off, and I'm glad that I did. I got a Zaan instead, and I am very pleased with it.
 
I had a 3.5" XM flipper and sold it. I now have a 3" XM flipper. The 3" is far more smoother than the 3.5". They are both tanks for knifes and are really comfortable.
The 3" is stupid smooth and flips with ease. I love it. It doesn't have as much blade retention as I would like but I think I need to tighten the pivot just a touch, which I think would remedy that.
If I had to choose between the two it would hands down be the Sebenza. No doubt. I do love my Hinderer's though. Rick is a great guy and is very sociable within his following and gives great service.
I hate to say it but I may be selling the 3"XM. I don't want to but I need some money and I will not sell my Sebenzas to get it.
 
I love both my small seb and my 3"xm18 !!! IMO the lock is stronger on the seb and the blade is stronger on the xm18 ( by just a little , same blade stock )
 
Apropos of nothing: I had a large Sebenza and an XM18 3.5. Sold both and bought a small Sebenza 21 (fit needs better than a large) and a Mammoth Mnandi (instead of the XM-18). Needs and tastes change.
 
marcengels said:
Quote: I put up pictures of it on one of my posts in here.. but here they are again. In fact.. the regular sebenza has a pretty fat tip too.. not as fat as the XM-18, but plenty good enough. I think the sebenza is a tough as the XM-18.. really.. I don't see the XM-18 doing anything the Sebenza couldn't do... except not cut as good

Are you serious about this????................except for the cutting part you maybe right, for the rest, I do not think so,sorry...........................just my 2 cents........................
Click to expand...

Ya I am absolutley serious about this.. do you own both knives? I am talking about the Regular sebenza with the bull nose tip.. not the classic or 21.. You can see the pics above comparing the tip of the XM-18 to the Regular. I did say that they XM-18 was thicker.. but nothing that would leave me to believe that it is going to do anything the Sebenza couldn't do. Anyhow.. I am not going to pry with either knife.
 
I have both the XM-18 and Sebenza (and I had a Umnum and Mnandi a while back aswell),,,

Imho, the Sebenza is the better slicer of the two, but the ergonomics and strength of build is better on the XM-18,,,

They're both smooth, once you give the XM the time to break in,,, the Sebenza comes broken in from the shop,,,

I'm talking the regular versions of both knives,,,, if you talk the full custom slicer-grind XM-18, which I have never handled, it could give the Sebenza a good run for which is the best slicer,,,

Either way, am not getting rid of either my Sebbie's or my XM's :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top