Strider SNG vs CRK Sebenza vs Hinderer Xm-18

aS THEY ALL HAVE MERRITS, i VOTE FOR ONE OF EACH!! dARN, MY CAPS LOCK IS ON.
 
cziv said:
I thought the Benchmade 710 was the pinnacle of knifedom and it was, for me, at the time I bought it. I still love it. Since then I bought the large Sebenza that I thought was ridiculous back then and it's a fine knife for a safe, or better yet a user.

Until you get these kind of folders you never really know how cool they can be. I like the Striders and Hinderers too. The only hard part for me is making that first cut "that might leave a mark!" After that I can breathe easily. :D :D



What's this mean? Something about ball bearing pivots? What folders have those?
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ikoma korth bearing system.
 
mmarkh said:
I don't carry my Sebenza at work but I don't hesitate to use it any other time. If you think the Sebenza is too expensive you probably should just pass on it because I doubt you would appreciate it. Do you realize what XM18's are going for? I guess you figure they should have platinum handles encrusted with diamonds.:rolleyes:
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On eBay the XM-18's seem to go for about $600.

Seems a tad pricey. I've got a custom Surefire flashlight coming up that can light up a park(est. 1200 lumens), with multi-mode, run at nearly full power for almost half an hour, and it fits in my pocket. Price will likely add up to about $600.

The thing that bugs me is when you compare the XM-18 with CTS-XHP to say, a Spyderco Manix 2 with CTS-XHP. What is it that the XM-18 can do that the Manix 2 can't? And does it do the job better? Is the heat-treat any better?

It's not like my custom light does something other lights can't. Just that it blows every other light in its size-class out of the water(also outshines those bulky Maglites). The "cool factor" of lighting up an entire park with something the size of a block of butter never loses its appeal as a spectacle. It also serves a very practical use during an emergency with the low power modes. It is unquestionably the "best of the best".

I can understand perfectly if these custom makers heat treated their blades on the same level that Bob Dozier heat treats his D2 knives(i.e. they "mastered" the steel). However, the heat treat of these knives doesn't seem to be the main point of discussion.

Ergonomics-wise though, the Sebenza and XM-18 looks as though they would fit like a glove in my hand, with the absolute best blade design for general cutting. But again, looking at that intimidating price tag, I don't think I'll be getting one of these anytime in the next 5 years unless I get a serious pay raise. The fit and finish are said to be perfect. However, it would be kind of nice if say, you had interchangeable blades in the sense that the blade shape is the same, but each blade uses a different steel for the task you desire(ZDP-189/S125V for cardboard, H1 for salt water conditions, CPM-3V for extreme hard use). But there I go again lost in my own fantasy:rolleyes:.
 
I have all 3 knives. They are all very good.

I carry either a small or large Sebbie every day because they suit my EDC needs best (and I love using them :D). The fit and finish very good.

The SNG is a strong knife as has already been suggested but not as refined as the XM-18 or Sebenza.

The XM-18 is the strongest knife of the 3. It has a beefy blade and unlike the SNG it has a Ti liner underneath the G10 scale. The fit and finish is very good.

It just comes down to personal preference as each of them definitely have different characteristics.

BTW people who say that a $500 knife must not be worth it annoy the crap out of me. If you cannot afford it or refuse to spend that much, so be it. Just do us a favour and keep your silly arguments to your self.
 
Noctis3880 said:
The thing that bugs me is when you compare the XM-18 with CTS-XHP to say, a Spyderco Manix 2 with CTS-XHP. What is it that the XM-18 can do that the Manix 2 can't? And does it do the job better? Is the heat-treat any better?
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I own a large regular Sebenza, a Strider SMF (not SNG but close enough) and an XM-18. I also own a Manix 2 in CTS-XHP. I can compare, is what I'm trying to say, and the Manix-XM-18 comparison is ludicrous. The Spyderco is a lightweight razorsharp slicer, smooth as butter and hi-tec. The Hinderer is quite possibly the strongest folder I own, everything about it is overbuilt, and yet built to extreme tolerances and perfect F&F. It eats the Manix 2 for breakfast and will ask for seconds. Open each knife once, and you will know what I mean. Examine their structure and construction and there is no doubt that the Hinderer is in quite another league altogether.

As for which one being the best of the three mentioned, it all depends on what you want from it. The Manix 2 will defeat all three knives if slicing, whittling and other relatively delicate jobs are your priority. The Spyderco excels at those.
The Sebenza is better than the other two at cutting/slicing (because of the thinner blade and hollow grind), but not as good as the Manix 2.
If you want a knife that may not be superb at fine cutting and slicing but will never break unless you take a hammer to it (and the Hinderer might survive even that), get one of three. The CRK has the thinner blade and is hollow ground, but all three are tough as nails. I'd give the final edge to the Hinderer because of its double titanium walls as opposed to a single titanium side + a G-10 one, but they both have strong tips, thick spines and good grinds.

Hinderer:
4mm thick blade, saber/spanto grind, titanium on both sides
Strider:
4mm thick blade, full flat grind, titanium/G-10 scales
CRK:
3mm thick blade, hollow grind, titanium on both sides.

All have excellent construction and F&F (yes, the Strider too, in my experience).
 
I don't usually pay much attention to x vs y vs z threads but bravo this was civil interesting and inciteful. Most are none of the above. Camaro vs Mustang. Rolex vs Omega. What's the point. As far as these knives go. Anyone that owns one, let alone all three - should be very proud. Feel fortunate. Apologize for nothing -to anyone - for anything. As for knives, Guns and flashlights. I collect ALL three. Like all three. I see the value of all these items I believe it may be instinctual. Light/Protection/Preparation. All that's left is shelter. I sum it up sometimes with this one crisis of measure....IF the balloon went up and I had 10 minutes to grab what I need because im not coming back. What would it be as it relates to this thread context?

Hinderer XM-18 a Surefire and a Glock. That sums it up for me.

As for ALL my other knives, guns, toys..... Let the Zombies fight over them - I took what I needed.
 
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Followed this thread for years and now I own all three. My take,

Wearing shorts, strider- lightest of the three

As far as edc, crk was my everyday for 4 years, but I am now my edc is a xm18. This thing is all ti and has a great hand feel.

My only gripe with my crk was the need for a lot of blade attention, s30v. I will not hold an edge as long as the other two.
If I could only get d-2 on these.

Any of these are better than 99.999% of the crap that is being carried daily
 
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i never get tired of talking about knives

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