Too many Hinderer designs

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Oct 7, 2014
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Okay I want to know if it's just me and everyone else loves it or if others feel the same way. I love the xm 18 and 24 and the zt 0560. That said I think there are way to many Hinderer designs the thistle the cryo the ember, then the 0566, 550, what's worse is that they are all the same. I sort of feel this way about Ken Onion but at least his designs are slightly different consider the 0200 and the CRKT forsight (similar but different).
Am I alone here or what?
 
How can there be too many? Buy the ones you like and don't buy the ones you don't. The way I see it is the more designs the better something for everyone.
 
I like Hinderer stuff to be honest so I disagree

I'd like to see a Spyderco Hinderer collab
 
I personally dont feel there are too many hinderer designs. I just think there is a serious lack of good hinderer designs. IMHO Rick captured lightning in a bottle with the XM design. So I dont know if he is trying to have lightning strike twice and is therefore reluctant to try new things or if we are simply seeing the limitations of his imagination. I personally feel that there is only 1 rick hinderer design and the rest is simply variations of that same theme. Ken on the other hand is starting to venture into new territory with his recent offerings. This is great because his stuff was ahead of its time in the beginning but It got stale for awhile. I think there is a difference between having a signature style and being a one trick pony.
 
The collaborations are a win/win for all involved. It also allows some to try one of Rick's designs without chasing the real deal. But as an owner of XMs and collaborations I can tell you the materials on the XMs are nicer, some will argue but they are incorrect as not all materials are the same even if have the same general name.
 
I know Rick is the darling of the knife world and like I said my 0560 is one of my favorite blades so It's not as if I don't like the design but I'm over it now. It's like when a song is overplayed and yeah purple your saying exactly what I'm thinking it's just one design used over and over
 
The collaborations are a win/win for all involved. It also allows some to try one of Rick's designs without chasing the real deal. But as an owner of XMs and collaborations I can tell you the materials on the XMs are nicer, some will argue but they are incorrect as not all materials are the same even if have the same general name.

I dont understand how someone can ascertain that the materials in a genuine hinderer are superior just by looking at them. Even with use it would seem to me that you wouldnt be able to really tell the difference in the actual materials due to other variables. I think the only way to actually know would be to have samples of each knife tested. To me the only thing you would be able to tell the difference between is the actual execution level of the materials and not the materials itself. I would love to believe that Ricks S35VN and 6AL4V titanium is actually better than ZT's. But I still struggle with the thought that anyone would have the ability to tell beyond simply wishing.
 
I dont understand how someone can ascertain that the materials in a genuine hinderer are superior just by looking at them. Even with use it would seem to me that you wouldnt be able to really tell the difference in the actual materials due to other variables. I think the only way to actually know would be to have samples of each knife tested. To me the only thing you would be able to tell the difference between is the actual execution level of the materials and not the materials itself. I would love to believe that Ricks S35VN and 6AL4V titanium is actually better than ZT's. But I still struggle with the thought that anyone would have the ability to tell beyond simply wishing.

The mass-produced knives do not (to me) equal the quality of my XMs. Great knives, but I gave away the Cryos and now only carry the ZTs on rare occasion(s) after carrying them for awhile.
 
I personally dont feel there are too many hinderer designs. I just think there is a serious lack of good hinderer designs. IMHO Rick captured lightning in a bottle with the XM design. So I dont know if he is trying to have lightning strike twice and is therefore reluctant to try new things or if we are simply seeing the limitations of his imagination. I personally feel that there is only 1 rick hinderer design and the rest is simply variations of that same theme. Ken on the other hand is starting to venture into new territory with his recent offerings. This is great because his stuff was ahead of its time in the beginning but It got stale for awhile. I think there is a difference between having a signature style and being a one trick pony.

So does CR fall in the same category ?

And never too many (IMO).
 
I'd say that this thread demonstrates that there aren't too many. There are people who like some and not others. I'm certainly party to that-- I own 3 models, but do not desire a 0560. Thankfully, there are options.
 
How can there be too many? Buy the ones you like and don't buy the ones you don't. The way I see it is the more designs the better something for everyone.

Indeed, not understanding the comment of "too many", it's nie to have variety so that you can appeal to as many people as possible. Something for everyone is always a win-win strategy.

The collaborations are a win/win for all involved. It also allows some to try one of Rick's designs without chasing the real deal. But as an owner of XMs and collaborations I can tell you the materials on the XMs are nicer, some will argue but they are incorrect as not all materials are the same even if have the same general name.

I too have a few XMs, but I don't know that "nicer" is a more valid qualifier than say "different". Stating that one thing is better and anyone that disagrees is incorrect is a pretty myopic perspective.
 
It's called marketing...
Welcome...

A lot of people love Hinderer, and with the success that KAI had from their early Hinderer designs, they need something to cover all the "needs" of their customer base.

That includes Hinderer designs that have large blade lengths, small lengths, high prices, low prices, limited editions, etc...
There's something for everyone, and Kai has made a Hinderer design suited for "everyone"...
 
CR is not the same because he doesn't do a bunch of collaborations he just does one thing really well,

CR has had the same design for 25+....purple is saying RH is lacking good designs....I say CR is brilliant and so is RH, Rick is making money off the collabs and it's someone else's tooling....why change something if it works and you sell the hell out of it.
 
When it comes down to it, I feel like there is really only one basic Hinderer design and then just variations off of it in materials and small details (flipper or not etc). It's kind of like the band Everclear, all their songs are basically the same, they just have small variations off the original formula. In any case, good for Rick, he's obviously making piles of money off his collaborations with major manufacturers.

Personally, I like the basic Hinderer concept: 3-4" blade, G10 front scale, sturdy frame lock. I would NEVER but and XM though, totally overpriced. Much like Emerson, the ZT collaborations have made the idea of buying a Hinderer something I have no interest in ever doing.
 
So does CR fall in the same category ?

And never too many (IMO).

CR? I am assuming you mean Chris Reeve? I would not put them in the same category at all. Sure he prefers the lock design of his own creation but he isnt afraid to do new things. The sebenza is the sebenza. You really cant change too much on that knife before its no longer a sebbie. But things like the umnumzaan and Ti-lock both stray far from the sebenza path. IMHO the only thing that changes on a hinderer is the outline.
 
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