Trying to join the Hinderer Club

NotSoSharpBob

NotSoSharpBob

Joined
Mar 26, 2009
Messages
255
Hello, I have done alot of reading on Rick's knives and after owning a ZT Hinderer design I'm now in search of the real thing. I think I want an XM-18 Spear point 3" blade non-flipper. I'm open to color and prefer to stay with the regular scales for cost reasons.

My question out to the community: Is this model rare and finding one will be nearly impossible and or priced well above the original sale price due to rarity? I can find 3.5" flipper models fairly easy in the normal going price range and available in stock.

Thanks for any guidance on whether my sites are set too high.
 
I don't know if it's rare but I can tell you since we started selling Hinderer knives last year we haven't had any that were 3". We've had a few xm-24s but the rest 3.5" xm-18 flippers.

I'd keep an eye out on the exchange here and on some of the Hinderer Facebook groups.
 
I'm no Hinderer expert, but I don't think they've manufactured the 3" XM since between Gen 2 and Gen 3? I don't think any 3" XM's have been sold under the new retail model of Hinderer knives. That means you'll be limited to secondary market and people selling 3 inchers on the secondary market paid premium prices for them. They're not impossible to find, but generally overpriced. They also are probably plagued with the generally weak detent that was uniformly present in pre-Gen 4 Hinderers.

You can certainly find a 3", but it won't be easy and you might have to overpay. It might be in your best interest to wait until Hinderer goes on a 3" production run. With their expanded manufacturing capabilities, its only a matter of time before they do.

In terms of your choice of the 3"...I bought my first Hinderer just a short while ago. Initially I thought I wanted a 3" XM too, but after finding them unavailable in the prices and choices I was willing to pay, I went with a 3.5" Bowie. I'm really glad I did. I kinda think now that the 3" would have been too small as the 3.5 with the smaller blade area of the Bowie feels really perfect sized in hand. I still may get a 3" some day, but I can wait.
 
I occasionally look around for a 3 inch spanto, but all I ever find is the Wharncliffe and even those are usually sold out. I'm starting to think the little beast doesn't exist.
 
I don't believe production 3"ers have been offered in Spearpoint (yet)...because I'd likely own one if they were. Customs do exist but it's near impossible to grab them at their original price unless good luck finds you in a lottery (at a show/etc).

3" Slicer may be something to consider. Most all the newer (all the newest) XMs are flipper versions. So hunting down a non-flipper can be a little more complicated.

Happy hunting.
 
Thanks for everyone's feedback, I really appreciate the tips. I'll probably move to a 3 1/2" model with Spear point blade. Is a non-flipper going to be equally hard to find in the 3 1/2" style?
 
NotSoSharpBob said:
Thanks for everyone's feedback, I really appreciate the tips. I'll probably move to a 3 1/2" model with Spear point blade. Is a non-flipper going to be equally hard to find in the 3 1/2" style?
Click to expand...

Yes, the non flippers were phased out in the early Gen IV models, you have to keep your eyes pealed for a non flipper. The do come up for sale every so often. You'll probably have to pay a little more if the seller is reasonable and doesn't think he has a gold mine.
I really don't think you'll find a spear point in a non flipper, it's a fairly new model.
 
a small number of non-flippers were made at the start of the 4th generation of XMs, but they are no longer being made, and there are apparently no plans to return them to production. They were made before the introduction of the production spearpoints I think. I think most of the production non flippers you will find out there are 3rd Gen(or earlier) spantos or slicers, I believe both 3 and 3.5s were made.
 
You can do a flipper delete.. many "customizers" would be able to satisfy that need quite easily..
 
Thanks again for everyone's input. I heard back from Rob over at the Hinderer shop. Here is his reply: "We haven't produced any non-flippers since 2010", also on 3" vs 3.5" inch he commented: ".......it's been a long time since we shipped any 3" so they'll be tough to find."
 
Lots of Hinderers come up on the exchange here, just keep you eyes peeled. Prices are usually reasonable, tho some mark up is common, especially for non-flippers. I got a 3.5 non-flipper spanto here for a very reasonable cost just a few weeks ago.
 
It's a shame they don't make the 3" any more as I love that size. I can see why they did it tho. Their style and the the clientele they cater to usually likes beefier knives so the 3" probably wasn't as popular.

I got lucky with my 3" wharnie as a local knife store had 2 of them for a long time and when I was in the market and found out they weren't In production anymore I just said screw it and bought it.

Get one, they are awesome!
9ad594b3944cf672cd0edfa7905ed06c.jpg
 
3" XMs are likely not gone forever. Hinderer does production runs of each model as one size at a time. In the future (or even now) this can change, but it's true of the past. To add a little clarity...I do believe there were a few non-flippers created past 2010 but probably not in the 3"ers.
 
Eric at DLT hooked me up and I can check the HINDERER box off the list of brands I hope to own. I picked up a dark green Spanto Flipper in 3.5". Impressive. Here is also a shot next to my ZT and you can really see the Hinderer influences in the ZT. Now off for some hard use to test it's toughness. Maybe I can find some of those double thickness cardboard boxes at work :D. I appreciate all the education from the community.
XM18.jpg

ZTXM.jpg
 
I believe to get a 3" spear point non-flipper you will have to go custom(don't believe that many were made)-very nice knife though. I would suggest a 3" slicer non-flipper in the production knives(which is a discontinued model due to the non-flipper). Still fairly rare these days, but obtainable with enough effort. I personally am very fond of the non-flippers and the 3" are my favorite.
 
Last edited:
About a month ago I was searching for 3 inch hinderers . I did see 1 or 2 , and I went to hinderers website and scrolled their dealers page. Probably gone by now but as of a month ago I did see a couple.

Best place would be your consignment dealers that normally deal in customs and hard to find productions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top