What is the hoopla about Hinderer?

Well Guys, my XM showed up today at work, will open her tonight. Just a FYI, the knife makers I have so far all are fantastic and am proud to own each one. So far, not to diss any maker, my Randy Doucette is smoothest opening/closing etc, and Flaherty Model 1 is best value.
 
knife4cc said:
Well Guys, my XM showed up today at work, will open her tonight. Just a FYI, the knife makers I have so far all are fantastic and am proud to own each one. So far, not to diss any maker, my Randy Doucette is smoothest opening/closing etc, and Flaherty Model 1 is best value.
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So you just bought one here a few days ago and now ask what all the hoopla is about. I don't get it. Sounds like bravado to me. Enjoy flipping your knife I guess.
 
I owned a 3.5" non-flipper spanto and it was certainly a nice knife. I paid mid $500 for mine so it shows how long ago that was. I ended up selling it because I was not too crazy about the grind along with a detent that was weak causing it to open in my pocket. Ended up selling it for about the same price as I bought it for. Really not the knife for me.

Now, I would love to have a 3" slicer that has good lock-up and a nice detent at a reasonable price.
 
Hey Members:
OK, have my first Hinderer, very nice. Feels well balanced in hand, workmanship is excellent. Most likely this will be my only XM purchase. Definitely do not regret buying it, just want to collect other semi custom makers. Appreciate the comments.
 
They are really nice. Worth what Rick asks for them, but the secondary market prices are silly. Especially since it's mid-tech.

If Rick ever decides to sell them fairly, I would happily buy one at MSRP.
 
Maprik said:
I have a friend who lives in a small 2 bedroom 1.5 bathroom cottage that he paid off years ago. The roof has shingles missing and the front yard is a jungle with a rusting BBQ grill. You wouldn't know that around back he's got a garage that houses a Mercedes SL55, BMW X5, Mini Cooper and 2 Harley's. It's all a matter of priorities.
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Um, what was his address again? :D
 
As much as I love my new ZT 0561, I absolutely have to have the real deal some day. Just gotta find the right deal, they ain't cheap!
 
J85909266 said:
They are really nice. Worth what Rick asks for them, but the secondary market prices are silly. Especially since it's mid-tech.

If Rick ever decides to sell them fairly, I would happily buy one at MSRP.
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He does sell them fairly. He cannot control the demand for his knives or what people sell them for on the secondary market. If you are leo, first responder or
Military you can buy direct from him because that is what he is about, taking care of those who put their lives on the line every day. The rest of us can have a chance at buying one at a fair price by entering in his lottery at a knife show. What is not fair about that? I do agree that secondary market prices are silly but that's not Ricks fault.
 
Um...why pay so much for something if you're not sure why you're getting it? I think I would have waited on the purchase until after asking my questions/doing my research.
 
RemyKaze said:
Um...why pay so much for something if you're not sure why you're getting it? I think I would have waited on the purchase until after asking my questions/doing my research.
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Like I said in a previous post, if he decides not to keep it he can easily sell it for what he paid. No harm done... I bought a 3.5" and sold it the day after I got it for $15 more than what I paid for it just to cover the postage and insurance. Something that research can never replace is the feeling when it's in your hand.
 
J85909266 said:
They are really nice. Worth what Rick asks for them, but the secondary market prices are silly. Especially since it's mid-tech.

If Rick ever decides to sell them fairly, I would happily buy one at MSRP.
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I don't actually think the prices we are paying for Hinderers are "secondary" prices. Rick sells through select dealers, those dealers all seem to sell the knives at the same price point as members here seem to be flipping them for. Do you think that if Rick thought the price these dealers were selling his knives for were out of line, i'm sure he wouldn't be using them as dealers.

I think what is going on is that Rick is giving LEO, Forces, EMT, etc a discount on his knives. I'm sure he doesn't sell to the dealers at that price so they can mark them up 50%, if he could make that money, why would he use dealers?

I admire Rick for his dedication to the public servants and his offer of his knives at a reduced price. The rest of us pay what the dealers ask for them, and if not, we buy at a somewhat inflated price due to the knives rarity. No one is forcing us to pay these prices, most of us do it willingly.
 
They are sweet! I love Striders, ZT's, Lone Wolf (Discontinued), I recently got my 1st Hinderer and it tops all of those for me. I prefer the slicer but the Spanto is great, I'd take either one for sure. The price is high but as a collector myself it's justifiable considering you can get that money back if you ever do sell. I for one will never sell mine, it's too good, I don't sell any of my knives. I've become much more picky about buying. There was a time when I would spend $100 for a knife that I liked. Now I just wait a few months and spend a lot more for one I love! I don't have any remorse, and nothing negative too say about Hinderers.
 
I have not read every post here, just scanned over a few of them.

I own a few Hinderers, I try not to brag, photobrag, or outright bash other makers.

The "hoopla" is justified by the quality of the knife and the simple fact that demand for the knives far outpaces supply.
 
So are Hinderers always going to be sold like this? MSRP for the heroic people who serve, and gouged prices for non heroic guys like me? Here's the thing, I want knives like the VECP and xm-18 real bad, but I just flat out refuse to purchase them with prices set by random people.That's just me, don't fault me for that, if you have no problem paying that premium mark up, good for you. I have communicated with Les George, and at least I have hopes of getting a VECP directly from him for the MSRP. But with Hinderers, even retailers mark it up well above MSRP. Before any of you guys who pay $800 for a Hinderer flame me, save your breath, I'm not here for you to justify your purchase, I'm happy you get the knife you want. I know Hinderer knives is still practically a one man show, but I still have to ask the question, is it always going to be like this or is Hinderer planning on expanding his business to meet demand? Basically, a 400 dollar knife will always be closer to 800 dollars.
 
FCM415 said:
...I know Hinderer knives is still practically a one man show, but I still have to ask the question, is it always going to be like this or is Hinderer planning on expanding his business to meet demand? Basically, a 400 dollar knife will always be closer to 800 dollars.
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Let's address your question with some obvious stuff, but no speculation. I cannot and do not speak for the company or anyone directly involved.

Rick has offered more and more knives as time has passed. The addition of production XMs to the line created the knives "the few" are allowed to order direct.

Knives made for multiple shows / gatherings and the occasional forum lottery give anyone lucky enough to win, the chance to buy direct at MSRP.

Collaborations with Gerber, and more recently ZT puts Rick's basic ergos into the hands of even more people at a lower price point. And the Kershaw Cryo is a steal in terms of value for its cost.

And let's not forget Rick and crew have their hearts in the right place. They simply cannot make enough knives for everyone that wants them, so they sell to very deserving people first. Respect!

Plus the LBS pops up on many other makers knives. Strider and George, etc., the list expands often.

So it's obvious Rick keeps his options open and the trend is more knives, not less. That said, I don't expect anything to change from how it is. At least no time too soon. But with all the collaborations being so popular I can easily see more offerings.
 
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Well, I got a 0560 because I love Hinderer's design. I would love to have a genuine Hinderer, but I can't justify $850 for one of his blades. If he somehow figured out a way to make them available to all of his fans for the "msrp", he would stand to make a LOT more money. I'm by no means saying he's not doing great or not selling enough, but there are TON of people who would love to get their hands on one, myself included. :)
 
You're right, I failed to recognize the fact that he has expanded his line and is also been busy putting out collaborations. I totally commend him for his work and they speak for themselves. My post, was viewing it totally from the buyer's standpoint however. Anything I said is hardly a knock on him or his company and I totally respect and recognize what he does. As purely a buyer/end user, I just want to know if Hinderer ever plans on meeting demand on the xm's by expanding a bit more...A question that's probably been asked before. Everything has a price, and its your own, and to me, I'd like to see the day I can get a Hinderer at msrp(dont we all). Cmon, even retailers are now getting in on the price gouging action, it's madness tellz ya! The msrp he charges is what he gets for making the knife. That's the amount that goes to him, let's not forget that. I want to pay him.
 
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gytheran said:
Well, I got a 0560 because I love Hinderer's design. I would love to have a genuine Hinderer, but I can't justify $850 for one of his blades. If he somehow figured out a way to make them available to all of his fans for the "msrp", he would stand to make a LOT more money. I'm by no means saying he's not doing great or not selling enough, but there are TON of people who would love to get their hands on one, myself included. :)
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Adding to that, if he decides to msrp it for more I'd still be more inclined to get it from him than paying marked up retailer and secondary prices.

Who cares right? It is what it is.
 
Funny, when I look at the prices other knife makers here ask for their wares I really don't think $800 - $1000 is overpaying for what you get in a Hinderer. They are rock solid, totally usable tool knives that you will be able to pass along to your kids and them to theirs.

I guess I'm one of the few here who think they are worth what we are buying them for, and if I got the chance to buy one at the price Rick offers them to military, EMS, etc. I'd consider it the buy of a life time!!!
 
Moleng1 said:
Funny, when I look at the prices other knife makers here ask for their wares I really don't think $800 - $1000 is overpaying for what you get in a Hinderer. They are rock solid, totally usable tool knives that you will be able to pass along to your kids and them to theirs.

I guess I'm one of the few here who think they are worth what we are buying them for, and if I got the chance to buy one at the price Rick offers them to military, EMS, etc. I'd consider it the buy of a life time!!!
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Well technically, they are worth it... that's what people are willing to pay and in a capitalist, free market society, that's what determines its value. That doesn't mean he wouldn't sell more at a lower(MSRP) price, nor does it mean the knife will perform OR last 8 times longer than a knife priced at $100. You're paying for the name and the design. $800-$1000 is a lot to pay for a single cutting tool when I can spend less than half that for multiple cutting tools that would put the performance of the Hinderer to shame. It is a Hinderer, but lets not kid ourselves here... a Mora will slice better, a 1095 fixed blade with baton and chop better and sharpen easier, and an H1 spyderco will resist rust better. People pay the extended price solely for the perceived value gained.
Can I buy one at $800? Yup. Will I? Nope. I can make $800 go a lot further, and as long as that is the case, that's how I'll spend it. At the end of the day and as cool as it is... it's still a knife and a folding one at that.

He does make a cool knife though... I carry my ZT0560 daily.
 
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