What's with all the Hinderer XM-18s for sale?

jill jackson said:
Both flip straight up, no wrist movement. thumb studs are easy and inertia is fairly easy, for me but my dad can open them very easy all 3 ways.
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I suspect the detent will lighten up over time, but if even the slightest pressure is placed on the lockbar of mine, you cannot open with the thumb studs. If you hold it without touching the lockbar, you can do it - but not practical since to do this you don't have a good grip on the knife. Frankly, I'm happy with using just the flipper to open it. It kind of makes me wonder... I have a ZT560 and according to ZT, the thumb studs are not really thumb studs but blade stops. It states it right in the manual. Since the 560 is based on the XM, do you think this could be the case, although not documented, with the XMs?
 
Hinderer has clearly stated that, they are designed to be opened with the studs, flipper, or by flicking. I read it from Rob Orlando, on BladeForums. It's on their subforum.
 
jill jackson said:
It's not a modified technique, you push down on the jimping on the front of the flipper, that's why it's on the front. Instead of the back like a bearing flipper.
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I just pull the flipper like on all my other flipper knives.
It still flips.
 
jill jackson said:
Hinderer has clearly stated that, they are designed to be opened with the studs, flipper, or by flicking. I read it from Rob Orlando, on BladeForums. It's on their subforum.
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Mine doesn't flick...certainly nowhere as easy as most knives I've encountered that aren't designed to flick.
I might be able to flick it if I didn't mind reinjuring my shoulder or elbow; I'm happy not flicking it, and glad that at least the one I got wasn't designed/built to flick.:thumbup:
 
Oh well, mine I'm happy with. I like the way they flip. Being I was used to bearing flippers they were different, but now I enjoy them and carry the 18 everyday. The 24 is too big, for much more than hiking. Got a new strop coming today, so I can keep the 18's edge touched up.
 
netguy1999 said:
Likewise! I like the strong detent. I'm very happy with mine and carry it everyday.
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Yep. :)
Must say I'm happy with what I got for the price; the secondary market prices of previous years were stupid, and I would have had buyer's remorse. But at the actual, proper retail price it's a hell of a knife. :thumbup:
 
bld522 said:
So then has Rick come up with the ultimate detent . . . one that is both strong enough to open reliably using a flipper and still allow for easy inertial opening? If so, that's quite an accomplisment. Normally, detents are made strong primarily to allow the blades to flip easily and PREVENT THEM from inertial opening. And if you have access to a video that shows all three opening methods in operation on a single Hinderer XM, I'd love to see it. It's really difficult for me to imagine strong flipper opening combined with easy inertial opening unless, of course, the pivot is released to the point that the blade develops blade play.
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I got my dad to show you, as I can't flick it nearly as well and no blade play. Dead stock knife.

[video=youtube;1FqxxE5aVlY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FqxxE5aVlY[/video]
 
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jill jackson said:
Mine is new too and opens great with the flipper. Both of mine are new, the 24 opens best.
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It seems as if a heavier blade lends itself better to some opening methods than a lighter blade does. I've got a 3.0" XM and it's a bear to open with the flipper unless I REALLY concentrate on using the pushbutton opening method and I give it everything I've got or I use a good amount of wrist flick instead. The pushbutton (perpendicular, top down) opening method isn't as natural to me as the lightswitch (parallel, front to back) opening method and folders that flip well using the latter method are the ones that seem to get the most pocket time. So while I like my 3.0", I don't tend to carry it nearly as often as I do my other flippers.

In all fairness, however, I would add that thumbstud opening is effortless with my 3.0" and I can always use that method rather than the flipper to deploy the blade.
 
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jill jackson said:
He can flick it in a lot less space than I can. But, he has a hell of a forearm on him!
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Sorry. I can't get either by XM 3.5 or my ZT560 to open by flicking. But that's ok. I like the way both these knives operate. Once my Eklipse comes in I'll see how it compares.
 
The 18 is just as smooth, a little harder to flick both will drop the handle from just pinching and holding the blade.
 
Beerman Crawler said:
Great video
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+2

I can get my 3" non flipper to open with both thumb studs and inertia.

I just played with my 3.5" Skinner. it flips great and with enough force, can get it to open via inertia (I think because the nose of the blade is heavy) but it just won't open with the thumb stud. Maybe if I had gloves? but otherwise it feels like it's going to tear the skin off my thumb.
 
I have a round stud gen 4 3.5", the shop guy told me they will break in a little. I've found this to be true, when I first got it, you could forget about using the thumbstuds, the detent/lockbar was so strong; now I'm able to use the studs, and the opening feels smoother all around, with the flipper or studs. I have to say, it even feels smoother than my zt 0562.
 
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