Recommendation? XM-18 3.5 in production

Therom

Therom

Joined
Nov 13, 2013
Messages
2,570
Hello,

I have just got my first hinderer (a gem 2 half-track) and I am very impressed.

I am thinking to try a XM-18:
- 3.5” blade
- with flipper
- with choil
- not a skinny variant
- spearpoint or slicer grind

Do you know what are the versions of these kind of models in production?

I had a look on the usual websites and I find either skinny, skinner or warcliff or 3” versions.

Is it planned to have a new run of 3.5” soon?
 
DLT has an exclusive for a Hinderer XM-18 Spearpoint with a swedge ... they are Gen 6 with the new tri-way pivot ...

I have 2 and they are great knives ... Hinderer got the detent dialed in on these ... they come with bearings installed and the flip nicely ... they also come with nylon and bronze phospher washer if you want to switch them out ...

this is a link to a thread all about the DLT exclusive ...

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...r-xm-18-3-5-spearpoint-with-a-swedge.1627256/
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
DLT has an exclusive for a Hinderer XM-18 Spearpoint with a swedge ... they are Gen 6 with the new tri-way pivot ...

I have 2 and they are great knives ... Hinderer got the detent dialed in on these ... they come with bearings installed and the flip nicely ... they also come with nylon and bronze phospher washer if you want to switch them out ...

this is a link to a thread all about the DLT exclusive ...

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...r-xm-18-3-5-spearpoint-with-a-swedge.1627256/
Click to expand...

I will attest to how great the swear point 3.5 gen 6 triways are. I cannot really find any complaints about it in terms of fit and finish, it is nigh flawless in that department. I do have some gripes on certain design choices but overall it cuts well and is an excellent knife.

Plus it is a swedge spear point, so you can absolutely call it a swear point.
 
I have one of these, 3.5" with choil, but in a skinner grind. I love it, and I'm very impressed with the execution, but I'm still not totally impressed with the action on washers. Maybe I'm expecting too much, or maybe I'm spoiled by bearings, but I think it comes down to the geometry of the flipper design. I have it up for trade.
 
I think my favorite models have been the Gen 4 XM models.

The new knives are ok if you like bearings but I feel the execution for the washers is not perfect. Also they should really have a steel washer against the TI to prevent wear.
I just sharpened a Gen 6 for a friend and the washers created dimples in the titanium from some light prying he did.

I'd rather have a knife with awesome action on just PB . Even the teflon is fine and easily replaceable on the Gen 4.

A big improvement on the Gen 6 is the lock bar has more bend to wear in properly over time. But that only takes a second to fix if you take your knife apart anyway.

Not sure where this is going but I hope it helps in some way.


I really want another XM in the future. Non flipper. But the Tri-way system is a huge turn off for me. I'd rather have one washer option perfectly tuned rather than three options that are very good.

Therom Therom

I would snag the XM 18 Tad that Gizmo is selling ATM. That is a killer piece.
 
The swedge sperpoint looks great
My initial plan was to get a slicer but there is only skinny available and I prefer thicker handles, do you know if they will produce non-skinny slicer?
 
BellaBlades said:
I think my favorite models have been the Gen 4 XM models.

The new knives are ok if you like bearings but I feel the execution for the washers is not perfect. Also they should really have a steel washer against the TI to prevent wear.
I just sharpened a Gen 6 for a friend and the washers created dimples in the titanium from some light prying he did.

I'd rather have a knife with awesome action on just PB . Even the teflon is fine and easily replaceable on the Gen 4.

A big improvement on the Gen 6 is the lock bar has more bend to wear in properly over time. But that only takes a second to fix if you take your knife apart anyway.

Not sure where this is going but I hope it helps in some way.


I really want another XM in the future. Non flipper. But the Tri-way system is a huge turn off for me. I'd rather have one washer option perfectly tuned rather than three options that are very good.

Therom Therom

I would snag the XM 18 Tad that Gizmo is selling ATM. That is a killer piece.
Click to expand...

I absolutely agree.

I have three xm-18 3.5s all gen 4: slicer, spanto, and bowie. After replacing the teflon washers with after market PB washers, all three have great great flipping action. Somehow I prefer their action to my ZTs.

With washers, I do not need to worry about ball bearings wearing down the ti lock side or the action becoming gritty due to debris in the pivot. I honestly do not see the triway system as a big deal.
 
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