The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
XM-18 blade is thick. I had a spanto grind and found it unsuitable for light, general etc stuff that, say a Sebenza or Spyderco would be great at. Also I found the Hinderer too heavy and bulky on the pocket and the flipper very irritating, so if I bought another one again I'd go non-flipper slicer grind (just to have a Hinderer and not because I think it would outperform a Spyderco except in the toughness stakes). If you like beefy, get a Hinderer, if you like refinement, get a CRK. I now own neither Hinderer nor CRK, I am taking delivery of a Arno Bernard iMamba non-flipper on washers. Best of all worlds.I have neither one but was wondering on different traits of them so I can maybe use the insight I learn here to purchase one. Like which slices better or which one carry’s better? Thank you for your time!!
What’s different between a sebenza or inkosi?I have both and greatly prefer the CRK - though you didn't specify which Insingo you are looking at, Sebenza or Inkosi?
The XM-18 is a fine knife, very well built and a great knife no question; but I have a few nits personally. The first and one that really makes it hard for me to carry mine much is the flipper tab; it is angled in such a way that it really bothers my index finger when the knife is opened and in hand. It could just be due to size of my hands but it angles back and digs in pretty uncomfortably. The fact that there are so many different types of hardware on one knife always kind of bothered me, I don't like having to use a torx, phillips, and specialty tool to adjust or maintain the knife. Hinderers are not typically known as being "slicey" knives; robust no question, but not laser beams.
The CRK on the other hand uses one or at most two allen keys for disassembly/maintenance - which is generally pretty simple, just be careful with the washers. The hollow grind, especially on the Sebenza (though the Inkosi is no slouch) cuts like a dream. I believe that CRK's heat treat is a little better as well; there are reports that Hinderers are can be a little "soft" in comparison.
Can't go wrong with either choice, they both have an excellent reputation for a reason.
Yes indeed!! The Hinderer was created by a fireman and emergency medical technician. The CRK was created by a perfectionist engineer who invented the frame lock.Have owned multiple of both. Only CRK left.
XM-18 is a beast! It’ll dig a brick out of frozen ground ( yes I did it) and probably open a car door. Sebenza is an EDC knife.
Think of the Inkosi as the harder working cousin to the Sebenza. The Inkosi is the CRK version of the XM-18 that slices.What’s different between a sebenza or inkosi?
I also battled with the flipper tabs on both Hinderer sizes, very uncomfortable on the index finger when gripping (I have L-XL hands), but also to flip, my poor unhappy finger tip!I have both and greatly prefer the CRK - though you didn't specify which Insingo you are looking at, Sebenza or Inkosi?
The XM-18 is a fine knife, very well built and a great knife no question; but I have a few nits personally. The first and one that really makes it hard for me to carry mine much is the flipper tab; it is angled in such a way that it really bothers my index finger when the knife is opened and in hand. It could just be due to size of my hands but it angles back and digs in pretty uncomfortably. The fact that there are so many different types of hardware on one knife always kind of bothered me, I don't like having to use a torx, phillips, and specialty tool to adjust or maintain the knife. Hinderers are not typically known as being "slicey" knives; robust no question, but not laser beams.
The CRK on the other hand uses one or at most two allen keys for disassembly/maintenance - which is generally pretty simple, just be careful with the washers. The hollow grind, especially on the Sebenza (though the Inkosi is no slouch) cuts like a dream. I believe that CRK's heat treat is a little better as well; there are reports that Hinderers are can be a little "soft" in comparison.
Can't go wrong with either choice, they both have an excellent reputation for a reason.
What’s different between a sebenza or inkosi?
I think the inkosi will be the one I go with then! Thank you all! It’s nice to be a part of a forum where I can ask such questions!There are quite a few differences, but a quick summary -
The Inkosi has a much different handle, it is slimmer and has finger grooves. The blade is a bit more stout than the Sebenza with a different hollow grind, it has a larger pivot (which is adjustable) and stop pin. The washers are larger on the Inkosi, which in many cases makes the action is little more fluid feeling than a Sebenza.
The Sebenza is has a more neutral handle, a much thinner hollow on the blade, the pivot assembly isn't adjustable like the Inkosi. The jimping is slightly different from the Inkosi to the Sebenza with the latter being finer (fun fact: there are actually 21 cuts in the jimping - a la the Sebenza 21)
Both will serve you well, what are you planning on using the knife for? In my opinion if it is going to be subject to harder use, the Inkosi fits that niche slightly better.
I think you'll find that we're always happy to help someone else spend their money.I think the inkosi will be the one I go with then! Thank you all! It’s nice to be a part of a forum where I can ask such questions!
Of course, I had to take the Sebenza out of my pocket and check that out.(fun fact: there are actually 21 cuts in the jimping - a la the Sebenza 21)