XM-18 3.5 vs large CRK insigno

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Veiled

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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!!
 
Veiled said:
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!!
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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.
 
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I have a few CRKs & a few Hinderers. The Hinderer 3.5 is a great heavy duty folder, but as such it's chunkier & heavier than the CRKs. My CRKs get carried almost every day. They're slimmer, lighter & much more pocket friendly.
 
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 can be a little "soft" in comparison.

Can't go wrong with either choice, they both have an excellent reputation for a reason.
 
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BTTLBRN said:
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.
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What’s different between a sebenza or inkosi?
 
Kettleman said:
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.
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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.
 
I think the Inkosi knives have a larger washer surface area. Built tougher.
 
BTTLBRN said:
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.
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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!
 
Veiled said:
What’s different between a sebenza or inkosi?
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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.
 
BTTLBRN said:
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.
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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!
 
IMO the large Inkosi is a better knife and a better slicer

BUT the XM18 3.5 is way more playful and the fact you can custom it is very cool.
You can choose to run it on washers or bearings according to what you prefer

If I can have only one I would pick the Inkosi but really both are excellent
 
Depends. Because of the hollow grind, the Insigno is as good a cutter as it gets.

However, Hinderer Wharncliffe and Sheepsfoot cut really well. And then there are Skinnies. So you need to specify which one.

The Hinderer is more robust than for instance the Sebenza, but Zaan and Inkosi come close in robustness.
 
I won't assume that the Hinderer is tougher than a Sebenza or Umnumzaan until I see some head to head tests in trying conditions.

I can say that the Hinderer wharncliffe, (thank you, Roland), takes a very nice edge and is a good slicer. I sold the XM-24 sheepsfoot which never saw action.

I doubt that my own use would come close to destroying the Hinderers, Sebenzas or Umnumzaan I currently own. But I'd still be interested in those test results.
 
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