Recommendation? XM-18, Eklipse, Inkosi

Therom

Therom

Joined
Nov 13, 2013
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2,570
Hello,

This topic has been a little bite beaten already but I would like to had my feeling to it... and also ask for your recommendations

For 5 years I have got the CRK bug
My small inkosi and my large 21 insingo micarta are my most carried knife this year
Almost 1/2 of the time I had a CRK on me in 2019

however my spanto halft track has converted me to Hinderer, or so I though ;)

I have received an XM-18 3.5 slicer last week and I will return it to the shop
Clearly I am not convinced by the action
It slips great but only on bearings, but I don’t see the point of running a beater knife on bearings...

i have sold an inkosi and a 0630 to fund it and IMO those may have been better options

it is an understatement to say that I am disappointed
I like the ergos and the blade shape of the XM-18 but maybe a non flipper version will be better for me, or a non flipper gen 4 or gen 5

o am a fan of my ZT 0393 and I hope a gem 3 of the eklipse 3.5 will released in 2020


I am thinking to pass on the XM-18, to get a micarta Inkosi and to wait for a gen 3 Eklipse to come

what do you think?
Am I missing something?
Shall I give a try to a non flipper XM-18 before getting an inkosi back?
 
It’s good for me to hear your impressions of the XM-18. I’m firmly a CRK fan and have been debating the merits of trying Hinderer for a long time. I’ll definitely be following this thread to see what others have to say.
 
I usually like the neutral ergos of the CRK but I have to say the ergos on the XM-18 are great, just not convinced by the flipper, good on bearings but largely disappointing on Teflon.... so I don’t see the point of the tri way in this condition

however the knife still have a lot of good to it
The lock action is great, actually the best I have experienceitnis a dream to disengage and it locks the blade very securely

i don’t want to point at the XM and I am a fan of my half track tri way :)
 
Might be a knife to knife case, but my xm-18 3.5 skinny slicer flips almost identical to the bearings on the pb and Teflon washers. Might be mine has a slightly stronger detent. I can’t chose though, I carry my CRK and XM-18 equally. Both fantastic knives made in the USA.
 
I agree the XM-18 has impressed me by its construction
It is a really hard use knife for sure
Not even sure the Inkosi can compete with it, I really like the locking side of the XM-18
 
If I manage to save some cash I may try a non flipper in the future, but still not sure it is worth the price compared to a large inkosi
 
I find many people have an "either or" when it comes to CRKs and Hinderers … I like both but they are very different knives for the similarities they have.
I have wanted to try a Halftrack but have not as of yet … I do own several XM-18 3.5" … the 3" was too small for me and the XM-24 left me with the impression
for that size I can carry a fixed blade.

I have several Gen 6s and all but one flip equally as smoothly on bearing or washers … it may be because they are well broke in? I still think I want to try a
Halftrack as the design seems to make the smaller knife fit a larger hand much better than the 3" XM-18.

Now if someone told me to choose between a CRK or a Hinderer … I would be very hard pressed to choose … I like each for different reasons … but I think either
makes a great knife … I think it's more personal preference or experiences. I do see more people that fall one way or the other with Hinderers a "love or hate"
thing … but most agree CRKs are amazing knives even if they aren't personally a fan of CRKs.

I do have a few non flippers and I originally only bought non flippers due to the hit or miss on the detent … but the Gen 6s have all been spot on detent wise for me … no weak ones and all flip great … I still like the non flippers though … maybe even more so than the flippers.

I have not handled an Eklipse so I cannot speak on that … and I prefer the Sebenza 21s over an Inkosi … but I think they are all great knives … and I think
any of them would make a great choice … it comes down to personal preferences.
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
I find many people have an "either or" when it comes to CRKs and Hinderers … I like both but they are very different knives for the similarities they have.
I have wanted to try a Halftrack but have not as of yet.
Click to expand...
I have a half track spanto and it is a great knife
You can get a wharnie half track at USA made blade, I can only recommend to try it
The half track is a different life than the XM but clearly as a CRK “fan boy” I like it a lot
incredible knife
The spanto is great and I can assume the wharnie shall be a great option too

I have found less value in theXM I have received compared to my half track
 
0K67MAd.jpg
 
Nothing against Hinderer, it is clearly the opposite, the half track has put me on such a hype that I would like to get them all :):):):)
 
Therom Therom



I have my 0640 in pocket and it has that work horse feel like a sebenza or gen 4 RHK. But on a budget. Great recommendation btw. Love the knife.

The Inkosi is great but the finger grooves limit grip options and the cutting edge is a but far from the handle.

I'm thinking sebenza 31 or umnumzaan down the line myself. If your asking RHK vs Inkosi though. Anything CRK beats it for me.

And I agree. New RHK are not what the company was originally about with the less than desirable tri way system.

That said. I handled my first half track last month on teflon. It's a great hard use knife.

If you have a 0630 to get rid of and grab an Inkosi or pre order a 31 to try. I would
That knife never did much for me. Yet it's very desirable now if you wish to sell.
 
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OP - one thing I agree with you is about the use of bearings on XM-18. I have three XM-18 3.5" gen 4. After replacing the teflon washers with PB ones, I absolutely see no benefits of using ball bearings on this supposedly hard use folder. The action is THAT good.

I also have a tri way skinny slicer. I see no way it is superior to my PB washers gen 4 xm-18 in terms of built quality and action. The skinny slicer does not give me the feeling of a hard use knife nor of hand filling. It is however a better slicer.
 
I know this topic is highly subjective but having both a small Sebenza and an 3" XM-18, I gravitate to the CRK. There are times I've even tried to like the Hinderer more but I never carry it for more than a day without coming right back to the Sebenza. I just prefer the action, the neutral grip, the hollow grind, and I'd say even the look. CRK's seem to strike just the right balance between finesse and toughness.
 
I've only got one XM-18 with the Tri-Way business, and I can't really speak to the advantages of it since it hasn't been used. The rest of my XM-18's are 3" (pre-triway) and have Teflon washers and smooth, quick action. Mind you, I've taken them apart, cleaned, and tweaked them until they felt "right" for me, and I don't hesitate to use them. The HalfTrack also sees some hard use, and it really does everything I ask it to. However, nothing in the current Hinderer lineup appeals to me, and if I'm going to spend the money, I'll pick CRK every time. The Inkosi fits my hand well, not to mention it's sturdy, smooth, simple, and nice to look at. ;)
Since you've already got your Halftrack, I'd suggest a new CRK. You can probably pick up an older XM-18 off the exchange if you really want to give it another try.
 
Yes it seems I will get Hinderer second hands to save some money and make sure they run smoothly
 
I really dig both knives. But RHK adding bearings and CRK perforating their washers are both overall downgrades. The bearings are without a doubt more of an Achilles heel than the perforated washers. Ergonomically, the 3.5” XM-18 is superior or to any CRK in my hands. Additionally, I believe the (Gen 4) XM-18’s design is sturdier than any CRK folder in a prying/twisting fashion. With standard cutting pressure they are both as strong as any folder. The CRK is a sexier & more minimal design which goes a long way with me. IMO RHK should do away with the tip down option because it unnecessarily clutters the knife. Also the two screw clip is antiquated, as is the use of Phillips screws. Alas, I still find the choice between the two difficult. As a purely hard use, beater folder I would lean toward the Hinderer. Plus if it is a flipper it also offers fidget-ability. For a “the one” jack of all trades knife, I lean toward the CRKs. I don’t really have a functional preference between the 21 (or 31) and the Inkosi but I do like the looks of a Sebenza over an Inkosi... again for the minimalist design. 56142274-EF6C-41D0-A217-210400D21A63.jpeg
 
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