Xm-18 lockbar relief - textured vs smooth?

sting7777 · Dec 1, 2015

Any significance here or just different methods of material removal at different times? I have seen completely smooth and almost a pattern diagonally cut into the relief area.

Thanks for any info!

jill jackson · Dec 1, 2015

That pattern isn't deep at all. You can barely feel it with your fingernail.

sting7777 · Dec 1, 2015

Seems deeper than that... http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1346810-XM-Spearpoint-Green-Black

sting7777 · Dec 1, 2015

Vs something like this http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-18-3-5-quot-Slicer-Blue-G10-Gen-4-PRICE-DROP!

jill jackson · Dec 1, 2015

My 24 looks deep, but it's really smooth. My 18 has no texture.

sting7777 · Dec 2, 2015

Does anyone know if this is a generation thing or just down to different CNC machines at different times? Thanks!

Blowpop · Dec 2, 2015

Not sure, but my gen 4 3inch doesn't have the texture.

Ian80 · Dec 2, 2015

There were some complaints a few months back about the finish on that section so they started texturing them.

archieblue · Dec 3, 2015

I think it's something they just started doing on recent batches. I imagine it is solely to make that area look more "finished." My two gen 4 XMs do not have it. One was made around this time last year and the other is a hair newer.

uofaengr · Dec 4, 2015

Yes, I think it's on the newer ones. My 3" XM I got from the Ranch mid-2014 unfortunately has some very deep machining marks and very noticeable. I haven't really seen them as bad in any other pictures I've seen here or the five or so XMs I've personally handled. The 3.5" XM I sold awhile back was perfectly smooth there and much better.

Charr · Dec 4, 2015

I've only ever seen it on the newer ones, and I think it's just the CNC going back over that section of the milling to clean it up after the rest of the machining is finished, so that it looks uniform and keeps it looking and feeling cleaner.

On some of the older XMs I've had, that portion was pretty much the only place I would occasionally see some odd machining marks or some scratches form the factory, so I imagine that they did it to hide those marks or eliminate them entirely.

sting7777 · Dec 4, 2015

Ian80 said:
There were some complaints a few months back about the finish on that section so they started texturing them.

Cool. Thanks for the info. 2/3 Gen 4's that I have are perfectly smooth. The other has a pattern. I actually like the pattern better. I also noticed that the pivot screw is different on the newest one. Its interesting to see all the little tweaks and changes.