Ankerson
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Xm-18 or smf
- Thread starter d762nato
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- Nov 9, 2009
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For my money, you cannot go wrong with an XM18.
I had a SMF for about a week, I was disappointed with the overall fit and finish. The knife was NIB when I got it and it just was not for me. I much prefer the SnG to the SMF, smaller package overall and plenty of knife to get the job done. The lack of a flow through design in the SMF was another concern for me. I don;t care much for the 1 piece backspacer/G10 handle.
The XM18 is a true hard use knife, as is the SMF. The Fit and finish is flawless on my XM18s (I have a second on the way). The knife feels really good, it's easy to open with gloves, the resale value holds up extremely well. The lockbar is far more substantial than the SMF.The clip is also better on the XM series than teh SnG or SMF.
$.02
I had a SMF for about a week, I was disappointed with the overall fit and finish. The knife was NIB when I got it and it just was not for me. I much prefer the SnG to the SMF, smaller package overall and plenty of knife to get the job done. The lack of a flow through design in the SMF was another concern for me. I don;t care much for the 1 piece backspacer/G10 handle.
The XM18 is a true hard use knife, as is the SMF. The Fit and finish is flawless on my XM18s (I have a second on the way). The knife feels really good, it's easy to open with gloves, the resale value holds up extremely well. The lockbar is far more substantial than the SMF.The clip is also better on the XM series than teh SnG or SMF.
$.02
I was in the same boat. XM18 or SMF......My choice was the SMF CC and I am glad I did. It is so light and tough, and fit and finish is perfect. I have no desire for a Hinderer now. I didnt care for the XM18's clip or blade shape/grind. Thats what pushed me to the Strider. I can carry the SMF CC in sweat pants and not even feel it. Feels about like my Emerson CQC-11 but a hell of a lot sturdier.
Strider all the way:thumbup:
Strider all the way:thumbup:
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Ankerson
Knife and Computer Geek
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They are nice, but too small for my hand.
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This is true, the blade on the SnG is smurfed by the forward choil. I'd really love that knife a lot more if I had that extra little bit of blade length. Needless to say, I have no plans to sell my SnG anytime soon. I've started to carry and use it a lot more the last couple weeks. Truth be told, both are great knives and neither would disappoint for hard use.
I'd love to find an XM-24, a local knife & gun nut (David Brown) was kind enough to let me see the one he has while I was waiting for my SCABS sheath to be made at his shop. Now, that is one hell of a knife, amazing. :thumbup:
Ankerson
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I heard the XM-24's are bigger so that might be better for me, won't know until I get to hold one though.
The XM-18 just disappeared in my hand, way too small for me.
I just think the Striders fit better in my hand so they are better for me.
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Ankerson
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4" blade from what I remember. It really melts in the hand.
Yeah, that's what I heard, not sure about the handle though.
I am extremely picky about how knives feel in my hand.
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I think there is some room in Rick Hinderer's quiver for some blade grinds and profiles more suited to slicing. I'd like to see him produce a model made for heavy use but with a compromise in blade strength in favor of slicing ability. All the same Hinderer goodness with a slicer of a blade would probably do me in. I'd get more serious about the dough for the likes of a single Hinderer if that were the case. Afterall, I have a pretty good knife budget and often choose multiple iterations of good production knives over the likes of a single XM-18 but I'm more of a general EDC type of guy. I have a truck load and a home full of other tools and fixed blades for heavy cutting/chopping/prying or non-cutting tasks and both my truck or my home are seldom far from me and if they are, I prepare for whatever I'll be doing away from either. Plus I have a fully stocked BOB with me at all times too. I can't think of a single situation where I would be stuck in a situation where I accidently or unexpectedly found myself in a situation where all I had to survive with was a single folder, not that it couldn't happen.
Count me in as a knife vulture who would jump at a Hinderer made EDC that utilizes a slicing blade grind if Rick ever went that way. I'd wet my pants over the build quality of a Hinderer with a blade made for slicing :thumbup:
Count me in as a knife vulture who would jump at a Hinderer made EDC that utilizes a slicing blade grind if Rick ever went that way. I'd wet my pants over the build quality of a Hinderer with a blade made for slicing :thumbup:
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Man Ankerson, you must be a big ol' boy for a 3.5 inch XM-18 to disappear in your hand!
As far as blade grinds Reek. Im really starting to move back to thinner more slicing oriented blades than these thick sharpened prybars that seem to be the style in tactical/heavy used knives. You can have a heavy use knife with a thinner sharper blade. You just need to use the knife as a cutting tool rather than a prybar. Have two knives on your person as well, one thick, the other thing...
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Ankerson
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SmF and the Spyderco Military fit my hand the best for production blades.
My Demko AD-10 is perfect.
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I've owned both - an XM-18 flipper 3.5 and a SMF GG.
They are different animals - and as you noted - you really do need to hold both to experience the difference.
They feel very different in the hand. The curve on the back of the XM-18 feels better in the hand if you are going to be using the knife for a long time. The double choil on the SMF gives you much better control over cutting tasks.
If you can wait - plan on attending the next big knife show and handle both.
BTW - right now I am edc'ing the SMF.
They are different animals - and as you noted - you really do need to hold both to experience the difference.
They feel very different in the hand. The curve on the back of the XM-18 feels better in the hand if you are going to be using the knife for a long time. The double choil on the SMF gives you much better control over cutting tasks.
If you can wait - plan on attending the next big knife show and handle both.
BTW - right now I am edc'ing the SMF.
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Ive only owned 2 Striders, both SNG's. Ive only handled about a dozen or so as well but Ive never seen any of the quality control issues I hear about. Im guessing it was a bad run or a bad employee that let some through.
Yea, I would like to see some pictures to document these "quality issues". Of all the hundreds of threads and searches I did before I bought my Strider, I couldn't find one documented picture.
I did find a documented picture of Sasquatch....and he was carrying a Strider
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BP Green
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Amen to that brother! From your lips to Strider's ears hopefully. I love my SNG but I wish there was a little more blade. As I've said before, I have Ankerson sized hands too, so I've been looking hard at the SMF's. I'm a little concerned about how they carry in a cramped pocket though.
Having said that, I am going to try to score an XM 18. I understand they will take orders directly from LE and military, is that correct?
