XM18 3.5 questions

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ksleo204

Joined
Sep 14, 2012
Messages
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Hey guys, I got this in a trade and I have some questions. It was said to be a 3.5 spanto flipper Gen 3. My questions are, since I'm pretty new to Rick's awesome knives, how does one tell what Gen the knife is? Can someone tell me it's a gen 1,2,3,etc from the pics. I'd also like to know what the CTS_XHP means? It's marked on the lock side of the blade itself. Here are some pics and any information you can provide would be awesome. This is Hinderer #2 for me!
DSCF4096.jpg

DSCF4097.jpg

DSCF4095.jpg

DSCF4094.jpg

DSCF4093.jpg

DSCF4092.jpg


I can take more if that will help. Thanks, Jason
 
There are four generations of XM-18 in the 3.5" size. Gen 1 and Gen 2 were all customs, Gen 3 and Gen 4 can have either a production or custom blade. This is a Gen 3, it has a production blade and the stop pin is located where it rests on the choil (compared to a Gen 4 which relocated the stop pin to the blade tang).

CTS-XHP is the type of blade steel, it a Carpenter manufactured powdered stainless steel, considerable information exists on the Internet if you want further information on it.
 
RDA said:
There are four generations of XM-18 in the 3.5" size. Gen 1 and Gen 2 were all customs, Gen 3 and Gen 4 can have either a production or custom blade. This is a Gen 3, it has a production blade and the stop pin is located where it rests on the choil (compared to a Gen 4 which relocated the stop pin to the blade tang).

CTS-XHP is the type of blade steel, it a Carpenter manufactured powdered stainless steel, considerable information exists on the Internet if you want further information on it.
Click to expand...

^^^^:cool:
 
In May 2009 Rick introduced CTS steels, so yours must be made sometime after that, he also did a few in CTS-40CP.
 
Looks like all your questions were answered ^^^. I love that frag scale, want to sell that xm??
 
I think earlier versions did not have "Hinderer" engraved into the frame but onto the blade. That's an easy way to tell.
 
Very basically...

If a "new" XM run offers something like a new blade style or handle material, it's not a "new generation".

Only when a knife features substantial design changes like moving the enrgaved logo from the blade to the handle or relocating a stop pin can it be deemed a new generation.

With this in mind, the new 24s are same Generation as the most recent 24s even though photos are popping up where they have logos on the blade and Slicer grinds.
 
philwar said:
I think earlier versions did not have "Hinderer" engraved into the frame but onto the blade. That's an easy way to tell.
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The Gen.3's without R.HINDERER on the blade were introduced in May 2008, this one must be after May 2009 when CTS-XHP was first used.

Between that time there were also Duratech 20CV Gen.3's made, 20CV was first mentioned by Rick on the forums in September 2006 and used for the last few Gen.1's and also in the Gen.2 that came in December of 2006.

Rick later switched back onto 20CV for the XM-18 3.5", the first real production batch XM-24 (after the first 10 in October 2008) has also CTS-XHP, just like the Fieldtac that was introduced in May 2009 before Blade Show.

The first FXM's (10+proto) also were made in CTS-XHP for Blade 2009.

Rob or Rick correct me if I am wrong.....:)
 
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Thank you gentlemen for answering my questions. I learned alot from this.

BWilson678 if you would like to send me a pm or email, then we could talk. I'm on the fence about this one and I'm not sure if I'm gonna keep it or what.
Thanks Jason
 
ksleo204 said:
Thank you gentlemen for answering my questions. I learned alot from this.

BWilson678 if you would like to send me a pm or email, then we could talk. I'm on the fence about this one and I'm not sure if I'm gonna keep it or what.
Thanks Jason
Click to expand...

I couldn't pm or email but just left a visitor message, lets definitely talk.
 
ksleo204 said:
Thank you gentlemen for answering my questions. I learned alot from this.

BWilson678 if you would like to send me a pm or email, then we could talk. I'm on the fence about this one and I'm not sure if I'm gonna keep it or what.
Thanks Jason
Click to expand...


I would be interested if you are not on the fence and want to sell. Thanks
 
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