I went through the same issues with the standard spear point XM-18 years ago. I’ve always wanted to try the Skinny Slicer. The biggest issue that made me sell mine was the constant scraping my hand on the flipper tab when in pocket. I still love the look of the XM’s...Thanks for the insight.
The 0562 is a better 3.5" knife for most people than the 3.5" xm18. I'll die on that hill. I keep my (m390) XM24 at about 18dps, and it's the same thickness bte as my s110v PM2 that's been sharpened maybe 10 times, and my TRM Atom with the factory edge.
I agree with all of your comments! Head-scratching, contradictory design elements and soft (I would say industry-leading soft heat treat just ahead of FOX 'italy' steel). Thanks for the great summary.
Any thoughts on the Spartan Blades SHF (both big and small version (SHF 3.25))? I bought the small version a while back, has been somewhat of a back and forth in my opinion on it. Spartan blades has had some production irregularities, mine looks fine (one small scratch that could have come from anywhere) and works perfectly, beautiful blade finishing as well. Its small and "light". Only problem is the grip: in sabre grip its fine, somewhat small but it fits (It has a very shaped grip with finger grooves). The thing is, it feels very small and uncontrollable (especially when gripping it in a hammer grip). Obviously those problems are not projectable onto its bigger brother. Hoped it would be somewhat "abusable" as a little but sturdy companion. Didn't get much time with it out and about, mostly packaging (plastic). Blade profile honestly doesn't look very "cutting", more robust and stout. Comes with reasonable thickness though (again, small version!). anyway, cheers!
Full size owner here, worked mine up to about 65% lockup and it stays at this percentage. The slightest amount of lockstick here and there but nothing serious. Not a great cutter yeah,but it does the job and they do have an very potent HT on their blades. This S45VN performs well. Hold is good, the jimping on the back of the handle is a but aggressive but you can always knock those down a bit. Overall great design, what's to expect they went to CR for the folder inspirations. 👌🏼
@@nOObels1 Forgot to mention that the jimping is also a bit disappointing. Its not too aggressive for me but the location is useless on the small version. On the big one, and I only tried it a bit, it seemed fine. Rather big and "edgy", has a bite for sure, but not uncomfortable. The gap between the two sets of jimping is what bothers me. On the big one its fine, since you have enough to stop yout thumb on the ramp and enough grip when using hammer grip. On the small one the gap is exactly where your thumb would rest and where that traction would be useful and the "lower" jimping hase no use since the knife doesnt lend itself well for hammer grip. Spartan blades has a similar version for their fieldgrade/bronzegrade series named Talos. They improved the jimping, added somewhat of a sharpening choil (if you want that). In form i almost prefer that one, not so much in feel. cheers
i would recommend every knife guy to try a Hinderer. if you are into slicers and pure cutting performance, these are just not it. Hopefully the hollow grind that is going to be added on the newer slicers changes that.
Yes pass and go with a Chris Reeve knife. I have a Hinderer Bowie Eklipse but honestly only b/ I just think its a cool knife and I got it used for much cheaper than retail. If your going after a work horse blade get something with better edge geometry and heat treatment for better performance than hinderer!
All valid reasons why the Hinderer XM-18 really isn't all that good, and there are more valid reasons that you could have added, but I guess it may have felt like you were just piling on and beating a dead horse...pun intended.
apparently the Slicer Grind will come out as a hollow grind soon, let´s see how that is going to be.
I went through the same issues with the standard spear point XM-18 years ago. I’ve always wanted to try the Skinny Slicer. The biggest issue that made me sell mine was the constant scraping my hand on the flipper tab when in pocket. I still love the look of the XM’s...Thanks for the insight.
Thanks for the honest reviews! My Stretch 2 can do everything 😊 greetings
Had an 3.0 Vintage and also an older Gen 3.5 ME Version in 3v. Sold both due to basically non existing customer service, was yrs before the famous
Ja sind definitiv die besseren Optionen.
Grüße zurück aus NÖ🤟
The 0562 is a better 3.5" knife for most people than the 3.5" xm18. I'll die on that hill.
I keep my (m390) XM24 at about 18dps, and it's the same thickness bte as my s110v PM2 that's been sharpened maybe 10 times, and my TRM Atom with the factory edge.
What’s the blade shape you have on the Xm-24?
I agree with all of your comments! Head-scratching, contradictory design elements and soft (I would say industry-leading soft heat treat just ahead of FOX 'italy' steel). Thanks for the great summary.
Great points on this video. I had a small xm-18 and I sold it. Finger choil was tiny and unusable. And I have medium to large gloves
Any thoughts on the Spartan Blades SHF (both big and small version (SHF 3.25))? I bought the small version a while back, has been somewhat of a back and forth in my opinion on it. Spartan blades has had some production irregularities, mine looks fine (one small scratch that could have come from anywhere) and works perfectly, beautiful blade finishing as well. Its small and "light". Only problem is the grip: in sabre grip its fine, somewhat small but it fits (It has a very shaped grip with finger grooves). The thing is, it feels very small and uncontrollable (especially when gripping it in a hammer grip). Obviously those problems are not projectable onto its bigger brother.
Hoped it would be somewhat "abusable" as a little but sturdy companion. Didn't get much time with it out and about, mostly packaging (plastic). Blade profile honestly doesn't look very "cutting", more robust and stout. Comes with reasonable thickness though (again, small version!).
anyway, cheers!
Full size owner here, worked mine up to about 65% lockup and it stays at this percentage. The slightest amount of lockstick here and there but nothing serious. Not a great cutter yeah,but it does the job and they do have an very potent HT on their blades. This S45VN performs well. Hold is good, the jimping on the back of the handle is a but aggressive but you can always knock those down a bit. Overall great design, what's to expect they went to CR for the folder inspirations. 👌🏼
Can’t comment on that since i haven’t tried it yet.
@@megaronknives3032 Are you planning on getting it at some point? Or more direct, a review of it?
@@nOObels1 Forgot to mention that the jimping is also a bit disappointing. Its not too aggressive for me but the location is useless on the small version. On the big one, and I only tried it a bit, it seemed fine. Rather big and "edgy", has a bite for sure, but not uncomfortable. The gap between the two sets of jimping is what bothers me. On the big one its fine, since you have enough to stop yout thumb on the ramp and enough grip when using hammer grip. On the small one the gap is exactly where your thumb would rest and where that traction would be useful and the "lower" jimping hase no use since the knife doesnt lend itself well for hammer grip. Spartan blades has a similar version for their fieldgrade/bronzegrade series named Talos. They improved the jimping, added somewhat of a sharpening choil (if you want that). In form i almost prefer that one, not so much in feel.
cheers
If i have the chance to check it out i sure would, but i am not planning to buy one anytime soon. @@viktortheguy2658
Appreciate the honest review. Was about to buy a xm18. Think I’ll pass
i would recommend every knife guy to try a Hinderer. if you are into slicers and pure cutting performance, these are just not it. Hopefully the hollow grind that is going to be added on the newer slicers changes that.
Yes pass and go with a Chris Reeve knife. I have a Hinderer Bowie Eklipse but honestly only b/ I just think its a cool knife and I got it used for much cheaper than retail. If your going after a work horse blade get something with better edge geometry and heat treatment for better performance than hinderer!
All valid reasons why the Hinderer XM-18 really isn't all that good, and there are more valid reasons that you could have added, but I guess it may have felt like you were just piling on and beating a dead horse...pun intended.
And also from my experience their customer service Sucks!