Hinderer XM-18 Review
I am going to tell you this up front: there is no way to be objective
about this knife. The amount of hype, the pricing on the secondary
market, and the difficulty in obtaining one makes the Hinderer XM-18
virtually impossible to talk about objectively. Going through all of
those hoops will make you have one of two reactions--overjoyed that you
finally landed the grail or pissed off that after all that effort all
you have is this. Fortunately, I had to go through a process to get my
Hinderer and in that process I gained a bit of objectivity. This just
might be the only fair review of the XM-18 on the Internet.
I bought a knife off the USN. It was listed as a Hinderer XM-18. I asked if it was a 3 inch or a 3.5 inch. I didn't get a response to that question, but I got a response to others. With the deal lined up, I sent the money. Only after that happened did I realize that I never got an answer to the 3 inch vs. 3.5 inch question. The mix up was totally and completely my fault. I should have insisted on the question being answered before the money was sent. It was one of about a dozen, so an omission on the other guy's part, in the blizzard of inquires, can hardly be deemed his fault (though the thread heading should have specified size from the outset). When the knife arrived it was a Gen 4 3.5 inch flipper with S35VN steel. It was a gorgeous knife, but it was just too big for me to carry. There was no way I would ever carry a knife that big or that heavy on a regular basis so I decided I would sell it. I had a few buyers, but in the end, I thought it was just too cool to let go so I reversed my decision and decided to keep the knife. Later a trade opportunity came up for a 3 inch model and I made the swap. I didn't want the 3.5 inch. I didn't really want to keep it. But I did. Then the 3 inch came up and I hemmed and hawed and finally pulled the trigger. I might be the only person on Planet Earth to have "fallen into" a Hinderer XM-18. But in all of that back and forth I grew less attached to the knife and I am glad I did. I can now evaluate it in a much more objective light.
Here is the product page. The Hinderer XM-18 costs $387 direct from Rick. Only military, law enforcement, and emergency medical workers can order them from Rick. Otherwise you have to resort to waiting for the few dealers that Hinderer supplies directly to get them or pay equally high prices on the secondary market. There are a significant number of XM-18s being made and the market is wise to the flip aspect of the knife, as an EMS guy can buy one, flip it, and use that money to buy another and make a tidy profit. I paid $636 shipped for my 3.5 inch and traded it for a 3 inch with two scales and a Hinderer patch. Here is a written review from BladeForums. Here is a video review.
Here is my review sample:
Twitter Review Summary: Overbuilt, finely tuned, excellent knife with crazy secondary market prices.
Design: 2
While the Hummer overbuilt aesthetic has blessedly worked its way out of the automotive world where it was, quite frankly, ridiculous when seen in the Target parking lot, it has not worked its way out of the knife world and...I am glad. That might surprise you as I typically eschew the overbuilt look. Here, in perhaps the progenitor of the overbuilt look, it works. All of the exposed construction elements and polished screwheads just work. It also helps that while the knife undoubtedly overbuilt it is not fat. At 3.6 ounces, the 3 inch Hinderer is roughly the size of a Spyderco Delica, perhaps a tad thicker and a tad shorter. This is not overbuilt for its own sake and Hinderer did not ignore the need to actually carry the knife when making his beefy blade.
Here is a shot of the XM-18 in my medium sized hand:
Again, sorry for the lack of the Zippo, I was at Walden Pond (yep, THE Walden Pond) when I took these pictures. The ratios are what you'd expect from a knife known for being overbuilt. The blade:weight is .83, not too bad. The blade:handle is .72 probably something like average but nothing approaching the Al Mar Hawk Ultralight.
Fit and Finish: 2
Grip: 2
Blade Shape: 2
Deployment Method: 2
I bought a knife off the USN. It was listed as a Hinderer XM-18. I asked if it was a 3 inch or a 3.5 inch. I didn't get a response to that question, but I got a response to others. With the deal lined up, I sent the money. Only after that happened did I realize that I never got an answer to the 3 inch vs. 3.5 inch question. The mix up was totally and completely my fault. I should have insisted on the question being answered before the money was sent. It was one of about a dozen, so an omission on the other guy's part, in the blizzard of inquires, can hardly be deemed his fault (though the thread heading should have specified size from the outset). When the knife arrived it was a Gen 4 3.5 inch flipper with S35VN steel. It was a gorgeous knife, but it was just too big for me to carry. There was no way I would ever carry a knife that big or that heavy on a regular basis so I decided I would sell it. I had a few buyers, but in the end, I thought it was just too cool to let go so I reversed my decision and decided to keep the knife. Later a trade opportunity came up for a 3 inch model and I made the swap. I didn't want the 3.5 inch. I didn't really want to keep it. But I did. Then the 3 inch came up and I hemmed and hawed and finally pulled the trigger. I might be the only person on Planet Earth to have "fallen into" a Hinderer XM-18. But in all of that back and forth I grew less attached to the knife and I am glad I did. I can now evaluate it in a much more objective light.
Here is the product page. The Hinderer XM-18 costs $387 direct from Rick. Only military, law enforcement, and emergency medical workers can order them from Rick. Otherwise you have to resort to waiting for the few dealers that Hinderer supplies directly to get them or pay equally high prices on the secondary market. There are a significant number of XM-18s being made and the market is wise to the flip aspect of the knife, as an EMS guy can buy one, flip it, and use that money to buy another and make a tidy profit. I paid $636 shipped for my 3.5 inch and traded it for a 3 inch with two scales and a Hinderer patch. Here is a written review from BladeForums. Here is a video review.
Here is my review sample:
Twitter Review Summary: Overbuilt, finely tuned, excellent knife with crazy secondary market prices.
Design: 2
While the Hummer overbuilt aesthetic has blessedly worked its way out of the automotive world where it was, quite frankly, ridiculous when seen in the Target parking lot, it has not worked its way out of the knife world and...I am glad. That might surprise you as I typically eschew the overbuilt look. Here, in perhaps the progenitor of the overbuilt look, it works. All of the exposed construction elements and polished screwheads just work. It also helps that while the knife undoubtedly overbuilt it is not fat. At 3.6 ounces, the 3 inch Hinderer is roughly the size of a Spyderco Delica, perhaps a tad thicker and a tad shorter. This is not overbuilt for its own sake and Hinderer did not ignore the need to actually carry the knife when making his beefy blade.
Here is a shot of the XM-18 in my medium sized hand:
Again, sorry for the lack of the Zippo, I was at Walden Pond (yep, THE Walden Pond) when I took these pictures. The ratios are what you'd expect from a knife known for being overbuilt. The blade:weight is .83, not too bad. The blade:handle is .72 probably something like average but nothing approaching the Al Mar Hawk Ultralight.
Fit and Finish: 2
This is where the XM-18 really pulls ahead of other knives. Like my Sebenza and the Strider it has immaculate fit and finish, but unlike those other knives there is a bit something extra. Everything seems to not just be well made but made to work well with other parts. I know folks complain about the detent, but the 3.5 inch was perfect and the 3 inch Gen 2 is perfectly fine. The lock bar snaps into place and has early lock up, but releases equally easy. It is just tuned. The clip has perfect tension on it. Every edge is chamfered and comfortable except for one (you know which). There is a poise and balance present in this knife that is different from anything I have encountered in other knives. Its not quite the mechanical watch precision of my Gedraitis custom, but its close. If there is one reason why folks get addicted to Hinderers, more so than beefy build and geared look, this is it. This is a knife built like a rhino that flows like a ballerina.
Grip: 2
The choil on the XM-18 is something of a controversy, as some really like it and others don't. In actuality it is not as great as, say, the choil on the Strider PT. But just because it is not the best doesn't mean that its bad. In fact I liked it quite a bit. Thus there are two legitimate forward positions. The knife also feels very good in the reverse grip. Here is the knife with my finger behind the choil (and Walden Pond behind my hand).
The jimping is very sharply cut and at the beginning it was too much. Now that my fingers have gotten used to how sharply it is cut its not that bad. The knife does lock in to your and and the texture on the scales is quite nice.
Carry: 2
Its surprising how nice the 3 inch carries as the 3.5 inch and the related ZT056X were really tough to carry in your pocket inconspicuously. The chamfering allows for smooth extraction and the knife, despite it Hummer aesthetic, is actually pretty thin. The pocket clip also positions the knife nicely:
There is literally nothing to complain about regarding the 3 inch XM-18. This is an excellent pocket knife.
Steel: 2
Latrobe's Duratech 20CV (data sheet here) is very similar to M390. Both are high hardness, high toughness steels with absolutely tons of chromium for excellent corrosion resistance. It also happens to polish very, very well.
In use over three weeks, the steel has cut exceptionally well, as good both M4 and ZDP-189. I am not 100% sure this is the steel or the grind (more on this below). It handled food prep, including apple slicing well. High acid foods like oranges did not give rise to a patina or staining like they did on the bead blasted 8Cr13MoV on the Kershaw Injection 3.0. It did very well in whittling and with fire prep chores like making tinder. There was no real damage to the edge even when plowing through true hardwoods like maple. Finally, it worked well breaking down lots of cardboard boxes. Even after about 6 boxes of high thickness cardboard, it was still shaving sharp.
Again, for reasons discussed below, I am not sure if this is the steel or the grind, but either way, its promising to know that when done well, 20CV can hang with any steel on the market today.
Blade Shape: 2
The slicer grind is really an excellent blade shape, much simpler than the spanto tip. Here is the blade shape:
It acts much like a drop point, especially with the very curved arc that make up the spine of the blade. Its much simpler than the spanto tip and I found it worked well.
Grind: 2
This knife came from a trade with Jared, who runs the sheath shop, Paw Paw's Knife Shop. Not only does he make great sheathes but also put a beautiful, positively razor edge on the knife. It was a mirror polish convex grind. This complemented the already excellent factory slicer grind and it was a persuasive piece of evidence in the "convex is best" argument. The end result is a grind that cuts like nothing I have ever used. It is incredibly stable, brushing off dings and knocks that would damage lesser edges and yet it still parted material like a laser. This grind with this edge and this steel makes the XM-18 the best overall cutter I have owned or used.
Deployment Method: 2
I am sure this is going to generate some feedback, but I can't slight the knife. The detent is not the best in the world. It doesn't snap open like my Gedraitis custom, but it works and works well. In a scale with more points I would probably give this something like an 8 out of 10. Its still well above average.
It large part the beauty of the XM-18's deployment method comes from the elegance of the flipper. It is perfectly sized and shaped and makes flicking the XM-18 open incredibly fun.
Retention Method: 2
This is one place where the XM-18 kills the ZT Hinderer. The clip is really well made and keeps the knife in place. It also is perfectly tensioned with just enough spring to really lock on to your pocket.
Despite its size, which is a bit larger than average, the clip is not a paint scrapper. This is an excellent clip and like the rest of the knife, beautifully stonewashed to hide scratches and knicks.
Lock: 2
Ho...LEE...SMOKES. This lock is awesome. Early lock up is great. The overtravel stop is nice. It is stable and engages and disengages with ease. But the thing that I cannot get over is just how nicely tuned it is. Its like it can read your mind--if you want to disengage the lock, it happens, if not it stays put. That subtle balance is like nothing I have seen before. This is part of reason why this knife feels so well tuned. It is never sticky, never wobbles, never moves...until you want it to. This is perhaps the best implementation of the framelock I have ever seen.
Overall Score: 20 out of 20
Overall Score: 20 out of 20
Its not the beefiness that makes the XM-18 so amazing. It also not is refined feel. Its the fact that you get both in one knife. There is really nothing else out there like it. It is unquestionably worth the price it will cost you from Rick, but the secondary prices are insane right now, even as production ramps up and more are available on the market. I feel like it is probably not as good a value at $626 as my Gedraitis custom was at $500. I can see how folks would think it is worth that price, I can see that quite easily. Once it gets to $700 or more, the value proposition is increasingly poor. You definitely get more than what you pay for at retail. On the secondary market, its more of a personal call. I am glad I bought one, even if I didn't intend to.
BONUS
The process of acquiring the XM-18 3 inch as well as the process of reviewing knives for two and half years allows me to compare the 3 inch model with the 3.5 inch model and compare both to the production version, the ZT 56X. I know a lot of folks are debating between these three choices, so I hope this helps. Also, there is a shootout coming between the Small Sebenza 21, the Strider PT CC, and the XM-18 3 inch. Hang in there.
3 inch or 3.5 inch?
I found both knives to be solid, overbuilt blades. The 3.5 inch was a Gen 4 model and because of the improved detent and larger blade it flipped better. My Gen 2 blade flips regularly and consistent without wrist action, but the 3.5 inch Gen 4 was a real gymnast--flipping with ease and grace. There is a level of focus required for the 3 inch is just different. That said, the difference in size is pretty substantial. There is no comfortable way for someone of a medium build to carry the 3.5 inch thoughtlessly. The 3 inch is actually smaller than a Spyderco Delica when closed and at 3.6 ounces it CAN be carried without thought. The 3.5 inch felt amazing in a reverse grip and slightly too wide and long in a forward grip, especially when you choke up and use the nice choil. The 3 inch feels superb in a forward grip both choked up and in a standard grip. For me this is not a tough call, the 3 inch is the model to get. I cannot even imagine how big the XM-24 is. All of this is ignoring the legality issues associated with blades bigger than 3 inches, which could make your decision for you. Check your local knife laws.
XM-18 or ZT056X?
So there is a pretty big size difference between the 3 inch and the ZT056X series of knives. The 056X series has a 3 7/8 inch blade putting it between the XM-18 3.5 inch and the XM-24. So to that extent, I would always side with the 3 inch XM-18 for the reasons I prefer it to the 3.5 inch. The upcoming 3.25 inch ZT is not in the same class as either the XM-18 or the 056X because of the materials used--a stainless steel lock and an assisted opener.
The ZT056X knives are clearly some of the finest production folders ever made in large batches. They have a deep carry clip that the XM-18s lack, but I really did not care for the clip on that knife. It was too small and made the ZT56X a pocket pendulum. The ZT056X knives have convex handles, something the XM-18s also lack and unlike with the clip, this is a big deal. They afford a great deal of grip and they are a show off piece for KAI's machining abilities. But this makes the ZT056X knives fatter than their XM-18 cousins. I also think the XM-18s have a bit more tuning and better steel. The Elmax on the ZT560 I tested was fine but the complaints have been to widespread to ignore. Cliff Stamp did good work on this issue, found here. I also find the curvier handle shape and choil a big plus for the XM-18s.
The ZT056X knives are an achievement, no doubt, but I still give the edge to the XM-18, even at Rick's direct price. However, if you factor in the secondary prices, the ZT056X wins hands down when compared to the large XM-18. There is nothing in KAI's line up that compares to the 3 inch model. If size is an issue, you can't beat the 3 inch model, even when comparing it to the best ZT (or any other large company) makes.
Update: Score 19 out of 20
Over time I have come to appreciate the benefits of a thinly ground blade. It might not be the beast that the XM-18, but even the slicer grind is still too chunky to really do slicing work. Trying to exercise some skill at shaving a featherstick is, essentially, impossible. For that, I am taking a point off the Hinderer's score.
BONUS
The process of acquiring the XM-18 3 inch as well as the process of reviewing knives for two and half years allows me to compare the 3 inch model with the 3.5 inch model and compare both to the production version, the ZT 56X. I know a lot of folks are debating between these three choices, so I hope this helps. Also, there is a shootout coming between the Small Sebenza 21, the Strider PT CC, and the XM-18 3 inch. Hang in there.
3 inch or 3.5 inch?
I found both knives to be solid, overbuilt blades. The 3.5 inch was a Gen 4 model and because of the improved detent and larger blade it flipped better. My Gen 2 blade flips regularly and consistent without wrist action, but the 3.5 inch Gen 4 was a real gymnast--flipping with ease and grace. There is a level of focus required for the 3 inch is just different. That said, the difference in size is pretty substantial. There is no comfortable way for someone of a medium build to carry the 3.5 inch thoughtlessly. The 3 inch is actually smaller than a Spyderco Delica when closed and at 3.6 ounces it CAN be carried without thought. The 3.5 inch felt amazing in a reverse grip and slightly too wide and long in a forward grip, especially when you choke up and use the nice choil. The 3 inch feels superb in a forward grip both choked up and in a standard grip. For me this is not a tough call, the 3 inch is the model to get. I cannot even imagine how big the XM-24 is. All of this is ignoring the legality issues associated with blades bigger than 3 inches, which could make your decision for you. Check your local knife laws.
XM-18 or ZT056X?
So there is a pretty big size difference between the 3 inch and the ZT056X series of knives. The 056X series has a 3 7/8 inch blade putting it between the XM-18 3.5 inch and the XM-24. So to that extent, I would always side with the 3 inch XM-18 for the reasons I prefer it to the 3.5 inch. The upcoming 3.25 inch ZT is not in the same class as either the XM-18 or the 056X because of the materials used--a stainless steel lock and an assisted opener.
The ZT056X knives are clearly some of the finest production folders ever made in large batches. They have a deep carry clip that the XM-18s lack, but I really did not care for the clip on that knife. It was too small and made the ZT56X a pocket pendulum. The ZT056X knives have convex handles, something the XM-18s also lack and unlike with the clip, this is a big deal. They afford a great deal of grip and they are a show off piece for KAI's machining abilities. But this makes the ZT056X knives fatter than their XM-18 cousins. I also think the XM-18s have a bit more tuning and better steel. The Elmax on the ZT560 I tested was fine but the complaints have been to widespread to ignore. Cliff Stamp did good work on this issue, found here. I also find the curvier handle shape and choil a big plus for the XM-18s.
The ZT056X knives are an achievement, no doubt, but I still give the edge to the XM-18, even at Rick's direct price. However, if you factor in the secondary prices, the ZT056X wins hands down when compared to the large XM-18. There is nothing in KAI's line up that compares to the 3 inch model. If size is an issue, you can't beat the 3 inch model, even when comparing it to the best ZT (or any other large company) makes.
Update: Score 19 out of 20
Over time I have come to appreciate the benefits of a thinly ground blade. It might not be the beast that the XM-18, but even the slicer grind is still too chunky to really do slicing work. Trying to exercise some skill at shaving a featherstick is, essentially, impossible. For that, I am taking a point off the Hinderer's score.