Hinderer XM-18 3.5" Slicer Grind

The Hinderer XM-18 is a great knife. There is a lot of history behind this knife that I don't really want to get into. I will say that these are some of the most popular knives among the knife enthusiast community. Since Rick has started ramping up production, these are becoming more and more available, which is great for the average enthusiast. 

The XM I have here is the 3.5" model. 3.5" is just about my favorite size for an EDC knife. The blade is a classic drop point blade with a flat grind that Rick refers to as a "Slicer Grind". The grind does not terminate parallel with the spine of the blade but, rather, it is ground at an angle such that as it moves from the heel to the tip, the grind steadily climbs till it reaches the spine. The blade steel on my example is DuraTech 20CV. This steel has very high corrosion resistance, high wear resistance, and good toughness.  Here is a data sheet from Alpha Knife Supply. Being that this is 20CV, there are no markings on the blade. The standard models come with S35VN, one of my favorite EDC steels, and have the Hinderer logo and the steel laser etched on the blade. I prefer the sterile look myself. The blade is finished nicely with a stonewash and Rick's is one of the cleanest I've seen.  There is a small run of jimping on the spine of the knife that is chunky but sharp and provides good traction. 

the slicer grind creates a slightly thicker angle at the heel than towards the tip where it is fairly thin. I say fairly because in terms of Hinderers it is thin but this is certainly still a stout grind. I have had some of the other styles and this one certainly emphasizes cutting rather than tip strength or prying. Rick has a spearpoint model coming soon that I am very interested in. 

The knife features both thumb studs and a flipper tab to open the knife. The thumb studs act as the blade stops as well as an opening mechanism. They seat securely and the blade has no play in any direction.

The flipper works to open the knife but it does require some attention. The knife uses teflon washers and while it is very very smooth, the detent is not as strong as some dedicated flipper knives. The lack of a strong detent is responsible for the slow flipping but, because this is how it was designed, it is perfectly acceptable to me.

And the lighter detent makes using the thumb studs very easy and smooth. There is a bit of added traction on the flipper tab that works well as designed. The angle of the jimping forces you to "pre-load" tension on the tab, making it flip out securely. 

The handle on the XM is very well appointed and finished. The titanium on my example is bead blasted instead of stonewashed. The finish is even and there are no noticeable machining marks. The word "HINDERER" is rolled into the TI across the top of the knife.

The knife use the frame lock mechanism and this one is very well "tuned". There is very little effort required to unlock the knife yet when it opens, it locks nice and securely. The knife does not sport a stainless steel insert of any kind so it is bare Ti against the blade tang. While I would prefer an insert, I've never had any problems with mine and I doubt you will either. 

The hardware on the XM-18 is fantastic. Hinderer machines his own screws, standoffs, pivots, and pocket clip. The clip is blasted to match the handle but the rest is nicely polished. The contrast really adds visual appeal to the knife. The knife uses Hinderers lockbar stabilizer that works to prevent accidental overextension of the lock bar. Rick says he came up with the design after doing that very thing to a knife he had. 

The pivot accepts a standard flat bit but the opposite side requires the use of a spanner wrench. I see this as a bit of a detractor but it might not be a big deal to some.

Near the rear of the handle, there is a hole that can accept a lanyard. The hole is rectangular and rounded and is designed to be compatible as a oxygen tank wrench (although I have no idea about that). 

The show side of the knife is covered by a G10 handle scale. Mine is plain black but they are available in a variety of colors. Part of the appeal of these knives is the customizability. You can purchase replacement scales and hardware from a variety of sources to add you own touch to the knife. 

Overall I love the XM-18. The shape fits the hand perfectly, the grind is useful, and the build quality is at the top of production knife standards. Forget all the history and focus on the knife and you have a great knife with impeccable finish and a hard-use flair. I'd gladly recommend this knife to anyone (especially now that you can find them readily).