Contemplating Hinderer XM-18 3”

Sharp Minded

Sharp Minded

Gold Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2020
Messages
871
I joined the forum just a few days ago while researching knives and fell in love with the looks and reviews of the XM-18. I don’t collect, so this would be an EDC knife.

I’m ready to pull the trigger on a new 3” tri-way with the fullered spear point in M390 with the finger choil in the working finish.

Have any of you went with the same options and regretted not going with different options?
 
Oooo, that fullered spear is sweet! The 3" is a great EDC size, it's a smaller knife. I have larger hands and had to take the 'hook' off the end of the flipper as it would dig into my index finger quite uncomfortably. I like the finger choil on the 3" 18's, gives a real good full hand purchase on the smaller size. IMO Hinderer's are some of the best put together knives, all mine are rock solid and inspire confidence when used hard. I don't have that particular model but do have a couple 3"ers, at least one in M390. Make sure you have some diamond stones to work that steel.
 
My XM 3” is my favorite edc.
oOuyO2G.jpg
OYCrKNU.jpg
 
Welcome to the forum
I really like the 3" XM-18, especially in non-flipper. I find the 3.5 to be too large and heavy for my taste, but the 3" is a great EDC.
certainly worth a try
 
I owned one xm-18 in M390 and I was disappointed with the lack of edge retention.

I have owned around six xm-18’s. Most were s35vn. I think one was in 20CV, and one was the M390. The M390 has the worst edge retention.

I tried a polished edge at 23 degrees, and also a toothier edge. Neither one lasted any longer than my D2 blades. I was really surprised and disappointed, because I read so many good things about m390.

I would stick with Hinderer’s S35VN, or 20CV.

Just my opinion/preference.
 
I have owned both XM18 3" and 3.5" and personally think that design is "meant" for 3.5".

I have an average hand size, wearing mechanix glove M-L size, and the way XM18 3" is designed, the hand merely fit onto the handle, and the smaller flipper tab with aggressive jimping right where your finger lands is surely a real nail puller. And the choil is on a small size, which will only fit my average sized finger if I tilt it with an angle, not a real choil by any means.

XM18 3.5" on the other hand, has more generous grip, larger flipper tab offers a better chance to minimize the rub from aggressive landing and larger choil to make it more usable.
 
comis said:
I have owned both XM18 3" and 3.5" and personally think that design is "meant" for 3.5".
.
Click to expand...

The 3.5" was the original design(spanto) with 3" coming latter, and even then in small batches. The 3.5" (though nice)is not a particularly light knife and I find it too heavy for my EDC. So I think the 3" makes a better EDC, but that is going to vary person to person and what they like to carry.
 
Peter Hartwig said:
Welcome to the forum
I really like the 3" XM-18, especially in non-flipper. I find the 3.5 to be too large and heavy for my taste, but the 3" is a great EDC.
certainly worth a try
Click to expand...
Peter Hartwig said:
The 3.5" was the original design(spanto) with 3" coming latter, and even then in small batches. The 3.5" (though nice)is not a particularly light knife and I find it too heavy for my EDC. So I think the 3" makes a better EDC, but that is going to vary person to person and what they like to carry.
Click to expand...

Agree it's all gonna come down to personal choice.

I measured my 3" spanto XM18 at 3.3oz and my skinny 3.5" at 4.2oz, and personally I would rather to carried 1 extra oz with great handle/flipping comfort than a lighter knife with shorter handle and potential flipping discomfort(at least for me, if people have heavily callused finger pad, it shouldn't be a problem), YMMV.

I think your choice of 3" non-flipper is actually a great choice, at least it mitigates the flipper landing issue.
 
I tried the pre tri-way pivot XM-18 3 inch. I found it to be a great knife that just didn’t fit my hand well unless I was choking up on the choil. For close work that was great but for being up on a ladder and just pulling the knife to use quick I found it to be a pain to have to get my hand just right.
Now of course this very subjective. Great knife and if had worked out for me that could have been very well the knife I stayed with.
 
Great info on the M390, smaller choil and sharp flipper. I didn't consider the 3.5 skinny, but that may be an option since weight is a concern. Weight is one of the reasons I'm leaning away from the ZT 0566.

My current EDC is an OLD Spyderco Native 2 which is in the 2.8oz range with a 3" blade/4" handle/7" overall length, with a finger choil. This puts it near the same dimensions as the XM 3".
 
I have a gen 4 3.5" with choil and a skinny 3.5" without. While i havent handled a 3" XM18 The skinny is great and the one i carry most lately. Its my Preferred weight and thin so carries pretty nice and still a full size folder. While the gen 4 on washers has a pretty nice action the tri way gen 6 blows it away. cant go wrong with an XM no matter which one you choose.IMG_5117.JPG
 
The 3.5 skinny carries very well, during hunting season it's in my pocket full time. For me it's all about the pockets. I wear Kuhl jeans almost exclusively, some models have very generous pocket opening some don't. If my pocket has a larger opening I generally carry a larger knife (3.5 size) if not I carry a smaller knife so I can still get my hand in there. I don't often carry a knife in the tool/phone pocket as it feels odd but occasionally I'll fill it with a big knife and carry a smaller one in the regular pocket. Weight doesn't generally come into play as I'm 6'3" and 180ish, there aren't many knives that I feel are too heavy to carry if I can, I just cinch my belt a little tighter :)
 
Before pulling the trigger on an XM-18, I started looking into other alternatives like Strider, Spartan, Southern Grind, Medford, Ferrum Forge, Les George, Defiant7, CKF. They're all nice, look great and get mostly good reviews, but I keep coming back to the XM-18, which looks like it could pry open a bank vault.

I saw the Guardian Tactical Helix Nano for the first time this morning it looks nice, but may be a notch down from the XM-18, especially when it comes to blade steel. I also didn't see reviews on the Helix Nano from the usual characters on YouTube.

Are there any other suggestions that I should research for an EDC flipper under 4 ounces with 3"-3.25" blade?

Also, is anyone else having edge retention issues with current runs of XM-18's in M390?
 
I was going to get the 2-tone fullered spear point they had in gray, but went another direction. It should be here tomorrow and will post pictures.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top