Koenig or Hinderer

Which would you prefer?

  • Total voters
    49
Joseph Bandeko

Joseph Bandeko

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Dec 9, 2021
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1,355
Hey y'all,
I'd like to take a poll.
Price aside, what would you rather have, a Koenig Arius or a full Ti Hinderer XM-18 3.5"?
If you would like to explain why you prefer one over the other one, please do so.
Also, would your opinion vary depending on materials or configuration?
Thanks!
 
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The smart man buys the Arius, and then sells it for enough to buy two XM-18s. But in all seriousness, most Arius knives I see are safe queens. They’re so expensive people are afraid to use them. I’ll take the Hinderer because it’s attainable, there is an abundance of aftermarket parts, and it doesn’t depreciate with use because people expect it.
 
The Arius is I think a better knife, but it is very large and sits 'large' in the pocket. The action on them is impeccable, and the fit and finish is superior. But the price is a lot higher, so, you know... it ought to be. The Hinderer XM-18s I have a major dislike of the sharp jimping on the frame by the flipper tab. I often catch my finger on it, which interrupts the 'flip' action and also can hurt a bit. I like the shape and size of the Hinderer better. If I had my druthers, I'd take a mini-Arius or a Hinderer Jurassic or Eklipse over either.
 
I thought about saying a full Ti XM and price aside.
Should I change it?
 
Bunker Hill Blades said:
I thought about saying a full Ti XM and price aside.
Should I change it?
Click to expand...
My XM-18 is a full Ti... it definitely takes them up a level IMO. The action on both my XM and Koenig are amazing... lockup, centering etc are perfect on both. The Koenig has a WAY thinner hollow grind then even my slicer grind XM-18. The XM feels like a "hard use" knife - the Arius feels like a performance knife.

Edit to add that the ergos go to the Arius, but I do like the XM and the jimping is a non issue to me. The Arius is deceptively light for the size since it's milled so well. IF you want performance/ergos - the Arius, if you want bombproof and durable the XM.
 
I'll trake a Fulltrack over both. Fairer price comparison, too (when they were available).
 
If I had to choose one, I’d pick a full Ti skinny 3.5” XM-18 over the Arius. I’ve owned many of both, but just gravitate towards the Hinderer brand more as a whole. The Arius does have a fairly large profile in the pocket, as others have noted.
 
I have had, and no longer do, both knives. The Koenig is, in my opinion, superior in pretty much every objective way. Subjectively I didn't like either enough to keep, mostly due to their bulkiness.
 
The Keonig has a thinner edge over the Hinderers, the only real negative is the pocket clip for me. I liked it when I had it, if I got another one it would be without a flipper tab.

Hinderer has a lot of accessories and are all around good knives.
 
My friend has the Koenig. I've handled it numerous times. Personally, I don't like it.....at all.

I find it overly thick and bulky, in handle and blade. It isn't very comfortable to hold, IMO. The features don't seem like they're in the right place for my hand.

Craftsmanship was really nice I'd say. The action is incredibly smooth. I can't call it "excellent" because I don't care at all for "drop shut".....which it definitely is, more than any knife I've ever handled. So much so that it surprised me and fell on my fingers. The only thing that saved me was the edge was incredibly dull for the entire length. It wasn't unsharpened like they just forgot....it was just not sharp at all. It is an unused safe queen.

I personally am not a fan of the overall design, though in today's market they did a good job of making it trendy and desirable for the majority.

I have no experience with the Hinderer but I personally wouldn't consider the Koenig.
 
I never handled a Koenig so I can't really give an opinion on it. It looks okay, kinda bulky lookin though. I've had a couple of XMs & liked them but apparently not enough to keep them. I don't like the spanto blade shape. I'd take a wharncliffe or bowie XM over both of them.
 
I own a Koenig Arius and carry and use it frequently. I have a lefty Hinderer xm18 that I carry and use rarely. I prefer my lefty Eklipse to the xm18. But I prefer the Arius to both. The Arius is a better slicer. It's better for me ergonomically. The fit and finish is better. I prefer the aesthetic of the Arius. I own only lefty Hinderers, being a southpaw. I wouldn't buy a righty Hinderer. My Arius is a righty. But I love everything else about it enough that it's in my never sell pile. If they ever make a lefty Arius, I'm absolutely buying one. Also, the Koenig story is great, and my interaction with then on social media has been good. Hinderer has a very different reputation. If that kind of thing matters to you, be aware.
 
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