My XM-18 took some getting used to. At first, I couldn't flip it for beans and it tore up my finger when flipping. The detent was so strong I couldn't open it one-handed with the thumb studs either. After some time and break-in, and getting used to the knife in general, I love it. It's a knife that I had to get to know over time that has its own personality. When I hand it to somebody that's never held one, they usually can't get it to flip and have trouble with the thumb studs also. Then when I hold it, it flips beautifully and I have no issues. It really feels like "My Knife" at this point, and I love it.

How times have changed. An updated video of the Strider SnG, Hinderer XM-18 3.5" and the Sebenza 31 would be interesting

I did it... dropped the cash on a spear point xm18.... god I hope I love it.

Great job TheApostleP, I have been looking at the Hinderers more & more since watching 1allsPubs videos. I personally am not a flipper fan, but I do like the looks of the XM-18 3.5 Non flipper. 1allspub also had a video about some anodized hardware upgrades, loved his choices.

The question is whether it can justify the price of $ 620 ... That's right, since I do not live in the US so it's the price I must pay for XM-18 including, shipping, customs, etc. ($50-60 shipping and 25% tax...) Is it any wonder I cry ??

Great review Rob... even if you're wrong about the flipper!!! (J/K... as you said variety is the spice of life). Seriously, you make valid points (as always). Glad you are enjoying the XM and have found it your liking. It's an awesome knife no doubt... as your title says... it deserves its rep. BTW, the pocket clip is Ti... and I am NOT a Hinderer expert! Enthusiast, yes. Expert, no. :) Thanks for showcasing my beloved XM on the TAP channel... it's now a celebrity! :)

Just dropped the $$ for the ZM18 3.5 M390 slicer.My most expensive blade to date.Wow thats a lot of money for a knife but it should last a lifetime plus.Great video Rob.

I just got my first Hinderer, the mp1. It has a super strong detent and is a great knife. Beefy but carries small for its weight. I want a xm non flipper, slicer grind as well.Btw, I always look forward to your reviews, you’re the best👍!

I still love his lock bar geometry. No one ever talks about the softness of unlocking it has. Ease of use is great. Locks up solid. I feel the 3.5" slicer for my use is the best of both worlds. I had a 3.5" spanto and a 3" slicer flipper. The 3.5" just feels perfect in hand. Weight, size and balance. The 3" is a lot more thin and light. Doesn't feel substantial enough in hand. Ironically I prefer the small Sebenza over the large.

I just got one and am wondering if you reprofiled the factory edge and if so to what angle? I put it on my Edgepro and it seems that it's a little steeper that 24degrees. 21degrees seems a little more attractive to be, but am nervous to reprofile such a high end blade.

I love my xm18. The jimping looks good and good grip. To each their own, take a look at the Jurassic. You might like it better.

Hey Rob, you are a scholar my friend!!! watching your vids is always entertaining and highly instructive!!! thanks to you i rediscovered my XM 24.... with 0,5 inch blade more than the 18 and an even worst flipping action... ;) I think that my blade steel is Duratech 20cv... nothing is written on it, and that would be my only knife with that steel... let me tell you that this blade holds an edge like no other knife that i have and it's still razor sharp when other dulled long before!!! Do you have any similar experience with that steel?

I'm naturally a lefty as well, but have trained myself to carry knives right handed out of necessity... mostly because my phone etc fills up the left pocket and the right is largely empty other than my keys.

I have a current gen XM18 3.5 waiting for me on layaway at ACK... :) going to pay my balance and get that puppy in my hands next week...your friends knife is a beautiful example..the green scales natural titanium / steel ..and the copper standoffs really compliment each other...Spantos are going up in price these days...i was thrilled to score my spearpoint beige g10 and cpm20cv XM ....throughout the entire vid, you didn't stop flicking that knife for a second.....i think you liked it...ALOT

I know it's been a while since you made this video but did you ever get the Non-flipper? I just got mine a week ago.

cts xhp isn't carpenters s30v. They do have a version of s30v which is called cts bd30p, spydefco did a sprint run manix 2 in it, good steel imo. cts xhp is kinda like a powder metallurgy version of d2 with more Carbon and chromium and less vanadium. Really nice steel.

Was just fondling one of these today, and I have to admit that I like it. Aside from bringing myself to spend $500 for a EDC knife, I'm leaning toward moving away from liner/frame lock knives in favor of knives I can manipulate more easily with either hand. Right now I am working with my PM2 and 550, and I have a ZT0350ST that I'm carrying. I like the ZT, but it isn't as left hand friendly as the other two. No question this XM18 is a fine offering, but I'm afraid it is out of my price range, and it isn't as left hand friendly.

is it time to buy one?

You should get a bodega Rob. That is a super sweet knife. And maybe if you contact todd begg maybe he could make you a left handed one?

I got the XM18 slicer grind, non flipper. The non flipper is much better IMO. The forward choil is useable without that annoying flipper tab. I think Hinderer makes an excellent product. I do find it humorous that a lot of people/reviewers think ZT’s versions are better. The ZT’s are a little fancier,but not better IMO. I owned a strider and I hated that knife. It was a pos. I actually owned the buck Version and it was much better than the real one. Maybe I got a bad knife, but it is overrated imo.

Which one did you end up buying with the funds from the 2 you sold Rob?

Another out of the park knife micro dissection from RB. Well done and what a great knife.. If you bought that knife would it be just for your collection or would you sdc (sometimes daily carry) it? Pocket or edc bag? It looks huge on video. I'm hoping that sdc isn't an oxymoron, lol!

Nice vid as always. This is the closest I will come to a XM-18.

do you still have the same opinion about the current generation xm 18s?

I didn't follow you this far back, im a newbie, but from the Chris Reeze in your collection currently, im guessing you went for the CRK? :)

the blade shape reminds me of the 4max blade shape

shit idk... crk or this. I cant decide. The problem is I ONLY want the spanto, I can't seem to find one for a reasonable price. Spear point seems alright too.

I've got a 3inch wharnie, I gotta say the detent sucks. It's not a good flipper, so I'm deleting the useless flipper and using the stud instead, which is funny his zt collabs flip like crazy

Hinderer XM18 is a great knife for $385 for the $600 second hand market prices...no way. My brother is in the military, I had him order me my XM24...now for $550 THAT's a good knife! The XM18 is just too small for my gorilla paws!

Does anyone know if hinderer offers a blade replacement service?

I think the term "spanto" is a combination of 'spear' and 'tanto.'

XM-18 vs SNG.. that's no contest bro, i've owned an sng once, traded it agains a large regular sebenza a week later. an XM is in a whole other league. and a custom XM is again an other step above the production version aswell, might not seem like it for the guys that arn't at that stage but after your first custom, those productions that you hold dear, those seem like regular oll'spyderco's in comparrison for some strange reason.. those grind lines make all the difference the XM comes in 3 sizes btw ( 3" _ 3.5" _ 4" ) the 4"is called the 24 ( because Rick loved the tv series 24 ) BTW: the XM in this video is a GEN3 ( the last generation with the stoppin in that position, the GEN2 have beautifful etchings on the blade, instead of the ti lockside) the Generation 4 have the pin moved up. they flip more smoothly aswell than previous generations, with out any extra movement, just a push of the flipper is all it needs)

Do you like these more than Sebenzas?

I was understood that he designed his knife to be used by EMTs.

you always criticize strider for that finger choil how come you praise it on the hinderer :)?

Did you happen to watch Jim Skelton's video before making this? I noticed you countered some of the things he addressed; intended or unintended. I agree with your musings, though I tend not to trust Jim since he admitted to not handling his knives much before making a video review. (Seems counter-intuitive if you ask me.) Sometimes I feel like you're his antithesis, standing up and fighting against him and everything else that's wrong with the modern folder industry ;).

rough use not hard use ! if you baton that knife you will break it .batoning is hard use .

Yeah, Rick says they are not meant to be flippers. Well....hmm. They are not meant to go back into my pocket until detent in strengthened for safety reasons. As a healthcare worker I should not accidentally cut myself trying to help another. We are not all firefighters. If I were deployed or back in the Army this would not go with. CRK is still the way I measure my fit and finish/comparison to my customs.

The spanto is probably one of the worst cutters.

You contradicted you video about the strider man. What's the deal. Do you just not like striders for some reason. I've heard more negative things about hinderers in general than strider. Hinderers have plastic Teflon washers and very light lock bar and the "flipper" doesn't flip it's just a mess. Rick hinderer even said his knives can't with stand pressure on there lock bar that's why the come un sprung.