High End Pocket Knives

Hinderer XM-18 3″ Review

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
If you have been following Hinderer Knives on the secondary market, you will have noticed that the prices have fallen dramatically over the past couple years. A few years ago, it would have been hard to find a used XM-18 for less than $700. Some were fetching closer to a grand. Today, if you hunt around you can find them for close to retail ($385), and some online stores even carry Hinderer products. That’s right, you may actually have a shot at buying the knives from a retailer(!)

Buy the Hinderer XM-18 3″ at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I am not sure why the prices of Hinderers have dropped. It may be due to increased manufacturing capabilities so that supply actually begins to meet demand. Or perhaps the company is facing pressure from the rise of mid techs and high end Chinese knives. Or maybe it has something to do with excellent Hinderer / ZT collabs like the 0562CF driving down demand?

This is great news, regardless of the cause of the price drop. Personally, the reduction in price has allowed me to carry and use my 3″ XM-18. Don’t get me wrong, I carried and used my 3.5, but after shelling out over $500 for it I was pretty ginger with the knife. Plus it was really too big for me to carry regularly. I eventually sold it off. Now that the prices have come down to earth, I picked up a 3″ version of XM-18 to try.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The XM-18 3″ has an overall length of 7″, a 3″ blade, weighs 3.6 ounces, and is made in the USA. While the XM-18 3.5 is an impressive piece of hardware, it is hardly an every day carry (EDC) item in my book. It is built like a tank, with a thick slab of titanium, meaty blade, and over-sized stand offs. The 3.5 is a much more substantial knife than the 3. The 3″ version of the XM-18 is better for my minimalist style of daily carry. As a result this knife has been getting a ton of pocket time. I would consider this to be either an EDC knife, or a collectible.

Hinderer used to only offer the production XM in a drop point (with a spanto or “slicer” grind). Over the past year or two they have rolled out a number of different blade shapes including a clip point, “skinner”, and the wharncliffe version shown here. Rick’s wharncliffe design has grown on me. The shape is attractive and the blade has been executed flawlessly. The knife is ground thin and cuts well. The edge is about as neat of an edge as I have seen. The grinds are crisp and the stonewashed finish is subtle.

My XM came in S35VN stainless steel – just like the blade on my 3.5, the new Chris Reeve knives, and a number of other higher end offerings I have sampled. So at this point I am very familiar with S35VN as a blade steel, but I have still taken the time to put this knife through its paces.

This XM-18 has spent many weekends clipped to my pocket, and has broken down innumerable boxes, and assisted with home improvement tasks. I like the combination of S35VN steel and wharncliffe blade; this is like the worlds most expensive box cutter. The blade tracks easily through material, and the straight edge results in pressure being uniformly applied throughout the entire cut. The absence of belly means that this won’t be a great hunting or filet knife, but the straight edge is useful for a lot of other jobs. I have had zero issues with corrosion and have not much need to sharpen (although it certainly dulls after use – this isn’t some miracle steel). I have mostly maintained the edge on my strop and it continues to shave hair and push cut paper with regular maintenance. S35VN is excellent stuff, and you will find the 3″ XM in S35VN to be a capable cutter.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Handle construction of the XM-18 3, follows Rick’s pattern of titanium lock side, custom stainless steel standoffs, titanium liner and G10 handle scale. A slotted pivot helps hold it all together. Everything has been executed with surgical precision. The titanium on my model has been stonewashed and has held up well. The filler tab is flush with the handle. Every detail has been carefully considered and masterfully executed. What I especially enjoy about the 3″ version of this knife is how light the handle is. It is significantly lighter than the 3.5, and despite everything being over built the knife still tucks away neatly into the pocket.

The XM series includes one of my favorite ergonomic features: the forward finger choil. As demonstrated on some of my all time favorites like the Paramilitary 2, American Lawman, and Sage 1, this forward choil gives the user several options in gripping the knife. I find myself using the choil for detail work, and not using it when breaking down a box or engaged in an extended cutting chore. If you ignore the forward choil, the rest of the handle is plenty adequate for a full grip, and the simple shape naturally conforms to the hand. There is a run of jimping on the spine. The jimping is wide, and it strikes a good balance between providing traction and not shredding your thumb. The corrugated G10 handle scale and jimping by the pommel provides additional traction. This little XM is not going to fall out of your hand easily.

The 3″ XM features the same titanium pocket clip found on the rest of the XM line. It’s a spoon style clip that fits into a recess machined into the handle. This is not a deep carry clip, but when mounted for tip up carry the knife buries into the pocket decently. While it isn’t my all time favorite clip design, it certainly works. The clip has good retention and is reasonably discrete. The handle has been milled for right side tip up or tip down carry, and a “filler tab” is included to cover up the recess in the handle.

I like the way the 3″ XM carries. It feels even lighter than it’s 3.6 ounces would suggest, and the knife is as thin as my beloved Sage 1. For these reasons the 3″ has been getting a lot of pocket time, and it has proven itself to be a viable EDC option for me.

Deployment and Lockup

Hinderer sells the 3″ XM-18 in flipper and non-flipper variants. I have a flipper version, but it might as well be a non-flipper. The flipping action is pathetic. The blade barely makes it out to half mast – even when preloading the flipper. This is a shame. I still like the knife, but when you consider that a $30 Swindle flips better than this, it makes you wonder what is going on at Hinderer HQ. I have heard rumors that Hinderer was going to fix the weak detent on their new knives. I am not sure when this wharncliffe was made, but I don’t think they have been offering the blade shape for longer than a year. Thankfully, thumb studs are also included on the knife, and they can be used to “coin flip” the blade open. All XMs come with teflon washers, and my little 3″ is no different. The action is smooth, but personally I still prefer phosphor bronze (and suspect bronze washers would help the action).

The titanium framelock on this knife is extremely nice. It engages early and without stick. There is no blade play and the blade is perfectly centered. Hinderer has this part down to a science and it shows. This is an excellent framelock and it is certainly up for heavy cutting. Blade centering on my knife is perfect.

Hinderer XM-18 3″ Review – Final Thoughts

The high end titanium framelock flipper market has become fiercely competitive over the years, and shows zero sign of slowing down. Hinderer’s XM series has long been considered a gold standard for titanium framelock knives and high end carry pieces. If you get your hands on one it will not take long to understand why. The knives are beautifully made to exceptionally high tolerances.

Although the prices have dropped these are still far from cheap. Most people reading this probably think I am nuts to own a $400 knife, and that is OK. I’ll spare everyone the “value” discussion – either you want an XM (and are willing to pay for it) or you don’t. But at close to MSRP I think these are excellent knives, built extremely well, and I am surprised at how much I have enjoyed the 3″ XM. I bought it on a whim, and it has won me over. This is a great high end EDC option because it carries and cuts well, and oozes quality. I just wish the flipper actually flipped. That would be the cherry on top of this knife sundae. But as it stands there is still a lot to enjoy.

This is a rugged no-nonsense tool that will serve it owner well for many many years, and I think the 3″ version is practical for a normal guy to EDC if you can get around the price tag and sub-par flipping action. Recommended.

Rick Hinderer Knives XM-18 3″ – $425.00
From: BladeHQ

RICK HINDERER XM-18 3.0 SPANTO-WORKING FINISH

KnifeArt has a great selection of XM-18s, and occasionally they pop up on BladeHQ as well. And lately, they have been popping up on Amazon too. I recommend purchasing them at these retailers. Thank you for read.

DPx Aculus Review

by Grayson Parker 12 Comments

The first time I noticed a gear company use the words “executive protection,” I was browsing the Goruck website. I was in the market for a backpack (my Jansport had succumbed to a combination of heat, dirt, and heavy loads) and saw that Goruck had recently released a sleeker bag that was stripped of the exterior MOLLE webbing. Their product literature claimed that these design changes were meant to appeal to individuals working in high-end private security. While I thought the justification was a little silly, the design was still attractive to me – all the moreso because I am (contrary to what you may have heard) not working in executive protection.

Some time passed, and I had entirely forgotten about it. Then it cropped up again: Triple Aught Design had finally gotten around to releasing a pair of jeans, but marketed them to the corporate security crowd. I can tell you from personal experience that the jeans are awesome, but again the marketing was confusing.

Enter the DPx Gear Aculus: another lust worthy piece of gear that was apparently designed with undercover operations in mind. While I can’t speak for its effectiveness in that regard, I can tell you that it’s what I would expect Robert Young Pelton’s version of a “gentleman’s knife” to look like. If you believe the rumors, the Aculus was first designed on a napkin – though with R.Y.P.’s reputation, that doesn’t sound like a tall tale. The design was then licensed to LionSteel, who produced it as the TiSpine. Under the terms of the agreement, DPx would sell the Aculus in limited quantities and only sell it directly from their website.

DPx sells the Aculus as their “gentleman’s knife”; and, compared to the rest of their product line, that makes sense. However, when you are not comparing it to blades that are ¼” slabs of tool steel, that claim falls apart. I can’t presume to be a gentleman, but I’ve found myself in a suit on a few occasions, and none of them were situations where a knife like the Aculus would be appropriate. Does that mean that the Aculus is a bad knife? Far from it, but there are some caveats you need to be aware of.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Aculus has a blade length of 3.35”, a closed length of 4.33”, and weighs 3.53 oz. Overall, it’s a bit smaller than a Spyderco Paramilitary 2, but has a cutting edge about as long. Although I can’t quite see the resemblance to a scorpion tail (the namesake of the knife), I have to admit the blade shape is very attractive. There is plenty of belly, but not so much that the blade slips during fine cutting tasks. The swedge takes away a moderate amount of steel—not enough to compromise the tip geometry, but certainly enough to help with piercing tasks. It adds a nice aesthetic touch to boot.

Sadly, that durability makes the Aculus a poor slicer. It handled cardboard just fine, but food prep was challenging. This was disappointing, as picnic lunches seem to be one of the few true occasions where a “gentleman’s knife” is warranted. For some reason I had always assumed the Aculus featured a hollow grind. While that wouldn’t make it an insane cutter, it would be a big help. If you have an Aculus and feel that the blade is too thick behind the edge, I’d look into having it reground. However, that’s assuming that you do a lot of slicing. Many of today’s cutting tasks are just that: cutting. Breaking down boxes, opening packages, and other utility jobs don’t often require a thin blade, and in some cases it can even be a liability. As for me, I use my knives at lunch frequently and would prefer a hollow grind.

This was my first experience with Niolox steel, and online research provided confusing and often contradictory information. In this iteration, the steel was very impressive. I used the Aculus to prepare food, break down cardboard boxes, and even shave some drywall. It handled everything I threw at it, kept a working edge for a long time, and stropped easily. From what I saw online I expected corrosion to be an issue, but that hasn’t come up. DPx loves their tool steels, and I can’t see any reason why they shouldn’t.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

Of course, the handle is the draw of the Aculus. Integral frame locks (especially at the production level) are technical marvels and a sign of how far the cutlery industry has advanced in recent years. DPx and LionSteel knocked it out of the park. The diamond pattern is striking – almost like corrugated steel brought to a high polish. Between the attractive curves, slight contouring, and aforementioned machining, the Aculus is quite pleasant in the hand. The handle is a bit slim, but the traction from the 3-D machining makes up for that. It’s comfortable in just about any grip, including when the knife is closed.

The Aculus is slim, contoured, and features an over-the-top pocket clip. Said pocket clip meets the butt of the handle at an angle, and while it does increase the rate of pocket wear in jeans, it nestles pleasantly in slacks and suit pants. Honestly, the only complaint I can make about the clip is that DPx etched their skull logo on the clip. I’m not one for logos, especially on a knife that’s supposed to be unobtrusive. It’s not that the logo is garish or without charm; it just feels out of place. I’d like to see the same approach they take with the ‘Triple Black’ series applied here, where most of the branding is hidden or left off. Robert Young Pelton’s design motif speaks for itself – you won’t mistake his style for someone else’s.

Deployment and Lockup

After doing some research on the internet, I was under the impression that the Aculus was – despite the cut out for the thumb – a two-handed opening knife. For the first three weeks that I had the Aculus, it was tricky to open it with one hand. It wasn’t until I saw a video on DPx Sean’s Instagram page that I realized the Aculus could actually be ‘coin-flipped’ open. Opening it that way is a little unintuitive, but once you get the hang of it it’s pretty easy, even addictive. I don’t know if that’s something I would recommend on a knife this nice, but if the folks at DPx can get away with it, I think the end user can too.

Throughout the testing period, the lock-up was fine. I didn’t have a problem with a sticky lock (which has plagued other DPx models) and the lock-up is stable at 70%. There is no blade play in any direction, and I never thought it would give. Still, integrals make me nervous. I can’t help but feel that if something goes wrong, you are up a certain creek without a paddle. A lock-bar insert (as featured on the LionSteel SR-1) would do a lot to put my mind at ease, but for whatever reason one wasn’t included here. Because of this, I have trouble with the “hard use” moniker. Bear in mind DPx has a stellar warranty service, so my fears are likely unwarranted.

DPx Aculus – Final Thoughts

I can’t refer to this as a “gentleman’s knife” or a “hard use” knife, much less both. The former because there is really no use for such a tool at an academic conference, at a cocktail party, a political function, or a courtroom. In some of those cases the Aculus would even be confiscated on the way in. If you’re the one doing the confiscating (for instance, working private security), then you probably need this knife for reasons that a twenty-something graduate student can’t relate to. As for the “hard use” claim, I’m skeptical enough of normal frame-locks in that role. Besides, the Aculus is really too pretty to shunt into rough tasks.

For modern knife enthusiasts, the Aculus pushes a lot of buttons. It is fun to fidget with, easy to carry, and drop-dead gorgeous. It doesn’t slice very well, but for most people that won’t be a big deal. Ultimately, even though the Aculus isn’t a “gentleman’s knife,” or a “hard use” knife, it’s quite impressive and undeniably attractive. For collectors and folks that don’t mind thicker blade grinds, I’d recommend this knife. However, if you regularly use your knives for food prep, this is one you might want to pass on. In either case, I’m excited to see what DPx will do in the future, even if I have to endure a bit of unnecessary marketing.

DPx Aculus – From $350.00
From: dpxgear.com

Note: The Aculus has been discontinued, so if you are looking to buy one at retail I think you will have a hard time. You may be able to snag a used one off the forums. I recommend buying other DPx knives at Amazon and BladeHQ. Please keep in mind that purchasing anything through the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com. Thank you very much!

Editor’s note – having reviewed the TiSpine myself, I thought it would be fun to get Grayson’s take on the Aculus. I think he makes some valid points. Not my first choice for a gent’s folder, or a hard use tool, but it’s undeniably a beautiful knife and a marvel of engineering and craftsmanship. Well worth considering if you are at all intrigued by the design.

Spyderco Slysz Bowie Review

by Dan Jackson 19 Comments

Last Updated: August 1, 2019
An often enjoyed pastime of production knife collectors is to discuss various “Sebenza Killers” arriving on the market. The Sebenza has long been considered a gold standard in high end production cutlery, and the thought that a competitor might knock the Sebenza off it’s podium has been a topic of conversation for some time. The Bradley Alias might be the most notable knife to get bandied about as a “Sebenza Killer,” and there have been several others over the years. But 25+ years later the Sebenza is still going strong, and there seems no end in sight to its reign.

Buy the Spyderco Slysz Bowie at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Ironically, the rise of titanium framelock flippers (something Chris Reeve Knives doesn’t have an answer for) has collectors moving on to other topics, and the thought of a “Sebenza killer” suddenly seems less relevant than it once did.

Still, it’s interesting to think of knives that may stack up to the Sebenza, and as I admired my Slysz Bowie I couldn’t help but draw several comparisons to the Sebbie. Designed by Polish knifemaker Marcin Slysz, the Bowie is his second collaboration with Spyderco, with the Techno being his first.

The Techno met the market with great reviews, and remains a highly regarded production piece. The Bowie is a bigger offering. While quirky like the Techno, the Bowie has its own more business-like character. The knife is expensive, but begged for further examination. I’m pleased to offer some thoughts on the Slysz Bowie after an extended period of carry and use.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Slysz Bowie has an overall length of 7.79″, a 3.42 blade, and weighs 4.3 ounces. The knife is manufactured in Taiwan. Depending on your preferences this could make a good every day carry piece. This is what I consider to be a medium sized knife, and it sits between the large and small Sebenza. Of course if you are looking for something smaller the Techno, also designed by Polish knifemaker Marcin Slysz, could be more your bag. I have never stressed out over blade to handle ratios, but I can’t help but feel like there is a lot of excess handle on this knife, and there is something a little funky about the proportions of the Slysz bowie.

As it’s name suggests, the Slysz Bowie features a clip point blade. This is more of a non-traditional bowie with an elongated clip, and rounded spine. The rounded spine is a lovely detail, and is one I don’t recall seeing on a Spyderco before. The blade has a full flat grind and it is very thin and slicey. The finish is a stonewash that was first taken to a high polish. The blade is still highly reflective and mirrors whatever you hold it up against. I liken it to the finish on my Fantoni CUT Flipper. Clip points have always been a very practical blade shape, and this version provides a good balance of tip strength and fine piercing ability. The cutting performance is also very good.

Spyderco went with CTS-XHP, the same steel on the original Techno. I have had a good deal of experience with CTS-XHP using the Domino. Having been a fan of that steel on the Domino I immediately put the Slysz Bowie to work. This knife is a hoss, and easy handled cardboard boxes, a rope cut test, and some woodwork in addition to regular EDC chores. CTS-XHP holds a nice edge but I especially appreciate this steel’s ease of sharpening. I have yet to have any problems with rust or corrosion with CTS-XHP and so far the Slysz Bowie has been no different.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Slysz Bowie is comprised of 2 contoured titanium handle slabs. The gentle radius of the handles is a nice touch, and it seems like that is how they were able to keep the edges crisp without the knife feeling too blocky in hand. Construction is top notch with matte gray hardware (including an oversize pivot) and a substantial black G10 backspacer. I know that the bright blue backspacer of the Techno was a favorite feature of many. Personally I prefer the more subdued appearance of the black backspacer. The backspacer is jimped in 2 places and protrudes ever so slightly from the handle scales. The light chamferring to the corners of the backspacer give it dimension and detail that belies its plain black appearance.

The titanium handle slabs have been given a heavy stonewashing. The stonewash supplies the slightest amount of texture to the handles. It also makes the Slysz Bowie very easy for me to cram into my pocket without agonizing over it inviting scratches like a freshly waxed Porsche parked too close to a grocery store. Compared with the Rubicon (another recent Spyderco release) the Slysz Bowie practically begs for use.

The Slysz Bowie feels pretty good in hand. There is a run of Sebenza like jimping along the spine, as well as the backspacer, and the good size handle accommodates my larger hand well. Although no efforts have been made to round the edges of the handles, the contoured titanium makes up for it slightly. The knife is fine for normal use, but I would reach for a fixed blade if I had an extended heavy duty cutting chore. The Slysz Bowie feels capable in forward and reverse grips and handles like a well-balanced medium sized folder should.

The Slysz Bowie takes advantage of Spyderco’s wire clip. It should be no surprise to regular readers that this is one of my favorite clip designs. It’s very discrete and the Slysz Bowie all but disappears into the pocket. The handle is tapped for ambidextrous tip up carry. The knife carries very well being relatively slim and relatively lightweight considering that it’s a decent sized full titanium framelock folder. I will say that I did have issues a couple times with my pants pockets binding up on the lock spring cut out on the handle when I tried to draw the knife.

Deployment and Lockup

Being a Spyderco, this knife gets opened with its thumb hole. This is a generously sized thumb hole that is easy to access with your right hand and opens smoothly and quickly with a satisfying “thwack”. The phosphor bronze washers are very smooth and the detent is tuned to where you can easily flick the knife open but you don’t need to worry about the blade falling out of the handle.

Unfortunately, us lefties are left out in the cold. Just like with the Techno, this knife is difficult to open with your left hand. It’s not impossible, but you can’t enjoy flicking the knife open like you can with your right hand. That’s a shame because part of the appeal of Spyderco is their (usually) ambidextrous designs. I’ll stop whining as I understand that 90% of the people reading this are right handed, but I gotta “keep it real” for my fellow lefties.

For lock up we have a classic titanium frame lock, or a Reeve Integral Lock (RIL) as Spyderco likes to call it. This lock does not benefit from a steel insert like some of Spyderco’s other framelocks, and my knife locks up pretty late (around 75%). That said, its a very sturdy lockup and there is no blade play in any direction. There isn’t any blade stick either. Blade centering on my example is absolutely perfect.

Spyderco Slysz Bowie Review – Final Thoughts

The Slysz Bowie is a hell of a knife, and I imagine if Spyderco released it either a few years ago or for $100 less, it would have made huge waves in the production knife scene. As it stands, it’s a beautiful knife and a solid performer. I pictured it next to my American Lawman for a reason – the Slysz is meant to be used. But I think that the $320+ price tag will scare many folks off. And the absence of a flipper, bearings, steel lock insert, and big name American designer doesn’t give it that “gee whiz” factor that seems to drive a lot of consumer attention these days.

I have justified expensive knives in the past. They are luxury goods. People buy them because they want them. Still, I think a discussion on price is appropriate here. Personally, I bought mine used for $230, and at that price I was willing to check it out. For $300 it was just too rich for my blood. While I could somehow justify paying full retail for the Rubicon, I could not do that with the Slysz.

Here is a shot of the Slysz Bowie next to another hard working knife, the Cold Steel American Lawman:

I am more than a little surprised about the price of this knife, especially since the Farid Mehr K2 is a bigger titanium frame lock, has an equally exotic steel, is also made in Taiwan, and has a MSRP of a full $100 less than the Slysz Bowie. I’ve since learned that the reason for the price difference is largely due to the 3-D machined handles of on the Slysz Bowie and the polished and stonewashed blade. Whether these features are worth the $100 difference is up to you.

The Slysz Bowie is still pretty far off from what a Sebenza costs (currently $410 for a Large 21), so if Spyderco truly had a “Sebenza Killer” in mind, at least it’s almost $100 less. In many ways I like the Slysz Bowie more than a Sebenza. I prefer the full flat grind, superior blade steel, 3-D machined stonewashed handles, thumb hole, and better action. When you consider the value proposition, maybe the Slysz Bowie is priced appropriately after all.

If you can swallow the price tag, or can snag a good deal on it, this is an awesome knife. I am not ready to declare the demise of the Sebenza, but this is still a damn good knife.

Spyderco C186TIP SLYSZ Bowie Folding Knife, Titanium, 3.42-Inch

Plain sharp edge
7.79 inches overall length
4.37 inches closed length
3.42 inch blade length
Titanium handle

I recommend purchasing the Slysz Bowie at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated – thank you very much!

Shirogorov 95t Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

I have had folks occasionally confess that they live vicariously through my reviews of high end pocket knives. I have handled some nice stuff over the years, but for the most part my wallet and I have been able to resist the renaissance of mid tech and custom knives. This is despite the deluge of eye candy on Instagram, which seems to suggest that everyone acquires $750+ knives and $100 titanium bottle openers at the same rate I buy a loaf of bread and some eggs at the grocery store. Well, I finally gave in, joined the masses, and grabbed this Shirogorov 95t.

Buy the Shirogorov 95t at BladeHQ

But this didn’t happen overnight. I have lusted after a Shirogorov for several years before eventually getting one. I actually had the chance to buy one directly from the maker at the 2014 Blade Show. I was one of the few to get their ticket called in their lottery. The problem was the knives started at $1,000+, which was more than I was willing to spend. I scored this gently used 95t off the forums while recording an episode of Gear Geeks Live.

For those unfamiliar with the maker, Shirogorov is a Russian knife company operated by the Shirogorov brothers. There isn’t a ton of info on the company (at least in English), but this is a growing manufacturer focusing on high end production and custom knives. They might be categorized as pioneers in the recent trend of high end production knives coming out of Russia and Asia. They are known for sleek designs, fanatical attention to detail, and exceptional fit and finish.

The 95 is one of their more popular models, and the 95t is a full titanium handled version with their signature “turtle” pattern (hence – a 95 “t”). This review has been a long time coming, and I’m pleased to finally be able to share some thoughts on this exclusive knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 95t has an overall length of 8.75″, a 3.75″ blade, and it weighs 5.2 ounces. This is a large knife, and is not well suited for my style of every day carry (EDC). To me this is more of a self defense knife or large utility knife. Given how expensive it is, it has largely remained a collectible for me, but I did carry and use it a little. Mostly for purposes of putting this review together.

The 95t’s drop point blade is about as simple of a shape as you can get. Just 3.75 inches of flat ground and lightly tumbled steel. Of course, the devil is in the details, and the 95t has some nice ones on its blade. The edges have been slightly chamferred up by the jimping and the plunge lines are very clean. I wasn’t able to examine the factory edge on this particular knife (the previous owner attempted to sharpen the knife on a [easyazon_link asin=”B006WRH198″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Wicked Edge[/easyazon_link]), but as it stands it cuts very cleanly. The finish is very fine and the knife glides through cardboard.

My 95t came with Elmax steel for the blade. Elmax is a higher end stainless steel by Bohler Uddeholm. Shirogorov offers the Model 95 with several other blade steels as well, including S30V. I’ll be the first to confess that this 95t has not been a real heavy “user” for me. First of all, at $700+ I have plenty of less expensive knives to beat up on, and secondly, with a near 4″ blade the 95t is well outside my normal range for daily carry – even on evenings and weekends when I’m not working in an office. I will say the 95t tracks through paper effortlessly, and opens boxes with the best of them. Anecdotally, the full flat grind and finely finished blade seemed to aid with slicing performance.

Handle, Egonomics, and Pocket Clip

The 95t has a full titanium handle. As previously mentioned, this particular model has Shirogorov’s signature “tortoise shell” design carved into it – hence the 95t. The handle really is a thing of beauty. The titanium has been masterfully milled. The edges are contoured and the single stand off is sunk into the titanium frame. There are a number of nice details to explore, from the “channel” behind the flipper tab for your finger to fall into, to the polished edges of the custom hardware. Speaking of custom hardware, while the slotted hardware is pretty, it easily mars if you try to adjust the pivot or remove the clip. The titanium itself has been given a thorough tumbling. This helps hide wear and contrasts nicely with the bright stainless blade and accents.

The 95t is a large folding knife and it feels very good in hand. There are no sharp edges to speak of, save the cutting edge of course, and the simple handle shape allows your fingers to fall in place. There is a short run of jimping on the spine which reminds me a little of a Sebenza, but isn’t quite as sharp. The turtle pattern provides some additional traction without being overbearing, and the stonewashed titanium has a texture of its own. This simple handle will fit most people well.

The pocket clip is a 3-D machined piece of titanium, and is a miniature work of functional art in its own right. Drilled and tapped for right side tip up carry only, the clip compliments the lines of the knife. It also works well, affording secure and reasonably deep carry. The pommel just peeks out over your pocket when in place. The 95t is a large knife, but carries nicely considering. It has some heft to it, but isn’t over the top heavy. It carries well for its size.

Deployment and Lockup

The 95t flips fantastically. While it isn’t as much of a rocket launcher as the Zero Tolerance 0454, it’s still a pretty damn good flipper. The action is crisp and the blade kicks open easily with the push of a finger. My particular knife runs on a single row bearing system, however, I know that Shirogorov also offers knives in a fabled multi row bearing system (MRBS). I have never handled one of their MRBS knives, so I can’t comment on that feature. I can say this single row bearing knife is very smooth. The blade shoots open and falls closed easily.

For lockup we have a frame lock with a steel insert. Lockup is early and extremely solid. There is no play in any direction, and the lock is easy to disengage. Blade centering is perfect.

Shirogorov 95t Review – Final Thoughts

I have had the privilege of checking out some damn cool stuff over the years. So far I have largely resisted the temptation to venture in to mid tech and custom knife territory, but the Shirogorov was too hard for me to resist. I am very happy I got a chance to check this knife out. It’s beautiful and amazingly well executed. Every aspect of the knife has been meticulously considered, and the end result speaks for itself. This is one heck of a knife, and if you have the money and desire to own one, I do not think you will be disappointed.

Here is a shot of the 95T next to another beautiful knife, the Fantoni CUT Flipper:

I won’t deny that this is an expensive piece. I am unsure what these retail for exactly, as they don’t stay on the retail market for long. I would guess anywhere from $750 to $1000. Either way you are paying a lot of money for this knife. So certainly this is not a knife anyone “needs”. I’ll never be able to answer for you whether it is “worth it”. Only you can make that decision. When I compare the 95t to a large Sebenza or a Hinderer XM-18, I think you are getting something more for your money. I’d have a hard time deciding between this and the ZT 0454, but I think the 95t is made just a little bit better.

I usually sell off many of the expensive knives that land in my collection. I’m not made of money and I need to do this to check out new stuff. I have been sitting on this 95t for at least 6 months now. I think the fact that I have stalled writing this review for so long says a lot. I am having a hard time letting it go, and just might convince myself to keep it. As someone who has had a lot of knives pass through his hands that’s about as glowing of an endorsement as I can offer.

Shirogorov 95t
From: BladeHQ

Occasionally Shirogorov knives find their way to BladeHQ, and I recommend purchasing them there. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco Rubicon Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

Last Updated: August 3, 2019
Spyderco has released a number of high end knives of the past year. Blades like the Slysz Bowie, K2, Firefly, and Burch Chubby are all retailing at north of $200. Meanwhile, there doesn’t seem to be much of interest going on in the ~$100 price point or sub $100 price points – both of which have been sweet spots for Spyderco in the past with cherished blades like the Paramilitary II, Sage, Caly 3, Dragonfly, Manix 2, and of course the Endura and Delica.

Buy the Spyderco Rubicon at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

So I have been forced to pick my battles a little bit. I can’t review everything Spyderco turns out, especially if the majority of their stuff is going to set me back 2 bills+. So as 2014 drew to a close I decided to acquire one of their most ambitious pieces to date: the Rubicon. Retailing for over $300, this is the most expensive Spyderco I have ever acquired.

The Rubicon is a collaboration with custom knife maker Peter Carey, a designer / maker that I have previously had zero experience with. The Spyderco Rubicon is an interpetation of Peter’s custom Rubicon. Peter’s knives are meticulously hand finished and coveted by collectors, and one of Spyderco’s goals with the collaboration was to celebrate that aspect of his knives. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a production knife, but the end result, while expensive, is unlike any other Spyderco I have handled to date.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Rubicon has an overall length of 7.48″, has a 3.03″ blade, and weighs 4.2 ounces. This folder is compact enough for daily carry, but to me it is more of a collectible. It feels very lightweight for its size, which is fantastic for daily carry, but I can’t say I remodeled a bathroom with this knife, or had it clipped to my pocket while swapping out the transmission of my truck.

The blade is a bulbous piece of S30V and the shape is faithful rendition of Peter’s custom Rubicon. I think the blade shape is a little too curvy, but it’s faithful to the original design. Of course being a Spyderco collab this blade features a thumb hole. Both the primary bevel and swedge are belt finished and the hollow grinds ripple in the light. A nice touch is the horizontally polished satin flats. This is a high end detail you don’t see on many Spyderco’s. No doubt this was done to mimic the “hand rubbed” flats of a real Carey. The end result is something lustrous and difficult to photograph.

At this point, Spyderco’s CPM S30V is a known quantity. I own several Spydies in S30V (some for 4+ years) and have been reasonably happy with their edge retention and performance, although at this stage in the game I may have preferred something a little different: S35VN or CTS-XHP come to mind. I am not too concerned about squeezing every last drop of performance out of this knife, but I would be remiss if I didn’t lightly admonish Spyderco for not springing for an even more premium steel given the price point. I suppose that just goes to show how good we actually have it.

The hollow grind is lean, the edge is keen, and I have been happy with the way this knife carves through cardboard and paper. There is a slight recurve, which has a way of improving cutting performance, but hampering your ability to easily sharpen the edge. The recurve is mild so I’m not expecting too much difficulty, but this is a knife that I will relegate to my Sharpmaker and strops for touch ups, rather than flat stones.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is where things really start to get interesting. The star of the show is the 3-D machined high polished carbon fiber handle scales with bright orange G10 pivot collars surrounding an oversize decorative pivot. As an avid knife collector I have had the opportunity to get my hands on all kinds of carbon fiber handled knives over the years. I can say that this is the nicest carbon fiber and the best finished carbon fiber handle I have ever seen in the production world. The weave of the carbon fiber is ultra tight, and there are no pin holes or voids. The polish has almost reached mirror like qualities and rotating the knife in your hand reveals a depth and character to the carbon fiber unlike anything else I have seen. I have often been critical of Spyderco for using cheap carbon fiber overlays over G10 on their knives (like the Sage and Domino). They didn’t skimp in this instance.

The pivot collar, while entirely decorative, has been beautifully and seamlessly integrated into the handle. The two-tone tri-tip pivot is the nicest I have seen. The carved g10 backspacer, while bold, has also been beautifully rendered. I realize that this is starting to sound like a Jim Skelton video, but if these kinds of details mean anything to you then you will be impressed with the job done on the Rubicon. And construction of the handle is perfect. There are 2 thick stonewashed and skelotonized titanium liners. A couple simple button head fasteners hold everything together, allowing you to revel in the gloriously finished handle.

The Rubicon is comfortable and is a nice knife to work with if you can bring yourself to actually use it. Those 3-d finished handles don’t just look good, they provide plenty of meat for you to hold on to. The handle shape itself is thoughtful, allowing your fingers to wrap around it easily and naturally. You do have a forward choil of sorts that you can use to choke up on, and a short run of jimping on the spine provides tactile feedback without being overly sharp and aggressive. As for the polished carbon fiber being “smooth” and “slippery”, I haven’t had any issues holding onto this knife. The handle shape provides lots of traction naturally by virtue of its design. That said, I didn’t take the Rubicon into the shower with me, so this could be one of those “Your Mileage May Vary” situations. If you really need a high traction handle on every knife in your collection, buy a Griptilian and call it a day.

In comparison to the rest of the knife, the pocket clip seems like something of an afterthought. The clip on the custom knife is similar, so there is that to consider. The clip isn’t offensive to look at or anything, but next to the rest of the knife the simple stamped clip seems basic and stock. I will say that this is a sturdy titanium clip, and this is a step up from the clip on the Southard Flipper. I will also say that it functions fine as a pocket clip. It has strong retention and buries decently low in the pocket. The Rubicon feels lightweight for its size and I don’t notice it that much in my pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

The Rubicon gives you the option of a flipper tab or thumb hole, and both work well. This is the 3rd flipper in the Spyderco flipper dynasty, and the action is smooth and reliable. The detent isn’t super stong, but the way the flipper tab is canted ensures that the blade will gracefully flip open without fail pretty much every single time. The bearings are very smooth and the blade floats around the pivot.

The Rubicon makes use of a thick titanium liner lock to hold the blade in place. Mine is a little sticky. I have never been a huge fan of titanium liner locks, but I am not sure I would have built this knife any differently myself. The beautiful carbon fiber handles are the star of the show, and I think it would have been a shame (and boring) to make this another titanium framelock knife. The lock bar isn’t the easiest to get at to disengage. It’s not impossible to wedge the meat of your thumb in to free the blade, but when compared with other knives it’s a little less convenient. To be fair I think that is how Peter designed the knife – perhaps favoring aesthetic considerations over raw functionality.

Blade centering on my example is perfect.

Spyderco Rubicon Review – Final Thoughts

The Rubicon is an ambitious piece from Spyderco. Overall I would say it’s a great success. Spyderco should be proud to have put together such a nice knife. Lately, Zero Tolerance and LionSteel have both been making most of the waves in the high end production knife world. In many ways Spyderco has raised their bar in terms of high end finishing and production quality. I am excited to see some of this trickle down into future offerings. No knife is perfect, and I have a couple minor quibbles with the Rubicon, but I its pros easily outweigh its cons. As a tool the fundamentals are there: it’s comfortable, lightweight, and it cuts well. That said, there were some form over function considerations with this knife, and for me it’s more of a collectable than a true tool knife. I don’t have a problem with that, but for some folks that just won’t work.

Like most expensive things, one question many will ask is, “Is it worth the money?” I can’t answer that question for you. I will readily admit that $325 is a lot of money to pay for a production knife, and I can understand if some view this simply as needless pocket frosting. I will say that I can see where the dollars go when comparing this with a Domino or Southard Flipper. The handle is truly amazing and one look at the material selection and finish work shows you where the $100 or so went. Personally, while I don’t deny that $325 is a lot of money for a pocket knife, I don’t think they are out of line with the asking price. You are welcome to disagree.

If I were to make any refinements I would address the lockbar area. I am not a knife maker so I couldn’t tell you how to take the slight amount of stick out of the lockbar. I might have opened up the lock release area to make the liner lock easier to disengage. And some sort of 3-D machined pocket clip would be uber cool. My guess is that would make the knife even more expensive.

All in all I am impressed with the Rubicon and can recommend it to die hard Spyderco fans and fans of high end production folders. The Rubicon is something truly different from Spyderco, and I am glad I selected it out of the melange of high end 2014 releases.

Spyderco Rubicon 3.04" Folding Knife C187CFP

Folding Knives, Knives & Tools

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Rubicon at Amazon and BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Rick Hinderer Knives XM-18 3.5 Review

by Dan Jackson 16 Comments

Last Updated: June 23, 2019
In the past I have compared knife collecting to mountain climbing. Certainly there isn’t the element of physical accomplishment, as the only thing that really gets a workout is your wallet, but there is that spirit of pursuit and of course the ascent up a pile of incrementally more expensive knives. When considering the “summit” in the realm of production knives three big players in the US market come to mind: Chris Reeve, Strider, and Hinderer.

Buy the Hinderer XM-18 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I have been tooling away at this website for the better part of 4 years now, and have already covered multiple Chris Reeve and Strider products, but I’ve yet to review a Hinderer. That is because I had yet to purchase a Hinderer until 6 months ago.

The reason it has taken me so long to review a Hinderer is the same reason why many people get so hung up on Hinderer knives in general. They are difficult to purchase unless you win a lottery at one of the knife shows Hinderer goes to, happen to qualify for Hinder’s active military / first responder program and buy directly from Hinder, or want to pay a substantial mark up for a Hinderer on the secondary market. With a retail price from Hinderer of $385, these knives were selling for $700, $800, $900+ on the forums. We could get into a huge debate as to whether they are “worth” the money. At the end of the day, they are worth what you will pay for them.

Over the past few years I have seen the secondary prices creep down a little, and was able to snag this new XM-18 3.5″ for $550. At that price I was comfortable buying the knife knowing that I could eventually sell it and recover most if not all of my money. Your mileage will vary.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The 3.5″ XM-18 has an overall length of 8.25″, weighs 5.6 ounces, and of course it sports a 3.5″ blade. This is a very substantial tool. It is over half an inch thick, and was definitely not designed for desk jockeys like myself. Rick comes from a firefighting background, and built the XM with first responders in mind.

It’s a big and heavy knife designed to perform under the hugely demanding situations first responders run into. I run a small law office on the coast of Florida. The closest thing I come to being a first responder is responding to the office manager’s announcement that someone dropped off a dozen donuts in the break room. On weekends I mow the lawn, go to the beach, and occasionally write articles about pocket knives. Some might suggest the 3″ XM for someone like myself, but I have always wanted to check out a 3.5″ flipper slicer. So here we are.

The blade of the XM is Rick’s classic drop point shape. We have seen something similar to it in the myriad of KAI/Hinderer collabs that I have covered over the years. My particular XM has been given Rick’s “slicer” grind, which is his leaner more cutting oriented grind. Contrast this with his thicker reinforced “Spanto” grind. Even though this is the slicier of the two grinds, it’s still quite thick behind the edge and favors durability over raw slicing performance. I’m okay with that as it seems to suit the beefy, reinforced nature of the rest of the knife.

Hinderer offers their knives in a number of different blade finishes, and even a wharncliffe version now. Mine has been given a nice tumbled finish although you can also get them beadblasted, coated, or even hand ground by the man himself if you have the cash.

Over the years Hinderer has offered the XM in a proverbial cornucopia of different steels. The blade steel of this particular XM is S35VN which is probably what most of them are being made out of these days. S35VN is a good steel and has been adopted by Chris Reeve and Spyderco. The blade is heat treated to 60-61 HRc. This is a touch harder than what Chris Reeve has been heat treating his S35VN to, and the result is better edge retention, but it’s theoretically a little harder to sharpen. In use I have found that the edge stays keen, and I have only had to strop it to maintain sharpness. I haven’t had issues with rust, chipping, or anything else. No complaints here.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the XM is very well done. You have a G10 scale over titanium liner on one side, and then a full titanium frame lock on the other. Holding everything together is a bunch of custom hardware. This handle is beautifully made and you can really get to understand the quality of the XM by closely examining it. The parts are all overbuilt, but wonderfully finished. My titanium locking side has been completely stonewashed and this nice hard wearing finish compliments the blade nicely. It really is a beautifully made handle.

In hand the XM 18 is all business. Again, Rick designed this knife with firefighters and military in mind, and it’s a no-nonsense tool that works in a variety of grips. I have always been a fan of forward finger choils, and even without the choil there is plenty of room on this handle for large gloved hands. This is also a thick knife, and it really fills the hand. I can only imagine what the XM-24 is like. It’s probably akin to driving around in an S-Class Mercedes all day – solid and roomy. There is jimping on the spine, lock release, and pommel, but it’s wide soft jimping and doesn’t tear up your skin. I’d say the ergonomics are pretty solid with this one.

Hinderer equips the XM 18 with a reversible pocket clip. It’s not a deep carry clip and favors ease of access over concealment. It’s a big heavy knife, so you will feel the XM-18 in your pocket, but it carries alright for what it is. The clip sets into a recess in the handle so it’s a very sturdy design. I think it’s interesting that they include a “filler tab” for the clip mounting position you don’t use.

Deployment and Lockup

Hinderer offers these knives in flipper and non-flipper variants. Here of course I have the flipper version. Many view this as the knife that got the titanium frame lock flipper craze going, and the ZT0560 collab really brought that front and center to the masses.

What is sort of ironic about the XM-18 is that it’s not a particularly good flipper. Back when these first came out I am sure the flipping action was considered to be fine, but these days even my $30 Swindle out flips this knife. There are teflon washers inside and while I can pushbutton the blade open it isn’t a rocket launcher flipper by any stretch of the imagination. But that isn’t necessarily a kiss of death. This is still a very nice smooth knife with good action, and reliable deployment. You just need to decide whether you are looking for a really fast flipper or not. I will say the thumb studs work fine on this XM.

Lockup on this knife is the stuff of legends. The thick titanium lockbar engages early against the tang of the blade and there isn’t even a hint of play. The thumb studs double as blade stops and the stop pin is sleeved to avoid peening. There is zero stickiness to the lock despite not having a stainless steel lockbar insert. Also, lets not forget the inclusion of the Hinderer lockbar stabilizer. I’ve mentioned it in scores of other reviews, but this is where it all began. Lockup is just super duper good.

Hinderer XM-18 Review – Final Thoughts

Politics and price points aside, this is an impressive knife. I feel that there is a substantial bump up in beefiness and build quality when compared with a Strider or Chris Reeve offering, and it’s a big jump from Spydercos, Benchmades, and even new ZTs.

When I compare the XM to everything else I have reviewed before, I have to say that the XM is a different knife. It’s difficult to put into words, but it feels like every piece of this knife was first carefully contemplated, and then overbuilt and meticulously finished to a fanatical degree. This is an extremely solid knife and I am glad that I have finally been able to acquire one for long term testing.

That said, the 3.5″ XM-18 does have its potential draw backs. The fact that it’s heavy, and doesn’t flip very well are the biggest draw backs that come to mind.

This XM has been in my collection for several months now, and I’ve tried my best to approach the review cautiously given the enormous amount of hype built into these knives. While I can’t say I would spend $800 for one of these, I do think they are easily worth the $385 MSRP. At $550 I am less enthused, but still respect the knife for what it is. Like any other luxury good, some will love it while others will blast it as a ridiculous extravagance. Those that don’t like it can simply vote with their dollars and spend their money elsewhere.

Personally I view this as either a dedicated tool or a collectible. It’s not a daily carry item for me. But again, I don’t work as a first responder. I “need” this knife for work much like I “need” a Hummer to accomplish my 20 minute suburban commute every day. That said, I realize there are plenty of people who may actually need, or want, an over built knife like this. And if that’s the kind of knife you are looking for, Hinderer delivers in spades.

I can say without hesitation that the XM-18 is a beautiful knife, and I recommend checking one out if you are at all interested in it. I am glad I did.

Rick Hinderer Knives XM-18 3.5 – $550.00
From: BladeHQ

RICK HINDERER XM-18 3.0 SPANTO-WORKING FINISH

KnifeArt has a great selection of Hinderer XM-18s, and they pop up on BladeHQ as well. And lately Amazon has been stocking them as well. I recommend purchasing them at these retailers. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.