Introducing the XM-18 !!

 

February 13 2008

Hello everyone!

Ok, here is the first update on the status of the XM-18's...

As some of you know I have started on a very large batch of 3 1/2 in XM-18's....I just got finished milling the blades and they just came back from heat treat....It looks like if everything goes well i will be able to start delivering first of March...This is a very large batch so i should be able to fill LOTS of orders! So hang tight everyone....XM-18's will start leaving the shop before you know it!

 

 

Below is just a summery of the many features found on the new XM-18 fast becoming a standard in hard use folders

 

 

      I’ll start with the blade. The standard Spanto blade is again the best of both worlds with maximum cutting potential in a blade with a durable tip for prying; the blade thickness is a full .165 retaining its thickness right out to the tip. The oversized choil permits “chocking up “on the blade for more delicate work. The blade locks up on the solid ¼ in dia.  thumb stud which is press fitted into the blade. This makes for a very strong lockup as there is no loosening of the thumb stud which can happen with two piece thumb studs, and it is a solid bar. The fact that the thumb stud locks up against the frame adds an incredible amount of strength to the sideways torque of the blade as the sideways stresses are being stopped by the whole handle side, thus relieving the stress that would normally be put on the pivot.

 

 Speaking of the pivot, I make my own pivots on a new state of the art CNC turning center thus guarantying precise accuracy and using superior material for these pivots. The pivot is a ¼ in barrel diameter with 3/8 in heads. The pivot is drilled and tapped all the way through and I use my own designed and made pivot screw. This system makes an incredibly strong pivot that is easy to adjust in the field. The handle shape is designed to be very ergonomic and comfortable in a wide variety of user’s positions. Not everyone uses their knife the same so I designed a handle that is close to fitting everyone’s method of holding and using a folder. I also designed a texture pattern that while is grippy does not “bite’ the hand while using. The 3-d type texture is designed to flow liquids (such as sweat,oils,blood, ect.) away from your skin and into the “valleys’ of the texture.

 

The lockside  of the knife is .165 thick titanium with of course my Hinderer Lockbar Stabilizer and the knife is set up for either tip up or tip down carry. I use a tab as a filler for the slot that is not being used. The non-lock side is set up with G-10 or micarta being the handle material and using a full titanium liner under the material to add strength and pretty much tie the whole handle case together. The handle construction is a open back design using my own design of “monster” standoffs. These standoffs are designed to add the most strength for lateral crushing of the handle case while still allowing the blade to nestle into the handle without touching the standoffs. This gives the knife the same strength as a solid back folder while still having the ease of cleaning that a open back style gives. The lanyard slot gives the user a lot more options on the style of lanyard he or she chooses.  

These are some pictures of the XM-18 as well as Pictures of the inside of the knife and of the hardware.

These are the specs of the XM-18

**When ordering please specify blade length of either 3 in or 3 1/2 in**

 

The price of the XM-18 is $385.00 plus shipping

 

Options include your choice of g-10 color’s such as:

Choice of finishes for blade and Ti side of handle include:

Look for more pictures soon of the new XM-18!!

 Check out the new XM-18 testing page!!