Hinderer XM18 : 3.5" Spanto

Hinderer XM18 : 3" Spanto

Unfortunatly the XM knives are hard to find for the right price. This is a second hand knife but it will probably still last a life time. Very well build, maybe overbuild. The tip might be to thick, but it's a strong Spanto for sure. The knife runs realy smooth and has a ferm early lock-up and detent. Overall it's a sweet EDC knife in the tactical range.

Specifications:
• Blade Length: 3”
• Handle Length: 4.125”
• Overall Length: 7”
• Blade Thickness: .140
• Lockside Thickness: .125”
• Liner Thickness: .050”
• Overall Handle Thickness: .425”
• Weight: 3.6oz
• Lock Mechanism: Frame Lock
• Clip: Reversible for tip-up or tip-down carry
• Handle Materials: G10 & Carbon Fiber
• Blade Steels: Duratech 20CV (59-60 HRC)

Puma 4-Star : #715 Elfenbein 1988

This is a pretty rare 1988 Puma lock-back folding knife from the Puma Solingen glory days.

Most people only seem to be interested in new high fashion knives. Me too... but not only those.

I also have an eye for knives made in the days when only a few brands were for sale in shops. 

Next to Al Mar, Buck and Kershaw, Puma was one of those brands and I still fancy the old knives.

The 4-Star Series offered four scale materials and two bolster variants. Jacaranda, Black Hardwood, Ivory Micarta and Stag for the scales, and brass or nickel silver for the bolsters The Micarta and Stag versions are hardly seen compared to the more common #705 Jacaranda and the #725 Black Hardwood 4-Stars. This mint #715 has a mirror polished blade while the other three have satin finished blades.

Specifications:

• Blade lenght: 7 cm

• Blade thickness: 3 mm

• Mirror Polished

• Closed lenght: 10,5 cm

• Scales: Elfenbein-Micarta

• Bolsters: Brass

• Liners: Brass / Black(?)

• Weight: 142 gram

Group shot of my #725, #705 and #715 Puma 4-Stars.

Strider SnG : Hard Chrome Finish

This is a special Strider SnG edition from 2008. Only 35 SnG and 18 SMF knives with this exclusive Hard Chrome blade finish where made. I was fortunat to own this verry nice knife for while.

Features of the knife Include:

• Overall Length: 8 1/8" / 20,8 cm
• Blade Length: 3 1/2" / 8,9 cm
• Closed Length: 4 5/8" / 11,8 cm
• Blade Steel: CPM S30V
• Blade Finish: Armoloy® Military Spec Hard Chrome
• Handle Material: Heat Flamed Titanium / RANGER G-10
• Weight: 4.5 ounces / 126 grams

CRK Umnumzaan : "Head of the family"

The Umnumzaan is a folding knife designed by Chris Reeve. The name "Umnumzaan" is derived from the Zulu language, meaning "Head of the family," or "Boss".

The Umnumzaan use a version of the Integral Lock developed by Reeve in 1987. This lock utilizes a ceramic ball that serves two functions; the ball acts as the interface between the blade locking surface and the integral locking arm as the knife assumes the open position. The ball also mates with a detent in the blade in the closed position.

The thumb lug on the Umnumzaan is used for opening the knife blade, as well as serving as the stop pin that contacts the titanium handle slabs upon lockup. Around each lug is a polyurethane o-ring that acts as a shock absorber to cushion the shock of opening, and reduce the audible noise of opening.

The Umnumzaan blade pivot is implemented with a pivot screw and pin, and is supported by perforated phosphor bronze thrust washers. The functions of the perforations are to reduce friction due to a reduction in surface area relative to that of a solid washer, and to increase the duration of use between cleanings by housing lubricant in the perforations.

Specifications:

• Blade material: CPM S30V Steel

• Blade hardness: 58-59 HRC

• Blade finish: Stonewash

• Blade length: 3.675 in (93.3 mm)

• Blade thickness: 0.140 in (3.6 mm)

• Handle length: 4.77 in (121 mm)

• Handle material: 6AI4V Titanium

• Fittings: 303 Stainless Steel

The pocket clip is sink down in the handle.

Closed, the blade can be used as a glass breaker.

A solid lock-up is provided by the integrall lock.

The Umnumzaan was introduced at the 2008 Blade Show and International Cutlery Fair, and was named the 2008 Blade Show "Overall Knife of the Year."

Hill Knives : Special Operations Knife

The S.O.K. is a custom knife made by Hill Knives Holland. Owned by the Dutch knife makers, Father en Son van den Heuvel from Rotterdam. They started developing this knife for our Dutch Special Forces in the mid 90'ties. After several desigin stages and thoroughly been tested, the KCT gave their approval.

Since 1995 it is in actual use by the Commando's during their missions all over the World. The NATO version is with a Ti-coated blade and Ranger Green handle and Sheet. Over the last 15 years about a 1000 pieces were made. 300 knives went officialy to the Commando's. Several were also privatly sold to Military employies like for example Marines a.o.

Specifications:

• Model: S.O.K.
• NATO Stock nr: 1005-17-111-9616
• Blade material: ATS-34 Hollow Grind
• Handle material: Polycarbonate (Lexaan)
• Blade length: 190 mm
• Blade thickness: 5 mm
• Handle length: 130 mm
• Total length: 320 mm
• Hardness: 59 Rockwell (Vacuum hardened and deep cooled till -150 Degrees Celsius)
• Extra: Diamond Sharpener
• Remarks: The knife is left, right and upside down portable.

For those who like to read the official Test Report: www.hillknives.com

Liner~Lock Variants

I did a photo shoot on my three Strider Liner~Locks, just to show the slight differences between them. The handle and blade on the Black AR are the thickest of the three. The blades on the Coyote Brown AR and the Black GB (Tanto) are the same in thickness. The handle on the GB is the slimmest.

Remarkable is that the cut-out on the GB locking liner is smaller or shorter than on the AR's, wich makes it lock up more powerfull and needs more strenght to unlock. Just the way I like it; a vault door.

Measurements:
AR > Round scales > Handle thickness 20 mm > Blade 4,8 mm.
AR > Flat scales > Handle thickness 18 mm > Blade 4,5 mm.
GB > Flat scales > Handle thickness 17,4 mm > Blade 4,5 mm.

The two AR brothers.