ZT 0301 or ZT 0561? Your preferences and why.

B

BloodworkLS

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Jul 28, 2012
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Hello everyone. I am new to bladeforums and this is my first post. I have looked to these forums for a lot of information, and figured it was time to register. I know that there are some very intelligent users here and would like an opinion.


I am debating on purchasing either a ZT 0301 or 0561. I enjoy the looks of the 0301 more but hear that the 0561 has better blade steel and is actually priced lower. Weight is not really an issue for me. Which one do you guys and gals prefer out of the two and why? :)
 
I have both (well I had a 0300, I've since sold it) and I prefer the 0560. It is much lighter and more aesthetically attractive to me, the steel of the 0560 is 'better' than than 0300, and I much prefer the machining on the 0560's scales. I prefer the 0560's blade shape as well. That being said, they're both great knives, just depends on your preferences.
 
They are very different. Yes, the 0560 does have better blade steel, and is priced lower, but the difference is bigger than that. They are both large ti framelocks made by ZT, but that's about the only thing they have in common. The 0301 is a beastly, heavy, assisted opening tank of a knife with a solid bolt pivot made to handle just about anything thrown its way. The 0560, on the other hand, is a lightweight in comparison. Still beefy (it is still a ZT after all), but feels much more refined. Manual opening ball bearing pivot system makes it smooth and fast. Both excellent, but very different.
 
Thanks for the input everyone... from the sounds of it the 0561 will make a better EDC knife for me. I will get that first and then the 0301 when I have some extra cash.
 
056x is a solid choice and if you opt for the 560 you can get it for less unless you really want a brown scale.. Once they get broken in they are amazing blades. I had a 300 series twice and once again I traded it away..just to hardcore for me, but I keep getting one haha... Also take a look at the 0550 its a great knife as well!
 
Both are great blades. I like the looks of zt0561 a lot better, so personally I'll go 0561 if I had to choose between the two. Realistically, I'll be picking up a Kershaw Cryo soon. Hinderer design and a lot smaller than the 0560/xm18, plus I wouldn't be using any of the mentioned knives for hard use, so might as well get something small and wallet friendly that looks cool.
 
0560 all the way.

Better steel, smoother action (assits are annoying sometimes), more comfortable handle, lighter and IMO more people friendly than the ZT 0301.

But the 301 is a sick knife in its own right.
 
I carry the 560 more solely because of the weight difference. The 30x is significantly more comfortable to use, however, IMO anyway. The handle is curved and smoothed out more, there are fewer sharp edges, and it's more hand-filling. If weight wasn't an issue I would carry the 300 more, so since it doesn't matter to you, I'd go with that one.
 
Here, for scale size comparison, are my best Kershaw/ZT knives, top down; Kershaw Tilt!, ZT-0561, ZT-0551, ZT-0301:

015.jpg


I like them all, but the ZT-0551 is my favorite, followed by 0561, Tilt!, and 0301, in that order. I've had the 0301 the longest - and it's seen the least carry - it's a moose of a knife - and I am not fond of assisted openers.

Stainz
 
I have both an 0300 and an 0301. The 0300 is my work knife, the 0301 is my edc.

The 0300 series are stronger and that is what I wanted.

I will probably get an 0560 because I like the design. But for brute strength and durability the 0300's are better.
 
I like the 0301 personally, I use it hard and am happy with it, its my main edc and gets good use out camping and at work. It is a brute, has good grab to the handle, the clip fits thick pants well and I like assisted. Sharpening the 0560 would be easier than the 0301 and Elmax would be nice.

A7dIW.jpg


Played with the 0301 while at the lake, opens well underwater, was wondering how the 0560's would do submerged? Here a 20sec vid of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gfNrNCMito
 
I personally like the shape of the 560 better. I like the finer tip, if you can really say that its smaller. I find it hard to do certain tasks with the 0350 and 0301.
 
I've been asking myself this question as well. Whenever I decide to splurge for one I need to decide which one to get (first). I have no experience with KAI's speedsafe yet but I have a Blur from kershawguy on the way. I'm hoping that will help me decide.
 
bad_juju said:
I personally like the shape of the 560 better. I like the finer tip, if you can really say that its smaller. I find it hard to do certain tasks with the 0350 and 0301.
Click to expand...


The 560 has the blade shape that I like best, the 200 is next.
 
I only recently got a 0560 so I can't say if I like it better or not yet, because I haven't had to sharpen it, but I really feel spoiled when going from a non-assisted knife to an assisted knife. The 0560 still has some spring when it opens due to the strong detent.
 
I didn't have a 300, but I did have a 350 for a while and the blade shape was nice, but the tip is too rounded almost for me and I'm not a huge assist guy (anymore). When I got the 561, the 350 got booted as for the same weight the 561 had the bigger blade with a better shape for me. To me, the 300 is too heavy to even buy as I would never carry it. It may not seem like those few ounces would make a difference, but they do. 560/1 all the way in my opinion, but come on, with ZT you can't go wrong.
 
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