0300, 0550? If you had to choose one or the other and live with it forever and why?

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akthor

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Jan 23, 2010
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So I am starting my own business so I really need to stop "collecting" knives. I love knives but I spend hundreds of dollars on a knife and never use it except to fondle it. While this is harmless it's expensive and I really need to buckle down and put my extra funds to getting my business going. (except for my last custom being built by Bruce Culberson, my grail knife and sheath)

Towards this end I am trying to move in a different direction. Buy one knife and use the crap out of it. Being a user a folder makes the most sense. Being a knife lover it's still gotta be cool looking and feeling. If money was no option I would buy an XM-24 and be done with it. If I was inclined to wait months I would wait and get an 0560 (or if someone was willing to sell their 0560 for a little bit above the $260 ;) ) But I can't wait and the two knives in my price range are the 0550 (or 51 if I find a decent priced used one) and the 0300 (301, 302)

So for those of you who own both what do you like about each one? Which is easier to carry daily? Weight difference? Edge retention?

If you are going to only be allowed only one of them for daily carry which would it be?
 
I don't have a 0550, but I absolutely love my 0300 and I would be happy if it was the last knife I could have. Well maybe not happy but it would be more adequate.
 
I sold my 0300 and daily carry my 0550. The 0300 is a pretty large and heavy knife, though easily carried. I just like the shape and function of my 0550 better. Can't wait to snag a 0561 though!
 
I have several of each and the size/weight difference is significant. The 30x can take more abuse, but the 55x are much easier to carry. I'm 6'8", 260lbs and don't like carrying the 30x in my pants pocket for any length of time.

Just to give you an idea of the size difference:

zts1.jpg

zts2.jpg
 
I have a 0300 and a 0551 and love 'em both. But if came down to only keeping one? It would be the 0300 since it was my FIRST Framelock. I am a big guy and it just feels right in my hand. The 0551 wins is style / design and the 0300 is just a MONSTER, ready to tackle anything. John
 
If I was at a point in my life where I had to choose one knife to live with for the rest of my life, it would mean that something really bad has happened. If that was the case, I would choose the 300 because it better suited to situations where bad things are happening.
 
I have a 551 and a 0300. I like the 0300 Much better. I like the size of the 0300 better and don't mind the weight at all.

I like big knives...the 0551 is just a little smaller than I like to carry. I do carry the 0551 but carry the 0300 a lot more.

After I had the 0300 for a while it didn't seem as big and heavy as it was when I first got it about 1.5 years ago. If you can try to handle both knives before you make

your decision. There are lots of threads on both knives if you do a search.



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I personally do not like the location of the lock of the 0550.
I was able to get one (I am apparently very low on ZTs dealers list). I found that for MY hands, the lock was in an awkward location and I couldn't easily open and close the knife.
The 0300, being a gigantic assisted knife, I cannot close with one hand.
My opinion is that if you can handle the size and weight, I would prefer the 0300.

And I know you didn't ask this, but I would lean more towards the 0350 since it is lighter, thinner, and will deploy faster than the 0350. Being smaller, I can close it with one hand.

In terms of durability, it will take a lot to use the crap out of the knife. I still have a Kershaw Leek that I got with that shiny black coating and gold pocket clip and screws that is still as sharp as the day I got it (probably close to 7 years ago). Sure the blade wiggles a little now but that thing keeps on going.

Good luck!
 
I have a 550 and a 350. I haven't had the pleasure of a 300 (yet), but either of the others are awesome knives. I open the 550 with a bit of pinch below the thumb stud, then smoothly transition my thumb to the stud. It works very well. I find the 350 a bit tough to close, but with practice I can manage it one-handed. If I wanted a bomb-proof knive to last my lifetime, I'd choose the 550.
 
Well I found a Curtis Nano framelock on the exchange I have wanted one for a long time but they were too pricey for me. Got one for the price of a 0550 so I am going and try to EDC it if it doesnt work out should be easy to flip and be back at choosing between an 0300 or 0550, or maybe by then the 0560
or 0561's will be out ;-) thanks for the help guys!
 
So got the Nano and it was not what I was looking for, didn't fit my hand well. So I sold it and now I have purchased an 0300 ;)
 
I haven't had a 300 series "yet" but have had Strider AR and GB sized monsters. Even with belt sheaths I wouldn't stick with them. just too heavy.

The 551 seems about right to me for now. and yes I have a belt holster being made for the 551 too. What if the 551 was the last knife I will ever have? I could made do. The ZT is a well made scary sharp tool for taking care of buisness!
 
I bought an 0301 first then got a 0551 when they came out. I really like both knives, but I carry the 0551 a little more, so I guess I'd keep that one, although the 0301 is really nice, and very tank like. Plus I like the AO. However, I have TWO 0551 as I liked the first one so much then a forgotten pre-order came in so I kept it as a back up.
 
GotDogs said:
I have a 0300 and a 0551 and love 'em both. But if came down to only keeping one? It would be the 0300 since it was my FIRST Framelock. I am a big guy and it just feels right in my hand. The 0551 wins is style / design and the 0300 is just a MONSTER, ready to tackle anything. John
Click to expand...

clockman said:
I have a 551 and a 0300. I like the 0300 Much better. I like the size of the 0300 better and don't mind the weight at all.

I like big knives...the 0551 is just a little smaller than I like to carry. I do carry the 0551 but carry the 0300 a lot more.

After I had the 0300 for a while it didn't seem as big and heavy as it was when I first got it about 1.5 years ago. If you can try to handle both knives before you make

your decision. There are lots of threads on both knives if you do a search.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You can't fix stuipid
Work smarter not harder
Click to expand...

I have both as well and will never part with my 300. I'll try like hell to never part with my 551 cuz I do love it too but i love my 300 just a bit more. It is most likely how good it feels in my hand. Hard to beat that Onion design in that area IMO.
 
I like them both. I just got the 0302 today so I'll have to get back with you on which one I prefer. But they're both excellent choices. The 030x actually seems like it may carry easier for me because of the 3D machine scales vs the blocky style of the 055x.

20120229_155407.jpg
 
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