Are expensive knives worth it?

Are expensive knives objectively better than cheaper ones or are worth it?

  • Total voters
    185
Horizon7 said:
Respectfully, do your research before you buy an expensive knife like a ZT.

10 percent of blade forum members have had lock failure issues with their ZTs. That's extremely dangerous. There was a poll done here not too long ago.

Also, go to YouTube and search "ZT lock failures." Many videos there.

I would recommend Spyderco or any knife made by WE or Reate.
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There is literally zero chance of that statistic being applicable outside of some thread oriented around ZT lock failures. Its important to remember that the thread in question is going to end up being a common destination for people searching "ZT lock failures."

ZT has sold tens of thousands of knives. If not hundreds of thousands. Do you think that the referenced statistic is accurate in terms of knives sold? Absolutely not. The company would have been black balled years ago. These forums would have been inundated with threads of members complaining about their lack of digits.

I've owned a dozen or so ZTs. All perfect saved for the damned steel liner (I hate it, my preference.)

The whole lock failure thing is sensationalized.
 
They can be. I've been carrying one of two Sebenzas to work almost exclusively for the past 2 years or so. I'll occasionally switch it up to my old school clipit Delica and more recently have been carrying my FrankenSkyline since I got a deep carry clip for it.

They can definitely be an upgrade, yet there will be a point of diminishing returns. Just depends on where your price points and standards lie.

If you like it and can afford it, get it.

randomknifeperson said:
Is it only the liner locks by Zt? Or all zt locks if that matters, and I am not going to to use it hard
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Every company can put out a lemon here and there and ZT's are no different, yet like other quality companies, it is far from the majority.

Here's the poll that was mentioned. Check it out and you'll see that the member that mentioned it has a bone to pick with ZT for some odd reason. Follow their posts and it borders on an agenda with a dash of trolling. 10% failure rate? BS through and through. Oh, and I currently don't own a ZT, just have had a few and handled more and they were excellent.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/poll-have-you-ever-had-a-zt-knife-fail-on-you.1628888/
 
Horizon7 said:
Every make and model is affected by this. Look it up man.


There are a lot of guys here that are just trying to save the values of their own collections. I don't blame them.
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My 0770 is a liner lock and absolutely good to go. I can’t speak for any other models since I only own this one.

I’m definitely interested in picking up a couple more though.

I think the OP will be absolutely happy with an upgrade from a standard Skyline to a ZT.
 
How could you guys ethically recommend a knife brand that is known to have lock failures? Especially when the company turns a blind eye to it and even condescends people who say anything about it?

How could you do this to someone?
 
benchwarmer380 said:
They can be. I've been carrying one of two Sebenzas to work almost exclusively for the past 2 years or so. I'll occasionally switch it up to my old school clipit Delica and more recently have been carrying my FrankenSkyline since I got a deep carry clip for it.

They can definitely be an upgrade, yet there will be a point of diminishing returns. Just depends on where your price points and standards lie.

If you like it and can afford it, get it.



Every company can put out a lemon here and there and ZT's are no different, yet like other quality companies, it is far from the majority.

Here's the poll that was mentioned. Check it out and you'll see that the member that mentioned it has a bone to pick with ZT for some odd reason. Follow their posts and it borders on an agenda with a dash of trolling. 10% failure rate? BS through and through. Oh, and I currently don't own a ZT, just have had a few and handled more and they were excellent.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/poll-have-you-ever-had-a-zt-knife-fail-on-you.1628888/
Click to expand...

OP,
Read this thread and look at all the people who have reported lock failures. There is a bunch.

Many of these guys on here right now are trying to save the values of their collections.
 
Horizon7 said:
How could you guys ethically recommend a knife brand that is known to have lock failures? Especially when the company turns a blind eye to it and even condescends people who say anything about it?

How could you do this to someone?
Click to expand...

Fair question, and I think your recommendation to do some basic research is a good one.

I just think that a simple reading of your characterization of that poll could be misleading, and the "extremely dangerous" conclusion is unwarranted. I am pointing out that there were other conclusions from the same poll and a reading of the posts.

You cannot deny that ZT is a well regarded brand in general. An in the main, their value is high for the price.
 
OP, please do read that thread and come to your own conclusion.

Horizon7 said:
OP,
Read this thread and look at all the people who have reported lock failures. There is a bunch.

Many of these guys on here right now are trying to save the values of their collections.
Click to expand...


You quoted me, yet I have no ZT collection. Not even one specimen at the moment. :oops:
I do have my eye on the 460 and 640. Both look very sweet!
 
First I have to respond to saying 10% of BF members have had ZT lock failures ... that just isn't true ...

10 % of members that responded to that particular poll said they had a lock disengage if they misused it by spine whacking ... and the number of members responding at all wasn't probably 5 % of all BF members ...

secondly it was about the lock disengaging when spine whackong the knife ... not in normal safe usage ...

that dead horse hasn't just been beaten it's been shot kicked urinated on and hung out to dry ...

ok now to the OP's question ... sometimes would be my answer ... in general yes ... it's a case of you get what you pay for is very true mostly in the knife world ...

but it depends on alot of factors ... what uses do you intend it for? ... do you need a stainless steel? ... do you need extra long edge retention? ... do you need extreme toughness? ... all are questions only you can answer ...

but in general a bit higher price offers you better materials ... better quality ... but not everything that costs more is better ...

ZT is a big step up from a skyline IMHO ... and I think you'd be surprised at the difference ... but you don't have to spend $1,000.00 on a knife to get an incrediably reliable well made knife with the latest greatest new steels ...

I fall somewhere in the middle as I don't mind sharpening a knife and I don't need a steel like S110V for that extra edge retention ... I prefer a better balanced steel ...

so in some cases yes paying more definately is worth it ... and sometimes paying extra is personal preference and more "want" than "need" ...

only you can decide how much any given advantages of steels or styles or brands are worth the cost to you and for your uses.
 
I don't have any ZT knives at the moment, but would have zero hesitation to get another one that caught my eye. The 0452 has turned my head a few times before.... good looking knife, especially with CF scales!
 
R randomknifeperson
Please disregard the comments below. They’re intentionally inaccurate due to a personal vendetta the poster has against ZT. Nobody knows why he’s out to get ZT with lies and exaggerations, but he’s always quick to spread fallacy. He’s really a discredit to the good info you can find here at BF. Don’t let him lead you astray; there are lots of folks around here who know much more about knives.
Horizon7 said:
Respectfully, do your research before you buy an expensive knife like a ZT.

10 percent of blade forum members have had lock failure issues with their ZTs. That's extremely dangerous. There was a poll done here not too long ago.

Also, go to YouTube and search "ZT lock failures." Many videos there.

I would recommend Spyderco or any knife made by WE or Reate.
Click to expand...

Horizon7 said:
Every make and model is affected by this. Look it up man.


There are a lot of guys here that are just trying to save the values of their own collections. I don't blame them.
Click to expand...
I have many ZTs and never had a problem with them. Those who do have a problem find their service and support is top notch. You can buy them with confidence.

In terms of the question you started this with, yes knives get better as you spend more...to a point. Somewhere between $100-200 the improvements become more minor and harder to feel.

In terms of the ZT0452 in particular; it’s significantly bigger than the Skyline. Please take a hard look at the relative dimensions. If you’re happy with the size and pocket presence of the Skyline, maybe consider the ZT0450.

Good luck and have fun. I predict this won’t be the last knife you buy!
 
The more expensive a knife gets, there is a diminishing return with the knife.

That being said, you will probably appreciate the improved material and quality of a more expensive knife. You'll have to balance expense verse value.
 
TRfromMT said:
Fair question, and I think your recommendation to do some basic research is a good one.

I just think that a simple reading of your characterization of that poll could be misleading, and the "extremely dangerous" conclusion is unwarranted. I am pointing out that there were other conclusions from the same poll and a reading of the posts.

You cannot deny that ZT is a well regarded brand in general. An in the main, their value is high for the price.
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They are only highly regarded by owners trying to save the value of their collections.
 
Hackenslash said:
R randomknifeperson
Please disregard the comments below. They’re intentionally inaccurate due to a personal vendetta the poster has against ZT. Nobody knows why he’s out to get ZT with lies and exaggerations, but he’s always quick to spread fallacy. He’s really a discredit to the good info you can find here at BF. Don’t let him lead you astray; there are lots of folks around here who know much more about knives.



I have many ZTs and never had a problem with them. Those who do have a problem find their service and support is top notch. You can buy them with confidence.

In terms of the question you started this with, yes knives get better as you spend more...to a point. Somewhere between $100-200 the improvements become more minor and harder to feel.

In terms of the ZT0452 in particular; it’s significantly bigger than the Skyline. Please take a hard look at the relative dimensions. If you’re happy with the size and pocket presence of the Skyline, maybe consider the ZT0450.

Good luck and have fun. I predict this won’t be the last knife you buy!
Click to expand...
Thank you, I didn't think is was entirely true. I knew the knife size well, that was another reason I wanted to upgrade, the Skyline just doesn't fill your hand.
 
Horizon7 said:
They are only highly regarded by owners trying to save the value of their collections.
Click to expand...

A reasonable person would now say, "See, at this point he claims an opinion as fact, that makes him sound somehow better informed than he probably is, which just ruins his credibility on all points. How could he have that sort of information? He could not, and actually sounds like he has some kind of axe to grind."
 
Horizon7 said:
They are only highly regarded by owners trying to save the value of their collections.
Click to expand...

Okay, so you're a troll.

What you're saying is demonstrably false. You're throwing around wild accusations about not only a well regarded brand but now well regarded members with paid memberships and years of contribution under their belts.

I own a single ZT as of right now. Just one. I will never sell it and could care less about "protecting my collection's value"

Go ahead and remove yourself from the soapbox, cease the pontificating, take a deep breathe, and always wear your seat belt.
 
Last edited:
Horizon7 said:
Respectfully, do your research before you buy an expensive knife like a ZT.

10 percent of blade forum members have had lock failure issues with their ZTs. That's extremely dangerous. There was a poll done here not too long ago.

Also, go to YouTube and search "ZT lock failures." Many videos there.

I would recommend Spyderco or any knife made by WE or Reate.
Click to expand...

I believe that if you go back and look at the responses to some of your posts in the "ZT Lock Failure" threads you will see that MOST of the people that had lock failure had multiple ZTs so the failure rate for ZTs is NOT 10%. It is far lower. @knarfeng said that explicitly and I completely agree with him. I probably have around 10 ZTs, had a failure in one, and ZT fixed it. Now I have ZTs with NO lock failures.

Nothing wrong with a Spyderco, WE or Reate but they are not a ZT. ZT makes some fantastic knives. I carry two 0095TANBLK in S90V every day, and they ROCK!

With as many knives as I have, I have a bone to pick with almost every manufacturer, but these are not custom knives so I have to accept or decline based on what is available. ZT makes some of the finest knives in their price range. What is my argument with Spyderco? They are easily ranked #1 globally for the best knife steels, but they spend most of their effort in these esoteric steels producing leaf shaped blades. At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself how many leaf shaped box cutters do you need, and for me the answer is less than 5.
 
TRfromMT said:
A reasonable person would now say, "See, at this point he claims an opinion as fact, that makes him sound somehow better informed than he probably is, which just ruins his credibility on all points. How could he have that sort of information? He could not, and actually sounds like he has some kind of axe to grind."
Click to expand...

Why are you trolling? Adults are talking. Leave the room.
 
Knives in the 200 range give or take are usually idea... But there is always bad apples that don't follow that and are just bad knives but maybe look cool.

Also price could be much higher due to quantity of knives made. Meaning less knives made in a run the more expensive it is.

So it is technically sometimes.

A kershaw blur in s30v for 60$ or a spyderco in s30v are going to be great knives that don't break the bank too. But you will notice a difference between them and a 200 spyderco or zt.
 
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