Are ZT knives worth it?

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slothman

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Are Zero Tolerance knives worth the money? If so, are they good for dlc and which ones are good
 
I have never heard anyone complain about them. Personally I like the ZT301, it's just a little too rich for my blood at this time.
 
Depends on what you want to do and which ZT you are looking at. If you don't really have heavy-duty needs and want to conserve dollars, you can sometimes find a Kershaw cousin that is a lot like a ZT -- e.g., the Kershaw Talon and the ZT 0750. Or a Kershaw that happens to be ZT-like in size and build-quality, like a JYK II. But if you are thinking 550 or a 300-series knife, you'll need to pay more.

Also, some ZTs are being discontinued, so you can find good deals. The 750 and 400 come to mind.
 
ZT knives is kind of broad, considering their current and past offerings and the dissimilarity between. What's "worth it?" mean?

When you buy knives there is a ton more to it than it seems on the face of it. There is steel, design, company & warranty (from what I gather, ZT rocks pretty hard here), grind, intended purpose, size, weight, deployment method, and on and on. And yet, in my very limited experience, choosing knives comes down to one primary thing: what I like.

Of my top 2 grails, one is a Tuff Tanic. (FWIW the other is a Kwaiback, El Patron a close 3rd.) Maybe it's larger than I need, and maybe not the best all-around practical blade shape, but I don't care. If I had it, I'd carry it. I really like it. It is awesome.

Intended use is important, too. If you're going to do kitchen prep, the 0560 might not be the best choice. But if you really like it, you might just make do.

Look at what you like. Consider watching the exchange for a good deal and try it out. You can always sell it and try again if you swing and miss.
 
Yeah thats what i thought but ive beens seeing people post their whole (or most of their) collection and they always have 2 or 3 ZT knives so i thought i would look into it
 
It depends, do you like to collect? Does your line of work require a beefy folder? I work in an office, I am no longer in need of a overbuilt folder. I still love it, and if I am ever in a situation where I need a tough knife, I have it. It's worth having at least one in my opinion.
 
IMHO - yes, they are worth the money. As for which ones are good for "dlc" (I think you mean EDC), that all depends on what your needs are. They offer a number of different models, so I would first figure out what your needs are then start looking for a knife that meets those needs and not the other way around. Good luck and let us know what you ultimately decide on.

FYI - a good "all around" knife for EDC/GEC which can be considered middle of the road, I would recommend the ZT 0350 or a 0550 or upcoming 0566.

0350
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0550
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0566 (upcoming flipper version of the 0550)
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I own or have owned the first two (have a pre-order for the 0566) and they are excellent in quality and function.
 
The only one I bought was a flop. One of those bad apples that you could fail the lock with a slight knock to the back of the blade. Was a 0560.
 
I own 6 ZTs and I personally feel like every one of them was worth it. If I were put into a situation where I had to get rid of all but one knife for edc purposes it would come down to either a 550 or 560. The customer service is some of the best in the industry and they more than stand behind their warranty.
 
Yes they're worth it (I'm far from rich, but I make do and save up). My 0550 has convinced me that it's the best knife for edc for me. It's the right size, shape, everything I want and need. Most I know go with the 0350 to start. The 0566 is out soon, as well as others. Check out the website and the Kai forum here. If you want a taste at a low price try the cryo series, thermite, etc in the Kershaw lineup. ZT has a dedicated following here...for a reason.
 
IMO, no. Over hyped big clunky knives. My brothers 560 is a flop. Bad detent and a lock that takes both hands to disengage. Everyone has their own opinions but I don't like them, with the exception of the 0777 and the 0600, but I think they're over priced. That being said, they aren't terrible. They certainly do have a huge following on this forum.
 
slothman said:
Are Zero Tolerance knives worth the money? If so, are they good for dlc and which ones are good
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Yes. I carry my 0550BLK a lot. Along with a 560, 0600, and just recently a 0700. All of them are awesome! Ive acquired 9 ZT's over the last few years, my dad and brother both carry ZT and none of them have missed a beat or have had the slightest problem. All are very tough and backed by a freaking awesome warranty.

Price wise, look around and compare products. ZT gives a lot for the money. 0550 you would like, and Kershaw Guy has some for good prices. S35VN, Ti lock bar and G10 scale. Very smooth knife. 0350 is a solid choice too, S30V blade, multiple blade options.
 
I guess the question i should be asking is are they the best for the money. Im not gonna get specific but i have a limited seasonal income and when i spend $100+ i wanna make sure that i get the best for my money. So if you had $100-$200 for an all around edc, what would you buy?
 
The only one I own, a ZT0560, is probably the last folder (non SAK) that I will EDC. At least until I get a Hinderer. The others I've handled all felt good in the hand, and though minor use with them, I couldn't find much wrong with any of them. I think they're worth every bit of what they cost.

As for best for the money, that's for you to decide.
 
slothman said:
I guess the question i should be asking is are they the best for the money. Im not gonna get specific but i have a limited seasonal income and when i spend $100+ i wanna make sure that i get the best for my money. So if you had $100-$200 for an all around edc, what would you buy?
Click to expand...

You're gonna get a lot of different answers with that kind of price spread, but my votes go to:

Spyderco Paramilitary 2
Benchmade 940
ZT 0780 (an underappreciated knife, I think)
Kershaw Blur with S30V
 
Don't have one now. Won't have one on the future. That's my answer and I'm sticking to it.
Nothing in their lineup speaks to me at all. Big chunky knives, bleck!
I put them all in the TacticooLOL category.
 
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