Are ZT knives worth it?

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stabman said:
Erm, you realize that the bolded portion means you DO feel they're worth the money...:)
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Over the past year and a half, I have bought many knives from different companies and thru trial and error have determined that ZT knives are not for me and not worth buying, and I doubt I will ever own another one.
 
The only ZT I had so far was the 0600. Traded it off... that knife was just way too much for me. However the 0770 looks a lot more edc friendly for me.
 
Every time I show a knife over $200 to my coworkers or anyone else really, they say something like "I could buy a gun for that", and it firmly reminds me of the idea of diminishing returns, versus the idea of "man jewelry". At some price point a knife ceases to be a tool, and becomes artwork. A person who uses artwork as a tool either has money to blow, or little common sense. Either way, someone who recently posted about buying knives under $30 (OP) should not be encouraged to skip the so called middle ground, which usually provides a much better bang for the buck while still being extremely well made.
 
stabman said:
Yay, I finally officially have little common sense! :thumbup:
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Or money to blow! Unless you're one of those that buys a knife then sells it a week later saying "oh you know, bills are due, and I really shouldn't have bought this..."
 
I've only had a 0561. It had great fit/finish. It was worth it to me, unfortunately I had to sell it.
 
RemyKaze said:
Or money to blow! Unless you're one of those that buys a knife then sells it a week later saying "oh you know, bills are due, and I really shouldn't have bought this..."
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Actually, I'm one of those who buys a knife and then looks for the best sales on food at the grocery stores. :D
When the rice, cheese, and bread can be gotten for 50% off, that adds up to a knife pretty quickly. :)
Meat stays about the same price though...but who wants discount meat anyway? :eek:
 
stabman said:
Actually, I'm one of those who buys a knife and then looks for the best sales on food at the grocery stores. :D
When the rice, cheese, and bread can be gotten for 50% off, that adds up to a knife pretty quickly. :)
Meat stays about the same price though...but who wants discount meat anyway? :eek:
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I'm the same way, hobbies and interests come first, but I still stick to that whole diminishing returns idea as well. At some point, knives do not increase in quality by leaps and bounds, but rather in very small doses, and I would draw that line personally under $200. I also get the knives I love, and use em til I break em.

Almost pulled the trigger on that blackwash 0560, but the price was up there, heard Elmax was a PITA to sharpen on the run, and ZT doesn't seem to want to do an 0560 in all black which is what I wanted. Got that 0200, enjoyed the looks but not the feel, and ended with a blacl DLC Manix 2 XL. The Manix was actually a little more, but once it hit my hands I was in love.

It all comes down to personal preference, and that varies from knife to knife.
 
RemyKaze said:
Almost pulled the trigger on that blackwash 0560, but the price was up there, heard Elmax was a PITA to sharpen on the run, and ZT doesn't seem to want to do an 0560 in all black which is what I wanted.

It all comes down to personal preference, and that varies from knife to knife.
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It really is all personal preferences, needs, wants, hoobbies, constraints (budgetary or otherwise), etc.

ZT does have a 0560BLK with black blade and 3D Black G10. I wish the titanium side of the handle was also black coated.
 
It's already been covered, but the question "Are ZT knives worth it?" is highly subjective. For me, the answer is yes. Do I own a 0600? No, but I would love to when I can afford it. That and the 0801cf are on the to of my "got top have list". I have plenty of knives from other manufacturers, but I have found that ZT's fit me and what I do better than most. If you don't like ZT's, fine. Don't buy them. If you haven't handled one, I recommend that you do.
 
RamZar said:
It really is all personal preferences, needs, wants, hoobbies, constraints (budgetary or otherwise), etc.

ZT does have a 0560BLK with black blade and 3D Black G10. I wish the titanium side of the handle was also black coated.
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Yeah, that would probably sway me. Not sure why it is basically the only option that HASN'T been offered.
 
RemyKaze said:
Yeah, that would probably sway me. Not sure why it is basically the only option that HASN'T been offered.
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They're already kind of doing that for the 0560BW (BW = BlackWashed) by coating the 3D machined titanium back with Tungsten DLC (Diamond-like Carbon). All they need to do is to skip the stonewashing step. Then, the 0560BLK becomes truly all-black! :thumbup:
 
I believe you can customize the metal color by sending it out to a custom maker. So basically you could easily get what you want, customized of course.
 
Kai Corp. said:
The ZT line-up has a ways to go, and we've talked many times recently about how the line is evolving from those "clunky" patterns, to those that are more, "civilized" in their existence.
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Looking forward to it! :thumbup: Never had any interest in ZT before; I reckon I'm just not much for 'pocket-tank' knives either. Then again, since I've turned 'traditional,' I've not had much interest in any new modern one-handers. How does ZT feel about jigged-bone? :D ;)

Seriously though, from what I've heard, if one likes the specs and the look of Zero Tolerance offerings, I'd hazard to say that one would be satisfied buying one. Kai stands behind their products. It is known. :)

-Brett
 
Can't speak on the whole ZT lineup but the 0350 I bought was worth my money I felt. So much so that I purchased a 0301 having never held one. The 0350 I thought was a good value for roughy $100. If I find the 0301 a good value for $200 I am sure it wont be the last ZT I buy. Already trying to devise a way to get a 0561.

It's all perspective like others have said. For some people, $200 for any knife isn't, "worth it." For some people anything that can't be bought at a gas station for $15 isn't worth it. For crazy people like us though, well that's a different story. ;)
 
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