Bad reputation

Yo Mama

Yo Mama

Joined
Sep 25, 2011
Messages
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As I went to get another microtech I asked the dealer to check what steel it was, I'm fine with either m390 or 204p, but not Elmax.

Dealer asked why, knowing what I was already going to say, I have no experience with it, but imo ZT ruined the name of the steel so bad I'd just rather anything else. He said he hears this constantly.

A reputation matters, once tarnished it's very hard to correct. Should elmax rename the steel in an attempt to rebranding? Besides elmax, are there other bad reputations you stay away from even though they may be perfectly fine now (not knife manufacturers but I mean direct materials)?
 
Hmmm... if possible can you give me the Cliff's Notes on this Elmax rep?

Apparently I don't hang out in the barber shop enough to have heard about the bad reputation.
 
I don't like 204p m390 cv20.
Nothing wrong with the steel, it's just not for me.
Maybe elmax is more you than the steel ?
 
Velitrius said:
Hmmm... if possible can you give me the Cliff's Notes on this Elmax rep?

Apparently I don't hang out in the barber shop enough to have heard about the bad reputation.
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Horrible chipping would happen, if you look up zt elmax chip, it's from their early days though.
 
Daniel said:
ZT had an issue with heat treatment when they first used Elmax. It was like one batch!

Folks have seized upon that one faux pas since then! Most have little or no knowledge in actually using this steel!
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Reports went from 2014 to about 2017. It was far from one batch.

That said point of this thread is not the legitimacy of elmax, I'm sure it's a great steel. But is the consequence of the past enough to make some shy away from it? In my case and many others it seems yes.
 
Skar said:
I don't like 204p m390 cv20.
Nothing wrong with the steel, it's just not for me.
Maybe elmax is more you than the steel ?
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Yes this is my purpose with the thread, nothing wrong with the steel, but is there an issue with the perception which drives purchasing decisions?
 
Yo Mama said:
is there an issue with the perception which drives purchasing decisions?
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It depends on who is pointing out a problem. There’s many members on here that I pay attention to, and if they point out an issue with a material or maker, I take notice. If it’s a random schmuck with buyers remorse or some sort of personal vendetta, I don’t let it influence my decision.
 
Yo Mama said:
Yes this is my purpose with the thread, nothing wrong with the steel, but is there an issue with the perception which drives purchasing decisions?
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Well .... Yes there is a perception that drives the way we purchase.

That's the power of reviews, I've seen alot of praise over m390/cv20.
I did alot of research and read alot of people raving how great a edc steel m390 is.
Now that I have one, I won't purchase it again.

That's the only way to know, try it out yourself.
Then later who knows, you may change your mind.

Btw I have no experience with zt or elmax steel.
 
Microtech in elmax steel are excellent.
I have several Microtechs in Elmax dating back to 2014 and there is nothing to say, the edge hold is excellent, they are easily resharpen.
it can happen that a wrong heat treatment brings embarrassing problems, I am sure that by now all the producers have learned how to treat this steel.
 
Never had a problem with my Microtech utx-85 in Elmax.

Microtech is vastly different than ZT.
 
This may be an unpopular opinion but I believe ZT gets the worst out of their steels, compared to other similarly priced knife makers.
 
Daniel said:
ZT had an issue with heat treatment when they first used Elmax. It was like one batch!

Folks have seized upon that one faux pas since then! Most have little or no knowledge in actually using this steel!
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This is well said!

Basing one’s opinion of a steel on one bad product from one manufacturer is like saying I hate Mexican food because the Mexican restaurant down the street is terrible. Personally I love Elmax And I’m Happy to see it being used more and more in production knives lately.
 
I got rid of all my Benchmades except one and buy mostly Spyderco now, for my own reasons I just dont buy their product, but I`m not gonna bad mouth Benchmade or any other brand on a public forum. It just aint right IMO.
 
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DMG said:
This may be an unpopular opinion but I believe ZT gets the worst out of their steels, compared to other similarly priced knife makers.
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It's mostly their edge geometry, because they tend to grind them obtuse. If you thin them out they perform as well as most knives in the price range.

They did have a bad batch of elmax, and seems to have had a few bad S35vn knives. But honestly, in production knives like that you kind of expect some bad apples from time to time, just the nature of the beast.

I haven't had any elmax ZTs, but my s35 and 20cv models have been just fine.
 
soc_monki said:
It's mostly their edge geometry, because they tend to grind them obtuse. If you thin them out they perform as well as most knives in the price range.

They did have a bad batch of elmax, and seems to have had a few bad S35vn knives. But honestly, in production knives like that you kind of expect some bad apples from time to time, just the nature of the beast.

I haven't had any elmax ZTs, but my s35 and 20cv models have been just fine.
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I think they deliberately run steel soft to make it more durable. Same steel, my ZTs didn’t hold an edge as well as a Benchmade or Spyderco.
 
I love Elmax blades. My “beater” junk drawer knife is my ZT 0562 in elmax. My wife has dropped it, used it as a pry bar, and other abuses.

I have zero reservations about Elmax. Even on my ZT.
 
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