Because someone had to do it...... (the perfect ZT300)

So-Lo

So-Lo

Joined
Jun 12, 2006
Messages
5,364
I am getting a FULL review together for the ZT300, but I thought I would share this with you Kershaw Folks first! :D


How good are your Eagle eyes? Can you see a mod here?
IMG_2918.jpg


How about here? :D
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Yeah, you like that huh? :D

More to come......... in about two hours ;).........................:D
 
That looks good. I've wondered before why Kershaw doesn't utilize choils in designs that have room for them (JYD2 comes to mind).
 
Thomas W said:
Kershaw utilizes the talents and designs of some pretty well known knife makers Vivi. You may want to contact them directly and ask exactly why there are no choils with their designs. In this case Tim Galyean (JYD II) http://www.galyeancustom.com/contact.html
Click to expand...

Ouch :confused:

I know this is a my first thread here, and all. This does sound a little harsh, again it might just be me?

Of course Tim Galyean is a top tier knife maker! But, I don't see Vivi question a bad one? Maybe a past problem here.

I am a little afraid to do the "FULL review" now. As I was going to review the knife inside and out. Tell what is perfect, and what falls a little short. (IMO)




For the choil. I can only guess, its because its made for the general public, they dumbed the design down. As its hard to believe the Strider Guys didn't want a finger choil. Most ALL their folders have them. (SMF, SNG, PT, RC, RCC, AR, and so on and so on)

Here is the beef, on a speedsafe... this new flipper shape could pinch your finger fat pad.... errr.. whats it called? :confused: See the pic.

The speedsafe takes over at about half way through the flip... so if your finger fat pad (:D) is in the way. Your gett'in pinched.
IMG_2989.jpg


IMG_2991.jpg

Yes my hands look like a funny color, I just took all my kiddo's out of the bath.


Anyways on with the show and tell.

I do like it a lot!

Not much edge was lost
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I love how now the edge meets your finger, like a XM!
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Looks like it was made from Kershaw, the way your hand hits the dip on top of the blade.
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Wow, it looks like your finger is resting on the edge there in the last picture. Good job with the mod.:thumbup:
 
So-Lo said:
Maybe a past problem here.
Click to expand...
Maybe so.

For the choil. I can only guess, its because its made for the general public, they dumbed the design down. As its hard to believe the Strider Guys didn't want a finger choil. Most ALL their folders have them. (SMF, SNG, PT, RC, RCC, AR, and so on and so on)
Click to expand...
As you know, the 301 was co-designed with Ken O & Strider. Together they may have made the decision on the no choil. IMO, I don't think it's a dumbed downed design just more of a hybrid, and like all ZT's, these were not specifically made for the general public.

Nice mod So-Lo, and no problem on a full review.:thumbup:
 
Thomas W said:
Maybe so.

As you know, the 301 was co-designed with Ken O & Strider. Together they may have made the decision on the no choil. IMO, I don't think it's a dumbed downed design just more of a hybrid, and like all ZT's, these were not specifically made for the general public.

Nice mod So-Lo, and no problem on a full review.:thumbup:
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We can tell the 300 was designed by the best of the best! I have, and have had... And handled, some of the best tact-E-kewl folders from factory to customs and the 300 has some of the best ergos I have felt in a folder!

Just ....... Now its perfect! :D

I'm a sucker for recurves
 
Really nice job with the choil addition So-Lo!

The digicamo version of the 300 is one of the best looking ones.
From what I understand Tim Galyean ground those blades himself.

I'm no expert on Ken's knives, but in looking through his site he doesn't seem to utilize them in many of his knives (only saw one).

I guess one nice thing about not having a choil is that it is easier to add one than take one away.
 
I guess if so many came to same modification, Kershaw should think about it

I did it 25 Mar 2008 (I also make edge straight, so I can make hair whittling sharp):

Kershaw-ZT302-023.jpg


Thanks, Vassili.
 
nozh2002 said:
I guess if so many came to same modification, Kershaw should think about it

I did it 25 Mar 2008 (I also make edge straight, so I can make hair whittling sharp):

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...

How many is so many? Two or three? Even 10 or 20?

Remember Kershaw is dealing in very large quantities of knives. Even for ZT with much lower production for their specialized products, 10 people is a relatively insignificant number (not that every customer isn't important).

Since most of Kershaw's designers do stop in here I'm sure they notice and take note of the popular mods. With any luck they will comment (as they have other mods) on the choil question next time they are through.
 
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kneedeep said:
Really nice job with the choil addition So-Lo!

The digicamo version of the 300 is one of the best looking ones.
From what I understand Tim Galyean ground those blades himself.

I'm no expert on Ken's knives, but in looking through his site he doesn't seem to utilize them in many of his knives (only saw one).

I guess one nice thing about not having a choil is that it is easier to add one than take one away.
Click to expand...

I believe Ken Onion designed the Ricochet, and that had a choil, but a pretty small one. The Random Task had a choil (small) as well. Come to think of it, the SpyKer had a choil, but that probably had more to do with Spyderco's half of the design.

I sure wouldn't mind getting my hands on more Kershaws with choils.

So-Lo,
I love the work you did on that one!:thumbup: If the ZT folders didn't have speedsafe, or better yet, if they had an "off" switch, like the cyclone, I'd be all over 'em!

Regards,
3G
 
Tumbstud stays on the way of sharpening stone - have to be grinded. But I did it first time and did not make it right. Now I just grind it out with stone during sharpening. Otherwise it may left some marks like ones you noticed (it is much easy to left such marks on coated blade like ZT302 has then on bead blasted...).

But now I can sharpen it to the grade I like.

I hope Ken Onion will not only consider to do normal choil but also start making straight edge. Recurve may looks great but hard to sharpen to hair whittling sharpness.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
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