Benchmade 580, 585 and ZT 0350 unboxed

[soapboxpreacher]

Ok just unboxed my BM Mini Barrage 585 and my new ZT 0350 (Already had the 580 for over a year). A few opening thoughts about the new not necessarily permanent additions.

Lets start with the ZT. The assisted opening action on the ZT with the thumb stud is garbage (At least mine is)! It is extremely hard to flip completely open with the thumb stud. I might get it at a 10 o'clock position 70% of the time and completely open less then 10%. When it gets close to opening there isnt enough force to even engage the liner lock...this I do not like! I am not certain if have a bad one or if this is normal for the ZT. Now using the blade protrusion it works pretty well and I really like this. The knife is tall and seems heavy. But built like a tank! Let me just say this again...like a tank. It came with an awesome edge!!! And the steel...S30V is also awesome! Pocket clip is nice but the knife does not fit well in my pocket...it is big and the clip as well as the g10 make it tough to get in easily. It will chew up your pockets after a period of time more than lets say the 580 or 585 clips. I know many like the g10 but honestly it is course yet grippy but also looks to be tough on the hands after extended use. Yes g10 is tough but there is a trade off here. There isnt to many rounded edges on this knife. I will say they are far from sharp edges. The shape of the grip does actually make it fir the hand pretty well. And the blade protrusion offers not only and opening feature but some added safety when closing and some added grip when using. I really like the blade protrusion but I havent actually used this knife yet just my early observations and handling. As for an EDC it isnt gonna fit the bill well. IMHO this is not a very good EDC for it takes up a lot of your pocket. This knife will be a little difficult to sharpen...the subtle recurve will limit you to a sharpmaker (which most of us have). These are just my early one day impressions based on a day of handling without use. So far there is a ton to love and a some stuff to hate.

Now the 585 assisted opening is really sweet and works so well. And the axis lock is also a huge selling point if not the cornerstone of this knife and many other that Benchmade has done to make this mechanism work! The thumb stud seems to be easier to use and catches the thumb better. I am not a liner lock fan! I dont think most are after using an axis. I really like the axis! The 585 is built well but not nearly as well or tough and the ZT 0350. The handle is plastic and is gear towards someone with medium sizes hand but it is smaller then the ZT and is not to be compared directly to it more as a reference to it. The handle has more contour to it but the shape is not as nice as the ZT. The liner is stainless where as the ZT is titanium. One nice feature is the safety lock, keeping the blade from opening when closed....this is very nice! Belt clip works well and the weight is nice however this knife is a little fatter than other in its same blade length category (under 3") but you really wont notice it as much. A few things bug me about this blade. First there was a slight side to side wiggle in it right out of the damn box. Something my 580 doesnt have nor has developed after hours of use! There is also play up and down play...WTF once again something my 580 does have either. Finally the steel...154cm is nice but not nearly as nice as S30V. But this is a great EDC knife. Size is good and weight.

Finally the 580...This has been my main EDC for a while now. I use it all day! It functions well and is very solid. It has all of the good points I look for (none of the wiggle or vertical play like the 585) but is a little big however doesnt feel overly big considering the blade length.

So hands on review to follow...after i get a new 585 from fuckin Amazon! And I might need a ZT replacement. However I am not nuts about this blade. It is more tactical and less EDC then I expected. But with that said...if the shit hit the fan this is a top folder to have. I will deal with the weight and the scales...because this blade will take a bigger beating then any of my crop of BMs. Heres some early camera phone pics for you guys:

 

[RevDevil]

Lets start with the ZT. The assisted opening action on the ZT with the thumb stud is garbage (At least mine is)! It is extremely hard to flip completely open with the thumb stud.

You're doing it wrong. The thumbstud is more of a lock stop. That is why it has a flipper

 

[soapboxpreacher]

You're doing it wrong. The thumbstud is more of a lock stop. That is why it has a flipper

Old habit with the BM die hard! This knife is growing on me tremendously!! The grip shape (not to be mistaken for the contour) is amazing. This knife fits the hand so well in so many different positions, it is crazy!

 

[oxbld]

You're doing it wrong. The thumbstud is more of a lock stop. That is why it has a flipper

Truth. Mine actually did break in and start opening reliably using the thumbstuds though, not that I would actually ever really use them.

 

[s.c.]

You're doing it wrong. The thumbstud is more of a lock stop. That is why it has a flipper

I tend to use the flipper more often, but what's great about the ZT is that the studs can be used too.

I've read others complaining about thumbstuds on the assisted models, where its not deploying all the way, difficult to deploy, or chasing the blade as it opens and cutting their thumb.

It seems that there are two distinct methods people are using when using the thumbstuds. I'm assuming that there are people, like me, that press forward in a straight line (towards the direction of the tip (when in the open position)) while others press downwards into the stud (as if they're trying to press it out) and move their thumb in an arc.

 

[soapboxpreacher]

You're doing it wrong. The thumbstud is more of a lock stop. That is why it has a flipper

Off subject I noticed on another post you have quite a few BM Grip...I was considering it over the 585 (which now I am really considering). What is your take on the grip vs the 585 (not sure you have a 585 or 580). In all honesty the Mini-Barrage has not impressed me...the craftsmanship isnt very good compared to my 580 (not that it is major better but better where it counts). I am very new to folders I have looked at the Delica but the design never appealed to me. I would love to see these knives before I buy this stuff...drives me nuts! I am in IL (Subs) and would love a shop to browse and handle. UPS seems to win big in this internet shopping world. Anyway your 2 cents is appreciated to help out this Fixed Blade guy.

 

[Jason B.]

The delica is a great small knife, it has a larger handle than most knives of its size and its perfect for general utility.

Also check out the military if you want a bigger folder, its not hard use but is one of the most powerful cutters available.

 

[ibute21]

Off subject I noticed on another post you have quite a few BM Grip...I was considering it over the 585 (which now I am really considering). What is your take on the grip vs the 585 (not sure you have a 585 or 580). In all honesty the Mini-Barrage has not impressed me...the craftsmanship isnt very good compared to my 580 (not that it is major better but better where it counts).

I have a 551BKD2 and a 580. I also had a 551 (154cm). I love both, but the 580 sees more pocket time because I feel it fits my hand better, but the 551 was my first Axis lock Benchmade and as a result I have a soft spot for it. The Axis assist is sweet, but I love my 551 BKD2 because IMO Benchmades D2 is phenomenal. If they made the 580 with a D2 drop point, I'd be all over that like Oprah on a baked ham.

 

[RevDevil]

Off subject I noticed on another post you have quite a few BM Grip...I was considering it over the 585 (which now I am really considering). What is your take on the grip vs the 585 (not sure you have a 585 or 580). In all honesty the Mini-Barrage has not impressed me...the craftsmanship isnt very good compared to my 580 (not that it is major better but better where it counts). I am very new to folders I have looked at the Delica but the design never appealed to me. I would love to see these knives before I buy this stuff...drives me nuts! I am in IL (Subs) and would love a shop to browse and handle. UPS seems to win big in this internet shopping world. Anyway your 2 cents is appreciated to help out this Fixed Blade guy.

I would recommend picking up a 556 in D2 if nothing else. The price is one thing that varies greatly. In my opinion, the minigrip is better than the regular grip. I still think that knife in general needs new handle material, maybe a redesign of the handle ergos too.
The Delica is a great little slicer. The new FFG versions are much appreciated and makes short work of many things that need cutting. Aside from this, the Delica is really comfortable, more than the the minigrip. The Delica is a slimmer carry too. You could opt for the ZDP flavor if you want to get something a little more exotic than the standard VG10. I had a Mini Barrage and I ended up trading it for a Maxpedition edc bag. It was a decent knife, hefty for certain. The only thing that turned me off to the knife were the corners on teh handle material and the dull blade out of the box.
As knifenut mentioned, the Military is something that is in a league of it's own. It's definitely one of the best liner lock knives out there, one of my favorites for years now. If you don't own one, at least get yourself to a place where you can see what it feels like in hand. great knife.

 

[mystro]

My ZT 0350 opens so fast that if you hold on to the knife loosely , it will snap out of your hand. I highly recommend this...You will be shocked its the same knife and will only take you 10 minutes: If you want to feel a smooth knife, take out the torsion spring on the 0350. Smooth as glass and still can use the flipper tang. You wont believe how much tension the spring holds the knife closed. You will love the spring taken out.

 

[soapboxpreacher]

I would recommend picking up a 556 in D2 if nothing else. The price is one thing that varies greatly. In my opinion, the minigrip is better than the regular grip. I still think that knife in general needs new handle material, maybe a redesign of the handle ergos too.
The Delica is a great little slicer. The new FFG versions are much appreciated and makes short work of many things that need cutting. Aside from this, the Delica is really comfortable, more than the the minigrip. The Delica is a slimmer carry too. You could opt for the ZDP flavor if you want to get something a little more exotic than the standard VG10. I had a Mini Barrage and I ended up trading it for a Maxpedition edc bag. It was a decent knife, hefty for certain. The only thing that turned me off to the knife were the corners on teh handle material and the dull blade out of the box.
As knifenut mentioned, the Military is something that is in a league of it's own. It's definitely one of the best liner lock knives out there, one of my favorites for years now. If you don't own one, at least get yourself to a place where you can see what it feels like in hand. great knife.

Thanks, I will check out a Delica as well. I like it in g10 because I hate the colors of the FRN handle. Is it a tough knife? Drive me nuts that I cant get the FFG in a black handle. WTF? Looks like I am in on the 556 in d2. Nice price and a nice knife! It looks like it competes with the Delica quite well. I want to add a spyderco to my arsenal but might do something else. I am completely unfamiliar with that line. As for the Mini barrage...it is going back, my 580 is enough at the moment. The folder arena is a much hard category then the fixed ones. This is tough.

 

[cutter17]

Take a look at another BM; the Bone Collector. G-10 handles (black, black/green), D2 blade steel, Axis Lock. A really sweet knife for hunters, but more importantly (at least to me) as an edc knife. Comes in a large size, which is the one I have in the black/green laminated G-10, with the following specs;

Features
•D2 tool steel (60-62 HRC).
•Contoured G10 handle with rib cage pattern for extra grip
Specifications
•Blade Length: 3.36" (8.50 cm)
•Blade Thickness: 0.125" (3.14 mm)
•Open: 8.20" (20.80 cm)
•Closed: 4.84" (12.30 cm)
•Weight: 5.59 oz. (165.50 g)
•Handle Thickness: 0.735" (18.66 mm)

Link to pic;

http://images.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/bnchmd/images/BM15030_15020.jpg


And the small Bone Collector;


Features
•D2 tool steel (60-62 HRC).
•Contoured G10 handle with rib cage pattern for extra grip
Specifications
•Blade Length: 2.95" (7.50 cm)
•Blade Thickness: 0.115" (2.87 mm)
•Open: 7.08" (18.00 cm)
•Closed: 4.13" (10.50 cm)
•Weight: 3.46 oz. (105.50 g)
•Handle Thickness: 0.618" (15.69 mm)

And a link for it;

http://images.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/bnchmd/images/BM15030_15020.jpg

 

[soapboxpreacher]

Just got a Cold Steel Lawman to add to the collection. Very impressed at how solid it is. No wiggle, locks super tight, now up and down play...it is SOLID! The blade geometry is excellent. Absolutely love the shape. None of the wavy recurve Ken Onion organic blade styling (Makes for hard sharpening). The Lock on the Lawman is also a tank, best I have seen yet. My ZT 0350 is still my favorite SD blade at the moment but that American Lawman (AL) is impressive and more so considering for the price! I do really like the flipper on the ZT 0350, it has also loosen up the thumb stud to deploy easier. My favorite deployment of all my knives. The weight of the 0350 is very similar to the AL. The grips are both very good the ZT being the better. The AL grip is a little course and does chew up the pockets more than the ZT, plus the ZT is easier to draw from the pocket not to mention deploy. However I am not as big of a fan of the liner lock. If they did a different lock on the ZT with a flipper that could make an already great blade better! Oh and change the blade geometry and ZT would have a clear stand out (Are you guys listen??). The AL and the ZT are two of my favorite additions! Most haves in any collection!

 

[Noctis3880]

I don't have much trouble opening my ZT 0301 and 0350CB with the thumbstuds, but I just prefer the flipper. Chasing the blade with the risk of cutting your thumb seems to be an issue because of the AO which initially tries to keep the blade closed. I think the solution is to simply "flick" it open with your thumb nail, which can be difficult early on, but I feel it gets easier as the knife breaks in.

 

[RevDevil]

If you want to get a really good Spyderco knife, you NEED to find a Gayle Bradley in CPM-M4. That is an excellent knife. The Delica is an awesome slicer, the texture on the FRN is awesome too - no mayyer how you hold it the grip is solid. I have the gray, blue, and brown versions of the FFG. Very happy with them all.

 

[s.c.]

Okay, I take back what I said about being able to open the ZT0350 easily with the thumbstud. I just got a regular DLC coated one and its near impossible to use the stud, but my CB version is just fine. I'm about to take it all apart and put it back together to see if I can fine tune it.

 

[soapboxpreacher]

Okay, I take back what I said about being able to open the ZT0350 easily with the thumbstud. I just got a regular DLC coated one and its near impossible to use the stud, but my CB version is just fine. I'm about to take it all apart and put it back together to see if I can fine tune it.

Mine worked in and now is possible and getting easier to do the more the blade is opened. I still like the flipper to open the best. So much better and safer. I want a knife with a spine lock/tri-ad/axis or even compression and a flipper in S30V, g10, and in a drop point!

 

[stormyone]

i have a 551bkd2 and a 580. I also had a 551 (154cm). I love both, but the 580 sees more pocket time because i feel it fits my hand better, but the 551 was my first axis lock benchmade and as a result i have a soft spot for it. The axis assist is sweet, but i love my 551 bkd2 because imo benchmades d2 is phenomenal. If they made the 580 with a d2 drop point, i'd be all over that like oprah on a baked ham.

7.5/10