Benchmade 860 (Bedlam) or ZT 0452cf

which knife (first)

  • Benchmade Bedlam

    Votes: 22 44.0%

  • ZT 0452cf

    Votes: 28 56.0%
  • Total voters
    50
For EDC, neither is a good choice for most people because they are both freaking huge. But if you are settled to have one of them as your EDC, I'd say ZT 0452cf because it is more pocketable and its blade shape is more useful for most tasks.

Value wise (including resale value), there is no question the ZT is a much better buy. Bedlam with 154cm + g10 going for ~$200 is a bit crazy (when you have Spyderco Military with 204p + g10 for $180 and s90v + ti/cf for $200).
 
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craytab said:
I own both. I'd get the 860 first just because I like the way it looks and feels. It is not the better EDC though. The 0452cf is far more pocketable. So if you really are looking for pure EDC, the ZT is the way to go. That said, my collection will not be without either.

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Do you own either or both? My 452cf has no issues so it certainly can't be all of them :thumbsup: I'm not one of them, but there are plenty of folks that will complain about BM QC.
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Yep, owned both, my example of the ZT had the squishy lock and it took barely a medium user grip just to push it all the way over. But as i said it can't be all of them and if you can handle it in a store that would eliminate all possible issues. Good to hear it got sorted in later models because it is a nice knife. Yeah BM QC is always a huge gamble too, i'm just extra picky too because im in Australia, so sending anything back overseas to get an issue sorted is an absolute nightmare and very time consuming not to mention expensive. If a dealer won't check a knife before i buy it I just don't buy from that dealer cos it's just not worth it :thumbsup:
 
The question should be axis lock vs. framelock flipper. Which one do YOU prefer more? I’d say go with that one first.
 
So, funny thing. I ended up getting the ZT first. I found it for cheaper than i could the bedlam and it was quite the deal. Should be here soon.
 
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I have played with the Bedlam, but I didn't pick one up. On the other hand, I am carrying my 0452g10 sprint in my pocket, and I love it! Great size, great action, a great EDC IMO.
 
I own(ed) both (just sold the ZT0452CF in the forums last week

First I will say that I love both of them. These are literally in my top 5 favourite knives of all. But to choose one over the other, for me I would rather have the Bedlam over the ZT any day. The Bedlam just happens to be my favourite knife of all. There is nothing wrong with the ZT; it is amazing, but the Bedlam is just better.

When I first saw the Bedlam, it was love at sight. No other knife I’ve ever seen with more character, more soul, more charmisa, more beauty. Since the day I discovered it, there has been nothing I liked more than it. My absolute favourite knife.

The ZT0452CF is a gorgeous knife itself to say the least, in my top favourite knives as well. I am in love with it as well, I love the design so much I even bought the ZT0452TI the titanium version. It’s so beautiful so gorgeous and so well built, smooth action, it is probably my second favourite knife, after the Bedlam.

I discovered the Bedlam not too long after I started to be interested in knives, when I had maybe 5 or 6. Had to get it. But it wasn’t until I was a bit deeper into collecting that I finally got it, around 3 months in. I realize that have a very obsessive personality so when I take interest in collecting something, I will aggressively collect it, and I continued buying knives like crazy, but nothing I ever came across did I like more than the Bedlam.

It was only after my collection was quite large did I get the ZT0452CF and the TI version. I favoured the all black Tactical knives from the start, and it wasnt until later did I start to see and appreciate the beauty of satin blades and the whole flipped framelock ball bearing stuff. The first time seeing the ZT0452CF in person did amaze me.

Anyways. You can’t go wrong with either one.

I will add that it appears that everyone else who has both favours the Bedlam though :D which goes to show just how special it is.

I would pick the Bedlam as it’s my favourite knife.
 
My two cents... If you want a CP with a ton of belly, get the Bedlam first. If you want a DP with decent belly, get the ZT. Additionally, I often decide which knife to purchase first based on which might be discontinued first (unless I need it for a specific duty).
 
I have a ZT452cf and love it, zero issues with lock up and great blade.

If you like the up swept blade style, check out the ZT 462, similar size to 452 but has the Persian up swept blade and sweet red CF
 
The Bedlam is a great knife, but the ZT is more practical for edc. Personally, if it was for edc, I would go with the 0452. However, since you prefer larger knives, the Bedlam fits the bill. I used to own the Bedlam and carried it for a while.
 
0452 for sure. That bedlam is a crazy looking knife tho(in a good way), seems more comparable to a 0462, but to me there’s nothing like the flipping action of the 0452, it’s the best, and the frame lock is better than the axis lock IMO
 
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