Benchmade Barrage 580 or Zero Tolerance 0550?

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waterford

Joined
May 19, 2012
Messages
156
Hi,

With about $200.00 to spend on a high end American-made folder all purpose EDC knive, I think I have narrowed my choices down to either the Benchmade Barrage 580 or the
Zero Tolerance 0550.
Which knife has the better build quality, better egos and the better blade? Which is the all around better knive for EDC?
And more importantly, which knive is more razor sharp out of the box?

Thanks!
 
If you haven't owned any knives like these you will be impressed either way I think, but those are two very different knives.
Spring assist Axis lock vs. Manual Ti Framelock.
Plastic like Valox handles vs. G10/Ti
154CM vs. S35V

Both have good steel and will probably be comparably sharp, but I would give the nod to the 0550 in everything, including ergos. Of course ergonomics is an individual thing.

If you want a tough, solid knife you can work hard then the ZT 0550 is the clear choice.
If you like the assist opening, and the Axis lock in a more "medium" duty type knife, then the Barrage is a pretty cool knife.


I don't dislike the Barrage, but it's kind of like a toy knife compared to the ZT 0550.
 
Benchmade 275 would be closer to the ZT 0550. Strange thing with the Barrage - when I was still in San Diego they had 8 of them at the MCAS Miramar exchange priced rotating from $85-95 and they never moved a single one.
 
FLymon said:
If you haven't owned any knives like these you will be impressed either way I think, but those are two very different knives.
Spring assist Axis lock vs. Manual Ti Framelock.
Plastic like Valox handles vs. G10/Ti
154CM vs. S35V

Both have good steel and will probably be comparably sharp, but I would give the nod to the 0550 in everything, including ergos. Of course ergonomics is an individual thing.

If you want a tough, solid knife you can work hard then the ZT 0550 is the clear choice.
If you like the assist opening, and the Axis lock in a more "medium" duty type knife, then the Barrage is a pretty cool knife.


I don't dislike the Barrage, but it's kind of like a toy knife compared to the ZT 0550.
Click to expand...

Just a FYI:

The new Barrage is Aluminum and G10 and has M390 steel.

http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/BM...90-Satin-Plain-Blade-G10-and-Aluminum-Handles
 
PropThePolecat said:
As i recall, the M390 Barrage is a dealer exclusive and not a new version. The 154CM version is the one sold everywhere else.
Click to expand...

Its a different model number (581) but not an exclusive. You can get the m390 model anywhere.


My opinion:

I think the barrage is better for most tasks I use a knife for but if you need a thick, heavy blade for what you do, the zt would be better suited. I personally like thinner slices more than heavy tank blades but a lot of people are the other way.

The barrage is spring assisted which I dont mind (would prefer it not assisted) but its a deal breaker for some people who hate assisted openers.

Steel wise, I like s30v (and I assume s35 which is supposed to be the same) better but some people say that once you reach a certain level of steel, it makes no practical difference. I just dont like 154cm much myself for some reason (I might be biased due to horrible leatherman 154cm which was my first use of this steel). A 581 with m390 steel is still under your price limit though.

For build quality, most people would say zt is better but I think that benchmade gets a bad rap due to mechanics of axis lock knives and not because they're poorly made or flawed in some meaningful way. Its harder to adjust axis locks (particularly the barrage with the covered pivot) so its more difficult to get the blade centred or to find the sweet spot of no side to side play vs quick opening.

Benchmade and Kershaw both are known for having exceptional warranties and service. Ive never had to send a knife for service to either company so this is just word of mouth but both companies often get praised for customer care.

Basically, if your set on the 580 (unwilling to consider the 581 - better looks and steel), Id say the zt is probably a better knife overall. Id still rather have the 580 for edc though because of my dislike of tank folders for common tasks. If you want a sturdier blade or the sold feel a slab of titanium gives you, the 550 your knife.

PS - also keep in mind that the thwack of the barrage opening has a tendency to freak some people out. Its pretty loud and abrupt so I can understand why it would be disconcerting if you flipped it out to cut the straps on a box of paper in the office. The zt is pretty aggressive looking as well though so it would give you same problem without the noise to draw attention.
 
Do you mean the Benchmade 581? It is more at the level of the ZT. It has G-10 handle scales and sculpted aluminium bolsters.
I liked the 581 so much that I bought a second one as a spare. Mine are very well finished and came quite sharp. The fit and finish are great on mine, with perfect blade centering and lockup. I think one of the biggest differences between the ZT and the 581 is the blade grind. The 581 is thin and slices very well, while the ZT is thicker and would be more suited to rough use.
I took the clip off of mine and I carry it in a belt sheath. I think it makes a good but heavy EDC.
 
Thanks, guys! Yes, I meant the 581, sorry...

I also LOVE the look and the positive reviews on the Spyderco Manix 2 and maybe the Para Military 2, but I am a lefty and I was told the Para 2 is NOT lefty friendly, BUT the Manix 2 is fully ambidextrous,true?? I really LOVE the look of the new color Earth Brown in the Para 2, but im concerned it will not be appropriate for a lefty.
 
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BM581
ZT551
ZT550
BM580
In that order.
 
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The compression lock is easier for right handed people but some lefties have said its no problem for them either. There is a video on youtube of a guy saying just that and then showing how it works but it looks awkward to me. Could be that left handed people have developed a little more manual dexterity than right handers since they need to work with right handed designed items for many day to day tasks, not just knives.

I know that I cant easily close compression locks one handed with my left hand but Im not left handed. You can change the clip for left hand carry and opening is just the same either way though so if you dont mind using 2 hands to close the knife, it wouldnt be a problem.

Edit - because of the spring, the barrage is 2 handed closing as well unless you push against your leg or something
 
waterford said:
Hi,

With about $200.00 to spend on a high end American-made folder all purpose EDC knive, I think I have narrowed my choices down to either the Benchmade Barrage 580 or the Zero Tolerance 0550.
Which knife has the better build quality, better egos and the better blade? Which is the all around better knive for EDC?
And more importantly, which knive is more razor sharp out of the box?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Get your priorities in order, sir. Anyone, including you and me, can learn to sharpen a blade so it will shave arm-hair. If all else fails, you send it into the factory and they'll sharpen for you...free. Shipping costs a total of about 11 bucks round-trip. Anyway, it's likely that both blades will be sharp from the factory, although I'd bet ZT is usually sharper based on some experience.
First, you would like to be able to carry it with SOME comfort all day. The Barrage handles are 0.650" thick; the ZT handles are only 0.570" thick. And the knives I like, such as the Spyderco PM2 or Military model or the CRK Umnumzaan, range from 0.450" to 0.465" thick; easy to pocket-carry and forget they're there until you need them. So, if you have large hands, maybe the Barrage is okay for you.
The BM 154CM blade steel will not hold an edge nearly as long as S35VN on the model 550. The ZT may cost you more; that's fine. Better knife, IMO.
I'll likely get a ZT 550 or 561 one of these days; a very good knife for the money.
Sonny
 
I definitely recommend the 581 over the 580, Better handle material, more solid feeling, better steel, I also like the higher grind, I really like my 581, but probably wouldn't every buy a 580.
 
Benchmade axis locks are the same left or right handed unless they have some type of finger cut-out (might not be any not symmetrical but I didnt want to say all axis locks since I havent seen them all). Same for back locks from any manufacturer (spyderco, cold steel, etc). I believe the houge button lock folders are left friendly as well. Only frame locks and liner locks are really left or right (compression lock is a type of liner lock).
 
waterford said:
Ok,
So the Spyderco Para 2 would be perfectly fine for a lefty?
Click to expand...

No, the para 2 has a compression lock which is more suited to right handed people. I meant that the spyderco back lock models (endura, delica, native, caly, etc) are truly ambidextrous. Whether working the compression lock left handed is a deal breaker or not is up to you. Ive heard some people say its not at all left hand friendly and others say it works well with the left hand.

Here is a video of left hand operation of the para 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVWFCRWihb4

He has no problem working it left handed but it doesnt look like he's holding it as tightly as I do when I disengage a compression lock with my right hand.
 
I just watched the video, he has no problems at all opening the Para 2 left handed! He did not look awkward at all.
 
Justa said:
...because of the spring, the barrage is 2 handed closing as well unless you push against your leg or something...
Click to expand...
Just to jump in quick, the barrage can be closed quite easily (and quickly) with only one-hand. When I close mine, I pull back the lock-bar just enough to disengage and use my index finger to push the spine of the blade forward, catching it with my thumb to push the blade in until spring action pulls it closed. If you are not used to spring-assisted knives this action can seem awkward and will require practice to perfect, but I can close my barrage faster than any of my liner-lock or back-lock knives. It is truly ambidextrous. I don't own a PM2 so can't compare to the compression lock, but the non-assisted axis-lock is still a lot faster than anything else I've tried. Have you looked into Benchmade's other offerings, non-assisted axis-lock models?
 
Chrial,
Thanks, Yes I have looked at Benchmade's non assisted folders, and in my opinion, they almost feel like light toys compared to the comparable Spyderco models.
 
waterford said:
Chrial,
Thanks, Yes I have looked at Benchmade's non assisted folders, and in my opinion, they almost feel like light toys compared to the comparable Spyderco models.
Click to expand...
"Light toys"? Geez, my 520sbk (at 5.62oz) is anything but a "light toy"! Benchmade 520, 710, 805, 806, 810, 860, 950 ... obviously the prices vary a bit but those are what I am talking about. Which are you thinking of?
 
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