Benchmade or Zero Tolerance

[jstn]

I have owned nearly every model from ZT at some point, and now I own zero. I own a few Benchmades that I really like, but I prefer Spyderco over either of the two. YMMV.

 

[sabre cat]

If you want to just look at the quality of steel and other products used in production, then I should probably tip my hat to Zero Tolerance.
Attention to assembly and other workmanship? Once again my vote goes to ZT.

The question I have to ask is ZT so superior Benchmade? Does ZT use blade steel that much better than Benchmade? Is it really so much better that you will be able to tell a difference? Oh sure, on paper it's better but what about everyday in the field. I'm not really sure about that.

A problem for me is that I don't really care for most of their products. At least the ones that I have had a chance to handle. The few times I have looked at ZT's line I have found them beautiful but not to my liking and not filling my needs for a new blade. I have considered ZT more than once only find I was fighting with myself to open my wallet. Kershaw seems to be more my taste and even then most of the products are not for me.

I am finding that most new blades from Benchmade are also not my cup of tea. Owners complain about QC issues on knives coming from Benchmade's doors but I have not seen that to be the case. OK, I have not owned many of their products(6) but I have never had a problem with their knives. If you want to claim a screw not torqued to your personal standard a problem so be it. I don't think that is enough to call them on the carpet for. I have never had a problem with blade centering, scratched blades, broken Omega springs, loose pocket clips, etc. Wait a minute, the edge on my 162 Bushcraft was sharp but not perfect. Maybe I have had a QC problem! Call out the National Guard.

True, it can be argued that with Benchmade's MAP prices ZT offers you more bang for your buck and I have to agree with this. Benchmade should step up a little more (switch from 154cm to CPM154 for example) because of the price increase. Yes, I know that the increase does not go to BM but to the retailer. I don't care who gets the money but, I do care about my billfold being thinner. Keep MAP the way it is but slightly increase cost to the dealer to cover better steel.

So, who is best? For me personally that question is answered with design ergonomics, price, customer service, and blade steel. Although steel is one of the first things I look at, many times it ends up at the back of the bus after I determine if it meets my minimum needs. Ergos and price are up front for a reason. On knife ergonomics ZT has always been second place to BM for me. I may tip my hat to Zero Tolerance but my wallet is on a weight loss program for Benchmade.

I guess I am the black sheep of the forum.

 

[Aias]

In my opinion, ice cream cake is merely ice cream mimicing the shape of a cake and takes away from a cake's core values. With that being said, I like ice cream cake and not cake and what goes well with pie? You guessed it, ice cream

OK Little Spyder, I see your point... but some kind of triple chocolate blackout cake is what I hope takes me out someday... just the thought of it...

--That said--I guess I should add the the BM/ZT conversation. Ultimately, I like ZT a little better... not because BM knives are poorly made, but rather because I am so impressed with the 0560bw. The feel, the steel, the smooth action, materials, and the small improvements over the years have made this knife truly excellent in my estimation, especially for the $200 bucks you could find one for (at least when I purchased it).

Ultimately, I guess you can imagine opening a package after the mail has arrived--which knife would make you smile? Which would have you wishing you ordered "the other one"?

 

[Sonnydaze]

ZT. I love my BMs but my ZTs will outlast them by a far shot. They also have better materials.

Sent from my Z987 using Tapatalk

YES...agreed.

 

[Mick_1KRR]

YES...agreed.

Really interested to hear the explanations on this. Not trying to be rude, it's just nice to hear peoples reasons behind enthusiastic statements.

1- How is the standard titanium used by all makers now so much better than stainless steel and G-10 other than weight savings? when most of these beefy ZT's weigh more than knives with thick stainless liners.
2- How is the same old S35VN, M390 154, S30V and ELMAX (famous for having heat treat issues from ZT) better than the M390, M4, 20CV, S30V S90V and 154CM offered in Benchmades line-up?
3- How is a titanium frame-lock with steel inserts which still slips out when too much force is applied negatively, so much better than time tested axis lock which would only ever fail if a spring broke, i have 10yr old battered Benchmades that still work like brand new, no lock slip, no play, no wear on the tang or lock faces. I have ZT's that have had the lock face wear down so they are touching the other side of the handle, 100% exhausted with vertical play.

Just want to know how ZT are so much better? where are these amazing materials you speak of? i own heaps of ZT's and Benchies, from a honest perspective i don't see how ZT is better other than design taste and price. For the money i'd take a 908 M4 stryker, 20CV Griptilian, M390 710, S90V 940 or M390 Contego any day of the week over ZT's current line-up.

 

[Therom]

I own both ZTs and Benchmades and I have to say both companies make great knives.
You have great steels, great materials and very good quality from both.

I think I have a slight preference for ZT but IMHO it doesn't make much sense to me to say that one company is better than the other.

You can find terrific knives at ZT AND BM, and you will find some just fine....

BM were used to use standard steels and to offer "delicate" design (that is positive for me), but they recently moved to super premium steels and complete their portfolio with more robust designs.
ZT were used to offer "overbuild" design and good steels, and they are now offering less choice in their steel and more "delicate" (positive again) designs.

Their are both following the market trends.
But I like the overbuild flipper from ZT a lot, and I enjoy the slight "pocket-able" axis knives from BM.

have a look at the ZT0350, ZT0562 or even ZT0801 they a great and true to the philosophy of "overbuilt knives" ZT started with.
but at the end the ZT0450CF is also a great more EDC friendly knife...

For BM, look at the riptlian famillies (maybe the mini) and the 940 series.
They fine as good in hand and in pocket and have some "soul" into them.
But the new nakamura is also very attractive....

My conclusion: look at both brands, they have treasures in their portfolios

 

[stonproject]

Old ZT models are great, the new ones do nothing for me. But hey, that may be different for you. They've evolved from hard use tools to man jewelry fairly quickly in my eyes - again, which is great if that's what you want.

If you want a tool, get a Benchmade. They are made to work for life and the locking mechanism is superior to the typical titanium framelock with or without lock bar insert on your ZT models.

If you want something to put in the safe, fondle and flip occasionally, a ZT will likely make you happier.

I mostly agree. I like old ZT knives a lot. The new ones also aren't really my style.

''
asking which is better is an unanswerable question. Quality wise? Id say they're equal, customer service is about equal.

Only thing I could say is better about one or the other is benchmade has a huge variety.

benchmade has the axis lock and zt has more framelocks at better prices than benchmades framelocks.

 

[TheVoodooSan]

Any suggestions on a ZT model.

I have a ZT 0630 and I absolutely love it. I also own several Emersons and I think my 0630 has better quality than my actual Emersons. (Not knocking Emerson mind you. Love mine) I also own a ZT 0300 and it looks as new as the day I got it. Its a pretty fat knife though. I dont abuse my stuff but my 0300 is a definite user. I own and have owned a lot of great Benchmades over the years. But between ZT and Benchmade I will choose ZT. Good luck!

 

[Cursum Perficio]

I have several BMs and a few ZTs, and more Spyderco's than both of them put together.
Folding knives are cool.
Get an 0562 and be happy.
I want some cake.

 

[Firestrike]

I have owned nearly every model from ZT at some point, and now I own zero. I own a few Benchmades that I really like, but I prefer Spyderco over either of the two. YMMV.

Oh now you did it, you had to bring in Spyderco on a debate between BM and ZT....

 

[rschuch]

Oh now you did it, you had to bring in Spyderco on a debate between BM and ZT....

Someone always just HAS to have the baklava...

I'm finding BM more affordable than ZT, and possibly more easily available. I had a 350 that I traded because I wasn't crazy about the blade shape (short and stocky with a big belly - too much like the owner!), but I have 452CF now, which I like, but have issues with (have to hold it down the handle or it won't open - a bit of lock stick) and it's the most I ever paid (or will pay) for a new knife. For that price I expected perfection, not issues. And all the other ZTs I'm looking at are WAY more expensive (like the 804 and 0095). I may pick up a 200 in the future, mainly because it's a large knife that's somewhat affordable.

I have 4 BMs (710, Crooked River, 860, 950) and have had NO issues with any of them and all were gotten either in trade or cost a little over $100 or under. The axis lock works GREAT on all of them. I may pick up a Contego later down the road, but I think I've reached a saturation point in my collecting and have a tough enough time deciding which gets pocket time (and I'm not even discussing my "baklava" choices), so for me, until the trend turns and ZT starts making knives under $200 (REALLY under $150, so $100 or under after market) I'll stick with BM.

 

[ourgon]

Personally I think that framelock is a fad [flipper too anyway]. Some hard use tests on youtube proved that it's not stronger than axis or triadlock. Simple linerlock works good, axis lock works good and is most comfortable to use. Even triadlock is for me more comfortable to operate than those slippery frame locks from ZT/Lionsteel. You must grab those knives at local dealer and decide yourself what you prefer. Besides that both companies have great customer service and good quality stuff.

 

[whp]

I own several Benchmade knives, never have I had these issues other people say exist. With an Axis lock there is no possible way to get up/down play. Any side to side play can only result from a loose pivot, the fix is to tighten the pivot screw. I locktite them at the point of no play and easy deployment of the blade.

I have a BM 581 with up and down blade play that persists even after a return to the factory for correction.

 

[HOKIE_FAN]

I own a ZT 0566, Benchmade 551 Griptilian and 950 Rift. First off they both have the best customer service of any company I have ever dealt with. With that being equal, I believe they are both great knives and you have to pick the one that has the style you like and the blade steel you prefer. If I had to chose between my Rift and the 0566.....I would chose the Rift. Everything about that knife is perfect and it is a great slicer.

 

[Hackenslash]

In order to answer the OP's question it needs to be based on a specific knife to specific knife comparison. To compare an entire line really makes no sense. It's like comparing Chevy and Ford...well, are we talking Corvette vs. Fiesta or Volt vs. Mustang? If you're going to compare two different companies, you can only do it along the lines of Customer Service and warranty support.

That being said, as a whole I think I tend to prefer ZT knives. Oddly, if I was to make a list of my top 10 favorite knives there would probably be 3 BM's (484 Nakamura Knife Center exclusive, my 20CV/G10 Grip and my 943) and there would likely only be 1 ZT (my custom 0450).

It's weird that way. You can't go wrong with either company, although you can go wrong with individual knives.

 

[Ericz]

Are the axis locks on the BM's easy to use with one hand?

 

[Hackenslash]

Very easy to use. Probably one of the easiest to deploy and close of them all. With an Axis lock you can deploy either using the studs or hole or flipper...or you can just release the Axis lock a bit and flick your wrist. When closing, you can pull back on the Axis a little and reverse flick to close. When I carry an Axis lock knife for a few days then switch to another style lock, they all seem a little clunky.

 

[HOKIE_FAN]

I agree with Hackenslash...easiest to use of the two. I prefer the ease of function of the axis lock over frame locks.

 

[jill jackson]

I've had great ZTs and Benchmades both. And once in awhile less than perfect examples of both.

 

[aleforme]

The bottom line is you can use the hell out of a ZT or BM and the knife will hold up for many many years. After that it just comes down to specific blade steels, design, look, weight, feel, etc. Each company has knives that will fill just about any folding knife need.

Buy the knife that works for you based on your needs and the knife that "speaks" to you whether is be a ZT or a BM. And don't rule out Spyderco. Same applies for them.