Best New ZT

[DJC72]

I absolutely love the 0095 bw. With its slim profile, it rides well in pocket and still feels good in hand. Not to mention, it's the sliciest Zt that I own. I love the appearance too.

 

[RamZar]

I absolutely love the 0095 bw. With its slim profile, it rides well in pocket and still feels good in hand. Not to mention, it's the sliciest Zt that I own. I love the appearance too.

For a 3.6" blade it weighs just 5.3 ounces since it has thinner titanium and blade stock. Most ZTs have a blade thickness of 0.16" whereas 0095BW and 0450 are only 0.12" thick.

 

[RamZar]

By the way, the ZT flippers of this year flip much better from day one with no break-in period. Last year's ZT flippers (0900, 0808, 0450 and 0452CF) had very strong detents and were susceptible to lock bar pressure.

 

[Comeuppance]

By the way, the ZT flippers of this year flip much better from day one with no break-in period. Last year's ZT flippers (0900, 0808, 0450 and 0452CF) had very strong detents and were susceptible to lock bar pressure.

My 0452CF is of that same generation, methinks. That makes me want the 0456 even more if they've refined their detent setting...

 

[RamZar]

My 0452CF is of that same generation, methinks. That makes me want the 0456 even more if they've refined their detent setting...

0456 flips very well with either light switch or push button methods. It's a very tough little flipper (little big man) that looks great too. Very utilitarian blade. For $240 you get premium CTS-204P stainless steel, very nice contoured titanium milling and those bright blue hardware.

 

[sutherland]

Of the new offerings, the ZT0909 excites me the most. I'm not a fan of black/coated blades (0804, 0095, 0450), but that's purely for aesthetic reasons.

 

[Gideons]

I am a huge ZT fan... But, I don't really like ANY of there new knives. To me, ZT knives were branded as hard use military knives, and these new designs aren't that. The ZT 0200, 03XX, 0550, 056X, 0620, 0630 were what the company is suppose to be, not these new designs that fail at the companies suppose motto. Now, if I had to choose it would be the 0452CF. It is not a "hard use military knife" but it is lightweight, has a good flipper, decent traction and IMO the only design that has merit.

 

[WK ONE]

My vote goes for the 0456 by a frankly huge margin. Everything else looks boring to me, but I'm a sheepsfoot / wharncliffe kinda guy most days of the week.

Ditto! Definitely my favourite by far.

 

[fz1boxer]

if your going to buy a ZT,buy it from Whitty(usamadeblades)

 

[fz1boxer]

my wife has several 350's and gets irritable when i try and take one,maybe her new 0095 will calm her bit...............doubt it though

 

[Ccc]

I am a huge ZT fan... But, I don't really like ANY of there new knives. To me, ZT knives were branded as hard use military knives, and these new designs aren't that. The ZT 0200, 03XX, 0550, 056X, 0620, 0630 were what the company is suppose to be, not these new designs that fail at the companies suppose motto. Now, if I had to choose it would be the 0452CF. It is not a "hard use military knife" but it is lightweight, has a good flipper, decent traction and IMO the only design that has merit.

Serious question: Do you not consider the 0909 part of ZT's hard-use-military-knife branding? I only ask because I think it is probably their most utilitarian design in years, along the lines of the 0200 or 03XX series, but designed by Les George, an EOD veteran.

 

[Comeuppance]

0456 flips very well with either light switch or push button methods. It's a very tough little flipper (little big man) that looks great too. Very utilitarian blade. For $240 you get premium CTS-204P stainless steel, very nice contoured titanium milling and those bright blue hardware.

Only $20 over the standard 0452CF price, but with huge Ti slabs and 204P... I might pay full price for a ZT just out of impatience and pure unchecked want.

 

[Comeuppance]

I am a huge ZT fan... But, I don't really like ANY of there new knives. To me, ZT knives were branded as hard use military knives, and these new designs aren't that. The ZT 0200, 03XX, 0550, 056X, 0620, 0630 were what the company is suppose to be, not these new designs that fail at the companies suppose motto. Now, if I had to choose it would be the 0452CF. It is not a "hard use military knife" but it is lightweight, has a good flipper, decent traction and IMO the only design that has merit.

Ironically, the 0452CF is arguably the lightest-duty in the ZT lineup, with a thin tip and slim lanky profile that doesn't lend itself to withstanding leverage, and a thin flat grind that might chip under duress. This years' new offerings all seem pretty stout and solid and utilitarian to me with the exception of the rather curvy and slice-y 0095

 

[RamZar]

I am a huge ZT fan... But, I don't really like ANY of there new knives. To me, ZT knives were branded as hard use military knives, and these new designs aren't that. The ZT 0200, 03XX, 0550, 056X, 0620, 0630 were what the company is suppose to be, not these new designs that fail at the companies suppose motto. Now, if I had to choose it would be the 0452CF. It is not a "hard use military knife" but it is lightweight, has a good flipper, decent traction and IMO the only design that has merit.

So many misconceptions. I'm glad ZT is not listening to people like you.

All of their current production knives are still TOUGH and OVERBUILT. That's why their mostly so heavy.

Some equate nice looks with being wimpy!

Only 0350, 0450, 0566, 0770 and 0095 have the thinner 0.12" blade stock whereas all others have the 0.16" blade stock. Except for 0450 and 0770 they all have seriously thick titanium or liners. 0450 and 0452CF have the thinner tips.

ZT has adapted to market conditions and their current production models cater to many segments.

 

[Nfd538]

I can't speak on the others I only have the 0450CF and it's pretty damn awesome.
Quick video

 

[whitty]

It all depends on what you want as long it's a bearings flipper.

0909 with a near 4" blade, thick liners and 7.5 ounce weight is basically what the tough old ZTs used to be. It should be a great workhorse!

0804CF is also near 4" blade but with CF weighs just 5.1 ounces and has premium CTS-204P. You have to like all black though.

0095BW with a 3.6" blade is a good middle of the road size and weight (5.3 ounces).

0220 with a 3.5" blade is actually heavier than 0095BW at 6.2 ounces.

0456 with a 3.25" blade, premium CTS-204P, very nice contoured titanium milling, anodized pivot, clip and backspacer looks like a limited edition but priced to move. Heavy though at 6.3 ounces.

0450CF with a 3.25" blade, CF, DLC coating and green spacers is a great EDC at just 2.4 ounces. Perhaps the smoothest ZT flipper I've had!

The winner for me is 0450CF but if the 0456 had been lightened up by a couple of ounces (mill out the inside of the titanium) it'd be the winner.

This was so perfectly stated that I will just second it!

 

[WK ONE]

Is there no lanyard hole on the 0095BW? Kind of a letdown.

 

[whitty]

Is there no lanyard hole on the 0095BW? Kind of a letdown.

This was an in house design by ZT and the simplicity of the build on this knife is what makes it so perfect. It is simple in its build but complex in engineering. The fact there is one post and the pivot, but the knife is very rock solid, makes this knife quick and easy to take down and put back together. A lanyard hole did not really fit the design, so I understand the lack of one.

 

[Comeuppance]

I wasted two hours sketching out a fixed blade design, scrapped it, went to browse general, opened this thread, and realized I had spent two hours basically trying to sketch a fixed version of the 0456.

I think I need to just go ahead and buy this.

 

[Gideons]

So many misconceptions. I'm glad ZT is not listening to people like you.

All of their current production knives are still TOUGH and OVERBUILT. That's why their mostly so heavy.

Some equate nice looks with being wimpy!

Only 0350, 0450, 0566, 0770 and 0095 have the thinner 0.12" blade stock whereas all others have the 0.16" blade stock. Except for 0450 and 0770 they all have seriously thick titanium or liners. 0450 and 0452CF have the thinner tips.

ZT has adapted to market conditions and their current production models cater to many segments.

Misconceptions? Not really... lets see why. "All of their current knives are tough and overbuilt" - well that is not all that makes a good hard use military knife. Traction. I look at these new knives, ZT 0095BW the blade shape is "different" handles are slick. Okay, not great. ZT 0220 again, slippery handles, no gimping on the top of the knife. Seems more like a gentlemens folder. ZT 0450CF Lightweight EDC, not a hard use military knife. ZF 0456 Too short of blade, slippery handles, lack of traction again. ZT 0804CF could be this hard use military knife, but on a personal level don't like the design. ZT 0909 looks like a good knife, but 7.5 ounces and a liner lock? Really? ZT 0900 small blade, titanium handles... Bad traction and way too small for this "hard use military role". ZT 0808 bad traction, small blade, again. REALLY want me to go on haha? They are no longer hard use military knives. They cancelled the ZT 03XX serious, and ZT 056X series which where hard use military tactical knives. Pretty much except the ZT 0620/0630 and the ZT 0562 they ZT line up is now either impractical "modern designs" or tough EDC knives. Now, I think it is a smart market move to make these new "unique" designs that look fancy. But, in my eyes they lack merit(are not practical) in the "hard use tactical military knife role". The knives that made ZT famous, were the ZT 0200, ZT 03XX which are no longer in production. That is how I feel, so please don't just excuse my opinion based on my experience. You may differ, but from my perspective the new releases are not the traditional hard use military knives they are famous for.