Cold Day in Hell

Oregon, how do you like the 0452? I have a 0450 and enjoy it, but am contemplating a larger carry piece- a 0452 or a Millie. Haven't handled either one, but have and love the PM2.
 
anthony cheeseboro said:
I love the craftsmanship that goes into higher end knives, but there are so many nice knives with highend steel at lower prices, it is easy to buy quality while keeping a whole lot of money in your pocket.
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Currently, these are my feelings about knife purchases. I also appreciate the quality of high end knives like CRK. But the high end steel on well made cheaper knives, like Spyderco and Cold Steel, now make these types of knives appeal to me more because of the price to quality ratio. And I m talking about work knives, not limited use knives. I think finding good value is just common sense.
 
whp said:
Currently, these are my feelings about knife purchases. I also appreciate the quality of high end knives like CRK. But the high end steel on well made cheaper knives, like Spyderco and Cold Steel, now make these types of knives appeal to me more because of the price to quality ratio. And I m talking about work knives, not limited use knives. I think finding good value is just common sense.
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That's how I feel. A $75-$100 knife is much more likely to be an user instead of a tactical letter opener and finger nail cleaner.
 
vanslem6 said:
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I know Hell, Michigan.
 
That 450 is beautiful, in a class with the CRK Mnandi. I can carry a knife like that.

We don't have Hell in New York, but I've worked in a neighborhood called Hellgate.
Not real nice. People living in decrepit abandoned buildings.
 
Actually, it gets pretty darned cold in Hell, Michigan in the winter.
Passed thru there once or twice as a matter of interest...
BTW, the 452CF has been on my radar for a long time. Still not sure. The 450 is also very nice, but the grip is a bit small for my hand. The quality is there, however, as I've found with many ZT's that I've owned.
 
Anthony. For what it's worth, if I had to pull the trigger on a ZT right now it would be the 0450. That is a good looking knife.
 
AC, you're going to warm up to that 0450 more and more each day. I think it's just about the perfect EDC, and I know that's only one dork's opinion, but after getting it anodized, reprofiled and mirror edged by Josh at REK...man, it's my day-off pocket pal.

 
anthony cheeseboro said:
I really like the way you photographed your ZTs.
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Thank you for the kind words. I pretty much have to show these terrific human powered machines we call folding knives. They are my heart's desire. I dig thru BF in hopes of such a showing from you and from other contributors. Discovery, the joy of life.

scoutchris said:
Oregon, how do you like the 0452? I have a 0450 and enjoy it, but am contemplating a larger carry piece- a 0452 or a Millie. Haven't handled either one, but have and love the PM2.
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The 452 is the finest flipper known to western man IMHO. It's size gives the user options a smaller knife cannot. I like all sizes and I carry but seldom use (very much on the ready line, however) a large Buck flipper (830) and a small Buck lock back as a user (424 out of Canada).

I could not not get both of these Russian collaborations. Really. They shine like stars in the night sky as the high water mark of a noble, exciting and wonderful line fron Kershaw the Zero Tolerance line. I have put both into my collection to admire and marvel over. I haven't put either to work. If I stumble onto bless at this Fall's Kershaw factory sale then those will become users. Yes, living down the street from Kershaw gives me options. Uh huh.

I just sold my last Ti Military. Loved that model but never used one. You buy a new knife from a reputable dealer, keep the receipt, and you can be confident it is not a fake as the years shoot bye like they have been fired from a gun. There is value in early adoption: confidence of authenticity. The Para has a terrific reputation and you have made a great choice getting that folder from out of the past.
 
Hell is also a place in Norway, and it sure freezes over in wintertime....
Nice knife though....
 
There's a hell in grand cayman too. Don't know if it's ever froze there. Sent my parents a post card from there once. Had to be very careful until me and it made it home. I did not want them getting a post card from me from hell after my death.

I do like that knife. I've considered picking one up but just not sure how I will like the grind.
 
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The 0452CF was one of the best releases of the last few months, and I'd like to pick up the 0450 at some point. The 0454 is the one I'd really like to own, however -- sculpted 3D CF, sculpted Ti pocket-clip, very close to the Sinkevich original. The way the 0452CF flips is very nice, a very stiff detent gives it a hard snap. On the downside, Youtube reviews and owners who have put the 0452CF through normal hard use have pointed out a problem that looks to be design related; a hard grip combined with any kind of twisting motion when cutting can jam the lock-bar tight to the carbon fiber, stuck solid.

Still a great knife, IMO, but it doesn't really qualify as a hard-use folder. I'd like to think this problem was an anomaly -- when I first heard someone mention it three or four months ago, I tried to do the same thing to mine and couldn't -- but I didn't put it to serious work. I think ZT is a great brand, and Sinkevich is one of my favorite makers/designers. If there really is a problem with the 0452CF, and it's not just a few bad knives, I'd like to see it addressed. Maybe a Shiro-style 'under'-travel stop (no, that makes no sense... 'reverse over-travel'?) would solve the problem; it keeps the lock-bar from moving any 'later' than about 40%, while allowing it 10% to move inward over time, and hopefully avoid lock-rock.
 
Anthony, I have long advocated the notion that perhaps aside from edge retention, these spendy knives don't actually do "knife stuff" any better than entry level or moderately priced knives. That extra money buys us bling, like carbon fiber and ball bearing pivots. So when the bling loses its appeal, so does the knife.

I'm caught halfway between here and there. I still like the ball bearing pivots and steel inserts on Ti lockbars, but also recognize that I'm basically throwing my money in the toilet. A nice $20 Kershaw or mid-priced Spyderco is really what does it for me these days.


Gratuitous pic.
 
Sikael said:
On the downside, Youtube reviews and owners who have put the 0452CF through normal hard use have pointed out a problem that looks to be design related; a hard grip combined with any kind of twisting motion when cutting can jam the lock-bar tight to the carbon fiber, stuck solid.
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Link to cited youtube review? Thank you.
 
CraigMang said:
AC, you're going to warm up to that 0450 more and more each day. I think it's just about the perfect EDC, and I know that's only one dork's opinion, but after getting it anodized, reprofiled and mirror edged by Josh at REK...man, it's my day-off pocket pal.

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You are right, it is growing me quickly. It is a handsome knife.
 
powernoodle said:
Anthony, I have long advocated the notion that perhaps aside from edge retention, these spendy knives don't actually do "knife stuff" any better than entry level or moderately priced knives. That extra money buys us bling, like carbon fiber and ball bearing pivots. So when the bling loses its appeal, so does the knife.

I'm caught halfway between here and there. I still like the ball bearing pivots and steel inserts on Ti lockbars, but also recognize that I'm basically throwing my money in the toilet. A nice $20 Kershaw or mid-priced Spyderco is really what does it for me these days.


Gratuitous pic.
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I have to admit that at least one or two cool knives are fun to have, but I agree that in the real world, $25 dollar Kershaws will work just as well as my 0450.
 
The ZT 0452 is a good one and just the size I like. But I have a number of $150+ knives and resisted the temptation on this one. I also agree that people get a bit too caught up in the latest and greatest in general. I am not immune to it either. The funny part is that I spend what I consider to be a lot for a factory knife, fondle it, admire it, and what do I cut most things with....? A SAK that cost me about $30 these days. Funny how things work in my world.
 
I have a ZT 0452CF I was fortunate enough to score at Blade and it is a FANTASTIC knife. I really can't say enough good things about it. Light, with a design that is ultra slim thanks to the design and a blade, that with over four inches, it actually becomes a competent self-defense option if it were to ever be needed in that role, with a handle shape that is not unlike the Cold Steel Voyager with the choils for both index and pinky fingers. It is both beautiful, and is it more than you'd need for an EDC role? Sure, but then, 99.9999999% of the knives we talk about on this board are. The 0452CF is gorgeous and I'm glad to have it in my rotation.
 
oregon said:
Link to cited youtube review? Thank you.
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This is part 1 of 2. Far from an attack, and far from 'proof' that the design as a whole is flawed. But the same problem is turning up more frequently, unfortunately. Like I said, I love the 0450-series.

[video]https://youtu.be/0cC-EJh4pD8[/video]
 
What you've described is exactly why I no longer own a ZT, and why I'm down to one Kershaw, one Benchmade, and a couple Spydercos. Much as I've enjoyed owning various and sundry high-end offerings, my Dragonfly2 and Paramilitary 2 are simply better at cutting tasks. Sure it's cool to have high-end pieces, but if I don't ever carry a knife, there's no reason for me to have it, especially given that it's a hundred dollars or more that could go to something I do use frequently.
 
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