Cold Steel Recon1 vs Zero tolerance????(any model) Which one is tougher knife?????

I love my recon 1, but my 0300 has the edge. The 0200 or mudd is even tougher. As I said before CS and ZT have baby Andrew Demko AD-10 in Elmax.
 
That's not at all how the OP poised the question. He asked which one would take more abuse. I brought up the Spartan because it would take a lot more abuse then the recon one. Maybe if he is having doubts but prefers cold steel, he could look at the Spartan.
 
thedukeoftank said:
CS knives will win because of the strength of the lock. But really, it wins on the merits of the lock and lock type alone.
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ZT are good knives, but IMO, remember the principle of the "weakest link in the chain determines the strength of the chain." You can have great handles, a strong frame lock, a thick beefy blade, great steel, and a good edge. But in the end, with a folder destined for hard use, if you don't have a strong lock, you've got a less reliable knife. All the other features on the ZT are less significant because they compromise on lock strength. Also, I don't see the point of their recurve blades, they are harder to field sharpen as effectively, even though they cut well when properly sharpened.
 
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maximus83 said:
Also, I don't see the point of their recurve blades, they are harder to field sharpen as effectively, even though they cut well when properly sharpened.
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A recurve is just as easy to sharpen with a 4" dogbone Crock Stick as a non-recurve. And the dogbone Crock Stick is pretty easy to pack as a field sharpener.
 
It all depends on what the buyer considers most important. If you value lock strength the most and don't mind a mediocre steel then it's Cold Steel all the way. If you value blade steel and edge holding the most and don't mind a mediocre lock then ZT wins. In my opinion either one will serve its user well if it's used wisely. Breaking a ZT or Cold Steel would take considerable effort and stupidity from its user.
 
all in all, the tri-ad lock wins.
BUT!
They both kick ass. And, theyre knives. they cut.
If you NEED a lock, youre using the knife wrong
 
maximus83 said:
ZT are good knives, but IMO, remember the principle of the "weakest link in the chain determines the strength of the chain." You can have great handles, a strong frame lock, a thick beefy blade, great steel, and a good edge. But in the end, with a folder destined for hard use, if you don't have a strong lock, you've got a less reliable knife. All the other features on the ZT are less significant because they compromise on lock strength. Also, I don't see the point of their recurve blades, they are harder to field sharpen as effectively, even though they cut well when properly sharpened.
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Hhhmm what particular use do you envision as needing a strong lock? Hard use usually entails prying and stabbing which the ZT can do well enough. Can the recon 1 do prying as well as the ZT 3XX?
 
If only they made the Recon 1 with aluminum or magnesium handles, and used 1095. I love the lock design. I had an old voyager jeez 10 years ago a large tanto50/50. Was light, and was the largest folder I had owned and maybe still is.It pre dated the Tri-ad lock, and was still a super strong knife. Always thought I would shatter the g10 handle, but after 2 years of daily use it held up.I did chip the tip useing it as a screwdriver. Was a great knife. I have had lots of folder, and most were liner locks. The only liner lock I havnt had fail is CRKT auto lawks system. I did have a buck lock back fail, the pivot pin/rivet on the lock snaped, but was an old old buck. I prefer the lockback over liner. If only Ontario's Spec-Plus folders had a pocket clip. But no folder can match a full tang fixed blade, If you want superior strength go fixed
 
I agree with Ankerson, if you're putting the stress on the lock trying to make it fail, Recon 1 wins, if you're putting lateral pressure on the blade/pivot, the ZT will win as they have thicker blades and probably stronger pivots. Just depends on how you're trying to break it.
 
michaelm466 said:
I agree with Ankerson, if you're putting the stress on the lock trying to make it fail, Recon 1 wins, if you're putting lateral pressure on the blade/pivot, the ZT will win as they have thicker blades and probably stronger pivots. Just depends on how you're trying to break it.
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Yep, this.
 
Why on Earth would you want a knife with Magnesium handles? Do you have any idea how dangerous that could become near a fire?
 
thedukeoftank said:
CS knives will win because of the strength of the lock. But really, it wins on the merits of the lock and lock type alone.

Put a stop pin lock back in a ZT = ZT wins
Put a liner lock in a CS = ZT wins
Put a frame lock in a CS = ZT wins
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Which translates to:

Upgrade the ZT and the ZT wins.
Downgrade the CS and the ZT wins.
Downgrade the CS and the ZT wins.
Which is another way of saying the CS wins.

thedukeoftank is correct, the Recon 1 wins because of its Tri-Ad lock, although of course it's a very robust folder in every other way as well. I love my ZT0300, but frame- and linerlocks cannot take the hard use/abuse that the Tri-Ad lock can. Most of the time this is irrelevant, but in the context of the OP's question, it's what matters most.
 
I'd like to see a cs take on the 0500 mudd with beasty hawk lock. my vote, ZT
 
This thread was best left to die...

Of course the triad lock is stronger, any zt is still a better knife than the cold steel, and the zts are plenty strong. Better blade steel, better handle materials, more innovative features (ball bearing pivots for example), better fit and finish, and tighter tolerances just flat out make the ZT the better knife, regardless of absolute breaking point strength.
 
RevDevil said:
Why on Earth would you want a knife with Magnesium handles? Do you have any idea how dangerous that could become near a fire?
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In a alloy form its a very light weight and strong metal is been used in Car racing wheels since the 60s thure today its much like aluminium. You could throw it in a fire and it would melt at some point. Its acculy found in some knives on the market right now I think Smith and Wesson is making one in some form a rescue knife.
 
mkjellgren said:
This thread was best left to die...

Of course the triad lock is stronger, any zt is still a better knife than the cold steel, and the zts are plenty strong. Better blade steel, better handle materials, more innovative features (ball bearing pivots for example), better fit and finish, and tighter tolerances just flat out make the ZT the better knife, regardless of absolute breaking point strength.
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ZT's are also usually at least 50% thicker behind the edge, have more gimmicky features that add to the cost, and are more likely to need service.
 
MadMullet said:
In a alloy form its a very light weight and strong metal is been used in Car racing wheels since the 60s thure today its much like aluminium. You could throw it in a fire and it would melt at some point. Its acculy found in some knives on the market right now I think Smith and Wesson is making one in some form a rescue knife.
Click to expand...

I have one of these Smith and Wesson HRT folder, Its my current EDC, Its a nice sturdy handle.Handles more than strong enoght to smash a car window/windsheild, dont think G10 can do that. I've had it for 2 years now and its got a little blade wiggle when open, so need to replace it. Might order the plain edge one, as the serations just limit the use of this knife. Realy inbetween ordering another HRT or the Recon1. The HRT I belive has the same AUS8 and weights less, but its a liner lock, and the pocket clip is blade tip down. Anyways I was realy happy with my old Voyager And besides I dont keep my knives in the BBQ pit or my oven. Wouldnt magnesuim hold out to heat better than G10?
 
I've handled both a Cold Steel Recon one and carried it for about a week that I borrowed from a friend while trying to decide if I wanted to buy one or not. To make a long story short, I liked his ZT 0350 much better after giving it a try for about week as well. A ZT 0350 is what I ended up with in the end.
 
i love ZT but i hate people Sh!ting on CS with out reasoning... i would say CS is stronger becuase of the lock.
 
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