Cold Steel VS Zero Tolerance

[KingMC]

I want to know how someone would not want the strongest locking folder out there.

Because I when I use a knife properly, the lock is only needed to keep the blade from falling onto my fingers, I don't spine whack or put any backwards pressure on the blade when I use it like an actual tool instead of just demonstrating lock strength.

PS apparently you can't be a nancy boy and open and close a triad lock either or you are a nancy boy and you can't manipulate the lock on a triad folder very well beats me

I think I might understand what you're trying to say, but I don't necessarily believe it's true. I can say that opening the Tri-Ad lock is always scary for me, since my fingers are always in the way of where the blade is closing when I'm depressing the lock bar. There's a reason I like the AXIS lock, it's because my fingers never get anywhere near the edge of the closing blade after I unlock it.

Unlocking the knife is doable by most people regardless of strength, it's safety that concerns me about the Tri-Ad lock.

 

[rodriguez7]

Well, I guess i'll throw in my 2 cents on this also. I just received my ultimate hunter the other day. I also have 3 zero tolerances, a first gen 0550, a gen 3 0550, and a newer 0560. Right now both of my 0550's have been sent back to zt for bad locks, lock rock on my gen 1, and a bent cut out on my gen3. I really do love zt's, they are dam smooth, and dam good looking knives. I was put off by cold steel years ago, when I started really learning about knives. But now with this U H, im back on their band wagon I guess. I have put it through hell, and it has held up dam good, not bad for a 100 dollar knife. Besides, this steel holds a better edge than my elmax, and s35vn. I was really surprised by this, considering how much my zt's run. Both brands are good, and both have their uses, but for a stout outdoor folder, I may sticking with cold steel. At least for now.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

There may have been a point when the ZT vs Cold Steel argument was a solid one to have, but I think it's not terribly relevant right now. ZT has pushed very hard to give us high-end production versions of a variety of custom knives and they're doing a bang-up job on that. They've been fantastic at putting designs from some very talented knifemakers in people's hands for a fraction of the money that a custom from those gentlemen would cost. The only thing that Cold Steel has planned that would directly compare would be the 4-Max (and it wouldn't shock me to find out that KAI was handling their OEM stateside).

Cold Steel, on the other hand, is a much more value-conscious brand. They're offering some very tough cutting tools with good steel at very good prices. They give you a stupidly strong lock, but they haven't forgotten that knives are, first and foremost, cutting tools, so they give you pretty darn good cutting geometry to go with it. They've started moving away from some of the mall ninja antics and are putting out more and more simple, practical designs and I applaud them for that.

 

[craytab]

I want to know what blade warp is by using a knife. I want to know how CTS XHP is not a superb knife steel? I want to know how someone would not want the strongest locking folder out there. These comments don't make sense to me. I've carried this Hunter for a good month, and I have not sharpened it, not once. I've maintained the edge by stropping it a couple of times and that is is. It has cut fishing line, alot of that, it has opened quite alot of boxes and packages with fishing paraphernalia in them along with the plastic packs spoons come in. It has opened a couple of guitar boxes, cut steak and fowl for eating and cooking etc.etc. it has scraped paint off my bathroom wall and cut hose for my boat motor. Just general stuff you would use a knife for. I am confident enough in this knife to not have to finesse it with hand grip etc.etc. I can grip in a gorilla grip or lightly and not worry about the lock failing. I am also confident enough in my sharpening skills to sharpen it when it does get dull.

I already have the strongest locking folder out there. It is called a fixed blade. Further, the lock is only there for a safety. If your requirement for a folding knife is the strongest lock strength, perhaps you are using the wrong tool.

Like I said the thread started out as a lock strength thing similar to what CS did with the Spyderco folder that didn't make it to the end. Now its customer service issues, steel issues, grip issues etc.etc. Oh yea ugly issues. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think the U-H is a homerun for CS. Superbly made, great lock, and EXCELLENT steel. Someone show me where I am going wrong? Been around knives for along time and frankly I can't thing of a better folder. I can think of prettier folders but none as strong and that is where its at with me. Not an ugly knife neither. keepem sharp

IMO, where you are going wrong is I think it is an ugly knife. You don't. Fine. Most of this comes down to personal opinion. The great thing about opinions is we all have them. That said, if you tout yours as the best, prepare to have it called out. Frankly, I think my opinion is the best:thumbup: but I respect other people's as well. We all like what we like.

PS apparently you can't be a nancy boy and open and close a triad lock either or you are a nancy boy and you can't manipulate the lock on a triad folder very well beats me

Ah yes, personal insults. Nothing proves your point like a nice personal insult.

........

 

[Paka]

Yep Purple dude. I like reliable and stout. And for the life of me I don't know what other folks use their folders for? Am I missing something here? I edc it. So I use it everyday where I need to cut something and I want the BEST locking folder money can buy and that is the Triad lock. Plain and simple. Seems to me like your busting my chops for cutting what I cut with it? What do you cut with your knives? Do you pry with them? Do you puncture through doors or door frames or what? I just don't get it. keepem sharp

Right. You cut with it. So why do you need the lock again?

 

[Todd21969]

What do you cut with your knives?

Baby Oak trees.

 

[stabman]

I'm one of those who sees a use for locks.
When I was coring out the hole through a stick 1.25" in diameter to fit the head for the stone axe I made while in the woods last time, having a lock was handy, as it's hard keeping the forces always against the direction of closure during a task of that nature and length.
I used a Strider SmF, not because of the type of lock though...I chose it because I tested all my folders for ergonomics in the type of motion I figured it would take.

I also used that SmF a few days later to core out a 1.1" diameter hole through 5/8" thickness of lead (the sand casting hadn't worked out fully, so I had to put a hole there).
Once again, having a lock was handy.

But reliability was key, not ultimate lock strength.
So far, all locks I have had from all reputable companies have been reliable.
Cold Steel, CRK, Strider, Spyderco, Buck...they have all worked just fine.

 

[PURPLEDC]

Yep Purple dude. I like reliable and stout. And for the life of me I don't know what other folks use their folders for? Am I missing something here? I edc it. So I use it everyday where I need to cut something and I want the BEST locking folder money can buy and that is the Triad lock. Plain and simple. Seems to me like your busting my chops for cutting what I cut with it? What do you cut with your knives? Do you pry with them? Do you puncture through doors or door frames or what? I just don't get it. keepem sharp

No thats actually my point. Im not busting your chops for WHAT you cut. I simply feel you are arguing that you need a chainsaw to pick a flower. I have used knives for over 25 years. And i have never needed a lock on my knife. I like having one but i dont lean on it. Its a backup safety mechanism for a lapse in judgement. So lets say a zt will hold 380 pounds without the lock failing and the triad lock will hold 500. Even the most stupid of mistakes i have ever made with a knife would not require a lock to survive two hundred pounds let alone 500. I was basically poking fun at the fact that you demand the end all be all of a knife lock for work you could accomplish with a slipjoint. Its like wanting a buggatti veyron because it is the fastest production car on earth yet you are only going to drive it to jewel to get groceries once in awhile. I just think different than you. I need things to perform a job. And as long as my things perform their job i dont fret over if it can handle more. And even if my knives did need to survive more abuse i know they would. At least more than i am ever going to subject them to even in an emergency. All i know is if i find a rock in my yard that i want to get rid of so i dont mow over it i just pick it up and toss it out of my yard. I dont overthink it and go rent a front end loader because i know that it will lift more than my arm even though i know my arm is plenty for the task at hand. Overkill is just as pointless to me as underpowered especially if i am compromising my other desires in a knife design in favor of a data point i will never use.

 

[Quiet]

Nope can't think of a better made folding lock than the triad lock. Steel is steel if it is heat treated right and with the month of use this knife has been put to I haven't sharpened it but stropped it. Tell me where I am going wrong with that. Amirite I don't know what that is but I don't like the sound of that.

Stabman you bent the blade right? Like rippled the edge twisting it? I might have sent it back considering it was wood. Beats me about use of a knife but I use it everyday and the steel has held up well. So do you like chop through steel etc. etc. with your folders QUIET? Feed me and teach me grasshopper cause a curious mind wants to know where I'm going wrong with my train of thought. Keepem sharp

LOL You realize that the only reason I responded in that fashion was because you're attempting to portray your subjective opinion as thought it were objective fact, right young padawan?

 

[Quiet]

Zero Tolerance will give you features like exotic premium steels, fun-to-flip-and-flick actions, the cachet of LE editions, and little "fit and finish" details.

If you like playing with and showing off your knives, there is nothing wrong with Zero Tolerance.

If you want to buy a knife more suitable for hard use at a more friendly price, then go with Cold Steel.

Ah yes, ZT = not capable of hard use. Sure thing.

 

[asdf12345]

Ah yes, ZT = not capable of hard use. Sure thing.

What part of "more suitable" didn't register?

 

[stabman]

Ah yes, ZT = not capable of hard use. Sure thing.

They can't cut anything either.

 

[PURPLEDC]

What part of "more suitable" didn't register?

Well your argument is still invalid because if you really want the "more suitable" knife it would be the one without a lock. Fixed blade or balisong. Both are stronger than a triad. What was that about registering?

 

[asdf12345]

They can't cut anything either.

Thanks for posting a photo of your ZT, but no one was accusing them of not being able to cut.

Well your argument is still invalid because if you really want the "more suitable" knife it would be the one without a lock. Fixed blade or balisong. Both are stronger than a triad. What was that about registering?

The comparison is between Cold Steel and ZT, and focused on locking folders. The intent was comparing those two, which I thought was evident in my post, but I guess if you're a nail, everything looks like a hammer.

 

[Quiet]

What part of "more suitable" didn't register?

The part in that comment that's actually your insinuation that ZT knives AREN'T suitable for hard use, which is patently false. :thumbup:

 

[poolhustler]

 

[Cadillac86]

Well your argument is still invalid because if you really want the "more suitable" knife it would be the one without a lock. Fixed blade or balisong. Both are stronger than a triad. What was that about registering?

x2. That's why I carry both a fixed blade and a folder on me for EDC. Most things I use my folder for, and for heavier stuff I use the fixed blade. Right tool for the job. Because of this, I would take a ZT over a cold steel. Although I will say my cold steel Ti-Lite held up quite impressively in Iraq.

 

[Quiet]

Thanks for posting a photo of your ZT, but no one was accusing them of not being able to cut.

Tell you what, I'll take a picture of a cat door I installed in the door of the laundry room in my home. Know what I used to to install it? My ZT 0562CF. It was still sharp enough to shave with when I was done. Huh.


See, this is what I'm talking about. We can throw anecdotal evidence at each other all day, but the factual bottom line is that Zero Tolerance knives are just as "hard use" capable as Cold Steel knives.

 

[stabman]

Let's all go old school...and bring back stone tools!

No locks to worry about...and they were hard use enough for our ancient ancestors.

 

[Jeru]

I am not going full Rambo with my knives and if I ever do need to, I have prepped an ESEE-5 for that (soon to be replaced by a Busse). I do EDC and use my folders however. I don't have folder safe queens. I'm EDC'ing Millies for about eight years now. Still, 50% of the time handling my folders, I'm just playing with them, opening and closing, flicking, while scrolling BladeForums for example And the simple fact that I find it much more comfortable and fun to play with liner- and frame-locks than back-locks, makes me prefer a ZT over a Cold Steel almost any day of the week.