Dealers knife choice of 2016!

whitty

whitty

Dealer / Materials Provider
Joined
Aug 25, 2005
Messages
6,067
While I think Knife News is a relatively new on line publication, I was very pleased to see the results of their dealers choice award for 2016!

Here was the field of very valid contenders:
https://flic.kr/p/PneUF9 https://www.flickr.com/photos/57703464@N02/

And the winner was the ZT0456:

https://flic.kr/p/PneUBS https://www.flickr.com/photos/57703464@N02/

We were not involved in the voting at all. As a knife dealer, I spend the majority of my time in the trenches getting business from forums and social media. I am also a total knife knut and fell in love with the ZT0456 the first time I pulled one out of the box. It is still the dominant knife in my right front pocket today. I felt very vindicated with this announcement as I know I have been on my soap box about the 0456 for a long time.

Congratulations to ZT for a very well deserved win in a long list of well deserved awards! Keep up the great work!
 
Such an interesting knife. What would you say you like about it? I know the action is superb but it seems there are more functional knives out there.
 
Good to see the kizer gemini get nominated. Very worthy contender.
I might have to check out the 456 based on your comments whitty.

Any idea which dealers vote and what the criteria is?
 
A great field to choose from, but the 0456 is my bottom pick of that lot. Blocky, pointy handle, looks like a Michael Bay transformer. What am I missing?
 
Without meaning to disparage Whitty, I think it's worth mentioning that the 0456 was the Dealer's Choice for

Best manual folder

of the year. Knifenews has ten categories, including one for AO folders and EDC fixed blades.

From reading the text: ".....A gamble to distance the 0456 design from his best-selling collaborations like the 0450 and 0452 has paid off.", the design of the 0456 is a deliberate attempt by Dmitry Sinkevich to make something which does not look like his other designs.

Again, I'm not here to call anyone out. This is the Internet, and that means I'm wrong. But I feel it's important to understand the context of this award, lest some make the mistake (as I did, at first), of believing that this means the 0456 has been voted the "top knife of all knives", according to Knife News.
 
The Gemini really is an awesome EDC. I'm surprised they don't have more of a following.
 
I either own, or have previously owned, every knife in that group and I'd pick the Kizer out of that set easily.

The ZT would be near the bottom, that model in particular weighs a ton. It's neat, and I like the blade shape, but who wants a short bladed knife that weighs two ounces more than the largest (~4") folders I actually ever carry?
 
well, it is the "dealer's choice" for knife of the year. there may be other factors in that choice such as profit margin, rate of returns, availability of stock etc etc. at least that was my thought seeing the category name
 
Kalibr906 said:
Such an interesting knife. What would you say you like about it? I know the action is superb but it seems there are more functional knives out there.
Click to expand...

I am a big guy (6'4 270 lbs) so weight on any knife is not an issue for me. I tell you that because it is a heavy knife for its size. Honestly I love the way it fits in my hand and have been blown away by the usefulness of the blade. I mostly use my knives to cut up boxes, slice paper and cut tape. I do not allow scissors in my shop so we all use our knives to cut everything. While all my knives perform these task just fine, the ZT0456 always seems a step above them. The other thing that has blown me away about it is the blade steel. Mine has not once been put on a stone in 7+ months of ownership. Typically a few light runs over a strop and it is back to as good as new and cuts like a razor. I know it is not the knife for everyone but most of my regular buyers I had to convince to buy one and actually use it for a couple weeks came back thanking me for pushing them on the knife.
 
matt009au said:
Good to see the kizer gemini get nominated. Very worthy contender.
I might have to check out the 456 based on your comments whitty.

Any idea which dealers vote and what the criteria is?
Click to expand...


No clue to be honest. I only found out about it based on my customers emailing and texting me about it. I try to read knife news when I can but I had honestly missed it.
 
Shorttime said:
Without meaning to disparage Whitty, I think it's worth mentioning that the 0456 was the Dealer's Choice for

Best manual folder

of the year. Knifenews has ten categories, including one for AO folders and EDC fixed blades.

From reading the text: ".....A gamble to distance the 0456 design from his best-selling collaborations like the 0450 and 0452 has paid off.", the design of the 0456 is a deliberate attempt by Dmitry Sinkevich to make something which does not look like his other designs.

Again, I'm not here to call anyone out. This is the Internet, and that means I'm wrong. But I feel it's important to understand the context of this award, lest some make the mistake (as I did, at first), of believing that this means the 0456 has been voted the "top knife of all knives", according to Knife News.
Click to expand...

Honestly did not know there were multiple categories. Thank you for setting me straight:thumbup:
 
ginaz said:
well, it is the "dealer's choice" for knife of the year. there may be other factors in that choice such as profit margin, rate of returns, availability of stock etc etc. at least that was my thought seeing the category name
Click to expand...


That could be a factor but would not have been had I been involved in the vote. I think that is obvious just by my history of talking about this knife.




On a side note, sorry for all the individual replies. Tried and tried and could not get multi quote to work for me tonight.
 
Zero Tolerance 0456 was the winner of the "KnifeNews Dealers’ Choice Award" for "Best New Manual Folder 2016" and it was voted on by "21 of North America’s top dealers".

It's a lot of folder for the money with 3D contoured/milled titanium, super premium CTS-204P steel and anodized hardware all for $240! However, it's too heavy at 6.6 ounces for a 3.25" blade. It was an ideal candidate for weight reduction by skeletonizing the beefy titanium.

My favorite is also Kizer Gemini titanium for $170.
 
whitty said:
That could be a factor but would not have been had I been involved in the vote. I think that is obvious just by my history of talking about this knife.




On a side note, sorry for all the individual replies. Tried and tried and could not get multi quote to work for me tonight.
Click to expand...

I think they got it right. I would put the 456 on top of that list. But just my own personal preference.

Whitty, may want to check on the domain mostlyusamadeblades.com. [emoji12]. You really should add the Asian Spyders, Kizer, WE, and Reate. They really round out value and options on the mid-range price tags. Just sayin'. [emoji16]



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