Emerson ETAK vs Zero Tolerance 0620

L

lonestar1979

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Mar 2, 2014
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These knives cost about the same, and I am interested in getting one.Which one is better and of higher quality?
 
I have to say the ZT. You get better steel, better fit and finish, Ti frame lock vs liner lock.
 
Both are high quality. Zt will have a higher fit and finish. All in what you want. Also the zt is standard v edge where the Emerson is a chisel edge.
 
Emerson titanium frame lock without a steel insert goes about $1000. ZT/Emersons ti framelock with stainless insert is about $750 less with M390 and carbon fiber. also if you purposely or by accident break the blade, it will only cost you $30 a replacement as oppose to $100 + from emerson.

With all that said, ZT or any manufacturer that uses the wave feature will never have a an Emerson soul.
 
knife chop said:
Emerson titanium frame lock without a steel insert goes about $1000. ZT/Emersons ti framelock with stainless insert is about $750 less with M390 and carbon fiber. also if you purposely or by accident break the blade, it will only cost you $30 a replacement as oppose to $100 + from emerson.

With all that said, ZT or any manufacturer that uses the wave feature will never have a an Emerson soul.
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The Emerson HD-7 is a little over $400 MSRP. The only Emerson knives that go for $1000 are the customs due to aftermarket prices.
 
Both companies are excellent, I go back n forth. Right now I really dig the Emerson chisel grinds, and the grippy G-10 scales. Seems like you can't go wrong.
 
The handles are different

the etak is straight on the back and has pinky stop.

The 620 is tapered to the rear

Blade shape is very close on the tantos

Zt does have better steel and fit and finish generally

The etak is in between the cost of the 620 and 620cf, closer to the 620cf though.

Liner lock gives yiu grippy g-10on both sides

Frame lock gives stonger lock usually

Weight is nearly the same.

The emerson is 0.5 longer overall blade and handle both longer.

I like zt quality and m390 and carbon fiber personally, not everyone like carbon fiber.
 
i found the ZT underwhelming, i had wished i had bought an emerson instead, but i also prefer the feel of emerson knives more than ZT so im biased. i would buy the ETAK.
 
Pros of the ZT:
-"Premium" materials
-Better fit and finish
-Many consider the frame lock to be more reliable than the liner lock. Even if you argue that the difference is negligible, an Emerson framelock will cost at least $100 more.
-Considering materials, fit and finish, framelock, ZT is a better value if you compare it to an Emerson framelock. If an Emerson came with M390, CF and a framelock, it would easily go for over $1k, and given the rarity, maybe double that.

Pros of the Emerson:
-G-10 is grippier

Depends on preference/ neutral:
-V-grind (ZT) vs chisel (Emerson)
-M390 holds a better edge(ZT), but 154cm will sharpen easier(Emerson)
-Framelock (ZT) vs Liner (Emerson)
-Handle shapes will depend on how it fits in your hand

If your preferences fall toward the features on the Emerson, then it will look to you like it has more positive features.

The thing I don't get is when I hear people who have doubts on how reliable the ZT will be compared to an Emerson. I've seen comments to the effect of "I only trust Emersons." And while personal preference is certainly people's own business, to pretend like Emersons somehow corner the market on reliable folders is pretty ridiculous. It's even more ridiculous when those same people doubt ZT given that they express trust in Emerson, and then almost contradict themselves since the ZT is Emerson approved.
 
I have both the ETAK and both versions of the 0620. ETAK and 0620's are different. I have put the 0620CF through the usual chores and what not through the work that I do. I personally prefer the linerlock for the full scale feel versus the framelock. The blade dulled no differently if not chipped a tiny tiny bit compared to the Emersons that I regularly use. The fit and finish... It's what you want to think/make of it. The scales on both 0620 are larger that the liner. The pocketclip drillings on them don't line up (ZT). The edges are not even on it's contour job along the inner edge of the scale (ZT). The closed detents on the 2 ZT's were different being that I couldn't comfortably open one and could just wrist flick the other open easily. The handle of the 0620s are slick and could use a texture like the 0560's. The fit and finish to me was same as recent Emerson's. I wished that ZT would bevel/contour the inner edge of the liner to match the shape of the titanium lockbar side on their knives. Actually been cut by the liner before on a ZT 0566. I have no complaints about the ETAK being that it is a simple knife that works. I am a Emerson fan but really want to give ZT a honest chance but I have my complaints. I tried the 0770 and 0566 earlier this year and was disappointed with the action and fit (more with the 0566). Their both different but not one is better than the other to me. The cutting edge is what you sharpen it to. If it means anything, I just bought a ZT0561 to try another ZT.
 
lonestar1979 said:
I decided on spyderco military model, cruwear or s30v, depends on my dealer
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ha thats an awesome choice, i have an 0620cf and i baby it (still in that honeymoon phase..it'll pass) but i edc a cruwear military and love it. Definitely opt for the cruwear verision if possible.
 
I have a 0560cf, and while showing it to a buddy I stuck it vertically into a 2x4 board on a railing beside us. It had the M390 steel, and while it did not hit anything in the board, it chipped the edge. I could not believe it.

I had a CQC15 in the car, went out and got it, and stuck it into the same board as close to the same place as I could. It T was 1/8 of an inch away. It did nothing to the blade.

I'm not saying that is indicative of what would happen every time, of course not. But I will say I won't do that again with that ZT, while I would not hesitate with any of my Emersons.

I have four of each brand so I'm not really biased against ZT, but I'll bet either of my 0560s or my 0770cf in Elmax would have been unscathed.

Not the be-all, end-all, but it happened last week.

image.jpg
 
0560cf's didn't use m390. They used s110v cutting edge with a 14c28n spine

Edit sorry you were talking about the 0562cf. You typo'ed and wrote 0560
 
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