First Expensive Knife: ZT 0350

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bladelover2350

Joined
Nov 28, 2012
Messages
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I'm a freshman in college and I just got a ZT 0350 with the stonewashed blade. I have had knives in the past but they have mostly been inexpenxive kershaws or other knives. Is there anything I should know to keep my knife well maintained other than oiling and the usual?? And since it is S30V how long will it be till I will need to sharpen it?
 
bladelover2350 said:
I'm a freshman in college and I just got a ZT 0350 with the stonewashed blade. I have had knives in the past but they have mostly been inexpenxive kershaws or other knives. Is there anything I should know to keep my knife well maintained other than oiling and the usual?? And since it is S30V how long will it be till I will need to sharpen it?
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It'll be a while before you have to sharpen. I have the 0350 also.... It's pretty much just normal maintenance.
 
Any suggestions on a method of getting it sharpened because I do not have the time or the resources to sharpen a blade of S30V.
 
bladelover2350 said:
Any suggestions on a method of getting it sharpened because I do not have the time or the resources to sharpen a blade of S30V.
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You can mail it in to ZT and they will do it free of charge.. You will just be without the knife for a couple weeks..
 
Congrats on the 0350SW! I have one also and edc it all the time. It's a damn good knife! I agree with n8swag, just normal maintenance to keep it in good working order. As far as sharpening the S30V...I haven't had to sharpen mine yet even after alot of hard use. It's all up to how often you use it and what you will use it for. If you don't mind the wait, KAI offers free lifetime sharpening services. Just send it in and they will sharpen it up and send it back good as new!
 
Awesome. I shouldn't have to hard use it. Since I got to college, I have only had to use it for minor cutting tasks.
 
About the cheapest way to keep the sharpness "in tune" is to strop it on the rough backside of an old leather belt once in a while. There are several instructional videos on YouTube, and probably more than one thread about it here on the forums. It's really easy. Have fun with the 0350, it's a great knife!
 
a 0350 was my first "expensive" knife as well.

I put that in quotations because since then I have come down with an addiction and acquired many others from the likes of ZT, Emerson, Strider, CRK, and a 3" Hinderer XM-18....so now the 0350 doesn't seem so expensive anymore! haha.

Great knife, man. I still throw that on in the pocket a lot. It keeps a great edge and is rugged as they come. Just don't get bit by the bug like I did!
 
All the above are great suggestions. I also greatly recommend stropping, it's a fantastic way to maintain the edge without taking it to a stone or sending it in to ZT for sharpening. You can find inexpensive strops online, and you can also make one yourself from scrap leather with a rough fleshy side, and some wood. There are numerous tutorials on YouTube and the Tinkering section here. Some polishing compound on a strop has provided me with months of use before having to sharpen my knives on a stone or the Sharpmaker. It's probably the best way to go.

If you find your knife gets way dull, and needs a sharpening, I'd be happy to sharpen it for you as well. The recurve isn't a big deal on my Edge Pro Apex, it handle it pretty well. If that's ever an option you'd like to entertain, let me know.
 
Just got my 1st ZT as well same SW 0350 must of been the same cyber Monday sale.I figured after 24 Kershaw it was the perfect deal and time to step it up a bit .I love it perfect size for me.Glad i watched alot of reviews and listened to you guys here on BF and didn't listen to Nutnfancy :) i paid 95.00 for my web green Blur besides that 131.00 has been the most i spent on a knife and that was on a Buck 112 from the custom shop with S30v....So i got my first ZT for about what i paid for the Green web Blur so awesome deal for sure
 
Depending on how much cutting you do, just strop it every few days or once a week. Strops work much faster if you get some compound for it. Ive got diamond paste now that works really well but some good ol red rouge will work just fine too and is cheap. I, however, use the smooth side of the leather for a strop.
 
I got the green compound haven't put it on the cheap barber strop i got yet..Should i use the red rouge instead?
 
Meh id say try out the green if thats what you already have. Even a straight unloaded leather strop will work but you can take it to new levels with different compounds. I use wd40 to get rid of old compounds and clean the leather.
 
My first ZT0301 was my first expensive knife. I felt weird paying over $50 for a while before.
 
I'm with you on the 0350 being my first pricey knife. Ser. 18044... How 'bout yours?
 
Here is my 350SW. Love this knife!
3502_zps23d43027.jpg
 
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