First Folder Purchase! ZT or Spyderco?

bowman78

bowman78

Joined
Oct 29, 2014
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104
First, something I want to say. I'm new here sorry if this is in the wrong section, or if I make any mistakes.

Hey guys! I've been interested in knives for a few years know, and recently started understanding what makes a good knife, and what makes a bad knife. I've had a couple choices in mind, however I cant decide which and I have an pesky older brother who keeps telling me things that change my mind!
The 2 knives I've been interested in are the Spyderco Manix 2 and the ZT 0566, I also have the opportunity to purchase a Paramilitary 2 Sprint model as well. I plan to order from Warriors and Wonders, so anything on their website and in stock would be best, though anything else works too.

Purpose: Hiking/Camping, hardest work it would see is cutting medium sized branches into tinder.

Size: I like 4" blades, anything close to 4". Minimum probably sitting at 3 1/4"

Knife type: Folder OFC more specific needs a Liner

Price Range: I'm setting a max at $200 May be able to squeeze threw that

Type/Style:Good quality lock that will hold threw some lock durability tests, I'm just curious how well the caged ball bearing lock is on the Manix 2. If it isn't anything good compression or frame lock is what I want.

Blade Type: Flat ground preferably, I don't want anything too thin either, I'd love something 4-5mm but 3mm is where the folders sort of sit so I don't want anything under 3mm. 3mm and over is fine.

Blade Steel: I love powdered steel, my favorite probably being CPM-3V used in the Survive knives GSO series. I need something that will hold an edge well, I want a strong steel, but soft enough where it wont chip too easy. S30V steel is quite appealing

Anything else: Easy one hand open, even with gloves.

I have a few questions as well:
1. How good is the Spyderco Manix 2 caged ball bearing lock. Maybe also compared to the frame lock commonly seen on ZT and Kershaw knives.
2. How is the Compresssion lock on the Paramilitary 2 Compared to the frame lock?
3. How does S30V steel compare to ELMAX?
4. I've heard ZT knives can get hit by a bus and still work fine. How would a Spyderco respond to a durability test?
Thanks for your help!

Edit: Okay, so I now think I'm gonna settle on a Spyder Manix 2 XL. The only question I have left is how good quality is the caged ball bearing lock?
 
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I'd get s30v in a spyderco for slicing ability
ZT if I wanted to stab/abuse a knife
 
Thanks for the quick reply.
I think how I want to approach this is saving an abused knife for a fix blade maybe made in CPM 3V steel. This one just for something that's thinner more of a cutter possible something that would be easier to prepare food with if its all I had.
The most important part of my question to me though I haven't found out yet is the quality of the Spyderco Manix 2 Caged ball bearing lock. I really like the knife, but if the lock is just gonna crap out on me really easy then I obviously wouldn't want it. Comparing it to a Frame lock or Compression lock would be nice, maybe a pros and cons if that's possible.
Thanks for the help!
 
ZT 0560/1, 0801, 0562, Spyderco Gayle Bradley. I find elmax to be greatly superior to s30v. The bbl on the Manix is very strong. Love it.
 
Could you tell me which one chips easier if any (S30V and Elmax)? Which holds an edge better. Also One other question I had, they are both lifetime warranty if I'm correct, are they the same warranty, like exact same? (Void if disassembled etc.)
Edit: Could you tell me the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of each as well.
 
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Ime, I would rate the compression lock strongest, with the ball bearing maybe on par with or slightly less that the frame lock. Frame locks are deceptive imo; they look stronger than they really are.

I found s30v to be a good all round steel and is tough enough, but elmax has the edge in toughness. For pure cutting I'd take s30v.

ZTs warranty should be more flexible than spyderco's, but both are excellent.
If I were in your position, I would buy a Spyderco Gayle Bradley with the amazing m4 steel
 
I think If the ball bearing lock is as good as you say, I'm probably going with the Manix 2 XL. The Gayle Bradley does look really nice, but i love the leaf shaped blade on the Manix 2 I also like the choil and the index finger grip and jimping, it looks like the grippiest thing you can get with that same quality, and you can choke up on it for a lot of control. Another thing is the Gayle Bradley is tougher to sharpen than an S30V steel, a smaller blade, and that BBL mechanism really draws me in, you don't see to many knives with a little switch to unlock the blade. The last thing i have to say about the Gayle Bradley is the price is just a bit too high, to be so similar to any other Spyderco's, all i can see difference is the steel. Where I am at right now is
#1 Being Manix 2 XL
#2 Paramilitary 2 (assuming I can get it, the store never listed it online and I don;t know if that's cause they didn't want to sell it)
#3 Gayle Bradley
The Spydie hole really intrigues me while I need to have a wide one preferably 10mm or larger, which the 3 knives fit in well with.
Edit: One more thing that draws me away from the Gayle Bradley is the fact that it isn't Stainless Steel. I just feel it would be easier to maintain, As I'm by the ocean, and also in an area qualified as a rain forest, its very humid and prone to rusting.
 
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A lot of the decision between Spyderco and Zero Tolerance is personal preference. With this being your first folder, you will probably like whatever you get; whereas I've become increasingly picky over the years. I've really tried to give Spyderco a fair shake...the quality is excellent, but I have yet to find one that feels right in my hand. That can be a difficult thing to explain, especially since some of the models have "ergonomic" handles that fit fairly well. As a result, my Spydercos sit on the shelf. I've got a number of ZTs that I carry regularly; but there a few of those stuck on the shelf, as well.
It really boils down to what you want...both are excellent quality brands.
ZT tends toward overbuilt; Spyderco, at least in my experience, has better slicing blades. You can't really go "wrong" with either brand. If you're going to carry a fixed blade for "hard use" stuff, you might be happier with the Spyderco.
 
As a first folder I would get a Spyderco Endura 4. It's an amazing knife and it wont break the bank. They are easily found for $60.
ZT is amazing but you will be spending more $.
 
I second or third the Manix XL. It feels great in my relatively large hand and locks right in. No complaints about S30v it takes and holds a good edge.

I also second the Endura if you want to save some money.
 
Para 2 all day long. Its the best combo of toughness,cutting ability, quality, and budget out there.
 
Like others have said, it's mostly personal preference unless you really have a need for extreme durability (ZT) or an exceptional slicer (spyderco).

That said, I've tried both and I personally prefer ZT. My first good quality folder was a Manix 2 back when they were 154CM and I liked it, but I don't carry it at all anymore. I just prefer ZT flippers over pretty much anything else I've tried. My current addiction is a ZT 0562 that I picked up off the exchange. ZT elmax is excellent in my experience.
 
I've carried a Para and then a Para 2 for years now. The compression lock is a really innovative design. It's fun to figure out how it works compared to liner and frame locks. The Para 2 is one of my all time favorite edc knives. I doubt that will ever change.

I've never handled the Manix 2 knives, but I've owned both of the 1st generations of that model and for me they were two of the most comfortable knives I've held to this day. Those are the knives that convinced me Spyderco is about function first.

I recently held a ZT 0562 and found it to also be incredibly comfortable in hand. It also comes with a great grind for slicing.

I highly recommend any of these blades.
 
The manix 2 g10 is my favorite knife at the moment. The ball bearing lock is very strong. The blade tip shape is great for going straight into stuff. Sounds like you may want the xl though!
 
Yea, I like the bigger blade and bigger handle. The difference really isn't that noticeable I don't think.

Can anyone tell me if the Coating on the Manix 2 XL Black blade would add or take anyway any properties in the steel?
 
bowman78 said:
Also One other question I had, they are both lifetime warranty if I'm correct, are they the same warranty, like exact same? (Void if disassembled etc.)
Click to expand...

I don't have any experience dealing with Spyderco's warranty department, but I understand that they are generally have very good service.

ZT's warranty has been stellar for me, and they definitely didn't void it just because the knife had been disassembled. Just last week I got my ZT 0561 back from warranty (exactly one week from the day I shipped it out, crazy fast return) for having developed lock rock (it was before they implemented the steel lockbar insert). Despite the fact that I had taken it down for cleaning/lubing a dozen or so times and added locktite to keep the pivot from loosening on me and sharpied the lock face and blade tang (making the disassembly very obvious) they replaced the entire titanium locking side with a new one that had the steel insert. If their warranty states that disassembly voids it, it would seem that they only hold to this if you have damaged the knife by disassembling it. That's exactly how it should be in my opinion.

Personally, I prefer ZT knives to Spyderco. I find the designs are more interesting to me, and I've never had a ZT that was off-center or had blade play when it arrived from the factory. I can't say the same about Spyderco.
 
hhmoore said:
If you're going to carry a fixed blade for "hard use" stuff, you might be happier with the Spyderco.
Click to expand...

My thought exactly. And then again, if I were going to carry a fixed blade for "hard use" stuff, why would I need a folder with a 4" blade that could pass a durability test? :confused: I'd pair my fixed blade up with a decent multitool and be done with it.
 
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