Getting my son a knife for graduating and to take into the army...Im a ZT virgin

I think the ZT0350 tiger stripe and ZT0200 would be your best choices.. Both around $150.. Hit up kershawguy.com and he'll hook you up with whatever you need.
 
The zt 0200 is a great knife. But I would highly recommend the benchmade 275 adamas. That knife will not fail, like it is extremely tough. It also has d2 steel which is pretty good. There are a few threads on this forum about the 275 adamas vs zt0200, you could give those a look. I'd say those 2 knives are your top 2 choices for the price.
 
chester22 said:
I think the ZT0350 tiger stripe and ZT0200 would be your best choices.. Both around $150.. Hit up kershawguy.com and he'll hook you up with whatever you need.
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Thanks brother! I've been eyeballing the 0350 Im just not sure if he likes the assisted open or not. You can take the spring out cant you, to convert it to a manual flipper right?

@matt- You know what I didnt even think about the Adamas, I might keep that in mind but Im probably going with a ZT
 
There is also the ZT 0400 but i have no experience with the ZT lines
 
Yes you can take the spring out of the zt 350. I've handled the zt 350 and it's a great knife. The only problem I can see with it is sharpening it while he's deployed. I've never had a problem sharpening recurves, but I've heard a few people complain about that. But considering your son said he likes zts, he probably likes the recurve, as most zts have recurves.
 
i love me some zts but i think i would second the recommendation for the 275 adamas for a service knife under $150, comes with a nice molle pouch too and its only 124 shipped from one dealer, email me if youd like to know which cutlery shoppe has it for that price :)
 
nuckingfuts said:
Thanks brother! I've been eyeballing the 0350 Im just not sure if he likes the assisted open or not. You can take the spring out cant you, to convert it to a manual flipper right?
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you can take the torsion out and it still works great.. Dave (Kershaw guy) might even help you with it.
 
I own and LOVE a ZT 0200. It's a great, solid knife and I know it will last more than I will :)
It costed me less than 90 $ on ebay, and this is an other reason I love it.
 
Is it going to be used overseas in the desert? There's a post in the general forum by a soldier who had to stop using his Spyderco Military because sand constantly got in between the lock bar and G10 to make it hard to close. That perhaps rules out the 200. It probably also rules out the 560 because if you hold it up to the light, you can see the ball bearings, meaning the gaps between them are going to get filled with that fine desert sand; I would get something with standard washers over any ball bearing system. If not going to the desert, the 560 is awesome. I haven't stopped carrying mine since receiving it. If so, that leaves the 300, 350, and 550. The 300 is not much cheaper than the 560, so if money is that tight, that's ruled out, leaving the 350 and 550. Does he like the 560 because it's a flipper or because it's a Hinderer design? If the first, go with the 350 since the 550 isn't a flipper. If the second, then the 550 is the way to go. The only thing I'll throw on top of that is the 350 is $50-$60 cheaper, which might help with your money situation.
 
550 or Benchmade 275 Adamas. I have both, they are two of the best knives I've ever had. The 560 is the third best, and I pretty much mean it ranks a high second to the Adamas and 550 being tied for first. On any given day, I would be hard pressed to decide which to carry. While I've not seen or had an axis lock in the desert, I've seen one that has had the sh** used out of it, in dirt, mud, etc, for about 4 years. NEVER had a problem with it. When finished, rinse it out, let it dry, oil it, and go. I haven't had the 550 that long, but I would expect it to be similar.

I agree that the 560 would not be the best in sand. Or mud and dirt for that matter. For me, that is strictly an urban knife. The axis locks and the 550 get the dirty work.

Now, between the 350, the 550, and the Adamas, the 550 is the most expensive of the three, but it is NOT overpriced, IMO. Just expensive. The 350 and Adamas can be had for about the same money if you look around. I do not have a 350, yet, but I want one. But to be honest, I will never trust ANY liner lock like I trust the axis and frame locks.

None of my favorites are spring-assisted.
 
good post. thats pretty much how i feel about it. In the sub ~$150 price range given the adamas would be my pick. I would prefer the axis lock as it is not as sensitive to dirt/sand/mud as the framelocks, and the adamas has a beefed up axis lock. Plus the molle sheath would be handy out in the field!
 
I love my 0350, been very happy with it. I will say I can understand how a re-curve blade would be hard to sharpen in the overseas and/or in the field. I can see how the fine sand could be a problem; but since you can take apart ZT knives without voiding the warranty and the ease of taking them apart (my 0350 was easy for me) it shouldn't be a huge issue.


_Edit:
kreole said:
Is it going to be used overseas in the desert? There's a post in the general forum by a soldier who had to stop using his Spyderco Military because sand constantly got in between the lock bar and G10 to make it hard to close.
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This is stupid but I searched and couldn't find this post/thread. Anyone know the link? Thanks (and sorry, I don't mean to hijack the thread).
 
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I'm glad I read this thread. I have a flawless 550 and was thinking of trading for a 350, but I don't need a spring and a sharpening problem with a recurve in addition. The 350 has a thinner blade-stock and a slightly shorter blade, although of equal weight. I figured that I might be better off with a 350, but perhaps I should stick with what I have. The 550 has some of the liners hogged out to reduce weight, but if I can't save any weight with going to a 350, I see no gain, other than it's a flipper.
Sonnydaze
 
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So, nuckingfuts, did you come to a decision on which knife to buy your son?
 
Sonnydaze said:
I'm glad I read this thread. I have a flawless 550 and was thinking of trading for a 350, but I don't need a spring and a sharpening problem with a recurve in addition. The 350 has a thinner blade-stock and a slightly shorter blade, although of equal weight. I figured that I might be better off with a 350, but perhaps I should stick with what I have. The 550 has some of the liners hogged out to reduce weight, but if I can't save any weight with going to a 350, I see no gain, other than it's a flipper.
Sonnydaze
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You don't want to go to a 350 FROM a 550. No way.
 
If you're worried about sand infiltration in liner locks, the 350 is no bueno either... You also don't have to go hardcore expensive to start...
For example, get him 2 kershaw Scamps. Framelock and cheap enough for 2 so if he loses 1, he has a backup.
Later on if things pick up, then you can look for something else.
 
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