Hogue EX01 3.5" Drop Point vs ZT0550?

Peroni1973

Peroni1973

Joined
Mar 25, 2010
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I am the proud and happy owner of a standard ZT0550 and from the specifications the Hogue Elishewitz 3.5" Drop Point looks reasonably similar but obviously with different locking mechanism and steel.

[Stock Images]

Peroni1973
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Does anyone have both? If so does anyone care to share the comparison re. deployment smoothness, lock-up, carry, etc.?

All thoughts welcome - I am strangely drawn to the Hogue...

Thanks!

Ben
 
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The Hogue is smoother in opening, but heavier than the 550. Both are very solid knives with comparable materials and build quality, but i favored the Hogue more despite not having Ti (i'm a titanium junkie). It is prob the smoothest pivot i have ever felt in a production knife. If it had a flipper or thumbhole, it would prob be a permanent EDC knife for me.
 
Good to know about the smooth opening - thanks Gooeytek.

I reckon my 0550 is pretty smooth, but my Spyderco Gayle Bradley has the smoothest opening action of any that I own. I realise that this is not fundamental to the function of a knife but I do love the feel of smooth, buttery opening knives...

When you say the Hogue is heavier - do you mean the action? I see the weights listed as 5.8oz for the ZT and 4.7oz for the aluminum Hogue...

Thanks!

Ben
 
The lock looks to be very strong on the Hogue. I saw a video of the designer hanging around around 200 pounds off of it before the lock failed.
 
Peroni1973 said:
Good to know about the smooth opening - thanks Gooeytek.

I reckon my 0550 is pretty smooth, but my Spyderco Gayle Bradley has the smoothest opening action of any that I own. I realise that this is not fundamental to the function of a knife but I do love the feel of smooth, buttery opening knives...

When you say the Hogue is heavier - do you mean the action? I see the weights listed as 5.8oz for the ZT and 4.7oz for the aluminum Hogue...

Thanks!

Ben
Click to expand...

Yea, flicking them open, the Hogue isn't as "snappy" as the 550 but noticeably smoother, even smoother than my GB.
 
Not too worried about flicking open - more the overall smoothness so thanks for the clarification!

Cheers,

Ben
 
I guess we all knew it was going to happen...

...I ordered one of the drop point, alu green scaled versions. Will have to wait until early Sept to actually pick it up but it is ordered. As always now it is just the wait!

Cheers,

Ben
 
I own both. My Hogue is the Green G10 version. I would have to say that the Hogue is smoother in all respects and much lighter. Slightly front heavy due to the G10 not having liners. It's a little chunky in the handle but that doesn't bother me.
 
Peroni1973 said:
I am the proud and happy owner of a standard ZT0550 and from the specifications the Hogue Elishewitz 3.5" Drop Point looks reasonably similar but obviously with different locking mechanism and steel.

[Stock Images]

Peroni1973
[/URL][/IMG]



Does anyone have both? If so does anyone care to share the comparison re. deployment smoothness, lock-up, carry, etc.?

All thoughts welcome - I am strangely drawn to the Hogue...

Thanks!

Ben
Click to expand...
I have a 4" Hogue EX-01 Aluminum and the ZT 0551. The Hogue is the smoother of the two, both in opening, detent resistance, and how much the thumbstud grates against your thumb. Lockup on both is much more sturdy than anything I would ever put my knife through, so I can't comment on lock strength. The hogue is easier on the pocket with the aluminum version and slightly thinner than the 0550.

One thing of note is that the Hogue seems to have a hotspot on the bottom where your index finger goes that can make hard cutting a real pain while the ZT0551 has no hotspots. Aside from that, the steel itself might be a factor. S35VN is an overall upgrade over 154CM both in edge retention and toughness. Though I can't help but notice that the blade shape and edge thickness of the Hogue lends itself to better cutting tasks, whereas the ZT is better suited for something to the tune of being hammered through a metal bolt or prying a tank open.

Actually I can't recall the Hogue as ever being described as a hard use knife, so if we look at it from an EDC point of view, then suddenly it all makes sense.
 
Thanks SChief454 & Noctis3880!

These are exactly the sorts of detail that you only really get by owning one, that I was after.

Input is much appreciated :)

Thanks again,

Ben
 
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