How does Zero Tolerance Compare to Hinderer........

shiro are good blades , but wayyyyyyyyy overpriced . they have a cult following and prices are inflated . i got one as a gift and it is nice but not for prices they are at, maybe when the market corrects itself pick up some more .
 
ScooterG said:
There’s already a current thread that goes deep into this topic. Would be nice to keep this one separate IMO.
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Please forgive me, I may be confused but, is firefighterguy the producer of the lock fail video? Is that why the video was linked?
 
ericdraven said:
shiro are good blades , but wayyyyyyyyy overpriced . they have a cult following and prices are inflated . i got one as a gift and it is nice but not for prices they are at, maybe when the market corrects itself pick up some more .
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Russians have been enormously successful at developing weaponry (tanks, rifles) that is just as good but at a fraction of the cost as US makers. If shiros are all made in Russia at the current cost they should outperform a rexford. I’m also thinking prices will drop substantially at some point.
 
ZT makes good knives, unfortunately their sales and marketing people are a-holes.

Hinderer maintain a strong secondary market value (not like they once did but still solid) and have really stepped up the materials and features in the last couple of years.
 
I’m curious if the OP has made a decision and picked up a Hinderer yet. Lots of great discussion here.

I started with a 0562 and eventually picked up the carbon fiber version of that knife. Then I found what I felt was a great deal on a Gen 6 XM18 3.5 with the skinner blade, with choil in the working finish.

They are all great knives and while I can’t honestly say that the XM18 is worth double the 0562 it subjectively “feels” like a higher quality knife. The hardware looks to be better/more durable and I am a big fan of the finish as it will look the same after some use. The flipping action is snappier on the ZT models but the XM18 flips without any issues and it is just as smooth on bearings as the 0562’s.

Bottom line had I bought the Hinderer first I doubt I would have gone looking for the ZT versions and I would likely sell both of those before selling the XM18 if I needed to thin my collection for any reason.

If you have the means you really should pick one up and see for yourself if you have the same experience I did. They pop up on the exchange pretty frequently and if you don’t like it you will lose very little flipping a used one.
 
Jasoncap said:
I’m curious if the OP has made a decision and picked up a Hinderer yet. Lots of great discussion here.
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Nope, haven't gotten an XM-18. Why?

2 reasons..................

1st is I have the ZT 562CF and it's a pretty sturdy knife. Flips well enough, no blade play, and is a fairly large knife that appears to be made for use and abuse.

2nd is that after reading tons of complaints about the XM18 over the years regarding poor flipping, grinding feeling, and basically no uniformity from one knife to the next (a custom knife may have a little disparity, but these complaints seem way too many do), and I dropped the MX18 from my "must try" list. To me, just not worth the aggravation if the particular one I get is sub par.

On a side note, I have gotten a few flippers including a Thorburn/Van Heerden A2 A6 (incredible knife, but too nice to EDC) and a Laconico Jasmine semi-custom (solid knife) and a ZT 609 (nice knife for the money).

But in the end, the CRK is still the knife that others need to match.
 
Jasoncap said:
I’m curious if the OP has made a decision and picked up a Hinderer yet. Lots of great discussion here.

I started with a 0562 and eventually picked up the carbon fiber version of that knife. Then I found what I felt was a great deal on a Gen 6 XM18 3.5 with the skinner blade, with choil in the working finish.

They are all great knives and while I can’t honestly say that the XM18 is worth double the 0562 it subjectively “feels” like a higher quality knife. The hardware looks to be better/more durable and I am a big fan of the finish as it will look the same after some use. The flipping action is snappier on the ZT models but the XM18 flips without any issues and it is just as smooth on bearings as the 0562’s.

Bottom line had I bought the Hinderer first I doubt I would have gone looking for the ZT versions and I would likely sell both of those before selling the XM18 if I needed to thin my collection for any reason.

If you have the means you really should pick one up and see for yourself if you have the same experience I did. They pop up on the exchange pretty frequently and if you don’t like it you will lose very little flipping a used one.
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I agree to most things said here. For me however, even after picking up two hinderers I still managed to buy two more ZT 0562s second hand, partly because of their good prices.

Between the new ZT0562ti and gen 6 xm-18 3.5 slicer, my next purchase will be the latter.
 
Have a new Hinderer ZT 0393GLCF that is close to impossible to open with either the flipper or using the blade thumb studs. Have lubricated and opened and closed it hundreds of times without much change in the opening. Literally takes two hands to open the blade. It appears to be "stuck" in the closed position and once freed, the blade moves freely. Any suggestions? If nothing I can do, I guess send it back to ZT. Otherwise, a great knife in all other aspects. Have several Emersons with no problems with difficult opening. Thanks.
 
marinedoc67 said:
Have a new Hinderer ZT 0393GLCF that is close to impossible to open with either the flipper or using the blade thumb studs. Have lubricated and opened and closed it hundreds of times without much change in the opening. Literally takes two hands to open the blade. It appears to be "stuck" in the closed position and once freed, the blade moves freely. Any suggestions? If nothing I can do, I guess send it back to ZT. Otherwise, a great knife in all other aspects. Have several Emersons with no problems with difficult opening. Thanks.
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This sounds like lock stick. There are a few approaches, but I always start with the least invasive and work my way up from there.

With the knife closed, clean the locking area on the blade tang with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol (not too much). With it still closed, work a bit of index card (or similar) into the gap between the frame and the lockbar interface and use it to rub that surface clean.

If that doesn't work, consider putting a bit of Sharpie on the contact area on the tang. (I usually don't do this.)

After, or in lieu of, that my next step is usually to continue breaking it in with a clean lockup interface. If that doesn't work, I disassemble, thoroughly clean those parts, freshen up the pivot lube while I'm in there, and then go back to breaking it in.
 
You can adjust the detent/frame lock tension, but I would strongly recommend sending it back to ZT, and letting them do it.

I got lucky with my 0393. It came just right, from the factory.

 
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"Each to their own notion.", said the old woman; as she kissed the cow.
But if you want STURDY: you want a Hinderer...
 
I've got a ZT 0560, 0562 & 0566 and I've got a Hinderer XM18-3.5.

IMO, there's no need/reason to buy a Hinderer if you've already got a ZT 0560/0562 or 0566. They are fine knives in their own right.

I never felt the need to sell the ZT 0560/0562 or 0566 after I bought them.

However, I had a "Goldilocks" experience w/the XMs. I bought sold an XM24 because I thought it was "too big." Then I bought/sold an XM18-3 because I thought it was "too small." Then kept the XM18-3.5 because I thought it was "just right."

Thing is, if you shop carefully, you can get get at ZT 560/562 and 0566 (or at least the 0560/562) for the price of a single Hinderer. So, there's no doubt to me that the ZTs are the "better' buy.
 
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ZT has ignored 2 emails concerning problems with my knife. On the flip side have purchased 3 Emerson’s over the last few months. All functioned perfectly. On one order they didn’t have the knife in inventory and I immediately got an email from one of Ernest Emerson’s daughter offering a refund or one in stock with a stonewashed blade vs black. Wrote back and said the SW would be fine. Again an immediate reply stating she would have it shipped immediately. Emerson’s customer service and quality control is an industry standard from my experience and ZT failed on every aspect. Would avoid a purchase from ZT under all circumstances.
 
marinedoc67 said:
ZT has ignored 2 emails concerning problems with my knife. On the flip side have purchased 3 Emerson’s over the last few months. All functioned perfectly. On one order they didn’t have the knife in inventory and I immediately got an email from one of Ernest Emerson’s daughter offering a refund or one in stock with a stonewashed blade vs black. Wrote back and said the SW would be fine. Again an immediate reply stating she would have it shipped immediately. Emerson’s customer service and quality control is an industry standard from my experience and ZT failed on every aspect. Would avoid a purchase from ZT under all circumstances.
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FYI, the question posed in the thread is: "How does ZT compare to Hinderer . . . "

Don't know about emails but ZT does respond to CS msgs on their internal mail system -- at least they did for me. Never had a reason to contact Hinderer but, from what I've read, their CS is not outstanding either.
 
I have a gen 6 XM-18 3.5” and 4 various models of the 0562 and the 0562 finds its way into my pocket. I carried the XM once, decided I didn’t care for it and in a box it sits.

FWIW I have a full ti Jurassic with skiff bearings as well and it’s only been carried maybe 2 times.
 
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