How does zt do it

[thefamcnaj]

There are many aspects to look at but at the end of the day it all comes down to how many produced per given time frame. For example, Hinderer might be able to produce 25 knives per day while Zero Tolerance might do 50 or more. The less time it takes to make the same folder the cheaper the production cost. Also keep in mind a larger company can purchase same steel at cheaper price because of larger quantity purchase versus a smaller shop.

Yes it's completely true the less time spent to make anything brings down cost. Im curious with all the upgrades at the ranch how much time is shaved off per knife? Would be nice if some of that(a small portion could be passed along) if for no other reason than to make it easier for people who want to collect rhk to be more cosistant repeat customers.
As far as steel prices go, Im sure the rhk goes a long way in how much the company pays for steel.
Im sure if rhk threatened to move on to a different steel, they would accomidate rhk for no other reason than to say their steel is used in rhk's.
The steel maker probably uses that in itself for marketing purposes.

 

[lzeplin]

I have 7 zt's, recently purchased a CRK sebenza large 21 thinking I was getting something far superior to my zt's boy was I wrong! Don't get me wrong the CRK is a nice knife, I love it, super tight tolerance easy to take apart and clean. But is it 200 dollars better? No way, my zt's open faster/ easier the lock bar is easier to close, Im way more satisfied with the cost vs quality of the zt's than the CRK..

 

[Basp2005]

Volume.

 

[Ajack60]

KAI doesn't have all their eggs in one basket like some other companies.
ZT alone probably wouldn't be a sustainable company, put ZT under the umbrella of KAI with Kershaw, Shun and whatever other branches they have and collectively it's a money maker.

 

[RamZar]

ZT makes high-quality and mostly larger folders (mostly manual bearings flippers) with quality materials made in the U.S. with excellent after-Sales customer service and warranty.

They skip many segments now but less so than years ago when they were mostly known as large, heavy, beefy and black folders.

Within the past 3-4 years ZT has expanded in more markets. However, the market penetration has been shallow at best.

The practical success of the KVT manual caged bearings flipper hasn’t seem to materialize from ZT to Kershaw.

ZT is still sorely missing out on high-quality flippers in the blade length of 2.99” inches. ZT 0900 wasn’t it.

Again, people still seem to equate ZT purely to a black, big, heavy and over-built folder!

 

[basmca]

Personally I see ZT and as the Apple of knives which is why I'll probably never buy one but they do have a loyal fan base and are successful.

So ZT makes sub par stuff but sells it at the highest price in the marked by marketing to consumer insecurity, brand loyalty and ignorance?

If anything ZT is the oneplus of the knife market.

 

[GermanyChris]

So ZT makes sub par stuff but sells it at the highest price in the marked by marketing to consumer insecurity, brand loyalty and ignorance?

If anything ZT is the oneplus of the knife market.

If you see Apples stuff as sub par then yea one plus is decent comparison

 

[vwb563]

I'm not a zt fan boy as I only have two, but I was sitting here playing with moy 0620 and 0562 and got to wondering how they give us their product at their price point.
I had a 0920 that was ever bit as good as knives double it's price. They are American made with top notch materials. Those are two reasons some makers use to justify their prices.

If zt can come to market at their price point with their quality and materials why can't other makers.

I agree. ZT has some very nice knives in the mid $100's to $200 range. The same price range that some of the Chinese makers such as Kizer and Reate sell in. I have thought a time or two about buying an all titanium Kizer Gemini but for $170 I can buy a ZT for that same amount of money. The Kizer might be built every bit as good as use premium materials just like ZT does but still it's a Chinese built knife. I try to buy American when I can especially when they're priced competitively. I just can't justify buying a Chinese made knife over an American made one that's built every bit as good if not better for the same price.

 

[Ironbut]

.........Big Snip............I try to buy American when I can especially when they're priced competitively. I just can't justify buying a Chinese made knife over an American made one that's built every bit as good if not better for the same price.

I buy what I want. Looking at my knives, I see Hinderers, Emerson, ZT, Chris Reeve, Golden Spydercos, Benchmades, GECs, Queens, old Bucks, Schrades, Camillus, etc, and............one Lionsteel Barlow (Italy).

 

[shinyedges]

KAI doesn't have all their eggs in one basket like some other companies.
ZT alone probably wouldn't be a sustainable company, put ZT under the umbrella of KAI with Kershaw, Shun and whatever other branches they have and collectively it's a money maker.

I'd wager if ZT wasn't profitable, they wouldn't continue to sell knives at a loss.

 

[ChazzyP]

Because ZT works so hard on the brand they lose the soul.

I'm an emotional purchaser

How do you qualify, or quantify, soul in relation to your purchases?

You can't hence the emotion part

I get where you're coming from, Chris. There's something like that for me there with, say, Hinderer and CRK, that isn't there with ZT. I presently have 4 ZTs, had one other, and like(d) all 5. They're excellent knives, well made in the USA, great price points, super flippers, but there's something of Rick in my 3 Hinderers and something of Chris in the 6 CRKs and I don't feel anything akin to that in ZTs. I don't know if it's emotional or if knives have personalities or just speak to me differently or what, but I have a different feeling with any one of the two former in my hand than one of the latter.

Don't get me wrong, I like my ZTs perfectly well and also want to try one of the Hinderer-designed ones, but haven't yet. I also don't subscribe to the notion that one maker should add features or create models similar to other makers to broaden their base or appeal to buyers that are into other brands. CRKs are largely framelocks on PB washers and Hinderers are on Teflon washers. Their offerings are unique, brand-specific, and appeal to those who prefer or appreciate their features. To add features (like bearings) not found on his knives, Rick has designed lines for ZT. Makes sense to me.

My last point is that price-point is only relative to what you want in a knife. If I like CRKs or Hinderers, I'll pay the freight and not worry that something else good is cheaper. I have knives priced anywhere from 25 bucks to ones that some pay over a grand for. On a given work day I might have a Tenacious beater in one pocket and a large KA Sebenza 21 in another. I don't know that I actually "like" my Sebenza more than my Spydie beater--they're just different knives with way different price-points and their own particular uses.

 

[Ajack60]

I'd wager if ZT wasn't profitable, they wouldn't continue to sell knives at a loss.

I don't think they sell them at a loss, I just think the profit margin on some ZT's aren't where projected costs were originally forecasted.

 

[Ironbut]

This ZT/Emerson collaboration arrived today. The f&f is way better & it's way smoother out of the box than the real Emerson Commander that came Monday.

 

[metsfan]

I like my iPhone 7 Plus and my ZT’s.

I can tell you how ZT does it...they’re passionate about what they do. They take pride in making high quality cutting implements and that passion is then applied to their customer service/warranty. There are some missed marks here and there, but no company is perfect but they come awfully close, at least for me they have along with many people that I know.

I am a non apologetic ZT fan and love the brand AND the people that work there. Not every model may be up my alley, but that doesn’t take away from the awesomeness of the brand.

Now excuse me, I’m a bit parched, gonna go grab another cup of Kool-Aid.

 

[thefamcnaj]

This ZT/Emerson collaboration arrived today. The f&f is way better & it's way smoother out of the box than the real Emerson Commander that came Monday.

That seems to be the norm.
Zt outshines eki hands down.

 

[Converge]

I like probably half of the ZT designs. I only have one - the 0562cf. It's an amazing knife. How they get the deployment so smooth but yet so solid with literally not even micro blade play I'll never know, but I love it! Going to be adding another ZT soon for sure.

 

[Pilot1]

Or just have ZT make a Ti and bearing version of the 0566.

I would really like exactly this. I really like my 0566, but would love it in Ti, with bearings. I guess I will just have to bite the bullet and get an 0562. ZT, and KAI give a lot of value in their products.

 

[thefamcnaj]

The 0562 is fantastic. Thats one knife i wont part with.

 

[halden.doerge]

The 0562 is fantastic. Thats one knife i wont part with.

It really is a perfect "checks every box" knife.

 

[Mrgauth]

I loved the 562 except for the flipper hitting my thumb BEFORE detent is cleared. I could never get content with it. Looks though, it is my favorite ZT.