How many knives does ZT make?

[sXePhenomenal]

The knife makers and sharpeners I've saw post say that ZT/Kai has some of the best heat treated steel on the production market. Only have two ZTs the 0561 and 0566 love them both actually like the 561 better than the real Hinderer. Idk how I feel about the steel switch I think their Elmax was a 60 HRC and some a little harder. I like Elmax great steel

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Honestly, it could be largely from geometry. The knives that I've had the worst performance with S35VN on have been a bit chunky. Best performance was with my FFKW Gent, which is nice and thin. My 0630 is ground decently, but the stock is a little thick, and it's giving pretty solid middle of the road performance.

That tracks with my experience. My FRN Chaparral holds an edge like a miser grabs a hundred dollar bill, but I don't think the XHP is run particularly hard, it's just very thin behind the edge and the 2mm blade stock is super slicey. It pretty handily outcuts some of my chunkier knives in M390 despite the difference in wear resistance between the two steels.

 

[Gideons]

Most of zt's problems are... Lockbar geometry

And https://www.instagram.com/p/BhdBoj1ggRn/

Lockbars touching show side etc. Not all of them do this but seems to be common to zt.

Too thick behind the edge of course. As for heat treatment they have had some with issues, but who doesn't. Some of those few were just burnt edges. Fairly common with the way manufacturers in general grind there primary bevels.

I just tried these that push down test on 4 ZT's none of them pushed over like that... Not to mention during pushing down on (idk a dozen?) during use never seen anything like that happen.

 

[Mo2]

I just tried these that push down test on 4 ZT's none of them pushed over like that... Not to mention during pushing down on (idk a dozen?) during use never seen anything like that happen.

That's great most of mine don't either. Though I have a few that do, and so do a few other folks including the guy in the video. I don't know how common it is persay but some of us are unlucky.

 

[Yonose]

The Link actually is a really nice knife. Sadly it only comes assisted, if it was manual I would always carry mine. The HT on the M390 is great, it's nice and thin, and it's comfy in the hand. No fun to only carry 1 knife though (not at a time, I rotate).

The 0562CF is actually nice, and the stock isn't super thick, but it does not have a deep grind. It's crazy thick behind the edge, with a regrind it would be an excellent knife. The 0450 is the same way, decent stock but a terribly shallow grind leaving it unnecassarily thick behind the edge.

I have read that it’s easy to de-assist the knife. Removing the spring doesn’t affect the functionality of the knife, beyond making opening less “snappy.” I don’t see why kershaw would be incapable of doing the proper HT on m390. It may be run a bit softer than on higher end knives, in order to avoid having to replace a large number of blades for $10.

 

[sXePhenomenal]

That's great most of mine don't either. Though I have a few that do, and so do a few other folks including the guy in the video. I don't know how common it is persay but some of us are unlucky.

My 561 doesn't and locks up perfect but my 566 does and locks up 75%+ but if you pull it over like you're going to close it it'll go to 40% and stop it'll stay until you grip then it goes back almost completely under the blade