I need help choosing between these two blades.

I've had dozens of both and still have 2 ZT's and 2 Benchmades. Imo ZT is lightyears ahead with F&F. I won't buy Benchmade anymore but I won't sell the ones I have (hard to find good examples).


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I've had a CR and it's a great knife! F&F on mine was great, but BM can be spotty in that department. Cant speak from experience on the 0452CF cause I've never owned one, but there's a reason. I won't buy a framelock, especially a flipper, with a full liner less CF slab. There's too much flex in carbon fiber and while very strong, it is brittle. If the 0452CF had a steel or even Ti liner it'd be a no brainer.
 
Tough choice, buy the one you think you like the most since you can't go wrong either way.

I have both and it's tough for me to say because the ZT 0452CF is my favorite ZT but I really like the Crooked River and prefer BM overall. It breaks down like this for me:

As far as egos and esthetic's I give the edge to the ZT in this case. For brute strength I feel the BM has the edge and the prefer the AXIS lock for ease of use and greater reliability then a frame lock. Of course this is my personal opinion.

Generally I prefer an AXIS lock knife to a framelock but there's just something about a well done framelock that never gets old for me. So like I said, get the one you think you like the most. You really can't go wrong either way.

All the best!
 
I'd get the ZT....

On another note....while I am not a fan of Benchmade, the ones I have or have owned never had issues with QC.
 
Another vote for ZT. The 0452cf is close to perfection. You will not be disappointed.
 
im gonna throw my 2 cents in here as well...the last 2 benchmades ive had have had uneven bevels and a cowoker of mine bought a new grip and had to send it back to benchmade cause of the uneven bevels...my 940-2 had real bad bevels but im not that OCD and kept it...my CLA wasnt as bad but still sorta noticible...out of the benchmades I own and currently carry (the CS rift, CLA, 940-2, and the Loco) the only ones that the bevels are fine are the CS Rift and the loco. With that being said, ive had nothing but amazing quality and customer service from ZT/Kai and as a matter of fact my next blade will most likely be a 0456...I already have a 0450CF and love that thing...so yeah, Chalk up another vote for the 0452CF.
 
evltcat said:
Personally I'd get the 0452CF. I like the blade profile better, and the CF will be lighter than the BM.
Good luck with whatever you choose!
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I totally love my ZT 0452CF. My BM Axis Lock is infinitely fun to play with. Both are wonderful with no defects.
 
I own both and, like the comments here, you could pretty much flip a coin. The BM is a bit heftier and I love the action flipping it open and closed. The ZT is the perfect size and weight and just disappears into your pocket. I still have issues with the ZT every now and then (you can't put any pressure on the framelock or it's tough to open), but you just do what I did and get both. I was doing a LOT of OT at the time!
 
I have the ZT 0452CF, my first ZT. Beautiful knife. Well built and flips out like a wild man! It will definitely get noticed by those near by. I like it. Good blade shape and size and fits nice in the pocket. Nice deep carry clip. However, like all the frame lock titanium scale knives I have seen (I have the BM 761), closing it is a bit dicey. The design necessitates putting your thumb directly where the edge is going to be so unless you have lightning reflexes it is "slow" to close and safer to use two hands. I, of course, use only one hand but I am deliberate and concentrating on precise finger and thumb movements. In short I very much enjoy the deployment and put up with the closing.

I do not have that particular BM but I have a bunch of them. The Axis lock is a blast to play with in a larger knife, not so much in a smaller knife. I just got a BM485 (3" blade) and the axis lock just doesn't do it. I have a Mini Griptillian and am disappointed with the Axis lock on that one also. Just not enough blade to make the magic work. On a larger blade you just gotta have one!! Once you get it adjusted there is no side to side wobble and talk about fun to play with! Sturdy too. You will need a star bit to adjust the screw, as in most knives. I have found a $5 tool at Sears called a Teeny Turner made by Picquic to be useful.

The Crooked River looks like a good knife but let me offer you another BM option, the 710. It is an old design and can be found in many flavors both new and used. It has stood the test of time and is considered one of the top ten EDCs by many reviewers. I think it was the first axis lock knife but don't quote me on that. I have 4 of the 710 which is about that same size as the Crooked River. I have the first run of the ATS34 as well as D2, M390, and a Knifeworks exclusive M390 with sculptured blue black handles. I think the Knife works one (BM710-1401) is the "best Knife" of its size there is. This is my opinion however and will not be shared by many people. It is about $180 and if you want they will engrave it for you. They are still available (I just ordered another one today) but when their stock is gone, so is it.

I hope you continue this thread with your decisions and impressions as you enjoy these knives over the next few months and years.
 
I went with the Benchmade. I wanted something different, my last 3 knives have been kershaw/ zero tolerance and I wanted something different than a liner or frame lock. I carry a ESEE Junglas, and and ESEE Laser strike in my pack anyway for heavy duty...

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If given that option, I would flip a coin.

And whichever side you hoped it would land on while it was in the air, that's the knife I'd get, regardless of how the coin landed.
 
strategy9 said:
If given that option, I would flip a coin.

And whichever side you hoped it would land on while it was in the air, that's the knife I'd get, regardless of how the coin landed.
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The axis lock is what sold me. I work in a rubber factory and I have used a kershaw and a zero tolerance until failure out there. The lock bar on the kershaw and the frame lock on the zero tolerance were the failure points 9n both knives.

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IamL3G10N said:
I went with the Benchmade. I wanted something different, my last 3 knives have been kershaw/ zero tolerance and I wanted something different than a liner or frame lock. I carry a ESEE Junglas, and and ESEE Laser strike in my pack anyway for heavy duty...

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let us know your first impressions and if you see any fit and finish issues.
 
Mo2 said:
let us know your first impressions and if you see any fit and finish issues.
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It should be here tomorrow. I did a blind purchase from the Internet. I hope I don't have to send it in for fit and finish issues.

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