If you were the boss at Zero Tolerance...

[Lapedog]

Yeah they should make a production ZT version of the SnG. I think the Ken Onion/Strider models were too organic looking ugly in my opinion.

What was up with ZT releasing a 0452 version exclusive to the Russian market?

Make the 0392 available in a standard model damnit.

Remove the useless steel liner under the carbon fiber scales of models like 0562 and 0620. They should make it like the 0452 which doesn't have this extra and useless steel liner.

More Emerson collabs, set them up like the Emerson HD7 so once again no extra steel liner.

 

[PURPLEDC]

If ZT ever pulled that kind of move, they would be bigger sellouts than Gerber, as one of ZT's primary selling points is "Proudly Overbuilt in the USA". Besides, isn't Kershaw KAI's chosen outlet for scrap metal manufactured and assembled by slaves over in the PRC?

If you were the hypothetical CEO, you might find yourself in some hot water with not only the board of directors, but with the workers as well

If you would please, knock off the political BS and understand this was hypothetical and for fun. You obviously didn't read that I would be doing that under a different name and not ZT. And its really really not anything to get your nuts in a knot over in the first place. Its what I would do. I never said you had to agree. But please no more inflammatory bull crap in which to start an argument. If you want to sit on a political high horse this isn't the sub forum for that. And in this completely fantasy situation in which you obviously don't understand, the americans jobs would be unchanged and continue as it has. So you can call off your hypothetical witch hunt.

 

[Amoo]

I think one of the things we all know about ZT is they make a boat load of flippers. One thing I would do is make the same knife with different opening mechanisms. For example 0450 flipper on bearings, 0450 manual with thumb stud on washers, 0450 assisted with thumb stud. Once I established my "base" models for each knife, then I would start to dress them up a little. Different steels, different handle materials...etc. I'd do this with basically all of my base models to try to appeal to a wider consumer base.

 

[Lapedog]

I think one of the things we all know about ZT is they make a boat load of flippers. One thing I would do is make the same knife with different opening mechanisms. For example 0450 flipper on bearings, 0450 manual with thumb stud on washers, 0450 assisted with thumb stud. Once I established my "base" models for each knife, then I would start to dress them up a little. Different steels, different handle materials...etc. I'd do this with basically all of my base models to try to appeal to a wider consumer base.

Alot of the Chinese companies seem to be doing this exactly. WE knives and Real Steel come to mind. They manufacture one model as a liner lock, frame lock and with different steels and handle materials. All the way up to Ti and m390

 

[Amoo]

Alot of the Chinese companies seem to be doing this exactly. WE knives and Real Steel come to mind.

Didn't realize this as I don't follow either WE or Real Steel (never heard of these guys honestly), but it seems like it would increase your user base for different models.

 

[banana-clip]

Yeah they should make a production ZT version of the SnG. I think the Ken Onion/Strider models were too organic looking ugly in my opinion.

What was up with ZT releasing a 0452 version exclusive to the Russian market?

Make the 0392 available in a standard model damnit.

Remove the useless steel liner under the carbon fiber scales of models like 0562 and 0620. They should make it like the 0452 which doesn't have this extra and useless steel liner.

More Emerson collabs, set them up like the Emerson HD7 so once again no extra steel liner.

I didn't understand that either.

 

[photoman12001]

I would love it if ZT built Emerson designs. The designs are great, the build quality sucks. I wouldn't change anything about the designs, just build them like the ZT 0200 or 0909. If they did that and priced them like the 0909 I would buy a Horseman, CQC-8/10, and Combat Karambit at least. I'd like to see a well-designed ZT karambit in any form.

 

[Apec]

This is what I would do. Only me, not anyone else, me.

1. I would start a chinese high end division. Exactly like the models made in the usa but with slightly downgraded materials but the same quality as usa models. I would essentially model it after how the guitar industry makes its products. Possibly under a different name so that people buying US produced products still felt the name was sacred.

2. I would do limited editions but i would remove the cap on how many were produced and the amount of knives produced would be based on demand. It would no longer be a product for scalpers but just for those who want the knives. They would be sold direct to customers who join a fan club for the brand. They would be only sold to those fans and they would be marked down considerably. The first knife produced would be a vote from that fanbase with a few options so everyone was happy.
3. I would start a true factory custom program where knives would have a list of possible options that could be added to the knife for an upcharge. Hollow grinds, mirrored blades etc.

4. Any dealers found to be hoarding limited editions for mass profits at a later date would be removed as dealers.

5. I would do limited edition reissues of popular past models in unique variations.

6. I would beg ken onion to come back into the fold. And any custom collabs would be closer to the originals.

7. I would make all knives so that kvt was optional and vise versa so that knives could adopt kvt if desired. Speedsafe would remain optional.
8. I would bring back tim galyean designs and help him relaunch his pro series knives and put him in charge of the factory custom division.

Considering the contenders in the Chinese knife market now and ZT's recent lackluster designs, working with the Chinese could actually help revitalize their lineup.

 

[FullMetalJackass]

I would love it if ZT built Emerson designs. The designs are great, the build quality sucks. I wouldn't change anything about the designs, just build them like the ZT 0200 or 0909. If they did that and priced them like the 0909 I would buy a Horseman, CQC-8/10, and Combat Karambit at least. I'd like to see a well-designed ZT karambit in any form.

Whaaaat you can't say that.
Emerson knives finish might be crude for someone who enjoy ZT standards, but they work good and age good. Yes there is a break in period that is longer than usual but once done, these knives are awesome beaters.

ZT does not make beaters, but sophisticated products.

Anyway to answer the OP:

I'd start selling them cheaper or making them much better because Spyderco and Benchmade are catching up lol (thinking about the 551-1 and most Ti Spydies like Millie, Advocate...)

 

[matt009au]

A Strider SnG collab

 

[kylemiller]

Bring back the beefcake mentality and bring in some new locking options.

 

[stabman]

If I was the boss at Zero Tolerance, I would have even more knives.
I'd probably have them keep making knives like they do, because people keep buying them.

I'd add a few ideas of my own, but would they sell?
Doesn't matter, because I am not the boss at Zero Tolerance.

 

[PURPLEDC]

I didn't understand that either.

Dmitry sinkevich is a designer for the 045x series and he is from belarus and i believe lives in russia dividing his time between shirogorov and his custom protos he makes. I believ the 0454cts-204p was a way of doing something special for the customers who hail from that part of the world. I didnt have a hard time getting one. He only criticism I have of that move is it was a damn nice knife a d i wish they were more plentiful. It was easily my favorite from the whole series.

 

[OOK]

Stop the Arties farties crap and get back to your roots and stick to making hard use knives.....

 

[RamZar]

I like how well the KVT manual flipper keeps improving so I see no need for SpeedSafe Assisted Opening. Those torsion bars break! This would help the 0770CF with KVT.

Stainless steel frame lock as in the 0566 are just too heavy. Convert to milled titanium.

More skeltonizing of liners and internal milling of titanium for weight savings. Grams add up to ounces.

More small slim light flippers with blade lengths of 2.99" or less due to legal constraints. Right now there's 0900 which is nice but kind of wide and thick.

More dual opening models which I hope the tuned detent of the upcoming 0427 LE will help.

More thinner blade stock like 0450, 0460 and 0095 at 0.12" instead of 0.16".

Just more new production models. This year it was 5 but 0801TI is a derivative so only 4. Last year there were 6 but 0095BW and 0450CF were derivatives so only 4. I'd like to see those numbers doubled.

Keep producing variety.

 

[photoman12001]

Whaaaat you can't say that.
Emerson knives finish might be crude for someone who enjoy ZT standards, but they work good and age good. Yes there is a break in period that is longer than usual but once done, these knives are awesome beaters.

ZT does not make beaters, but sophisticated products.

I don't want to drift the thread. I'll just say that I had about a dozen Emersons and finally realized I could get better knives for the same money. I sold most of the Emersons and ZTs took over most of those slots in the Pelican case. If ZT built Emerson designs I would buy them. I like the 0620/0630 collaborations but I like CQC-8 design better.

 

[RamZar]

Dmitry sinkevich is a designer for the 045x series and he is from belarus and i believe lives in russia dividing his time between shirogorov and his custom protos he makes. I believ the 0454cts-204p was a way of doing something special for the customers who hail from that part of the world. I didnt have a hard time getting one. He only criticism I have of that move is it was a damn nice knife a d i wish they were more plentiful. It was easily my favorite from the whole series.

That Russian exclusive 0454204P was the best of the 0452/0454 series. It was simple, elegant and practical. Very nice titanium and G-10 milling plus a great sculpted titanium clip. However, it was not worth the $515 most paid for it. Last Summer ZT released the Sprint Run 0452CFM390BLU for just $260.

 

[RamZar]

I would love it if ZT built Emerson designs. The designs are great, the build quality sucks. I wouldn't change anything about the designs, just build them like the ZT 0200 or 0909. If they did that and priced them like the 0909 I would buy a Horseman, CQC-8/10, and Combat Karambit at least. I'd like to see a well-designed ZT karambit in any form.

Any Emerson built by ZT will have much better materials and higher quality. However, as is the 0620/0630 models were just too heavy for people used to the much lighter Emersons. Of course, ZT could make them lighter and they'd still cost less than a comparable Emerson at much higher quality. I doubt Emerson will give up the Crown Jewels to a third party.

 

[Popsickle]

Lighter Emerson ZT folders and new Emerson designs. It seems as though we won't be getting that anytime soon

 

[NDJeep]

A complete prohibition on backspacers of any kind. (See 0850. Never Again.)

Less "artsy" knives with silly curved blade shapes and ugly color schemes. (0850, 0460, and 0456)

I'd tell Dmitry Sinkevich either reign in his designs, or go find a new job working for Spyderco in Taiwan.

Never again shall a carbon fiber shard mingle with the steel of a blade.

New designs featuring thumb studs.

Finally, a serious effort would be made to do a production folder collar with Strider Knives.

^^^^ All of that

So many great suggestions from everyone...and many keep repeating. Wish ZT could see these.