If you were the boss at Zero Tolerance...

[kniferbro]

I see you wrote me a wall of text my purple friend, so let's break this down together, shall we.

For everyone else tuning in late, here's the original quote from PURPLEDC, which he made Number One on his list, suggesting importance:

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.

That's his quote, His idea, which I disagree with. And, how dare I express any kind of alternative or dissenting opinion that PURPLEDC doesn't like.

#1: I could care less that KAI is owned by a Japanese firm, as long as KAI stays true to the ZT brand.

#2 You were proposing that ZT make knives in China, with what you called a "Chinese High End Divison", and that that would he models would be "exactly like" the USA ones, but with downgraded materials.

So, you want ZT to be Kershaw (or Gerber)? You might actually make a lot of money selling Duck Dynastyesque 3cr13 steel ZT's, but you WOULD kill WHAT the brand stands for.

#3 I do not care for knives made in China due to the profit-over-everything mentality of several "American" companies that choose to make inferior crap over there, lie to the consumer about the quality, and raise the price. Chinese companies in China are a different matter, to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

#4 Am I an "elitist" for wanting a decent knife made in the country where I live, where I serve, and that I am proud of? Seriously, your self righteous moralistic arrogance disgusts me, and before you feel so pleased with yourself, consider all the people who are essentially ENSLAVED mass producing all those Chinese knives you love so much.

#5 Reate and WE are not mass producing knives like MTech, Gerber, and Kershaw are. An apples-to-oranges comparison and you damn well know it.

#6 What's wrong if ZT is a niche market? You have literally hundreds of other knives to choose from that are made overseas, yet you choose to crap on one of the few brands that doesn't nicely align with your worldview.

#7 While the bottom line and profits are important, so are various intangibles associated with various brands. You contradict yourself when your desire for truly inspired knife designs runs into your overwhelming support for corporate profiting by any means necessary by soulless mass production.

Don't tell me to sit in the back of the bus again. Peace.

There are many Chinese members on the boards. We should ask them if they are enslaved!

 

[NDJeep]

We just can't have too many threads where folks tell a hugely successful and popular knife company how it should be doing things. *yawn*

Oh get off ur high horse...

No ones telling ZT to stop doing anything and of course theyre succesfull. And most everyone, especially myself, loves ZTs.
I just thought itd be interesting to hear what other things we'd like to see from them or brought back.

 

[Wolverine666]

If I were THE boss at ZT :

I'd agree with the rerelease of the 0550.

I'd bring back the 0620CF from discontinuation.

I'd stop making flippers and instead focus on non-flippers for a while (a long while).

I'd pursue more custom makers for future collaborations.

 

[hudak]

Stop the black blades and also stamping "zero tolerance" on bare titanium.

 

[PURPLEDC]

I see you wrote me a wall of text my purple friend, so let's break this down together, shall we.

For everyone else tuning in late, here's the original quote from PURPLEDC, which he made Number One on his list, suggesting importance:

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.

That's his quote, His idea, which I disagree with. And, how dare I express any kind of alternative or dissenting opinion that PURPLEDC doesn't like.

#1: I could care less that KAI is owned by a Japanese firm, as long as KAI stays true to the ZT brand.

#2 You were proposing that ZT make knives in China, with what you called a "Chinese High End Divison", and that that would he models would be "exactly like" the USA ones, but with downgraded materials.

So, you want ZT to be Kershaw (or Gerber)? You might actually make a lot of money selling Duck Dynastyesque 3cr13 steel ZT's, but you WOULD kill WHAT the brand stands for.

#3 I do not care for knives made in China due to the profit-over-everything mentality of several "American" companies that choose to make inferior crap over there, lie to the consumer about the quality, and raise the price. Chinese companies in China are a different matter, to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

#4 Am I an "elitist" for wanting a decent knife made in the country where I live, where I serve, and that I am proud of? Seriously, your self righteous moralistic arrogance disgusts me, and before you feel so pleased with yourself, consider all the people who are essentially ENSLAVED mass producing all those Chinese knives you love so much.

#5 Reate and WE are not mass producing knives like MTech, Gerber, and Kershaw are. An apples-to-oranges comparison and you damn well know it.

#6 What's wrong if ZT is a niche market? You have literally hundreds of other knives to choose from that are made overseas, yet you choose to crap on one of the few brands that doesn't nicely align with your worldview.

#7 While the bottom line and profits are important, so are various intangibles associated with various brands. You contradict yourself when your desire for truly inspired knife designs runs into your overwhelming support for corporate profiting by any means necessary by soulless mass production.

Don't tell me to sit in the back of the bus again. Peace.

Ignorant post is ignorant. Thus I wont respond to any of it. You are essentially arguing with yourself because every bull crap issue you have pointed out you fabricated instead of actually reading what I wrote. Its funny that a couple other people knew exactly what I was saying. Only YOU seem to think there is any deeper meaning. I made a statement, you went full diva and I explained. And then you again twisted the explanation to fit your narrative. Maybe not elitist. But if you really want to know the word that fits best we will have to discuss it in a different part of the forum. But even then it would be nothing but insults as any rational dialog from my end will just end up being ignored and replaced with whatever you decided to make up as you have displayed so thoroughly. And i never told you to sit in the back of the bus. Not like it matters. A bus that short it makes no difference if you want to sit in the front.

 

[sharp_edge]

If I were THE boss at ZT :

I'd agree with the rerelease of the 0550.

I'd bring back the 0620CF from discontinuation.

I'd stop making flippers and instead focus on non-flippers for a while (a long while).

I'd pursue more custom makers for future collaborations.

I'd like to hear your rationale of bringing back 0620cf. That model was discontinued maybe for a good reason. I mean, if it were sold like hot chocolate, why would ZT discontinue it? I had a nearly new ZT0620cf in M390 and had to try it twice at $160 to get someone eventually take it over from me.

 

[cut it out]

I'd Sell it and buy Chris Reeves. Lol hahahahaha I kid I kid!! Just a joke. Idk why but ZT does nothing for me. I've had 3 and never warmed up to them. They did flip the best but somthing about them I don't like.

 

[Stays Sharp]

I love how some fool themselves over thinking that ZT is this uber American brand that they can't consider that others may be interested in something different than their status quo.

It's one thing to disagree over ideas, but another to take things so personal....especially when there's a big giant irony over it.

"ZT is American PERIOD"

If it helps you sleep at night.

 

[Hackenslash]

I love how some fool themselves over thinking that ZT is this uber American brand that they can't consider that others may be interested in something different than their status quo.

It's one thing to disagree over ideas, but another to take things so personal....especially when there's a big giant irony over it.

"ZT is American PERIOD"

If it helps you sleep at night.

Don't you mean "ZTはアメリカ人です"?

 

[craytab]

Oh get off ur high horse...

No ones telling ZT to stop doing anything and of course theyre succesfull. And most everyone, especially myself, loves ZTs.
I just thought itd be interesting to hear what other things we'd like to see from them or brought back.

That is an interesting question and we have seen it before and the threads were fun though they got mucked up like usual. However, you asked a different question: If you were the boss of ZT what would you do? I'd want to keep my job, not make things that might not work in today's market.

 

[EDCanAdamas]

If I was the Boss at ZT, I'd have factory tours at the Oregon factory. Visitors could watch their knife be made from start to finish, and then purchase it after. Hearts and minds.

I'll let this one go...as well be going in circles until this thread is locked.

 

[craytab]

I see you wrote me a wall of text my purple friend, so let's break this down together, shall we.

Not going to quote the whole thing again. I think you are making so many assumptions beyond what purple said and the topic of this thread. It is clear what your agenda is and that is fine but no need to argue it endlessly when many quality members do not agree and nor is it the topic here.

 

[abbazaba]

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.

This is pretty much exactly how I feel. Replace all assist with KVT and make more small knives that pay attention to potential weight loss practices. 0770CF KVT and a milled out 0456 would be insanely popular.

 

[PURPLEDC]

So you replied...with a post of vacuous nonsense. Go ahead and pretend like your arguments are reasoned, but your posts suggest otherwise.

If I was the Boss of ZT, I'd invite PURPLEDC to the Oregon factory to view the manufacturing process and handle the products. I'd even give him a free ZT in an effort to convert him, as he does not seem to understand the brand.

I think you haven't been hear long enough to make that assertion of me. I have owned zt's since they started as a company. I have owned the 0400, 0300, 0560, 0801, 0900, 0454cts204p, 0450, and 0777m390. And before zt became a brand i collected kershaw exclusively for years. But just because I owned those knives doesnt mean I am married to the brand as if they are the only brand. And you still cling to this irrational fear that (again fantasy) if my wishes were to come true that zt would change in any way which it wouldnt. It would be the addition of a seperate import line with a different name attached. Yes zt designs but not labeled zt. Less materials than each model currently comes but not cheap chinese materials. Again m390 knives would be s35vn. 6al4v titanium would be tc4 etc. no one but you brought up cheap crap like import gerbers. What about high end do you fail to understand? You even point out there is a difference between reate and cheap mass produced knives yet you completely ignore me when i say that the quality the knives would be on par with reate and current zt.

I just figured most had the mental aptitude to read "high end" and know what im talking about. Especially since i spelled it out for you. Reate and we both do oem manufacturing for othet companies. WE even mass produces lower cost knives like mtech as its what they cut their teeth on before they decided to go high end. Regardless im not talking about an mtech version of zt. I swear its like you are so drunk on your own vomit that you cant even see the words before your own eyes. Even other members who dont particularly see eye to eye with me on a variety of issues can see you are making assumptions and taking way to many liberties in assessing what MY words mean.

You asked me if you wanting a quality american product makes you an elitist. No, wanting what you want doesnt make you an elitist. You are an elitist for not allowing others to want something different. Especially given this was a hypothetical discussion over what we as individuals would do if we were in charge of Zt. And you go all neanderthal and act as if there is actually a chance of it happening. Never once acknowledging that even if my dream scenario came to fruition that your precious zt would remain unchanged. It was not a replacement for the existing zt line up but a third brand to bring into the fold. So no you arent an elitist, you are an ignorant fanboy who either cant read or you just lack the mental fortitude to understand the words you can actually piece together.

 

[Stays Sharp]

I can't say I disagree with keeping ZT a USA made brand but one should watch the points their making in their arguments.

 

[EDCanAdamas]

You asked me if you wanting a quality american product makes you an elitist. No, wanting what you want doesnt make you an elitist. You are an elitist for not allowing others to want something different. Especially given this was a hypothetical discussion over what we as individuals would do if we were in charge of Zt.

This discussion was always hypothetical, and I never said it wasn't.

How is opposing a fictitious pseudo-ZT line an "elitist" behavior? I never said you couldn't want something different, just that I did not agree with all aspects the your fictitious line. No one is entitled to having a specific knife. I would love to have a Strider, cannot afford one, and would love to see one for around $150 made by a company like ZT, in fantasy land. I'm not going to call someone who would oppose my ZT Strider fantasy an elitist, as they are not preventing me from ultimately acquiring one.

If anything, call me a ZT Purist, and keep things civil.

 

[EDCanAdamas]

I can't say I disagree with keeping ZT a USA made brand but one should watch the points their making in their arguments.

This thread got rather nasty, and I can't say I'm blameless in that either.

 

[Fire Beard]

A NON FLIPPER, something with thumb studs (or a Spydie hole), lockback. Perhaps something more along the lines of a gent's folder instead of tactical. Maybe >.50" thick, and no more than a 3.25" blade.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[craytab]

This thread got rather nasty, and I can't say I'm blameless in that either.

If you read back it was indeed you who first went after another's post with baseless comments. Saying purple doesn't know ZT was wholly ignorant. Hopefully a mod will come in and tell us to get back on topic.

 

[HappyDaddy]

Oh get off ur high horse...

No ones telling ZT to stop doing anything and of course theyre succesfull. And most everyone, especially myself, loves ZTs.
I just thought itd be interesting to hear what other things we'd like to see from them or brought back.

It's been beaten to death, and I don't have a horse, high or otherwise. ZT makes what will sell. When a knife stops selling to the extent they need it to sell, they discontinue it. They have limited production capacity and have to allocate it rationally. They can't and won't make every knife that every potential customer wants. I find these "what should X company do/make?" threads to be tiresome, especially in their 5th, 6th, 7th iterations. You're welcome to start the thread, and I'm free to criticize it.