Kershaw vs. Zero tolerance

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C

Canadian Knife Lover

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Personally I have not had a large amount experience with these two knife companies. I do know that both have extremely positive reputations. I have a Kershaw Blur and love it, all Kershaw and ZT knives have 5 star reviews. I would just like to ask your personal preference and opinions on these knife companies. Let's talk.
 
Literally just got my first ZT today. Wow, I really like it. I've carried and loved Spyderco for years, but this thing feels like a tank.
 
Both companies are supported by Kai, but I've seen many of each owned by users of this site. I think they are equally nice. Are their any particular knives that stand out from either company. Pictures are great.
 
ZT is my personal favorite brand, particularly the Hinderer designs. Currently own 0200, 0550, and 0562. I love them all and would not part with any. ZT definitely makes a no nonsense tough as nails blade. Have owned many USA made Kershaws and have no real complaints about them, my taste just evolved to a larger higher end knife. Can't speak for Chinese made Kershaws as I dont, and probably won't, own any.
Here's the 0562:
IMAG0021_zpsjdaki36_edit_1416495988968_zpsudzflmll.jpg
 
Kershaw and ZT are both owned by KAI. Essentially, two products lines from the same company.

Though I don't own a ZT, I have handled them and they are built like tanks.

I have both USA and China built Kershaws and they are excellent.

The only negative I've encountered is that once a China-made model gets discontinued, getting help from Customer Service becomes difficult.
 
ZT is my favorite, I own the 0550 and 0566. Built like a tank. The 0550 is my edc.
 
I've had great experiences with products from each of them. It really depends on you personal preferences. Kershaws, especially the sub $60 knives, are a great value.

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Kinda like Scrap Yard and Busse, both badass knives with the price gap justified by materials of different class. That's good. Options for buyers.
 
I have a Chinese Kershaw Cryo and for the money it is fantastic. ZT is a step up from that!
 
I would really like to get into a ZT, however, I've yet to find a model that I find attractive. I own a Skyline, which I think is a great knife for the money. I find that after cleaning it, it 'gunks' up again quite quickly. My brother's does the same. You can disassemble it, clean it, put it back together and it's beautifully smooth. But a day later, it loses that smoothness and ease of opening all together.
 
I have a few and love them.

I have had nothing but positive experiences with their products. Everybody has a different opinion and miles may very. Take them all with a grain of salt and try em for yourself. If you don't like them, there are many here that will gladly buy them from you.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUMYZE3JBes

This is a factory edge and after cut through 2 of aluminium cans, it obviously lose an edge and no longer able to clean cut print paper anymore.

Even my cheap Aus-8 Coldsteel would easily pass this kind of test seriously... I have done numerous test on ZT's Elmax blade and its suck tbh.
 
IMHO USA kershaws and ZT knives are identical in quality of build which is to say very good. I think the only real differences are going to be just what you need out of a knife. If overbuilt hard use performance with premium blade steels are the requirement then ZT is the obvious choice. But if you are desiring a more every day use knife that may be lighter might lack some of the overbuilt quality yet still retains the decent build quality as well as being easier on the wallet then kershaw is the choice to go for. Either way you are getting one of the better USA produced production knives.

shqxk said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUMYZE3JBes

This is a factory edge and after cut through 2 of aluminium cans, it obviously lose an edge and no longer able to clean cut print paper anymore.

Even my cheap Aus-8 Coldsteel would easily pass this kind of test seriously... I have done numerous test on ZT's Elmax blade and its suck tbh.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I have to agree with your estimation of elmax as utilized by ZT. My 0560 lost its edge very quickly and I didnt even really use it that much. Oddly enough after losing that edge it was very hard to bring back. I use an edgepro and the stones that came with it simply didnt want to bite into the steel. The issue I had didnt even bother me all that much as I know that they would fix (most times) any issue you have with a knife. What did bother me was the combative attitude they had whenever someone expressed discontent with one of their products and the complete denial to any possibility of a quality issue.
 
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