Kershaw vs. ZT

J

JGKC9AYC

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Oct 6, 2013
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I currently have a Kershaw KS1580 Ken Onion Boa. The safety that keeps the speed assist locked has failed.
I'm in search of another EDC knife & I ran across the ZT 0350ST.
How similar are these knives? I know I can go by specs, but does anyone have either or both that could enlighten me?
I'm on a budget (retired, fixed income) & the 350 is in my price range.
Thanks.
 
ZT's are under the same parent company as Kershaw. That being KAI. ZT is for lack of a better term the high end knives and Kershaw being more of the budget line of knives. ZT uses better materials in their knives. I collect mostly Kershaws but I do also own a ZT 0566. I believe that Kershaw makes the best knives for there price point. That being said if you are only wanting to purchase one knife as an edc you can't go wrong with a ZT.


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I believe when Kershaw was producing the BOA the ZT line up was either just being introduced or did not exist. The 350 will be a more robust and probably heavier knife than the Boa, but I am not sure about that as I believe the Boa has a stainless steel frame which can be quite heavy. Also I am sure if you called Kershaw and told them that little lock broke they would send you a new lock you can install.

If you like the Speed Safe assisted feature then you should know that the ZT 0350 does have it as well. I think the BOA was one of the nicer knives Kershaw had made over the years.
 
They are similar in many ways. The biggest difference seems to be the weight. The Boa is 4.9oz and the 0350 is 6.2oz. Same blade steel. Both assisted opening. The 0350 has a bit more of a recurve in the blade, but not significantly. If you liked the Boa, you should like the ZT. The price difference is only $25.
 
JGKC9AYC said:
I currently have a Kershaw KS1580 Ken Onion Boa. The safety that keeps the speed assist locked has failed.
I'm in search of another EDC knife & I ran across the ZT 0350ST.
How similar are these knives? I know I can go by specs, but does anyone have either or both that could enlighten me?
I'm on a budget (retired, fixed income) & the 350 is in my price range.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean by the safety has failed (or why one would ever use the safety lockout on a pocket knife...) but have you contacted Kershaw's warranty dept.?
 
First I will say that Kershaw will probably replace your broken part free of charge. They have great customer service. Secondly, I have owned several assisted opening knives a couple being Kershaw. Only two have safeties. One was a Kershaw and it kept engaging on its own so I removed it. The other is a Benchmade and I have never used it. My other assisted knives do not have safeties. I have never had a problem with one accidentally deploying.

I have been happy with the quality of all of my american made Kershaw knives. I have never bought one of their off shore knives so I can not comment on them. I bought my first ZT a couple months ago and there is no comparison when it comes to the quality. The ZT is much more solid at least than the Kershaw knives that I have. It also costs quite a bit more.
 
RANGER295 said:
I have been happy with the quality of all of my american made Kershaw knives. I have never bought one of their off shore knives so I can not comment on them. I bought my first ZT a couple months ago and there is no comparison when it comes to the quality. The ZT is much more solid at least than the Kershaw knives that I have. It also costs quite a bit more.
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Agreed, although I own several import Kershaws and USA made. My first ZT arrived this week (0450cf) and lets just say it hasn't left my pocket since. Honestly, I don't know if I'll buy any more Kershaws after owning the ZT.
 
It is basically Corolla vs Lexus. Both are reliable products but the latter is much better in many ways.
 
RANGER295 said:
First I will say that Kershaw will probably replace your broken part free of charge. They have great customer service. Secondly, I have owned several assisted opening knives a couple being Kershaw. Only two have safeties. One was a Kershaw and it kept engaging on its own so I removed it. The other is a Benchmade and I have never used it. My other assisted knives do not have safeties. I have never had a problem with one accidentally deploying.

I have been happy with the quality of all of my american made Kershaw knives. I have never bought one of their off shore knives so I can not comment on them. I bought my first ZT a couple months ago and there is no comparison when it comes to the quality. The ZT is much more solid at least than the Kershaw knives that I have. It also costs quite a bit more.
Click to expand...

I am sorry to say that model of Kershaw has been discontinued and we no longer carry any parts to repair it. If there is a manufacturing defect on your knife, you have the option of sending your knife in for evaluation. Based on the results of the evaluation, we may elect to offer a voucher for the full MSRP of your Kershaw. The voucher value can then be applied toward the purchase of a current model production Kershaw directly from us.

If you decide to send your knife to us, please follow these steps.

1) Wrap your knife safely and securely to prevent the blade from being damaged in the shipping package. Include in the shipping package your safely wrapped Kershaw with a filled out copy of the "WARRANTY AND SHARPENING REQUEST FORM” You can locate and print the form at our website, under the “WARRANTY” link of our home page at http://kershaw.kaiusaltd.com/warranty/process-claim

2) Please send “ATTN: WARRANTY DEPARTMENT” to 18600 SW. Teton Ave. Tualatin, OR 97062.
We suggest acquiring a tracking number for your shipment to verify it is delivered at our facility. Allow up to four weeks for processing and return delivery. We will pay the cost of shipping the merchandise back to you when we have completed our process with your knife(s).

Best regards,
Teresa Urzua
Warranty Services - Kai USA Ltd.
Kershaw Knives, Zero Tolerance Knives & Shun Cutlery

The full MSRP probably isn't anywhere near what they're selling for if one could even find them.
 
So unfortunately they can't fix it, which brings me back to my first question: why do you want to use the safety in the first place? Despite what a lot of folks seem to fear an assisted knife absolutely WILL NOT open by itself in your pocket.

I have never handled a Boa for comparison, but the ZT350 is a very nice, if quite heavy, knife. It does not even HAVE a safety if this is a concern for you.

Another suggestion is the Kershaw Blur. Also a Ken Onion design, the Blur is easily the best Kershaw knife, and perhaps the best EDC knife ever made, period.
 
Some Kershaws from a few years back are very zt reminiscent

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