lion steel vs zero tolerance 0300

But it's better looking...

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I dunno, I'm partial to the blacked out, no frills ZT look... That doesn't mean I'd pass on a nice SR1 though; I would like to see if it'd stand up to the same amount of use/abuse my 0300 has seen.


Old pic when she was in better condition:
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New copper LBS and leather "lanyard":
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I guess it just depends on what you want? There are a few different variations on both platforms and you have the smaller look alikes so It comes down to what you want to spend and the look you want. I have never owned a Lion Steel but from what I see, they are very nice pieces.
 
I own both, both are in my rotation. The sr-1 is on me right now. Both are huge chunky knives, both some o the most well excicuted framelocks I've ever seen. I like manual folders better though. They're both a pain to sharpen however due to their blade shapes.
 
I find myself in this exact place between Zt 560/561 and the Lion Steel SR-2 Mini. So far I like the Lion much better.

How does Sliepner compare to Elmax?
 
N00B here and just wanted to throw in my 2 pennies...

I have a Lionsteel SP1 (AL-D2) and a ZT0350 (S30V), and here is my take (although I know OP was talking the 0300); I LOVE almost everything about my LS... The size, feel, and especially the thickness and shape of the blade. Opens (and closes) clean and smooth, locks up TIGHT and is, for most purposes, a fixed blade when locked up. You can really tell it is made with quality Italian craftsmanship. Due to the "Higher maintainence" D2 steel, and the overall cost of it (and being a gift from the GF) I just don't end up carrying it in the woods very much, it's more of a "Dress knife" for me at this point.

I had the ZT for about a year before I got the LS and it has been my "go to, EDC" blade since (over a Spyderco Manix 2 in S30V as well). For me, I just like the size and feel in my hand from both weight and the micarta scales. I also like a good flipper and after removing the torsion/assist bar and putting some good lube on the pivot, I think it opens nicely and locks up pretty solid for a more mass-produced knife. Thanks to the robust nature of the S30V and good sharpening nature of it, along with above mentioned qualities, I have had it in my pocket probably 80% of the time I've owned it to date, and used it for many various EDC tasks in the home/office and while in the field/woods. For ME, the ZT0350 has been the best bang-for-the-buck to date when it comes to actual usage. But I sure did lust over the SP1 for a long time before I got it, and now I'm still just a little bit afraid to use it hard! That is, until I get my next knife...

Hope this helps SOMEONE out there! I've scoured the forum posts for a long time as a guest, and figured it was time to finally give a little something back.

TL:DR
 
These days I would probably take the lionsteel. The 0300 is good knife and it has a flipper which Is mostly what I collect. But I feel the lionsteel has better fit and finish as well as being about 2 ounces lighter.


BOBO said:
Another construction point to consider is that the Lion Steel uses teflon washers and LS doesn't recommend using phosphorus bronze washers because they have found that the pb washers bind. I have two of the LS knives and haven't noticed that the teflon washers are a negative, but I would prefer pb washers on a knife of this price point. My ZT's have pb washers. I also have to wonder if the use of the more flexible/pliable teflon washers are in use because the LS knife does not have the exacting tolerances required to use the pb washers. That being said, I like both, and my wife carries the LS and I carry the ZTs.
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I actually dont prefer PB washers. Once upon a time I thought they were great. But I have found teflon to actually to have more slip. PB washers are fine if left with their factory turned finish. There was this craze for awhile about polishing your washers for a smoother operation and I found this actually slowed most of my knives down. The mirrored polish almost gave teh washer a suction effect and when paired with a polished blade it just made everything sluggish. I have yet to experience a negative to teflon. And it would appear they have a stigma about them because people want nothing but metal on the moving parts of their knives regardless of the negative effects.
 
Pros and cons aside, which one is calling you. Go get it. Your bound to have the other one soon enough if you caught the knife bug like most here. Good luck and enjoy the ins and outs of the knife world. OH.and.1.more.thing. GO GET IT
 
jill jackson said:
I've got them both and the lionsteel opens way slower.
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I have about ten Zero Tolerance safe queens and they are exceptionally high quality. I owned two Lionsteels several months ago and returned them due to a couple issues. (I had an SR1 and SR2 as I recall.) First, the blade tip extended too far down the scale. You could feel the blade tip while gently rubbing your finger over the bottom of the scales. Second, the liner lock was very difficult to open on both. Very stiff. The LS knives were certainly beautiful and were high quality except for the above issues. Among the ZT’s I own are the 0393, 0350bw, 0770cf, 0562cf, 0452cf, 0801bw, 0801ti, 0460cf . . . and my favorite is the the 0393. Just a wonderful knife. The only ZT I don’t recommend is the 0566cf (mine is hard to open as the lock sticks like the LS’s I mentioned.) Also, the assisted opening on the 0566cf is not as smooth as the 0770cf and 0350bw. You can tell I’m a big fan of ZT knives.
 
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