midsized 560s? (ZT, please make them!!!)

rororo64 said:
I'd be happy if they came out with a model in between the Cryo and ZT 0560. Maybe a Hybrid? One side with G10, one with a stainless frame lock and stabilizer. Thin. Flipper, assisted opening, KVT or washers, 3-3.25 inch 14C28N and made in the US with a Kershaw badge. One can dream...
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+1 on this. I think the Cryo line is going to deserve US made alternatives to the two Chinese ones. G-10 non-lock scale, stainless framelock, same sizes and the 1&2, 14C28N. I'd prefer KVT to assisted but would take either. I'd be buying something like that for all of my friends and family in addition to myself.


Ooh, better yet, G-10 non-locking side and aluminum with sub-frame lock on the locking side to save weight.
 
Wilco said:
To your points - being Sour Grapes (????) about saying ZT should make this - I own my own business and am in the business of selling. You want to open avenues to get more sales - then you can reinvest to create better products, better designs, better factories, hire (more) great people, etc. If Apple said, "screw it, we make nice iMacs, selling a phone or tablet would be crazy!", where would they be? At about 20.00 a share is where.
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Um...alright. I'm having trouble seeing the relevance to this part. Maybe it's because I'm not in the business of selling...or maybe I am and just don't know it yet. I could rattle off some jargon for you though, like my use of sour grapes being a piece of idiomatic English to illustrate that you were just cranky with your remark of "if ZT was smart they'd make it," since they haven't yet. However that may have been a premature statement since clearly you're a shrewd business man that would have a lot to offer them in terms of forming marketing strategies, since you're in the business of selling and by your own logic, the act of them not making the knife you specifically want means that ZT isn't smart.

Wilco said:
Tactical - it is a selling point, like selling 4x4s to people in the city that will never sniff dirt. You can still sell the military gear without "tactical". It is a buzz word (marketing 101).
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I have no idea what that first sentence means, but if it was a jab at people in the city, it's not very appreciated considering I live in one of the largest cities in the US. Although I will grant you that sniffing dirt isn't an interest of mine, and again I fail to see how it's relevant to anything in this thread. I'm confused however at your defense of "tactical", since I was only addressing something you yourself said first:
Wilco said:
Again, it's the whole "tactical" yada yada yada thing. My Escrima teacher has taught for 40 years, and is Filipino, I'm sure if he was armed with a plastic chopstick, he would absolutely destroy any "warriors" with a "big tactical knife". Not to demean or harsh on anyone, but you are missing the forest through the trees.
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So...first you're rolling your eyes about people and "the whole 'tactical' yada yada yada" and then tell me how it's a selling point (ostensibly that being a positive thing). I don't know, you said it, not me (logic 101).

Wilco said:
Striders - Striders are great knives, but I want other knives. You don't just have one type of knife do you? I want a flipper, made by ZT, that is rock solid, and has great QC, as I've come to expect from ZT. It's just my opinion.
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That depends on what you mean by "type." So flipper, ZT, rock solid...great QC. So, the 0300/1/2/3, 0350, 0550/1, 0560/1, 0700... Those all fit that description, but that's just my opinion.

Wilco said:
Small - Hardcore - Yes small can be hardcore. Have you ever owned a smaller sized Busse? Definitely a hardcore blade, no matter the size. I'll take a smaller size Busse over a larger sized Cold Steel any day if I was in a bind.

Just my .02.
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Nope, never owned and likely never will a Busse. I've also never owned or used a Cold Steel...

Anyway, it's my opinion that the people at Kershaw/ZT are brilliant. All of them. The designers, the people in the marketing department, and the people in the CS and repair departments. For me, that opinion isn't conditional on whether or not they produce a knife with every spec that I want, it's an opinion that I've developed having experienced a number of their models (38 at last count) and finding brilliance in each one despite the flaws and the fact the designs are those of the designers, not me. Call me a fanboy without who didn't take "marketing 101", fine with me.
 
Sticktodrum,

No biggies, my post was not to call you out, nor call out ZT, nor to argue. They make great products. I think by the response of most folks on this thread, I think there is a level of interest there. Even if they made it a one off or special edition/limited edition.

As far as the marketing aspect, it is showing jeeps, trucks, etc climbing over mountains in commercials. They market to a certain fantasy, when in reality most folks won't ever need that. That is just the truth. That is what you see in commercials - for EVERYTHING. Be smarter, be sexier, be tougher, smell better, you can look like a movie star, that type of thing.

A good read - "Propaganda" by Edward Bernays. He was Freud's nephew, and started the entire marketing/PR/propaganda model in the U.S..

For business and sales, it is about finding that new niche, new product, that will sell, and will be a quality product. As far as a "free marketeer" and business owner, that is what you look for and even pray for.

As far as the flipper - again I want a scaled down Hinderer 560, not a replacement for it. I like/love all of ZT's other knives that I have, or have handled, but I am looking for a specific thing, thats all.

Just my .02.
 
Sometimes certain words don't tend to trigger the right search results =/ because as far as I have read since the 560 came out, there have been a few threads pop up here and there of people asking for a smaller 560. And ZT has said it may not ever happen, and also recommended the cryo - yes it isn't the same quality [eg. steel/g10/ti] or a regular flipper w/bearings, but the cryo is another Hinderer collab to "fill this hole" sort to speak [a smaller and semi small version], as you already know/have been told about :p

Another thing, the 560 is currently in a sweet spot, between the xm 18 and 24. I am not sure what their thoughts on this subject matter is, even if it is a collab [or because it is a collab] having a folder similar to Mr. H's xm 18 may not be the best.
 
When I ask Kershaw about a 3 - 3.25 inch version of the 560, I'm referred to the forthcoming Cryo II.

That wouldn't be my first choice (or second or third.) Love the design of the Cryo, but not the weight or the useless thumb studs.

What I really want, and what I think many others do as well, is a scaled-down version of the Hinderer-designed 560 series with ZT quality.
 
I will probably buy a cryo 2 if/when they ever come out, but I would also rather have a smaller 560 that is more edc-able. Hinderer makes a 3" xm-18, so I really don't understand the arguments against it. It would be a great knife in a great size, especially if it came from ZT.
 
this is the third time this has been brought up, I would think their atleast considering it
 
I think it's worthy of consideration. I have the 0780 and loved the size, but recognized that I wanted a bigger, beefier knife. The 0780 is a great knife on its own, although I agree that the dimensions of a 03XX or 05XX scaled down would be a huge seller.
 
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Ok this may seem like a strange suggestion to the op but how about using the 550 platform call it the 555, put a flipper on it. Only thing I wouldn't do is put the kvt on it-It's already so smooth with just the phosphorus bronze washers-and elmax too. This would seem more feasible and should stay around the same price point. Just my .02 cents.
 
I traded for a 560 this weekend and I am convinced that a smaller version or blueginger's idea would sell better than the 560. The 560 is just a beast of a knife for EDC IMO. Although the 560 is the finest knife I have ever owned fit n finish wise, and that KVT system is smooth.
 
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