Most exciting brand?

GronK said:
Apples and oranges here. Guess you either prefer form or function.
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I'm not sure how that makes any sense. So ZT's are more visually appealing but don't work as well? And spydies are ugly but outperform the ZT's? I don't think this is the case at all. Both companies make great looking damn hard working knives. Overall I'd say spyderco has a few more ugly ducklings but they have some lookers too. Zt has some real beautiful knives that are tough as nails and cut with the best of em.
 
Bob W said:
Axis Lock, SpyderHole, laser cutouts, ball bearing pivots, bushings, flippers...

All of these are amazing and exciting innovations...


... from the 1990s.

"What have you done for me lately?"
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Lol good call. For me what I really like lately is flippers. Not just run of the mill flippers but the ones with really good action.
 
Inazone said:
However, brands like CRKT and Boker (Plus) seem to have some neat ideas that, with better materials and more consistent QC, could really be something special. I have a couple of knives from each that I really, REALLY like and are flawless, but have had bad experiences with each that sort of tarnish my opinion of them overall.
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I'm right there with you on boker. It's a shame. If they could just get their qc together they could really be someone in this industry
 
Cold Steel has been getting my attention lately with the steel jump. I'll probably try one again soon. Used one of their early tantos but broke it.
 
The last two years ZT IMHO has been making the most exciting knives . Spyderco remains my favorite knife company but is more because of there older models there new stuff I really really dislike . Like the CHUBY and the K-2 :barf: . The Rubicon looks cool but for the Price I'll pass . On top of that they are becoming a Chinese made knife company and my model is I don't pay more than 200 for a china made knife .

Benchmade has three new knives 484-1 , 485 , 757 . They all look good to me and I will like to own them . Hard for me to say this but even Benchmade new knives are more attractive than the new Spyderco lineup .

Kaizer and Reate knives look really nice and for the price :thumbup: .
 
Spyderco:

Pacific Salt
Atlantic Salt
Ladybug
Navaja
Vallotton Subhilt
LionSpy
Tenacious
Persistence
Paramilitary 2
Bug
Manix 2
Manix 2 XL
Mule Elmax
Enuff H1
Others I can't remember.....

Zero Tolerance:

0200
0200sw
0350
0550
0560
0770CF
0100
0121
0777
0801
others I can't remember.......

These are models from each brand that my cousin and I have either owned, or currently own, and have used at one time or another. None of the blades listed have just been fondled in the store. Some are made in the U.S. and some overseas. There are a few from each brand that I know I've forgotten but it's early and I'm on my first cup of coffee.
Along with owning and using all of these models, we both have the same process when we get these knives for the first time, and over time as we use them. Very simple and very consistent. Take the knife apart, clean all the factory dust and gunk out of them (they are relatively clean to begin with - I'm talking internals here), clean and oil bearings/washers, etc. Occasionally we'll polish out phosphorous bronze washers for smoothness (usually not NEEDED - just obsessive on our parts), then reassemble and adjust accordingly. Repeat as needed. Same process with CRK, Benchmade, Emerson, et al.
Now, once you've done that several times on each model, you get an idea of QUALITY and FIT and FINISH.

So, now that I've qualified my comments on multiple models used and owned from both brands, and a second opinion from a relative who is also a knife knut, I'll add my $.02.

Both brands offer a level of quality to the end user. The fit and finish at this mid-tech level is the benchmark for what knives should be like at the $100-$300 range. I don't think there is a way to compare one brand to the other. The bottom line for me is style. They are both unique in designs and each company continues to produce new and different models each year.

What more could we ask for?

Buy several of each and support these companies so that they continue to produce more models to feed our love of sharpened pieces of steel.

In only one respect, I'll give Spyderco the edge. Sal Glesser. He is a member here and regularly jumps in to comment on the forum. We as consumers can actually talk to him. How many large, world wide corporations the size of Spyderco, offer that option to it's consumers? ZT may have someone but I'm not aware of that.

Anyway, like I said, my $.02

I look forward to seeing this discussion continued.
 
Scurvy092 said:
You mean the guy who made a fantastical claim and then never backed it up or replied to anyone's questions. Yeah, that seems like it really happened.
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Careful - we can't say that the ZT0560 does not have a "not uncommon" issue with cracking of the blades because we are rabid fanbois.

For me - ZT is exciting due to innovations too numerous to list, collaborations with several of the top dogs in the folding knife arena, and very high quality. I can't think of any other manufacturer that is producing the vast array of not only value priced items but also a huge assortment of high end, complex designs to the masses. What other company is producing even a small fraction of the different 3d machined, highly detailed and precision machined knives as compared to Kai?

Yes - it is not fair to compare Spyderco knives to the higher end ZT brand. For instance, a Farid against a ZT0600 - the O600 has a beautiful, sexy design from RJ Martin. It has wonderful 3d machining everywhere on it's titanium handle and lockbar, and it has carbon fiber inserts on both sides. It has ball bearing washers. It has a 3d machined pocket clip, and B75P steel. In comparison, the Farid has slab handles of titanium, bronze washers and S10v steel (the selling point for me).

GEC for sure. GEC is putting out a great lineup of very nicely hand-made traditional knives. I do love that and it makes me excited for them and their customers (me included).

I am excited at the new stuff that Emerson is starting to release.

I can't afford to be excited about too many brands, but I am excited about the knife market in general. Many of the companies that had been satisfied to be bottom feeders are now rising to the higher end products; that should be good for us as knife fanatics.

It is sad that so many people have some sort of agenda to trash ZT, but I guess you will have that when you are on top. I do not see the ZT fans out trashing other manufacturers designs and products, I just see people continuously attacking any thread where ZT products are mentioned.

Not everyone can get their hands on every knife that they seek.

And - my ignore list is growing from zero a month ago to many nowadays, I suggest more of my friends use that feature.

best

mqqn
 
mqqn said:
Careful - we can't say that the ZT0560 does not have a "not uncommon" issue with cracking of the blades because we are rabid fanbois.

It is sad that so many people have some sort of agenda to trash ZT, but I guess you will have that when you are on top. I do not see the ZT fans out trashing other manufacturers designs and products, I just see people continuously attacking any thread where ZT products are mentioned.

Not everyone can get their hands on every knife that they seek.

And - my ignore list is growing from zero a month ago to many nowadays, I suggest more of my friends use that feature.

best

mqqn
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Writing off those that criticize ZT or prefer another brand as having an agenda may just be a bit of the reason people get dismissed as rabid fanboys. Personally, ZT just makes nothing I'm very interested in. They have a very solid formula for their knives, but the formula does little for me and they really don't seem to deviate from it at all.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Writing off those that criticize ZT or prefer another brand as having an agenda may just be a bit of the reason people get dismissed as rabid fanboys. Personally, ZT just makes nothing I'm very interested in. They have a very solid formula for their knives, but the formula does little for me and they really don't seem to deviate from it at all.
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My comments are not writing anything off.

You can look around and find the crew of people here that have a hard-on against ZT and choose to troll any thread where someone has something good to say about the ZT products.

If you look at the crack thread, the posts show my point exactly. I was in a discussion with the OP to see what problem he was having. I noted that it is very unlikely that one person would have 3 blades break the same way, and I stand by that. Does that say he is lying? Nope. I wished him well and left with the hope that he would get his problems taken care to his satisfaction.

Since I have several of the posters in that thread on permanent ignore, you'll have to make your own decision since I won't be seeing what they posted.

- Oh - and Cold Steel - might be the year I try one of their products as well.

best

mqqn
 
Honestly, there's nothing that has me holding my breath the way the 0770CF did when it was first announced. Now if CRK decided to release a Sebenza in M390 . . . ;)
 
mqqn said:
My comments are not writing anything off.

You can look around and find the crew of people here that have a hard-on against ZT and choose to troll any thread where someone has something good to say about the ZT products.

If you look at the crack thread, the posts show my point exactly. I was in a discussion with the OP to see what problem he was having. I noted that it is very unlikely that one person would have 3 blades break the same way, and I stand by that. Does that say he is lying? Nope. I wished him well and left with the hope that he would get his problems taken care to his satisfaction.

Since I have several of the posters in that thread on permanent ignore, you'll have to make your own decision since I won't be seeing what they posted.

- Oh - and Cold Steel - might be the year I try one of their products as well.

best

mqqn
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Maybe I just misunderstood, I don't see much ZT bashing in this thread, mostly just love. KAI certainly catches some criticism around here, but I think the idea that they're unfairly maligned whenever they're mentioned is a little overblown. Honestly, I think a significant portion of the heat KAI takes on here is due to a contingent of fans that reacts very aggressively to any perceived criticism of the company. That rubs lots of people the wrong way, and can lead to some unfair conclusions about quality and problems based more on confirmation bias than reality.
 
Scurvy092 said:
What about the M390 0770CF?
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To tell you the truth, Scurvy, I'm not hard enough on my knives for the alloy to make that much difference. I'm perfectly happy with the Elmax version . . . provided the blade doesn't fall off, that is. ;)
 
bld522 said:
To tell you the truth, Scurvy, I'm not hard enough on my knives for the alloy to make that much difference. I'm perfectly happy with the Elmax version . . . provided the blade doesn't fall off, that is. ;)
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So why do you care about a m390 Sebbie? Elmax is pretty comparable to S35VN.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Maybe I just misunderstood, I don't see much ZT bashing in this thread, mostly just love. KAI certainly catches some criticism around here, but I think the idea that they're unfairly maligned whenever they're mentioned is a little overblown. Honestly, I think a significant portion of the heat KAI takes on here is due to a contingent of fans that reacts very aggressively to any perceived criticism of the company. That rubs lots of people the wrong way, and can lead to some unfair conclusions about quality and problems based more on confirmation bias than reality.
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No worries -

Scurvy and I were having an inside joke about another thread. If you look, Fanglekai brought up the issue of the cracking in ZT0560s. He did not bring up the not uncommon quality issues with GEC, however. Neither pertain to this thread.

I guess it depends on whether you think the chicken came first, or the egg.

Frankly, many of the people that keep the anti-ZT vitriol in the air were not hatched when the old mafia was here, so they must have an agenda.

best

mqqn
 
Scurvy092 said:
So why do you care about a m390 Sebbie? Elmax is pretty comparable to S35VN.
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Pretty much just for the ride. :) I didn't say my purchase decisions have to make sense. They only have to feel good. ;)
 
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