My First ZT And My Impressions

[adamg01]

I recently made my first thread on this forum. It was a simple "vs" thread with the candidates being the Emerson Horseman, Spyderco PM2, and the ZT 0350TS. After all of the awesome and experienced opinions I received on this forum, I ended up with the ZT.

My first impressions of my first ZT, what a beast! This thing could peel back a car hood like a can of sardines. I knew it was overbuilt and heavy but I was still a little surprised by the weight. It does have an excellent factory edge like one would expect from a premium knife. The girth of the grip is a little uncomfortable for my small hands which I expected from the pics. I think I got an excellent buy for $120 delivered from Ebay. That is a lot of quality for the money. I do think the PM2 might of been a better knife for my needs but I even made the same comment in the last thread. The tiger stripes got me.

Overall I am pleased with my purchase and I want to thank everyone who helped me with my choice. This is a great forum.

 

[addylo]

No pics, didn't happen.

 

[Comeuppance]

There's a lot of ZT love going around this forum right now, for sure. I'm pretty sure I'm seeing a lot more for ZT than Spyderco and Benchmade combined as of late, with Spyderco's relatively unimpressive 2014 lineup and Benchmade's price hike.

But, honestly, I would choose an 0350 over a PM2 any day of the week anyway, just because I hate hate hate the inherent blade play that the PM2s often have. Not to mention that the 0350 is arguably sturdier, definitely more consistently available, has a fantastic warranty department, and can be had typically much cheaper than a PM2.

I would say you made the right choice. You might check out the 0560/0561, 0200, 0700, 0566, 0770, and the upcoming 0562! The 0561/0560 are a little more expensive on average, but the others can be had in roughly the same price range. The 0560/0561, 0700, 0200, and the 0562 are manual flippers, while the rest are assisted.

 

[dalefuller]

I was one of the contributors to your original thread. I'll echo everything Comeuppance has said. I think you made a great choice for getting into the overbuilt/harder use category. ZT seems to be really focused on making users that actually look like knives for reasonable prices. I'll stop there and leave you to fill in any blanks you want to.

I do love the TS 350 even though I traded mine away and kept the SW 350. If you like the 350 but think it's a bit wide for your hands, try the 566. Some folks complain because it's SS instead of Ti but that hasn't made any difference in my using it. I like a knife with a little weight to it, so being a bit heavier than a Ti frame would be is just another selling point to me. The ergos are really good for my hands and the assist on both of mine works just fine.

One day, you should try an Emerson and a PM 2 to see what all the talk's about. They are both fine knives in their own ways. I just think the ZT is more bang for your buck and is more capable all around.

 

[adamg01]

I was one of the contributors to your original thread. I'll echo everything Comeuppance has said. I think you made a great choice for getting into the overbuilt/harder use category. ZT seems to be really focused on making users that actually look like knives for reasonable prices. I'll stop there and leave you to fill in any blanks you want to.

I do love the TS 350 even though I traded mine away and kept the SW 350. If you like the 350 but think it's a bit wide for your hands, try the 566. Some folks complain because it's SS instead of Ti but that hasn't made any difference in my using it. I like a knife with a little weight to it, so being a bit heavier than a Ti frame would be is just another selling point to me. The ergos are really good for my hands and the assist on both of mine works just fine.

One day, you should try an Emerson and a PM 2 to see what all the talk's about. They are both fine knives in their own ways. I just think the ZT is more bang for your buck and is more capable all around.

The PM2 is on my very short list. I am a little concerned over "blade play" that keeps getting thrown out. I recently got my first Spyderco (Delica4) and instantly fell in love. Probably the sharpest knife from the factory I have received yet. I will get the PM2 at some point, maybe next. I also really want the Emerson Horseman. Thanks for all of your previous help.

 

[Comeuppance]

The PM2 is on my very short list. I am a little concerned over "blade play" that keeps getting thrown out. I recently got my first Spyderco (Delica4) and instantly fell in love. Probably the sharpest knife from the factory I have received yet. I will get the PM2 at some point, maybe next. I also really want the Emerson Horseman. Thanks for all of your previous help.

Man, if you think the Delica was sharp, wait until you get a brand new Emerson in your hands.

Chisel ground edge like whatttt

 

[adamg01]

Man, if you think the Delica was sharp, wait until you get a brand new Emerson in your hands.

Chisel ground edge like whatttt

Man, if it is sharper than my Delica4 from the factory that will be very impressive. A lot of people trash Emerson on bang for the buck and the marketing but I will have a Horseman at some point so that I can draw my conclusions.

 

[Comeuppance]

Man, if it is sharper than my Delica4 from the factory that will be very impressive. A lot of people trash Emerson on bang for the buck and the marketing but I will have a Horseman at some point so that I can draw my conclusions.

The Emerson CQC-15 was sharper brand new out of box than I've known any knife to have ever been.

YMMV, but, it was absolutely absurd. I can't speak for bang for the buck, because I basically didn't use it at all. I just was not overall impressed with what I got for the money - much like you touched on.

If you want a good 154CM knife, get a Hogue for the same money. They blow Emersons out of the water in every department, and, of course, tie for blade steel. I've never had a Hogue that was off-center, had blade play, or had anything but silky pivot action. Guess what are the common complaints about Emersons?

 

[grownstar]

Congrats on your new knife, man! I need to get my hands on an 0350 one day...maybe when I get my refund

 

[adamg01]

Congrats on your new knife, man! I need to get my hands on an 0350 one day...maybe when I get my refund

Thanks so much. It's getting some pocket time as we speak. I was actually leaning towards the Horseman and PM2 but this forum helped me decide to go in another direction.

 

[AddictedToGear]

Glad you like it, I like the tank like feel and as you get used to the knife it will become less of a tank feel but still feel awesome, You will just want an even more overbuilt folder as you progress. Great choice, I am a big fan of ZT knives for production.

 

[blame it on god]

The 350 is a little tank! It was my first ZT knife and it definitely earned ZT a place in my future knife purchases.

I now have the 350, 560, 801and 700. I'll absolutely be picking up a 562cf when possible.

 

[Comeuppance]

You may be disappointed in the feeling of sturdiness in the other knives you are looking at getting, OP, in comparison to a ZT knife. Every ZT I've handled has oozed quality and sturdiness, in a way that let me know that I could rely on it in any situation for years and years to come. I've handled about a dozen PM2s, and I have not gotten that same feeling out of any of them - sure, some were smoother and had tighter lockup than others, but none of them made me think that I could be dropped into the siberian desert and completely depend on it like every ZT I've handled has.

I'm a sucker for a sturdy knife. I like to know that the tools I use have no chance of failure under stresses many times higher than I'm likely to use them at. While I realize that a little side-to-side play or a tiny bit of up-and-down play is not exactly damning for most realistic chores I'm likely to use a knife on, I don't like the idea of carrying a bladed object that could potentially fail and injure me or cause any other kind of problem.

ZT has elevated considerably in my perspective over the last couple years. I initially wrote them off as an overbuilt-knife-crowd catering company, but they're currently putting out knives that blow pretty much everything else in the production market out of the water as far as tolerances and materials. The 0562CF is going to make them a lot of money, and, honestly, I'm perfectly happy to contribute to that. My 0561BW has stayed in my front right pocket unceasingly since I got it, leaving my EX-02 and Spyderco Gayle Bradley - both VERY solid knives with great steel and design - gathering dust in my desk drawer. They're just not quite as smooth, not quite as solid, not quite as handsome, not quite as confidence inspiring...

I'd strongly recommend looking at a ZT 0801. They are VERY reasonably priced at the moment on the 'bay and from many dealers. The build quality is something you won't find outside of a knife that costs at least twice as much from any production or custom knifemaker.

Thus concludes another drunkenly-posted ZT praise post.

 

[Fred Sanford]

Great thread. In my opinion the Spyderco lineup has turned into a lot of Taiwan knives for really high prices. Benchmade just made their prices too high. For the first time ever I too am looking at ZT. I am impressed with what they have so far and will buy an 0700, an 0350, or an 0770 soon. Just not sure which one yet.

 

[Fanglekai]

Great thread. In my opinion the Spyderco lineup has turned into a lot of Taiwan knives for really high prices. Benchmade just made their prices too high. For the first time ever I too am looking at ZT. I am impressed with what they have so far and will buy an 0700, an 0350, or an 0770 soon. Just not sure which one yet.

Have you handled a Taiwan made Spyderco? They aren't $20 Kershaw or $9 Enlan knives. Seriously, go handle a Domino, Sage 2 or Gayle Bradley and then come back and say they're overpriced.

OP, the 0350 doesn't fit my hand well but it's a pretty decent knife at its price point. If it were about 1/2" longer it'd be just about right for me. Mine requires loctite, though. Without it the pivot loosens after opening it throughout the day and the blade will rub the liner. My 0350 is not ground completely evenly, but that doesn't really bug me. Overall F&F is pretty good but obviously nowhere near flawless. Considering the materials it's about right for the $115 I paid. Either way I sharpen it up and use it on occasion, but I just can't get over that it's too short for my hand. I've considered sending it in to see if the warranty dept would fix the terrible centering, but the knife is too short for my hand so I probably need to sell it someday instead. The 0562cf looks like it might be more what I'm looking for.

Hopefully the 0350 suits you. Use it a lot and learn what you want for your next purchase.

 

[adamg01]

Great thread. In my opinion the Spyderco lineup has turned into a lot of Taiwan knives for really high prices. Benchmade just made their prices too high. For the first time ever I too am looking at ZT. I am impressed with what they have so far and will buy an 0700, an 0350, or an 0770 soon. Just not sure which one yet.

From my research the 0350 seemed like ZT's "Griptilian", the perfect entry level knife to the brand.

 

[blame it on god]

I totally agree about the 800. It's an awesome knife. Especially considering how much it costs. Great materials, design and execution. Still built like a tank, but has a the style and smoothness of a gentleman's folder. It slices VERY good too. All around great knife.

 

[blame it on god]

Great thread. In my opinion the Spyderco lineup has turned into a lot of Taiwan knives for really high prices. Benchmade just made their prices too high. For the first time ever I too am looking at ZT. I am impressed with what they have so far and will buy an 0700, an 0350, or an 0770 soon. Just not sure which one yet.

The 700 is pretty hard to beat for the money. And that funky looking handle is SUPER comfortable believe it or not.

 

[Fred Sanford]

Have you handled a Taiwan made Spyderco? They aren't $20 Kershaw or $9 Enlan knives. Seriously, go handle a Domino, Sage 2 or Gayle Bradley and then come back and say they're overpriced.

...

I've not only handled them, I own them. I own a Sage I, and Gale Bradley and think they have about the best fit and finish you could expect. HOWEVER, I bought the Sage for $100 and the GB for about $150. Most of the Taiwan models (and new 2013 and 2014 models) are made in Taiwan but have pricetags of $200 +. That's a big no thanks for me. I'll keep my money in the States for that price.

The 700 is pretty hard to beat for the money. And that funky looking handle is SUPER comfortable believe it or not.

Thanks. Good to know. I no longer own any tantos but I do love that blade shape so I may pick that one up.

 

[RamZar]

Most of the Taiwan models (and new 2013 and 2014 models) are made in Taiwan but have pricetags of $200 +.

I have most of the high-quality Taiwan-made Spydercos and only one of them cost me $200+ and that was the Southard and it's well worth the price.