My first zt.

Should I get another zt or round off the mini folder collection with a para 2

  • Zt

    Votes: 23 57.5%

  • Para2

    Votes: 17 42.5%
  • Total voters
    40
Ironkid883

Ironkid883

Joined
Jun 29, 2018
Messages
664
Hey lads just got my first zt .
Not quite the one I wanted but it was a good price .
It the 0350sw
And i love it fits my hand well havent used it much .
But seems great little bit stuff out of the box I'll be de assisting it tomorrow kershaw tx tool on the way.
Also have a griptillian comin tomorrow full size coated with tan handle drop point cant wait .20200612_125418~2.jpg 20200612_125418~2.jpg 20200612_125651~2.jpg 20200612_134039~2.jpg
 
Congrats on your first ZT! I think going 0350bw for your first was a good choice. Don’t bother deassisting it because the 350 does not have a detent hole in the blade so you won’t be able to turn it into a manual action without drilling into the blade.

In any case, it’s an awesome knife and enjoy it!
 
ZT 0350, BM Grip and a PM2 are "mini folders"???o_O What the heck would you call a large folder? :eek:

Anyway, to answer the question. I am also not a PM2 fan. Had one, tried to love it, but it just didn't resonate. So I sold it. That being said though, If you really dig the feel of the 0350 handles, the Para2 is very similar to it. So it may be way more up your alley. However, I would wait until you get the Griptillian in hand first though. You may decide you prefer the more contoured feel to that of the flat slabs on the other 2.
The one thing you gotta get over with a Grip, is that non-G10 plasticky feel of the nylon handles make it seem cheaply made at first. If you can get over that, it's an amazing knife. If you can't, then check out the G10 version, or the Freek 560BK-1.

Other brands models to consider would be (since all your choices are USA made I'll stick with that)

Hogue Ritter (Knifeworks only)
Hogue Deka
Emerson Commander
Microtech Socom
Hinderer XM-24
Medford Praetorian
 
Pm2 is a classic, worth trying out at least. It's a US made benchmark for quality and performance. It doesn't quite fit for a lot of people, and that's fine. But it has it's reputation for a reason.
 
I vote PM2. It really is the quintessential EDC knife. Every knife has pros and cons, but I’ll always be confident if I have a PM2 in the pocket... or a para 3 if size is a concern and easily frightened people are around. I have a Pm2 and para 3 both in maxamet and they are absolute powerhouses. I had a lightweight para 3 in m390 once and that is a very fine knife as well. You almost can’t tell it’s in your pocket.
 
I'm a bigger fan of Spyderco than ZT and own many more Spydercos than ZT's. But, I'm not a huge fan of the PM2, even though it's a classic and everyone should own at least one. I much prefer the Para 3 over the PM2.

But with that said if it were me I'd go ZT 0562cf or ti. Such a great example of Zero Tolerance knives.

Untitled by Caleb Bender, on Flickr
 
Honestly the Para 2 was a let down for me but I didn't know that till I tried it, I say get the Para 2 try out the compression lock.
I'm a fan of ZT and would recommend the 0562 in any form and/or the 0470.
 
NorthernSouthpaw said:
ZT 0350, BM Grip and a PM2 are "mini folders"???o_O What the heck would you call a large folder? :eek:

Anyway, to answer the question. I am also not a PM2 fan. Had one, tried to love it, but it just didn't resonate. So I sold it. That being said though, If you really dig the feel of the 0350 handles, the Para2 is very similar to it. So it may be way more up your alley. However, I would wait until you get the Griptillian in hand first though. You may decide you prefer the more contoured feel to that of the flat slabs on the other 2.
The one thing you gotta get over with a Grip, is that non-G10 plasticky feel of the nylon handles make it seem cheaply made at first. If you can get over that, it's an amazing knife. If you can't, then check out the G10 version, or the Freek 560BK-1.

Other brands models to consider would be (since all your choices are USA made I'll stick with that)

Hogue Ritter (Knifeworks only)
Hogue Deka
Emerson Commander
Microtech Socom
Hinderer XM-24
Medford Praetorian
Click to expand...
I just meant mini in regards the size of my folder collection I used to own a mini grip and it didnt feel as cheap as the large still a nice knife the edge looks alot more refined on the 0350 and it came in the right box but wrong colour duh benchmade I'll add a pic too
 
The 0562 is an awesome knife .
I seem to favour the zt so far the griptillian feels a bit cheap compared even the mini grip felt heavier or more solid I havent used it just goin on initial impressions it also came in the wrong colour from benchmade was meant to be black blade tan handle.
I am still keeping it knives and tools r gonna sort me out with something lol
 
Handle a ZT 0562 or 0393 and the Para 2 it's no contest, now the ZT's are the pricier option but they also feel like it plus I prefer frame locks and liner locks over the compression lock, much easier to close left handed if I'm using my left which I do at times. Still own a Para 3 but if looking to carry a smaller knife I usually grab the Chaparral 9 times out of 10, guess I'm not a fan of the compression lock.
 
It’s worth giving Spyderco a shot. I mean why not try a different brand? You might fall in love with Spyderco. They make fantastic knives, and arguably more functional than a ZT (cutting performance and ethos)
 
I own several PM2 (5) and several ZT0562 (3).

ZT0562Ti - I vote for this because it's in another class; it puts you in Hinderer territory for much less $$$, but with damn near close fit, function and finish (some even say better, arguably). The proportions and feel in hand is wonderful. However like most ZTs (and Hinderers) it's going to be thicker behind the edge than a PM2. It'll still cut extremely well, but the PM2 will slice a little better. You can remedy this by re-profiling the edge of the 0562, which I have done;)

PM2 - I enjoy the overall size, light weight and compression lock. Good blade stock with a very acute tip. Some argue the tip is too fragile, but I find the pointy point very useful. However, I hate the shape of the handle which features a medial hump that pushes my third and fourth finger out. Lot's of Spyderco models feature this hump. Fortunately there's a custom scale maker in Russia who feels the same way about the hump as I and manufactures the most perfect hump-less CF and G10 scale upgrades. It'll cost you another $100 for the CF scales but they really do elevate the PM2. Without them I would not even consider the PM2.

Here's my ZT0562Ti with hardware mods...
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...and a couple of my PM2s with the Aramis CF scales that I mentioned.
TEcHIC8h.jpg
 
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Both are great companies and make terrific products. Choosing a cutter from either is a no-lose situation - it's just a matter of preference. I've got a drawer full of ZT's and 2 Spyderco's. Plenty of members here go wholly the other way (pun intended).
 
Ironkid883 said:
View attachment 1359556
Click to expand...

The difference in feel between the full size Grip and the Mini comes down to the fact that the Mini has full steel liners. While the full size's liners are only go about 1/3 of the way down the handle, and are really only there to house the Axis lock mechanism. Like I said earlier, it "feels" cheap, but really isn't, and it's tough to get past that. If you can't, I highly recommend returning it and getting either the G10 Grip, the G10 Freek, or the Hogue RSK Ritter. Which is their version of the very popular Ritter Griptillian that BM discontinued.
 
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