Need Opinions on Which to get.

metalhead357

metalhead357

Joined
Sep 2, 2012
Messages
281
I recently came into about $115 by liquidating some of my other non-knife related collections. I have been looking into a ZT0350 Blem from Kershaw guy and it looks great but people have said that the F&F isn't like the rest of the ZT line and that I would be better of with something else. I then saw the ZT0200 Blem and thought about it. Then came the Carbon Fiber Blur. DROOL.

So the question is: ZT0350 Blem, ZT0200 Blem, or Carbon Fiber Blur?
This knife will be an EDC knife. I have fondled all but the 0200 and I don't mind bulk in a knife. I know for many of you these are all very large for an EDC but hey. What are you gonna do? Normal tasks for me are cutting twine, rope, feed sacks, wires, and generally anything that needs to be done working as a hand on a chicken farm.

Would appreciate answers from people who have had two or more of the knives mentioned, not just a one-time owner of a BLur that swears by it and only it. Thanks you guys.

By the way if this makes any difference, my last few EDC's have been the Buck Vantage select, Spyderco Tenacious, Kershaw Tanto Blur, Kershaw Leek, and a while back when I first was getting into knives, the Byrd Cara Cara 2
 
Out of those I would get the 350. I like the 200 but they are a bit bulky to pocket carry, the 350 rides much flatter and easier and is more heavy duty than a blur. Of course that is all simply my opinion, I am sure you will enjoy whatever you decide on.
 
BrentD86 said:
Out of those I would get the 350. I like the 200 but they are a bit bulky to pocket carry, the 350 rides much flatter and easier and is more heavy duty than a blur. Of course that is all simply my opinion, I am sure you will enjoy whatever you decide on.
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My opinions as well.
 
Put in the working conditions you described my choice would be the 0200. And I might strongly consider a CE one too.
 
350, unless you want something more pretty for show.. Then the blur. I don't think the different steel will matter to you.
 
For EDC, I'd probably lean towards the Blur. It is considerably lighter and more comfortable to carry in pocket than either of the ZT's. That said, if you don't mind the increased size and weight of the 0350, it is a great knife. The 0200 is just a bit too big for EDC. It's a tank of a knife and comfortable to handle, but it big, bulky, and heavy, making it a bit of a burden to carry. If you like the size of the ZT0200 and want a manual flipper with a hefty liner lock, I'd suggest the composite blade JYD II instead.

Some side-by-sides. This isn't the CF Blur, but it's the same size.

ZT200_JYD_ZT350_Blur_open_800x548.jpg


ZT200_JYD_ZT350_Blur_closed1_800x502.jpg


ZT200_JYD_ZT350_Blur_closed2_800x579.jpg
 
The 350sw was my first ZT. And while it's quite nice, I'd go with the 550, if I were to do it again.
 
For the work you described, I'd recommend a 0350 also, however a combo edge version. While I love the CF Blur and it's a great EDC, it's not something I'd put through farm work. The 0350 is more robust, and getting one with a combo edge would be a good idea. Perhaps try to find one of the tiger stripe combo edge ones, those are sexy as well as functional.
 
I would go with the CF Blur, and I own a 0350 (have owned two actually) as well. The Blur is smoother and cuts far better, which is really in essence what a knife needs to do, especially in your case. My girlfriend rides horses so she constantly has to work at her barn, so I thought I would need some super heavy duty knife to tackle whatever comes up. Turns out that all you really need is something that can cut well, because in reality those "hard use" tasks don't come up too often unless you decide to do something dumb with your knife. I've never once needed the robustness of the 0350's blade, but I have been annoyed by it's very obtuse tip. For me, the Blur has been more useful for actually cutting things.

Cutting wire may be your only issue, but the added toughness of the CPM154 should help with that.
 
I like the flipper for deployment so I'd say the 350 or 200. I carry 3 knives usually and the 350 is for utility, and it is a workhorse. I like the assisted opening on the 350. Since it's not dedicated for SD, I don't mind that it has a mechanical assist.
 
I will recomend a combo edge 350 or 200. You really can't go wrong with either piece. I would recomend not getting a blur because you have owned a tanto one and if you really wanted one for work you already would have made up your mind! The 200 for me is a camping blade woods beater knife. I would do almost anything with it from filleting fish to gutting rabbits or birds, hell even deer. I would use it for just about anything out there. I like my 350 as well and carried it for awhile as an edc. It works great, but I do get mad at the tip sometimes for being too obtuse.
 
From the work you describe, I'd go for the ZT 200; I can't imagine its size being an issue working in the environment you describe. It's big, it's tough, and you can beat it and it'll come back for more. I love the Blur, but it isn't as robust as the ZT's. In my thinking, if I were in a position to need a knife to do really abusive work, I'd carry my BK2 in a sheath, and a Blur in my pocket. The BK2 is pretty much a sharpened pry-bar, and it's only $60. I have a CF Blur on order for $75 (blem), so that's $135 for both.

Then again, the ZT 200 is just plain cool...:D
 
jeffe65 said:
From the work you describe, I'd go for the ZT 200; I can't imagine its size being an issue working in the environment you describe. It's big, it's tough, and you can beat it and it'll come back for more. I love the Blur, but it isn't as robust as the ZT's. In my thinking, if I were in a position to need a knife to do really abusive work, I'd carry my BK2 in a sheath, and a Blur in my pocket. The BK2 is pretty much a sharpened pry-bar, and it's only $60. I have a CF Blur on order for $75 (blem), so that's $135 for both.

Then again, the ZT 200 is just plain cool...:D
Click to expand...

Yeah I agree but, I have never seen a ZT 0BK2 !? :confused:
 
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