New Zero Tolerance 0850

M

Mike51772

Joined
Mar 3, 2017
Messages
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Has anyone gotten a chance to handle the new ZT 0850? YouTube reviews so far are very positive!
Anyone that's handled it, how is the action on it? Only ZT I've had, the 0550, is a pain to flick open and even more so to draw it open one-handed.......which is why I'll probably sell it. The 0850 looks interesting though.
 
Got mine a couple days ago, awesome action, I do have sore spots however (I can't stop flicking it open) I love that they used washers and not bearing. The steel takes a wicked edge and the fit/Finish is great. The only problem that I've found is if you bear into a cut the lock slips toward the close position making it hard to disengage, I have the same problem with the zt0450. This I my favorite knife out of the zt line up, I have the 0450 0456 0560 0563 0770. If you have the funds I recommend it.
 
Kooter55......thanks so much! The only ZT I've had is the 0550. I never liked it because of how extreme the detent is as well as the scale on it is awful! Feels like sandpaper. I have heard great things about the action on the 0850 though. I'm def planning to pick one up soon.
 
The 0850 is amazing. I have been carrying mine since they came out and I think its one of the best blades ZT has aver produced. For a knife that goes back to basics using PB washers, if you didn't know you may think it was on bearings...its that smooth. Easy to open with a thumb, or from the back side with a middle finger flick:-) Also very light for such a large blade...very easy on the pocket.
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On a side note...you have an 0550 w/poor action? Have you tried adjusting the pivot? Cleaning and polishing the washers? I have modified and refurbished dozens of 0550's...they are definitely in my to 10 knives of all time. Lots of options for customizing....When properly tuned and oiled they should be silky smooth.

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I've had mine for about a week now, and it's incredible. Honestly, can't say enough good things about it. The action is absolutely incredible also. Smoother than most of my bearing pivot knives.
 
Rival 1314.....actually I sent my 0550 into Kai to take a look at it. They told me they adjusted it but when I got it back from them, the action seemed essentially no better. I also really don't like the scale on it! I know I can get a custom scale to put on it but I really don't want to spend $70-100 on a scale just to find out if it makes me like the knife more. I'm probably just gonna sell it.

I am planning to get a 0850 though
 
AwayFromMySpydieHole said:
I've had mine for about a week now, and it's incredible. Honestly, can't say enough good things about it. The action is absolutely incredible also. Smoother than most of my bearing pivot knives.
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Hey. When the blade is in the closed position, can you wiggle the blade side to side fairly easily? I ask because mine does. When the pivot is all the way tight, my blade is pretty off center so I have to loosen the pivot just a bit to center the blade and that is when the play happens. It is solid when locked open though. Just curious.
 
I love mine. My favorite regular production ZT yet. The closest we'll probably get to a production ZT0777.

The design is fantastic, the subframe lock (patented yah know), washers, the pocket clip as are awesome. Probably the best production 3d clip out there.
 
ccoast36 said:
Hey. When the blade is in the closed position, can you wiggle the blade side to side fairly easily? I ask because mine does. When the pivot is all the way tight, my blade is pretty off center so I have to loosen the pivot just a bit to center the blade and that is when the play happens. It is solid when locked open though. Just curious.
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Yep I can get some wiggle when the blade is closed. Not a ton, but more than most knives for sure.
 
i think this is a great knife and really want to purchase, BUT...
i have some minor issues that make me not want to.

1. the Blue in the weave is not carbon fiber. the only way to color carbon fiber is with epoxy, or Hypertel... else those blue fibers are a different material than carbon fiber and they are dyed blue. i dont suspect they are using blue epoxy because you cannot get that kind of weave with blue epoxy imho, so it is undoubtedly dyed fibers of some other material. what material that may be is unsure. if its kevalar, sweet, that still makes a strong and just as expensive if not more than carbon fiber, same with Hypertel. however if its glass or other less expensive fibers, then... your paying a premium for something that doesnt cost a premium.

2. the aluminum back spacer and thumb stud are just not my taste. it doesnt look bad in the least, but im not a fan of them.

3. how optimal is the heat treat for the blade? i havent seen any tests with ZT's 20CV vs other brands 20CV. if its a premium price and another brand can hold an edge for longer at lower angles... i just paid too much.

ill restate that these are MINOR issues i have. very minor. for $280 id buy it in an instant. for $320 i have reservations... but i think overall this could be knife of the year.
 
Mo2......those are very valid points you make. Personally, I wish I could handle one to really inspect the carbon fiber close up, as well as look the knife over carefully. I've heard stories from a few people regarding blade centering not being dead-on centered on their respective individual knives.

As to the price, I agree it's reasonable to think it might be a little overpriced. However, I also think it's reasonable to hold the opinion that a CRK Sebenza 21-large with carbon fiber, and a slightly lower quality steel(S35VN) than the 0850 steel is overpriced at $455.
 
Mike,

I don't want to be a buzzkill, but just be sure to completely do your own research before buying, and make sure it's not an impulse buy or a hype train buy. I say this because as soon as you start seeing things like "The best production knife made IMO," the New Toy Syndrome radars perk up. Also, I have learned never to trust any reviews less than a month old, because people are always affected by new toy syndrome and won't notice or mention and possible flaws (goes for everything, not just knives).

With that said, it does look like a sick knife (awesome backspacer), and I am sure it is fine. Just be careful about boarding any hype trains, at the end of the day if it something you bought because someone else said so, it is a waste of your money.
 
Cutlover said:
Mike,

I don't want to be a buzzkill, but just be sure to completely do your own research before buying, and make sure it's not an impulse buy or a hype train buy. I say this because as soon as you start seeing things like "The best production knife made IMO," the New Toy Syndrome radars perk up. Also, I have learned never to trust any reviews less than a month old, because people are always affected by new toy syndrome and won't notice or mention and possible flaws (goes for everything, not just knives).

With that said, it does look like a sick knife (awesome backspacer), and I am sure it is fine. Just be careful about boarding any hype trains, at the end of the day if it something you bought because someone else said so, it is a waste of your money.
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I will most definitely mention possible flaws. Here are some that I'm not exactly stoked about, but despite these I still feel like this knife is one of the best knives (for me) there is. I love the washers instead of bearings, the fact that it is almost paradoxically smooth, the blade shape, etc.

The flaws (in my opinion):

- The pivot doesn't have a place for a T8 torx bit on both sides. This pivot CAN spin on you and be a pain in the ass to remove. There should have been a hole for a bit on both pivot sides.
- The lockbar is solid as a rock, but when putting a lot of force into the cut - the lockbar will walk over. Now, this results in a more solid lockup I guess, but I'd rather it not walk over like that.
- Blade has just a touch of play in the closed position. It doesn't bother me, but it's there.
- Knife has a hard time standing upright on the backspacer. Insignificant critique, I know, but it's there. I usually stand my knives on the backspacer area.


Other than those small things, the knife is amazing. I love 20cv steel, but I haven't cut enough with this blade to know if it is a good performer or not. My socom elite in 20cv is amazing, so if this ZT is anything like it - I'll love it.
 
AwayFromMySpydieHole said:
The flaws (in my opinion):

- The pivot doesn't have a place for a T8 torx bit on both sides. This pivot CAN spin on you and be a pain in the ass to remove. There should have been a hole for a bit on both pivot sides.

- Blade has just a touch of play in the closed position. It doesn't bother me, but it's there.
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The pivot won't spin, its held in place on the show side by the Square milling in the CF, The pivot has the sqaure slot that presses in there.

And Any folder blade will move in the closed position. I can do it on Hinderers, CRK, Strider etc
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chester22 said:
The pivot won't spin, its held in place on the show side by the Square milling in the CF, The pivot has the sqaure slot that presses in there.

And Any folder blade will move in the closed position. I can do it on Hinderers, CRK, Strider etc
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Mine spins free. It will turn around, and around, and around. At first it was held captive after about 3/4 of a turn, but when I eventually tried to loosen the pivot (even when heated) the pivot just spun free. I think someone at the factory reefed on mine a little too hard.

Regardless, I got the pivot loose by making a simple tool to hold the presentation side still.

That's why I emphasized the word "can" spin free. On most knives, it shouldn't be an issue.
 
AwayFromMySpydieHole said:
Mine spins free. It will turn around, and around, and around. At first it was held captive after about 3/4 of a turn, but when I eventually tried to loosen the pivot (even when heated) the pivot just spun free. I think someone at the factory reefed on mine a little too hard.

Regardless, I got the pivot loose by making a simple tool to hold the presentation side still.

That's why I emphasized the word "can" spin free. On most knives, it shouldn't be an issue.
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hmm that's odd. You try holding that side of the pivot down with your thumb? Never had that problem before. Sorry it didn't work for you
 
Cutlover......thanks for the advice! I agree with you about people being biased based on the "new toy" phenomenon. I am gonna think it over carefully because it's a lot to spend on a knife, at least for me it is. Most I've spent in the past is $200 for Spyderco Starmate-Terzuola and $225 for Spyderco Military Titanium.

The other knife I was considering before seeing the ZT 0850 is the Chris Reeve Sebenza 21 with carbon fiber scale.....but I'm really reluctantly to spend $455 on a knife as I find it hard to believe that any production knife, for a knife user NOT a collector, is worth that kind of money.
 
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