New ZT Construction

S

sutherland

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Jun 10, 2015
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Any reason why the new model ZTs (204/220/456) lack the sleeved/sandwich construction (screwed into standoffs from both frame and lockside)? Construction/Build Quilty has always been a trait of ZT.

Construction of newer model (note: screws going directly into the titanium frame)
ZT_5320__05532.1454529967.1280.1280.jpg
 
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sutherland said:
Any reason why the new model ZTs (204/220/456) lack the sleeved/sandwich construction (screwed into standoffs from both frame and lockside)? Construction/Build Quilty has always been a trait of ZT.

Construction of newer model (note: screws going directly into the titanium frame)
ZT_5320__05532.1454529967.1280.1280.jpg
Click to expand...
That's how my 350 is.
 
That 804 looks nice; I agree with what you're saying though... I'm not a huge fan of that construction method either. It reminds me; my Kershaw Volt 3600 has the same idea for joining the ti scales; screws go all the way through the non-lock side ti slab, barrel spacer and then into the ti lock side slab. It was a bugger to get apart. :thumbdn:

The 801 is easy peasy to work with though IMHO and having larger head torx screws from either side of the ti is nice. :thumbup:
 
I imagine it's cheaper to have straight channels on the spacers and threaded holes on the lockside. I hadn't really noticed it until you brought it up, but it does (sadly) seem like an attempt to reduce cost. If you strip the threads on the lockside that becomes an expensive replacement part...
 
I too noticed this on my 0450cf. The knife is my second ZT (the 0808 being my first) and is definitely a great blade in many aspects, but I hate to see when a company begins to make subtle changes in the wrong direction. I feel it sends a bad message.
 
Also makes for the creation of aftermarket sleeve style spacers easier.
 
Hackenslash said:
I imagine it's cheaper to have straight channels on the spacers and threaded holes on the lockside. I hadn't really noticed it until you brought it up, but it does (sadly) seem like an attempt to reduce cost. If you strip the threads on the lockside that becomes an expensive replacement part...
Click to expand...

Every time I've worked on my zt300 I've had that feeling... :eek::thumbdn: I'm careful not to over torque the screws LOL.

24046161224_63703f58b3_o.jpg
 
Having tapped holes in titanium and steel, titanium is a HUGE pain in the ass to tap.
I seriously doubt it's for ease of manufacture or cost.
If anything, there will be extra work involved in removing broken taps from time to time.
 
ZT has been putting out some awesome stuff in the last year. The titanium slab having to be tapped is way more of a pain in the butt than putting brass or steel sleeves in. I've only seen their tolerances and construction improving. Not that it was ever bad, but man it's getting really really good.
 
The 0808 is titanium that is tapped on both sides. They have the ability to do it and with the 0804cf costing $280, I would like to see the extra attention to detail.
 
TimmyJ said:
The 0808 is titanium that is tapped on both sides. They have the ability to do it and with the 0804cf costing $280, I would like to see the extra attention to detail.
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They're talking about how the body is held together, not clip holes.
 
Bad move. Obviously cost-saving in some way because no way it's an improvement. Cheapens the look of the knife, IMO.

Far better the old way.
 
EChoil said:
Bad move. Obviously cost-saving in some way because no way it's an improvement. Cheapens the look of the knife, IMO.
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How is that obvious?
Have you machined titanium?
Have you seen how bloody cheap stand-offs are to buy?

I've done both.

Obviously whoever designed the knife wants it that way it is.
Obviously some people here don't like how it looks.
Obviously, they should buy a different knife. ;)
 
TimmyJ said:
I know....peep the 808 brah!
Click to expand...

It has screws from both sides that go into stand-offs, right?
That's not having holes tapped from each side, it's having holes on each side.
Drilling holes is easier than then tapping them.

It has a back-spacer, but that may have stand-offs inside it (like on the old Spyderco Military, before they switched to an aluminum back-spacer).
Or it might be steel that has tapped holes...steel is easier to tap than titanium.
 
I wouldn't mind the single screw through both ti slabs idea so much if they used larger head screws; on the volt I mentioned it's a T6 or 7 I believe; easy to strip a screw considering how much thread it is engaging...

The 808 has screws on both sides. :thumbup: Stabman beat me to it... :thumbup:

ZT808-1.png
 
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Sorry Stabman, but I'm confused. I always appreciate your views. Maybe you can help me understand the OP's observation.
 
TimmyJ said:
Sorry Stabman, but I'm confused. I always appreciate your views. Maybe you can help me understand the OP's observation.
Click to expand...

Looking into it more, it might be a threaded titanium back-spacer on the 0808...have to find disassembly pics or e-mail ZT to find out for sure.
If that's the case, then they could have gone with a similar option on the new knives.

It just seems that it must be a designer choice to go with standoffs and a threaded scale, since they then have the expense of stand-offs, AND the risk of broken taps when threading the titanium side; that doesn't sound like cost saving.

For me, it would depend on the overall knife.
On some, I like the threaded scale; on others, it looks odd,
Same with stand-offs versus back-spacers...depends on the overall knife for me.

I don't really feel the need to get the knife in the original post, but I still wouldn't if it had screws from both sides; it just doesn't "click" for me.
 
TimmyJ said:
Sorry Stabman, but I'm confused. I always appreciate your views. Maybe you can help me understand the OP's observation.
Click to expand...

The 801/808's scales are drilled, meaning no threads. The screws come in from both the show and lockside scale and go into a threaded standoff.

The 804's lockside scale appears to be tapped, meaning the hole is threaded. A single screw comes form the drilled showside into threaded hole on the lockside. I haven't disassembled the 804, so I do not know if the standoff is drilled or tapped.
 
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