New ZT factory special series revealed….

stabman said:
I never could figure out what was happening with those reporting failures.
Extreme bad luck?
Previous spine-whack induced damage? Maybe from a previous owner?
Hard to say when it's someone else's knife.
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I had a brand new 0620CF fail the spinewack test, without even being whacked that hard. Folks are right, it’s now how a folder is designed to be stressed, or realistically going to be stressed. But folks are also right, there are plenty of folders that can hold up to it.

As to the 0022Cu, it’s beyond disappointing. They need to bring back the 300’s. I will forever kick myself for trading my 301.
 
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I looks like a less ridiculous Spyderco Pochi. It seems to defeat the point. A small knife is great for weight saving. Copper is heavy material.
 
I think it's a pretty cool little knife. Not something that I'd buy, but I'd be stoked to have it if I won it in a raffle or something. I really like copper and brass though. That ZT and the Spyderco Pochi have always seemed like twins to me. Neither of which I'd choose to buy over other knives in the price category, and really even if it was like chinese d2 and copper I wouldn't buy it for 80 bucks, but I can still appreciate it for what it is.

However I got into ZT's when they first came out, like many of you guys and agree that I miss the classics like the 300, the 200, the MUDD...

Edit: The reason I like copper and brass so much is for a few reasons. Obviously it develops a deep patina, which some people like, some don't, it's very easy to refinish. When my copper Skyline get's a bigger ding or I feel like starting over, I just take some wet and dry sandpaper to it and get a brand new satin finish anytime I want and it's pretty easy, it also has antibacterial properties (which probably don't help at all but I tell myself that they do), and it's soft and I believe would be easy to engrave. I'd like to start engraving a bit soon so it works well for that.
 
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It is possible that BF might be in an interesting position on this subject. It is important to remember that BF members make up a very tiny, tiny portion of the worldwide knife buying market. But on the other hand, BF probably "pound for pound" makes up a large number of people that don't blink at putting out $250 - $300 for a knife they want. Knives in that price range are no longer tools, but are purchased as one does a Rolex over a Casio. You are no longer just looking for a working tool (a timepiece) with a little more pizazz or class than the norm. I think that BF members probably make up a nice slice of the upper end priced knife market.

Certainly ZT can do whatever they want and don't owe anyone, not even the most devoted fan that owns 50 ZTs any kind of explanation for their production choices. Trying to break the mold, keep up with new design trends and staying current is probably quite the minefield. And something for us to always keep in mind is that ZT wouldn't make this type of gas station looking cutter if someone wasn't buying a lot of them and its relatives.

The only way to get ZT to change course is to quit buying their products. When the public decides they have gone too far making their product unappealing and unsellable for their vendors, things will change.
 
Hashishiin said:
I saw somebody who had evidently spent a lot of money on ZTs, make one after another fail. Sure, that is not the same as experience to be sure, but it did not inspire confidence. But, you know, there's things like this at the same time, making me think that there's some kind of differential in quality somewhere along the line, because yours is clearly a fine knife.
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Please post the video. The weird "zt has so many lock failures" thing is way old at this point.
 
Although the overbuilt folder fad has died down, there is still a large fan base, and ZT should not have abandoned ship on those classic models. While the 0200 with 154cm was long in the tooth, an updated version with better steel would have been better.

Though I am not particularly enamored with "overbuilt" folders, I have one, and it's a ZT. 0095BLK CPM-S90V.

While lightweight flippers are much the rage (still) converting nearly all of your product line is not a good business plan imo, as you alienate your die hard fans.

Yeah the Ford Mustang was massively popular upon release, but Ford didn't stop producing trucks or 4 doors.

Anyway I like my 0470 and 0095, but nothing else really appeals. I think they should get into the front flipper and OTF market.

Also, I've never understood spine whack tests. Seems counterproductive and a good way to damage a knife, as well as void the warranty.
 
Another thing that’s annoying is SpeedSafe. I get it - many people like it. Fine. Many don’t. Make your knives have the option. As in, the same knife. Through the years, so many good knives were only SpeedSafe knives. Make both versions of the same knife. It literally cuts your product portfolio in half for the non-SpeedSafe folks.
 
midnight flyer said:
It is possible that BF might be in an interesting position on this subject. It is important to remember that BF members make up a very tiny, tiny portion of the worldwide knife buying market. But on the other hand, BF probably "pound for pound" makes up a large number of people that don't blink at putting out $250 - $300 for a knife they want. Knives in that price range are no longer tools, but are purchased as one does a Rolex over a Casio. You are no longer just looking for a working tool (a timepiece) with a little more pizazz or class than the norm. I think that BF members probably make up a nice slice of the upper end priced knife market.

Certainly ZT can do whatever they want and don't owe anyone, not even the most devoted fan that owns 50 ZTs any kind of explanation for their production choices. Trying to break the mold, keep up with new design trends and staying current is probably quite the minefield. And something for us to always keep in mind is that ZT wouldn't make this type of gas station looking cutter if someone wasn't buying a lot of them and its relatives.

The only way to get ZT to change course is to quit buying their products. When the public decides they have gone too far making their product unappealing and unsellable for their vendors, things will change.
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I think I tend to agree to the bold part of your text if we are talking about knives in general, i.e., regardless of price points. However, for a brand like ZT whose knife prices are usually above $200, I don't think that BF members make up only a tiny tiny portion of its customers. Honest question: do you or anyone know where to find customer statistics of various knife companies?
 
I was excited when I saw the email for a special ZT. Holy heck, super lame. ZT is seriously lost. They are the enthusiast's brand of kershaw I feel like they are totally out of touch with thier target market. I hope they can turn it around as they have so much potential.
 
stabman said:
In real life in person, or on some internet video?

I used my ZT 0561 to cross-grain baton a tree over.

You can't do THAT with a ZT...

According to current wisdom, you can't fell a tree with a folding knife, and a Zero Tolerance would certainly explode, right? Let's find out. :) Starting the cuts: Progressing: Done! Let's see if the video works... ']http://vid730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/stabman_album/5...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

The video that's part of the post has been lost to Photobucket limbo.

I have had zero lock failures, lock-slips, etc. with any of my ZT knives.
And I have had more than a few. ;)

So no, I don't buy into the supposed "rampant failure" of the locks as it runs completely counter to my real-life experiences, including the ludicrous use of batonning a tree over for no good reason.

Here's the video restored on imgur without sound:

QybKdgr.mp4
https://imgur.com/QybKdgr

The tree was cut and added to the firewood pile, and helped cook food on a later excursion.
Stump removed too, as it would be ugly otherwise.
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Is that your hair? It's so silky and luscious.
 
I had a 0909 that failed a very light spine tap on a heel of a tennis shoe. Everytime it was tapped it folded. 0452 cf that had such loose lockup it could be pushed all the way to the cf side easily. Other ZT's I own are perfect but those two certainly weren't.
 
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