New ZT folder: 630, 452cf, or other?

B

BobJones567

Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
30
Hey all,

It's that time of year where I have some birthday & Christmas money to spend. Last year I took everyone's recommendations and bought a Ratmandu, which I totally love. This year I have decided to add a higher quality folder to my EDC rotation ($200 or less). The main 2 I have been looking at are the ZT 630 and the 452cf. Thought I would ramble a little and see if I could get any feedback to help make a decision.

- I normally like my folding knives in the 3.75" to 4" range, but the 630 blade looks fairly robust??
- I have a ZT 200 and love it, but it's a little too big for EDC on a regular basis for work. The 630 weighs less, but looks like it takes up substantially less pocket space?
- I have a Benchmade 710 and love it, carry it all the time. How similar is the 452?
- I have a Kershaw Emerson CQC-6K and love it (a little small), which is what gave me the bug for the 630.
- I'm also open to other suggestions that you may have. I've looked at the 560, but it just doesn't appeal to me as much for some reason. Not looking for tanto style blades at all (hence no 620 as an option).
- Was kind of eyeing a benchmade contego as another option, but not sure it would be a better buy compared to the ZT's.

I don't post alot here (lurk a lot), but I havent been led wrong so far. Thanks in advance for any input, I would appreciate it as I tend to over analyze everything before making a purchase (and due to having a limited knife purchasing budget). Thanks!
 
You will not go wrong if you get a 452cf:
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Never had a 630. Too short a blade for me. 452 is a great knife that carries well.
 
I don't have either of those so can't comment, other than to say I wish I did. Don't think you would be unhappy with either.

My own favorite ZT is definitely the 0562, I know it doesn't have the blade length you mention but it's a solid beast of a folder thats comfortable to use, flips very well, easy to close one handed. Very impressed with mine.

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I just got a 0630 on a trade and am pleased well beyond beyond my expectations :)
It's a very well made, solid and smooth knife. Deploys easily with the thumb circle and like lighting with the wave hook.
Fits really comfortably in my large (bordering on XL) hands and after reprofiling to 17 dps slices better than such a thick blade should. It carries well, not too wide, although you do know you have something in your pocket at 6.3oz.
The tip is beastly strong! I dropped mine tip first on a concrete slab and it chipped 3/16" out of the floor and barely damaged the bevel on the tip; sharpened right out.
In short, for a robust, fast, relatively big hard use folder, I don't think you can beat this knife for the money.
It will become my carry while on duty as a firefighter/paramedic. Was considering an XM-18 but for the price I really can't justify it given how good this knife is :)
 
I waiting on purchasing a 630 to see if ZT will release it with carbon fiber. I have not purchased a 452cf.
 
The 0452CF is very light and slim for the overall length, without feeling delicate. The Emerson collabs are much more robust, but certainly more stout. I actually prefer my Kershaw-Emerson 4KXL over the 0620/0630 for size and weight reasons.

I'd vote for the 0452CF, honestly. It's the only ZT that I've come back to after selling an initial one. Super fun and versatile knife with good looks and a very inconspicuous carry profile (slim, light, small deep carry clip - same as on a 0770CF)
 
Good point about the 4xl. I can grab one of those down the road. And I'm really feeling those 452 pics... I think that answers my question. Just need to place an order now...
 
Order placed for the 452CF!!! ETA Wednesday. The only thing I'm concerned about is if I start babying it too much to use as my EDC at work... Anyone here use a sharpmaker on their 452CF?
 
BobJones567 said:
Order placed for the 452CF!!! ETA Wednesday. The only thing I'm concerned about is if I start babying it too much to use as my EDC at work... Anyone here use a sharpmaker on their 452CF?
Click to expand...

I do but my profiles was jacked on the factory edge. About 20* on one side and 30* on the other. Edge pro fixed that and now i use the sharpmaker to maintain the edge.
 
I have quite a few ZT's, including the 0452CF, 0560, 0562CF and the 0630 (among others). Of these, the 0562CF is my favorite followed by the 0452CF. I can assume that you will be very happy with the 452 but if you find it to be a touch too long, take a good look at the 562. I much prefer both to my 0560 which very rarely even makes it into the carry rotation anymore. But that one was my first higher end knife, so I don't want to let it go.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Received the 452cf today a day early! The knife is amazing! However, it does have a very strong detent - I can't touch the lock at at all if I want to open it. I did notice a torx screw(??) on the framelock. Is that used to adjust the detent? Any suggestions besides breaking it in with a few hundred openings?
 
BobJones567 said:
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Received the 452cf today a day early! The knife is amazing! However, it does have a very strong detent - I can't touch the lock at at all if I want to open it. I did notice a torx screw(??) on the framelock. Is that used to adjust the detent? Any suggestions besides breaking it in with a few hundred openings?
Click to expand...

The screw you noticed holds the the steel lockbar insert. The detent is not adjustable, but will soften up a bit as it wears in. My 0450 took a couple of days to break in, and is just about perfect as long as I keep my fingers off the lockbar.
 
When i first got my 0452cf i just opened and closed it non stop for a few hours and it broke in nicely. I can open it with my fingers on the lockbar now as long as i dont put much pressure on it. When i first received it, the detent was ridiculously strong.
The lock bar insert also works as a lockbar stabilizer also.
 
Good choice on going for the 0452cf btw. Has to be one of the best production knives out there.
 
The detent on 452 is indeed stronger than some other ZTs even after break-in. I say this based on my experience, and by comparing it to 561 and 801.
 
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