New ZT's for 2017 what do you love?

[PURPLEDC]

ZT/Kershaw/KAI has a habit of ignoring what customers want, instead they go off on wild tangents at times to make new designs and products and gimmicks that they THINK people want (the atrocious speedsafe anyone?), granted some people like what they do, but there are a lot that don't. It got to the point that there were so many customer complaints about issues with their knives and their designs that they removed themselves from these forums, go look at the archives if you don't believe me. I sold off all of my ZT and working on offloading all of my other KAI knives, they are not built as practical, strong, and functional edc knives, no matter what their motto tries to say. Sorry if I'm stepping on toes.

While I much prefer a manual knife with bearings speedsafe is insanely popular. And when first released was a really big deal. You not liking doesn't mean others didn't want it. Again I hate speedsafe and all assisted knives. But I understand that within the scope of all of the knife buying public, that I am in the minority.

to each their own. I feel it's cheap when it's done, shows that they didn't put enough time and effort into design to make smooth action ($20 rat's anyone?). It's like, can't open the blade smoothly since we didn't dial in the detente and have crappy tolerances? SPEEDSAFE/ASSIST IT! That's just my take. The only knives from either company I really wanted to love where the 0450 and 0452, but they were also flawed in one way or another.

Your take is completely false though and unfortunately shows a lack of understanding in how they produce knives and why speedsafe was invented. It wasn't invented to give the impression of smooth action. Ken onion actually invented speedsafe and it was a way to get a one hand opening knife that performed like a switchblade but wasn't targeted by the existing switchblade laws. But Kershaw didn't invent it. And most people who have taken a speedsafe knife and made it a manual will attest they are plenty smooth. And the their KVT knives prove they know how to do a detent.

I'm glad I can instill the need for you to attack me based on my opinion and certain facts that are true. I'm not wrong on everything I wrote, that's just you wanting to defend a brand you love, while being blind to the issues. I could post so many professional reviews, as well as buyer reviews, personal experience, and complaints that back up everything that I said, but none of that matters to you, right? If people want to ignore the facts in their face, that's fine, their favorites knives might be all kershaw and ZT, good on them. As far as speedsafe, I'm not denying that it's hugely popular, never once said it wasn't popular, and in fact it has its uses, such as someone with arthritis, so that it's easier to open, but it's super overused and leaves people that absolutely hate it with no alternative (inside their brand that is). Why would you intentionally cut off that much of the knife market to use such a love/hate gimmick on almost every knife you produce? These are valid questions yet you'd rather attack the person asking them and causing people to look at more than the knife they are interested in.

I only want one of the new zt offerings. But to be honest I'm a bit disappointed that its the same exact knife they have been making but with a different outline. And you only need to mention my name once to Thomas Welk and you would probably see his eyes roll back into his head so far he could tell you what his own frontal lobe looks like. So I'm not a fanboy when I say you were incorrect in much of what you had said. If you don't like speedsafe (neither do I) That is fine. But you should dislike it for the correct reasons. But smoothness? Sorry they have made a lot of a manual knives over the years with no bearings and they kinda defined smooth in the $100 price bracket. As for why would they make the knives with speedsafe and no alternative? Because a company makes what it sells. If you don't like what they make there are plenty of other options. But you might as well ask why Ferrari doesn't make four door sedans. That's because Ferrari doesn't make four door sedans. I don't think anyone attacked you. But when you state things that are clearly opinions forged from incorrect assumptions as fact some are going to notice and call you on it.

 

[majen]

Star Trek called they want their Knives back, and to think I was looking forward to wasting money on some of the new ZT's this year..what a let down :thumbdn:

 

[Wolverine666]

The 0850 ...a non-flipper ...can it be ?

 

[Scurvy092]

ZT/Kershaw/KAI has a habit of ignoring what customers want, instead they go off on wild tangents at times to make new designs and products and gimmicks that they THINK people want (the atrocious speedsafe anyone?), granted some people like what they do, but there are a lot that don't. It got to the point that there were so many customer complaints about issues with their knives and their designs that they removed themselves from these forums, go look at the archives if you don't believe me. I sold off all of my ZT and working on offloading all of my other KAI knives, they are not built as practical, strong, and functional edc knives, no matter what their motto tries to say. Sorry if I'm stepping on toes.

This is probably one of the most asinine and unfounded statements I have ever read on here and that is saying something.

You can throw all the anecdotal evidence you want but what you don't have is SALES DATA. KAI knows what sells and they make what they think sells.

KAI probably sells more Leeks in a year than many smaller knife companies do from their entire lineup.

You don't get to be permanent fixtures in all the big box stores by making stuff no one likes/wants.

KAI left the forum for greener pastures, simple as that. It had literally nothing to do customer complaints. Notice most of the complainers in here aren't 'customers' either.

 

[Screwdriver]

They didn't make any this year. I'm talking about the 2017 line up. So what are you talking about? I'm not complaining about what they made made in the past. And, lets be honest... the 0909 is an inferior knife to the 0300 series and the 0560. The emerson collabs are hard use knives also which 1/2 were discontinued.

How the hell is the 0909 inferior to the 0300 and 0560?

 

[Gideons]

I don't believe the 909 is inferior to the 560. I own both and they both handle everything I throw at them just fine.
Curious to what makes the 909 inferior...?

The overall construction. The knife is heavier than it needs to be. It is almost 2 ounces basically similar size. The ergonomics aren't as good, the 3D machining on the 0560 is amazing. Sharper, more effect jimping on the 0560, just generic G10 vs 3D G10 handle. Liner lock vs frame lock...

The 0909 is a good knife, but in purely my opinion it isn't as good, or as special as the 0560(BW) or 0301 series.

Sorry, if I'm being a little harsh. I was just looking forward to the new knives, maybe a new hinderer collaboration, or Emerson... Heck, if we got something like a new 0909 I would be happy... but, we didn't sadly.

 

[Screwdriver]

The overall construction. The knife is heavier than it needs to be. It is almost 2 ounces basically similar size. The ergonomics aren't as good, the 3D machining on the 0560 is amazing. Sharper, more effect jimping on the 0560, just generic G10 vs 3D G10 handle. Liner lock vs frame lock...

Ahhh....so just your opinion....

 

[Scurvy092]

Sometimes this forum reminds me of people on car forums who complain about the Camry/Accord being boring when they are two best selling cars in the country or complaining about how there aren't enough manual transmission cars when manual tranny shoppers make up less than 10% of the buying public.

Recognize you are in the extreme minority and almost no one in the industry actually cares about your individual thoughts and critiques. This place would be much happier.

People in here complaining thinking they are giving 'constructive feedback' like someone from KAI is lurking here taking down all these comments.

 

[Lapedog]

The 0560cf had much less machined titanium side, I don't think that makes it inferior to the standard models. However I am glad they are milling out weight from the scales again. Apparently they stopped doing that.

 

[Riz!]

With the ZT 0920 you're getting a Les George Harpy with milled titanium, CPM-20CV steel blade and titanium clip for $240! Even with a 3.9" blade it still weighs just 5.4 ounces. Compare that to the similarly sized 0909 at 7.5 ounces! See page 7 of the 2017 ZT Catalog: https://zt.kaiusaltd.com/pdfs/catalogs/ZT_2017.pdf

Les' designs are pretty awesome. I have a VECP and its sweet. Currently the George designed ZTs are the only ones I would consider buying

 

[Scurvy092]

The overall construction. The knife is heavier than it needs to be. It is almost 2 ounces basically similar size. The ergonomics aren't as good, the 3D machining on the 0560 is amazing. Sharper, more effect jimping on the 0560, just generic G10 vs 3D G10 handle. Liner lock vs frame lock...

The 0909 is a good knife, but in purely my opinion it isn't as good, or as special as the 0560(BW) or 0301 series.

Sorry, if I'm being a little harsh. I was just looking forward to the new knives, maybe a new hinderer collaboration, or Emerson... Heck, if we got something like a new 0909 I would be happy... but, we didn't sadly.

The 0909 is also significantly cheaper than the 030x/056x knives.

 

[Gideons]

Ahhh....so just your opinion....

Sure, just ignore what the rest of what I said. Knives are heavily based on personal opinion. If I said everything was purely based on fact I would be lying as everybody has their own preferences.

 

[PURPLEDC]

Why? ZT original fan base weree fans of the hard use and practical knives they made. These knives are not hard use, or very practical looking. The new knives look very gimmicky, needlessly outlandish lines, not very practical and just something collectors will buy but nobody will actually use. Basically, these new knives are the complete opposite to what Zero Tolerance original customers enjoyed and the reason they bought ZT knives? Not very surprising at all about the negativity from this 2017 line up.

You think the 0400 scavenger and 0300 pocket bricks were practical? Even the 0200 was a big knife for a pocket knife. None of them to me seemed practical. Really cool and interesting looking but not very practical. And those were the original knives they made and its original fan base.

The 0850 ...a non-flipper ...can it be ?

And I think its on washers too.

 

[Gideons]

You think the 0400 scavenger and 0300 pocket bricks were practical? Even the 0200 was a big knife for a pocket knife. None of them to me seemed practical. Really cool and interesting looking but not very practical. And those were the original knives they made and its original fan base.

I know many people in the military/police/federal agent who still use and love those knives. It is all about the situations you use the knife in and what you use the knife for.

 

[threefeathers]

The 801 TI for me.

 

[jstn]

I was really looking forward to this year's ZT lineup, but noine of this interests me outside of the Les George model. I am not a fan of recurves, so I suppose no new ZT knives for me this year.

 

[PURPLEDC]

The overall construction. The knife is heavier than it needs to be. It is almost 2 ounces basically similar size. The ergonomics aren't as good, the 3D machining on the 0560 is amazing. Sharper, more effect jimping on the 0560, just generic G10 vs 3D G10 handle. Liner lock vs frame lock...

The 0909 is a good knife, but in purely my opinion it isn't as good, or as special as the 0560(BW) or 0301 series.

Sorry, if I'm being a little harsh. I was just looking forward to the new knives, maybe a new hinderer collaboration, or Emerson... Heck, if we got something like a new 0909 I would be happy... but, we didn't sadly.

Ok but you also mentioned the 0300. And that thing is the heaviest folder they have ever made. Or is weight only an issue when it helps your argument?

 

[shinyedges]

3.25 It's in the catalogue.

https://zt.kaiusaltd.com/knives?newF=746

Here is the link for their new products.

Thanks, bummer it's so short.

 

[Mo2]

I'm going to wait for a 0055 GTC sprint run.

 

[Screwdriver]

Sure, just ignore what the rest of what I said. Knives are heavily based on personal opinion. If I said everything was purely based on fact I would be lying as everybody has their own preferences.

My reply was before you edited and added more. I quoted 100% of your post and did not ignore anything.

Anyhow, it is your option...