Newbie Bought 2 New ZT's!!!

B

bchboy1206

Joined
Mar 13, 2013
Messages
55
Hi everyone, I have been reading and researching the various knives ZT had to offer and I found KershawGuy's website. I started spending some money and my first purchase was a ZT0350ST and I quickly fell in love with it. It has a beautiful shape and I love the tiger stripping and the flipper. It deploys fast and with so much authority!!! It was quickly my favorite knife keeping in mind my previous favorite was a much less expensive and economical knife.

Well then my next purchase arrived, the dreaded ZT550BLK and I was just kinda like Meh! The looks were OK, not as cool as the 0350 because I like the Ken Onion design blade a bit more. Well I quickly started hating the 0550 as my thumb was being reduced to a painful nub trying to open it and I received three slices to my fingers trying to manipulate the blade. I emailed Dave about sending it back but then I read an post on loosening the screw and the proper way to open it "pretend that the knife is open and push the thumb stud toward tip of blade" well it worked like a champ, smooth as butter. The thumb is still sore but the 0550 is definitely my favorite knife at this time. I love the weight and the thickness of the handle, the blade design has really grown on me.

Now I really need to decide if I should get the ZT561. or will it just end up in a drawer playing second fiddle to the 0550! :confused:

On to the buying experience. Kershaw Guy, Dave Anderson, was really patient with my orders and kept good communication with me. The orders shipped that afternoon and arrived in 2 days by USPS. I bought all blems since I am not really a collector and have never spent over $50 on a knife. I cannot find any problems with them other than maybe some thin DLC coating on the 0350, they line up great, lock up tight and look like first quality.

I am so happy with my fist purchases and love the 0550 BLK so much I just may get one with the stonewashed blade instead of a 0560/0561!

Well thanks for listening to my rambles.

Jim
 
Glad to have you on board! I personally prefer my 0550 to my 0561. I would say get something different and go for the 0560 just to try it. If you don't like it you could easily trade it on here for something else you may want to try! They are similar I just like the length on the 0550 better, it seems about perfect for me. Good luck, and Dave is the man!
 
Don't forget to save $$$ for the new ones. Zt801 if u like the 550. The 560/561 are great knives though
 
Well if you like the design of the 350 better , why don't you step it up to the 300 or 301?
IMG_0821_zps534d06e7.jpg
 
Congrats on figuring out the 0550. Great blade for the price IMO. I love the scales available to make it yours as well......

FWIW, I first bought my 0550. Then I picked up an 0561. The 0561 has been in the safe since day one lol. 0550 just fits my hands better (medium size gloves)

My blue/titanium ZT0550

ec1d5a4847c351b53764fa0eb28edbf9_zpsec74f417.jpg
 
Wow, those are some really awesome looking knives!!! After seeing those pics I am fighting the urge to buy one of each!!! I will probably just start looking for a good deal on a 561 first and go from there! Thanks for the pics and advice everyone!

Jim
 
That's a good start, my 0560 dethroned the 0550 when I got it. I prefer flippers and the kvt makes it the smoothest opening production knife I have ever experienced. Although the 0560 is longer it is not as blocky and rides much more comfortably in my pocket. I still love my 0550 and recommend them to people all the time it just can't replace the 0560 or 0561 in the pocket. So yeah long story short if you like ZT knives and have the money you should get a 056x model.
 
I also prefer the 0550 to the 0560. Its the lightness of the 0560 that throws me off. Don't get me wrong: smooth as hell, ELMAX steel, nice cutting edge, flipper. If those speak to you, then by all means give it a go.

I've found that I don't care for flippers, all the ones I buy seem to be sold later on (although I would buy a manual 0300 if they released one with a ball detent--hint KAI hint).

+1 for ordering from Dave. Excellent CS and shipping is ridiculously fast.
 
Having the 0560, and the 0551 (Elmax version of the 0550), and a 0301, I have a hard time deciding what to carry on any given day. I will admit, the 0560 goes most of the time. I would give the 0560/0561 a try as well as an 03xx to see which you like best. You may end up being like me, and keeping all of them. They are that good, and all very different.
 
I've been eyeballing a 550 for a while. I just wish it had speedsafe!

Still waiting on the 566 but bummed it's smaller.
 
I say go for the 0301, especially if you liked the 0350 so much. The 0301 is a few steps above the 0350 for sure.

dOYEHl.jpg
 
Wow, all this advice is sure making my little herd grow!!! I just got a pretty good deal on a 561 so that will soon put to rest the question of which I would prefer more 550 or 561! Now thanks to BobSig I may have to get a 301 just to round things out and I will probably keep all my knives like Pilot1 did!!! At least these are beautiful knives and there are a lot worse things I could be doing with my money right??? ;)

Just loving these ZTs
Jim
 
The only thing that drops the value of these knives is wear, if you find one isn't for you and it's still like new you can sell any of them and barely take any hit at all in price. Be sure to let us know how you like the 561
 
Every time I see a thread about ZT 300 or 350 I want to buy one. I think this is the tipping point. Guess I'm jumping in.
 
well coming from someone who started with a 400st as their first zt i have managed to put 14 different zts into my safe. as far as what i like the 560/1 is my go to knife and i can say stay away from the 750 and 700 i dont see how they fit in with the rest of the ZT family. i now currently own:
200
300
350
350sw
350zdpckt
350cbzdp
400
400st
550
551
560
561
750
780
 
Wow, I am getting a little concerned here, am I going to have a 14 item long list of fine knives??? Hmmm, I have two now and one on the way and two more I really want after that, Oh no IT HAS BEGUN!!!
 
It is a little scary to be honest and I have 2 on preorder I think i t may be time to start liquadating a few but I get sad when I post a fs thread haha
 
I'm here for ya Asm3686, if you just want your 550 or 551 to go to a new home I would be happy to help, even the 200, 300 or 560 just say the word!
 
My ZT 0561 Has arrived and all I can say is "Nice!!!" This is my third Zero Tolerance knife. I have medium/small hands but this doesn't feel overly large when grasping it however it does feel a little on the thin side since I am used to my 0550 right now. It is a beautiful knife, fit and finish are definitely high quality. The action is very smooth and I am sure when it works in it will be even better! It has not bumped my 0550 of the top of my chart yet but it is pretty close, we will see how it grows on me over the next few days just to give it a fair shake!!!

Thanks for all the advice and support
Jim
 
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