Newest ZT0770 variant

KAEDC said:
I heard its a bit of a crap shoot, early CF ones supposedly did, but it is missing from more recently produced ones from what I have heard.
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I see. I've only owned 2 aluminum ones and they both had detent holes. I've never handled a CF version.

Maybe someone who owns one can chime in?
 
Twindog said:
Beautiful knife.

Does anyone know the thickness of the blade stock? And the shoulder width of the edge grind? The KSF video says it's a great slicer, but I don't know any ZT knife that's a good slicer. And ZT's trademark bulbous tip makes detail work difficult.

Even though I don't like spring assists and I like blades a little larger, this one is tempting. And the ZT's build quality iooks incredible, as usual.
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I have, actually, just started using this one and it slices well. The blade geometry is the same as the Elmax version. My Elmax has been the very best ZT cutter/slicer I have owned.

I am not a fan of super thick blades/edges (I completely reground my 801). This is a nice blade right out of the box.
 
KSF are good people.Nice Zt exclusive. Thank you Derreck for helping me with my Carter knife around Christmas. Get this one while you can.
 
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ZT 0770CFM4 next to its big brother 0777-M390BLK:

5c796a4e-87ab-45bb-84b1-4aa9eb9c728c_zps5aeae6f8.jpg

07106cc0-80ad-41f9-97d8-6f9cf5974559_zpse6fd123b.jpg
 
If this knife had not been assisted I would have bought it in a heartbeat. I had the m390 one and couldn't get over that. I wish they would release a production one with some sort of frame lock and non assisted. I bet it would sell really well.
 
I just got my ZT 0770CFM4 in the mail today. It is beautiful. I also have the ZT 0770CF in Elmax. I've noted a few differences:

  1. Elmax: The pivot has a machined and polished finish. M4: The pivot has a machined and media blasted finish.
  2. Elmax: The jimping on the thumb ramp is shallow and slightly more rounded edges. M4: The jimping on the thumb ramp is deeper with sharper edges. It is noticeably grippier on my thumb.
  3. Elmax: The area of the flipper that has jimping has a rounded shape and the jimping itself is shallow and smooth. M4: The area of the flipper that has jimping is flat and the jimping is slightly more aggressive. It is noticeably easier for my index finger to grip the flipper.
  4. Elmax: The lock bar is somewhat hidden by the frame making it difficult to push the lock bar over with my thumb. M4: The lock bar is exposed the same on the lock bar side of the frame, but is slightly more exposed on the opposite side of the frame as though the finger groove is a little deeper. This is very slight but does make it slightly easier to unlock the knife. Edit: The difference is minute. It may be within normal variation.
  5. Elmax: The carbon fiber has a smaller weave. M4: The carbon fiber has a larger weave and almost a sub-weave pattern within the main weave pattern. This is well known.
  6. Elmax: The blade is silver. M4: The blade is black. :D

I like all these slight changes very much. I do have an early Elmax serial number 0172, so perhaps later numbers are different..? When new, the flipper on my Elmax 0770CF was difficult to push. The 0770CFM4 opens perfectly out of the box. It is serial number 0550. Blade centering is perfect on both.

Regarding the DLC coating on the 0770CFM4... It came out of the box with a gorgeous semi-gloss finish, but each side of the blade had wet areas about an inch long, sort of wormy shaped, I assume from oil. So I took a cotton T-shirt and very lightly wiped off the oil which smudged. It looked terrible. I then gently wiped a dry area of the blade with the T-shirt and immediately the semi-gloss finish changed to matte. This was unexpected and a little upsetting. In order to get a uniform appearance across the entire blade I washed it gently with my finger tips, soap and water and gently wiped it dry with a cotton T-shirt. So now the entire blade has an even matte finish, except for where the handle meets the blade and I couldn't wipe. I would say the finish looks like the matte finish in the photos of other 0770CFM4 knives I've seen. Is this normal for DLC? Is it supposed to be matte or semi gloss? Should the appearance of the finish have changed by simply wiping the blade? If it's supposed to be matte, why don't they wipe it and ship it that way? I've never owned a DLC blade before...
 
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The dlc coating is supposed to be matte, not glossy...I suspect the blade was wiped with some kind of gun/knife cloth that is impregnated with silicone or oil of some sort....
 
RamZar said:
ZT 0770CFM4 next to its big brother 0777-M390BLK:

5c796a4e-87ab-45bb-84b1-4aa9eb9c728c_zps5aeae6f8.jpg

07106cc0-80ad-41f9-97d8-6f9cf5974559_zpse6fd123b.jpg
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God almighty, that is a gorgeous pair!

So, what are your initial thoughts on the new M4? I always find your observations and critiques well thought out and very informative so I am eager to get your thoughts on this one.
 
vinnier6 said:
The dlc coating is supposed to be matte, not glossy...I suspect the blade was wiped with some kind of gun/knife cloth that is impregnated with silicone or oil of some sort....
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Yes, I believe this is the answer. The blade was wiped with a light oil then boxed at the factory, the semi-gloss portion was were the oil had dried, the wet "wormy" shape along the middle of each side of the blade was where the oil was still wet. Wiping the blade revealed the matte finish beneath the oil. It scared the heck out of me for the finish to change so drastically with a light wipe, but all is good!
 
I have yet to feel and handle a 0770 but from looking at it I wish the Carbon Fiber scales were 3d machined instead of flat. AO is neutral with me although I like smooth non-assisted better. Would have liked to see a cool frame/sub-frame lock like the big brother 0777 even if it wasn't fancy looking.

Wish I had the money for one of these though. It is tempting to be naughty for one though. >_>


neonsteve said:
Yes, I believe this is the answer. The blade was wiped with a light oil then boxed at the factory, the semi-gloss portion was were the oil had dried, the wet "wormy" shape along the middle of each side of the blade was where the oil was still wet. Wiping the blade revealed the matte finish beneath the oil. It scared the heck out of me for the finish to change so drastically with a light wipe, but all is good!
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In my experience, beware of glossy black blades. The finish usually sucks and comes off easily in use. Many people remove the black coating from ColdSteel knives for example.
 
Accelerator said:
Yes, the KVT and make it a manual flipper. That would be an incredible knife!
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a rep for the company told me they sell more assisted knives than kvt by a wide margin. I mentioned that it my have to do witht the fact that at the time the cheapest kvt knife was $260 at retail and that out of there whole lineup only three models even existed with the option so it wasnt a very fair comparison. He stuck to his guns and professed that the demand was in speedsafe despite what i thougt of the developing trend with flippers. I know i would reather have a manual bearing flipper. What i really wish they would do is bring back the assisted on/off funtion of a cyclone and put it in a kvt knife. Or offer a model in both formats to see which is really preferred over the other.
 
PURPLEDC said:
a rep for the company told me they sell more assisted knives than kvt by a wide margin. I mentioned that it my have to do witht the fact that at the time the cheapest kvt knife was $260 at retail and that out of there whole lineup only three models even existed with the option so it wasnt a very fair comparison. He stuck to his guns and professed that the demand was in speedsafe despite what i thougt of the developing trend with flippers. I know i would reather have a manual bearing flipper. What i really wish they would do is bring back the assisted on/off funtion of a cyclone and put it in a kvt knife. Or offer a model in both formats to see which is really preferred over the other.
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I don't want any on off gimmicks...I bet they take into consideration the sales numbers from the kershaw line as well, and probably assume if all the kershaw customers want it the the zt customers want it...and in reality, they are two different customers/demographics
 
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