Hello, in advance I would like to let you know that this will be long post about very punctilious details, so not much fun for those not very interested in these knives...
Some time ago, I’ve discovered Hinderer’s Eklipse / ZT 0392 line of knives and actually fall in love with the titanium version so I plan to get some part-time job in the summer (studying ATM) and buy one of these beauties, but as I haven’t found any real review of them I would like to ask you few questions about them. If I understand correctly, 0392 is a collaboration between Zero Tolerance and Rick Hinderer, so the fit and finish should be somewhere between higher-end production and mid-tech, while Eklipse is a real mid-tech, with everything it involves.
The problem is, that where I live, its actually legal to carry any knife, sword, axe, machete, whatever, but it’s really hard to find some dealer that would offer this type of knives, I’ve discovered just one dealer of “high end” knives, 200km from where I live, so trying them myself isn’t easy. Besides of that, I know that all of the knives they sell are over-priced (approximately 580USD for 0392, 750USD for Full-Ti Eklipse), but I wanna be 100% sure what I get, so I don’t want to buy from secondary market and possibly hold them myself before buying. Other fact is, that shipping from US isn’t possible, as ZT doesn’t allow dealers to sell outside the US as long as I know.
I personally tend to 0392, as it’s cheaper, has ball-bearings, has amazing warranty and looks better IMHO, the 0392PURBLKWC is my absolutely favorite version, but I’m worried if the tip isn’t too weak. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to use this knife for tasks that are presented in Cold Steel propagation videos, but I'm not sure how would the Wharncliffe blade withstand for example dropping on the floor or even opening plastic packages, hell I’m even scared of rounding the tip when sharpening… In fact, I will probably buy any version available, but I would like to know few things :
The problem is, that where I live, its actually legal to carry any knife, sword, axe, machete, whatever, but it’s really hard to find some dealer that would offer this type of knives, I’ve discovered just one dealer of “high end” knives, 200km from where I live, so trying them myself isn’t easy. Besides of that, I know that all of the knives they sell are over-priced (approximately 580USD for 0392, 750USD for Full-Ti Eklipse), but I wanna be 100% sure what I get, so I don’t want to buy from secondary market and possibly hold them myself before buying. Other fact is, that shipping from US isn’t possible, as ZT doesn’t allow dealers to sell outside the US as long as I know.
I personally tend to 0392, as it’s cheaper, has ball-bearings, has amazing warranty and looks better IMHO, the 0392PURBLKWC is my absolutely favorite version, but I’m worried if the tip isn’t too weak. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to use this knife for tasks that are presented in Cold Steel propagation videos, but I'm not sure how would the Wharncliffe blade withstand for example dropping on the floor or even opening plastic packages, hell I’m even scared of rounding the tip when sharpening… In fact, I will probably buy any version available, but I would like to know few things :
1. Do you think that another version of 0392 is coming this year ?
2. How easily does the anodized hardware scratches ?
3. Would I be able to disassemble the knife easily ? Or should I go for something like Hinderer Armorer tool ?
4. Is it possible to get / change the frame lock steel-insert ?
5. Would you rather choose Wharncliffe or original 0392 blade shape ?
6. How strong is the tip on the 0392WC compared to, let’s say PM2 ?
7. Is the detent on both knives strong enough to flip open the knife from any position with the right force applied to the flipper ?
8. Is there anything wrong with 0392 I should pay attention for ?
9. Does anyone have some picture of 0392QTR ? It should be one-of-a-kind full Ti knife with pink hardware, made from Unicorn Tears according to the marking on the blade, that was made as a going away present for somebody from ZT team.
Either of these knives will be more of a safe queen than a beater, ideally something in between, I will carry them, but just on a “special” occasions (when I will be comfortable having 2 knives on me, 1 for tip-endangering duties, and one for pure joy of carrying the knife itself) and the colorful pocket clip doesn’t really bother me, as I can carry on my waist clipped to my pants if I ever needed to be discrete. I believe that for example Sebenza is overall better knife for less money, or that 0562CF also offers Hinderer design with the same steel and comparable flipping action, or that S110V PM2 will offer me more exotic steel, but I really like the design of this knife so I don’t want anything else, although I rationally know it may be better in some aspect 
Thank you for reading, any comments will be greatly appreciated !