Reliability of a ZT 0301?

knife2Agunfight · Feb 1, 2012

A production knife that I've always wanted is a ZT 0301, but the problem for me is that they can run into the $280-300 range for me. So I recently saw that KershawGuy has some blems for sale and they are only about $175, which is affordable for me. And since the knife is a blem, you don't get a factory warranty from Kershaw in case anything goes wrong with it. So, I was wondering if any of you guys have run into problems with your ZT 0301, that made you send it back to the factory for repair or a defect? Since I have to go "solo" with this knife and hope that nothing goes wrong with it, or else I'm screwed.

oregonknifenerd · Feb 1, 2012

You're on your own for sharpening it. That's pretty much all that needs to be said. I have a number of blems and dug through the bins at the Kershaw factory sale. I have an 0300 blem from the sale that I've been carrying and the only thing I can find wrong is a tiny spec of something that got stuck down with the DLC coating. In the bins I saw some chives or scallions or leeks with severely bent tips (which I believe Dave has noted on his sale page of the ones he picked up to sell) but other than that it's really difficult to find what the blems are. I have a first quality Benchmade with a totally uneven grind and it's much worse than the dozen or so blem Kershaws I have.

If you don't yet own a ZT I think your biggest worry will be that once you own an 030x you'll want to start buying more and more! Get a blem 0301, then start saving for an 0560

knife2Agunfight · Feb 1, 2012

oregonknifenerd said:
You're on your own for sharpening it. That's pretty much all that needs to be said. I have a number of blems and dug through the bins at the Kershaw factory sale. I have an 0300 blem from the sale that I've been carrying and the only thing I can find wrong is a tiny spec of something that got stuck down with the DLC coating. In the bins I saw some chives or scallions or leeks with severely bent tips (which I believe Dave has noted on his sale page of the ones he picked up to sell) but other than that it's really difficult to find what the blems are. I have a first quality Benchmade with a totally uneven grind and it's much worse than the dozen or so blem Kershaws I have.

If you don't yet own a ZT I think your biggest worry will be that once you own an 030x you'll want to start buying more and more! Get a blem 0301, then start saving for an 0560

:thumbup: Thanks! I don't think I'd ever send a blade to the Mfg. to be resharpened anyways. Seems like a waste of time.

Side note: I've ordered about 5 or 6 knives from KershawGuy, and 2 of them weren't blems??? They didn't have the XXXX on the side, is there another way a knife is identified as a blem?

Bjblade · Feb 1, 2012

I have 2 301's , and never had an issue with either. Pull the trigger.

Maddogg774 · Feb 1, 2012

I have a 0300xxx....it's awesome! No problems or complaints can't even tell where the "blem" is. As far as the 0301s kershawguy is out of them, that's why I bought the 0300, no big deal to me I love it.

mmkjohnson1 · Feb 2, 2012

Dave also has non blem 301's for a good price.

knife2Agunfight · Feb 2, 2012

Maddogg774 said:
I have a 0300xxx....it's awesome! No problems or complaints can't even tell where the "blem" is. As far as the 0301s kershawguy is out of them, that's why I bought the 0300, no big deal to me I love it.

Yeah, I'd buy the 0300, but for $5 more I'd rather have the tiger stripes on the blade. Maybe I'll just wait until some more blems pop up.

mley1 · Feb 13, 2012

I bought a ZT301 blem from Kershawguy, and the only thing I could find on it was a tiny white spot on a white stripe, near the top of the left side of the blade. Other than that it was perfect in every way that I could tell. It is a bit scary not having the warranty. But, the ZT knives are extremely well built. And, I doubt you'll have any problems. The knives are easy to take apart, and maintain. I took mine apart to see how easy it was, and to see what parts were inside. That way I'll know what may be going wrong, if something ever does. And, if something does go wrong I'll be learning knife repair in short order. The ZT line are great knives. And, since Kershawguy gifted me my first ZT, I've gotten the hunger for more of the best knives made, ZT's!