Request: ZT 0770cf ElMax vs M390

[Gary W. Graley]

I see that ZT has come out with an M390 version of their popular 0770cf folder and wondered if any of you folks have laid hands on both of them and have them in their collection and provide some insight on the differences if any?

Thanks in advance, I assume that they both appear identical in shape and size, but wondered if they varied in blade grind down to the edge bevel? And of course if you see any enhancement of one over the other.

G2

 

[jmhallrn]

I have both. I haven't reprofiled the m390 yet, but the Elmax is my edc. I'll take a closer look later, but I'm pretty sure they are completely identical sans steel formulation. I do know that my m390 0770cf has a slightly imperfect edge bevel, but it'll sharpen out when I have the patience to sit down with the Edge Pro.

The Elmax one I reprofiled to around 26 degrees and polished the edge to 3000 grit. It holds a hair popping edge for a good while and I've yet to lose a working edge. A few swipes at 30 degrees on the fine Sharp maker stones brings it right back to hair popping.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Zactly what I was looking for, as I had/will have an Elmax one back in my hands again and wondered if I should be thinking to get one of the M390's.
Thanks sir!
G2

 

[Sonnydaze]

I have the one in M390, Gary, and before the MAP increase, they almost gave these away...
It's an excellent folder. I've not carried it, as usual, but I have admired it some. Very nice example.
Grind lines are excellent...

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks sir, yes they are a bit up there in price now aren't they!
G2

 

[BITEME]

I have the Elmax version and used it to cut and process a whole deer hind quarter that I cut into small fajita pieces and it held up super, everybody(non-knifenuts) was expecting it to dull ,and it just kept slicing,I'm thinking the m390 would be at least as good.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Nice! that's good info I think I'll be happy just as I am then, I've a couple other blades in M390 to appease the steel virus for a while before I go gallivanting off getting a duplicate version but with different steel right now.

Appreciate it guys,
G2

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Well my ZT arrived back today, very nice and I think I'll hang on to this one a bit longer before trying any m390 versions.

I added a paracord lanyard, well, just because I am in that lanyard making frame of mind lately, but with the pin to use, it needed to be tight to the knife so the blade isn't able to cut into the cord, so instead of trying to tie a knot close to the knife, I used what's called a whipping tye to keep the paracord in place and snug to the handle, worked well, here's some shots of that with the new lanyard;

Quite handy both knife and lanyard, I also put the torsion bar back in and like that more now than I did initially.

G2

 

[harronek]

Where has it been ?
Did you lend it to someone , or get work done on it ?
Cool idea about that Whipping tie thingy .

Ken

 

[Gary W. Graley]

It was gifted by a friend out west and like a goof, I sent it back thinking I had found a new 'grail' folder but that didn't last long so I emailed a plea to get her back recently and he was kind enough to do so Thanks Raj, greatly appreciated!

And the whipping comes from my Navy days, hidden knot beneath the small black cord so it's nice and tight looking and keeps the para cord in place well.

And yep, it's great to get her back home
G2

 

[Raj]

It was hard keeping her here with me, she missed you wanted to get back to you.
The lanyard with the tye looks very nice. Should have sent mine to you to have that lanyard put on mine too.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks Raj and there's still time, send her out and we'll sharpen her up and dress her up nicely too

G2

 

[rogerxd45]

Well i just got my first ZT, the M390 version and was wondering if anyone had done a side by side comparison of the two and i came across this thread so i figured i would give this thread a bump in hopes someone who has both will see it and do a comparison test for us
and might as well throw in a couple of pics of my new beauty

 

[Sonnydaze]

Gary, you do really nice work...they didn't teach us those knots in the Army.
Well done, sir.
Don

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Hah, Army, my father retired as a Master Sargent from there, told me not to join the Army, so I didn't, I joined the Navy and then he was mad at me.
Two of my three brothers joined the Army, the third took the high road to college, ended up a Night Court Judge for a while and was recruited into a government agency, he was the smarter of us 4...

But that whipping part was learned in the Navy, the Diamond knot I learned on line, in the Navy they do have LOTS of knots, very useful stuff too !
G2

 

[miso2]

I am very interested in this comparison, as the Elmax version is the only option in where I live ATM. If the M390 version is very much superior to the Elmax one, I would wait for the M390 version available in my region......