I agree with Sanjuro 82, get a ZT0200 to go along with the 301. While not quite as heavy duty as the 301, it is still heavy duty in its own right with the thick (.075") hardened steel liners and the sculpted G-10 handles. I bought both the 301 and 200 at the same time but, for me, it was no contest as I still have the 0200, and have sold the 0301. It's what worked for me.
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Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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Something comparable to Kershaw ZT301 folder
- Thread starter gylman
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razorburn
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I typed in Benchmade 630 on ebay,came back with only one search result ,a 630 offered by Wholesale Knives and Swords.I saw that they have other brands in their ebay store,although stock is limited,their prices are reasonable.I have not dealt with them before,they seem to be the place to go in Canada to get Benchmade products. Their in caledon, Ontario not Quebec like I stated.
It's funny if you type Benchmade Skirmish in the search engine ,you come up with alot of other results.
cgi.ebay.ca/BENCHMADE-630-SATIN-BLADE-KNIFE-TITANIUM-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ330173473765QQihZ014QQcategoryZ42576QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
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ok, the extra sub-inch of OAL and weight/balance differences made a huge impact in chopping capabilities, in the rc's favor. next, the pivot/prying...well let's just say i'd take the strider. fit/finish, another for strider. last but certainly not least, one i can break by means of abuse and have replaced, the other i cannot. the only 2 things going for the ZT are speed of opening and price. depends on needs though, but for me it was an easy call.
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Ok, calling out on these statements, Because theres some points to make here.
1, Chopping with a folder? A 9.25oz folder with a -4in. blade? Let alone a 600.
dollar one.2, Ok if you say so, but I'm not worried about a pivot breaking on a leek, let alone anything else, I'd be much more worried about the lock releasing from the torque,
and 3, You so sure about that?! I'd put Kershaws warranty up against Striders any day. And yes, I'm talking from 1st hand experience. Especially when Thomas is concerned.
Thomas W
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tt, you've never handled a ZT have you?
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yes, i owned a 302 and stand by all my statements. and yes, the rc is the best folding knife for chopping purposes i have ever tried/come across. and if you don't use a $600 knife as hard as you can, why'd you spend that much on a knife? to admire it? not me anyway. and if kershaw will warranty the knife after "abuse" they are going against the specific policy on ZT's (I pry as much as I cut, and yes, it's the wrong tool, but the only one on me, and some of them are indeed the right tool for prying). I'm gone from this thread. I need to go to bed so i can wake up for work, where i will use a $1000 knife as though i hate the thing. but i don't. peace.
ps: still awake long enough for an afterthought. The zt 300 series are GREAT knives. great knives. and a bargain for what they offer. but the question was what's next from someone who likes the 300 as much as most people do. from what i've read and coincidally exactly how i feel, the 300 is the "poor man's RC". Couldnt agree more. And yes, owned both and tried out both for my daily routine, which lol, would destroy a leek in no time (to be more specific, hinder me from getting things done because of the inevetable results). Point is this. almost everything the 300 does, the rc does a little better. but it's twice as much. but i exactly asnwered the question of "what's next?"
ps: still awake long enough for an afterthought. The zt 300 series are GREAT knives. great knives. and a bargain for what they offer. but the question was what's next from someone who likes the 300 as much as most people do. from what i've read and coincidally exactly how i feel, the 300 is the "poor man's RC". Couldnt agree more. And yes, owned both and tried out both for my daily routine, which lol, would destroy a leek in no time (to be more specific, hinder me from getting things done because of the inevetable results). Point is this. almost everything the 300 does, the rc does a little better. but it's twice as much. but i exactly asnwered the question of "what's next?"
OilMan
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Are you joking? I've never had any f/f problems with any of the Kershaws I've owned and roughly 75% of my Striders went back to the shop when brand new for lock adjustments and whatnot. And I've had a lot of Striders. Mick himself said my brand new RC looked like it was drug behind a car. I agreed with him and haven't bought a Strider since. Striders are good knives that are made to beat on but you can't realistically compare them to Kershaws as far as F/F IMHO.
oil
Thomas W
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tt, hope my question wasn't taken the wrong way. I apologize if it did.
Obviously, Kai USA and Strider have a very solid relationship, and we have a ton of respect for sharp poiny creations. I appreciate your real world comments on both the RC and 302 and believe they will both hold up under extreme like conditions.
It's also refreshing to hear that you push your blades, even using them when maybe you shouldn't. There is more of that going on than we sometimes remember, and knives like these are built for folks like you.
Anyway, just wanted to clarify my staement.
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I'm seriously considering all four of these knives as my next folder, just swap the SnG for a PT. I already own a large Sebenza and love it, so nothing needs to be said about those. That's my safe choice if I can't commit to any of the others.
I handled the PT and really like the size, feel and warranty. That's the one I'm pretty much set on.
Don't like the colors and stripes on the ZT, but still intend to get one eventually. I am familiar and impressed by the quality and function of Kershaw's products, however, so I don't really have any questions.
The big question mark is the CQC 12. How do you feel the quality compares to the others? Lock up, fit and finish, action? What about the ball detent? Does it hold the blade closed with authority? Is their warranty good? I really like the design, but know little about Emerson brand knives. After owning a Sebenza and handling many other very nice knives, will it let me down?
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I think the CQC12 and the HD7 are Emerson's best offerings to the public.
The 12 is a super knife and the grip and blade are on par with anything else being made. I don't particularly care for the one side edge grind and prefer the more common double side v edge on traditional folders but otherwise its a fine choice. The Wave feature is nice if you like that, and the overall quality is not really bad. Ernie is kind of like Strider in a lot of ways in that they don't spend a lot of time beveling edges or breaking in folders making them as silky smooth as they will be once used some but once broken in they will be a great user with all the smoothness of the Kershaw ZT knives and regular line and Sebenzas by Reeves right out of the box.
On ball detent. All these knives would be able to be flicked open. The ball will catch but not so much that it will retain the blade stead fast. The lock up on many Emerson knives can be sticky at times. My new HD 7 was silky smooth and worked great for the first few days but with the lock working its way in more now its starting to stick to where I have to apply some lead/graphite to the contact to keep it from hurting my thumb to release the lock. I've seen this a lot. It has more to do with angle or pitch of the contact interface the lock slides on with EKI knives than anything else I think. It usually works in.
You'll love the CQC12 grip and size. The good thing about it if you don't is that you'd sell it right away if you didn't really go for it. They are pretty well liked by a lot of folks and for what its worth. Ernie himself says its his favorite knife and he is often times seen with one in his own pocket.
STR
The 12 is a super knife and the grip and blade are on par with anything else being made. I don't particularly care for the one side edge grind and prefer the more common double side v edge on traditional folders but otherwise its a fine choice. The Wave feature is nice if you like that, and the overall quality is not really bad. Ernie is kind of like Strider in a lot of ways in that they don't spend a lot of time beveling edges or breaking in folders making them as silky smooth as they will be once used some but once broken in they will be a great user with all the smoothness of the Kershaw ZT knives and regular line and Sebenzas by Reeves right out of the box.
On ball detent. All these knives would be able to be flicked open. The ball will catch but not so much that it will retain the blade stead fast. The lock up on many Emerson knives can be sticky at times. My new HD 7 was silky smooth and worked great for the first few days but with the lock working its way in more now its starting to stick to where I have to apply some lead/graphite to the contact to keep it from hurting my thumb to release the lock. I've seen this a lot. It has more to do with angle or pitch of the contact interface the lock slides on with EKI knives than anything else I think. It usually works in.
You'll love the CQC12 grip and size. The good thing about it if you don't is that you'd sell it right away if you didn't really go for it. They are pretty well liked by a lot of folks and for what its worth. Ernie himself says its his favorite knife and he is often times seen with one in his own pocket.
STR
Thomas W
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Thanks for all the info, STR. I appreciate it. Sounds like I may want to find one to try out first. I wasn't aware of them being chisel ground. I thought only the tantos were. I wish I could find a dealer around here with them. Very helpful info.
Is that the one from the Usual Suspect forums? I really like those, but, as I understand, they are much more difficult to come by. Are there plans for a regular release in this configuration? Ideally, I'd love to see an awesome user finish like stonewash to go along with the black G-10.Not all are colored and flame broiled.
I borrowed this image btw.
I don't know if the Strider RC or SMF is any better than the ZT line from kershaw. On the German Bladeforums there were a view guys who sold off their Strider SMF and RC because The ZT 301/302 performed much better. here is the thread, it is in German but that doesn't matter: http://www.messerforum.net/showthread.php?t=42325
I think that says something.
I think that says something.
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Thomas W
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Thomas,
Someone mentioned the warranty above speaking about abuse. I thought I read somewhere that either normal use or abuse, there was non-transferable or otherwise non-standard kershaw warranty on the ZT line of knives due to their distribution channel.
Do the ZT line of knives carry the same warranty as outlined here?
http://www.kershawknives.com/warranty.php if not, what is the specific warranty for the ZT series?
I've see you take care of some crazy things that I wouldn't figure warranty would cover normally so I'm sure you'd take care of someone. I'm just curious about the official warranty for the ZT series for someone who doesn't know how to get a hold of you... Thanks!
Someone mentioned the warranty above speaking about abuse. I thought I read somewhere that either normal use or abuse, there was non-transferable or otherwise non-standard kershaw warranty on the ZT line of knives due to their distribution channel.
Do the ZT line of knives carry the same warranty as outlined here?
http://www.kershawknives.com/warranty.php if not, what is the specific warranty for the ZT series?
I've see you take care of some crazy things that I wouldn't figure warranty would cover normally so I'm sure you'd take care of someone. I'm just curious about the official warranty for the ZT series for someone who doesn't know how to get a hold of you... Thanks!
Some weeks ago I asked for recommendations for a knife to follow my ZT 301. Following these recommendations, I have been able to get or be gifted with 
, the Benchmade 630 Skirmish, the large Sebenza, and an Emerson Super Commander.
All great knives.
None are as much of a joy to hold as the ZT 301.
In order, I like the Benchmade first, the Emerson second, and the Sebenza third.
I have also obtained the Kershaw MUDD and Tyrade. The MUDD is a great knife. I wasn't even planning to get this knife originally, but I love it! It's the least expensive of the bunch, but takes a back seat to none. For the money, I would take it over all the others (except the ZT 301)
Again, all are great knives.
, the Benchmade 630 Skirmish, the large Sebenza, and an Emerson Super Commander. All great knives.
None are as much of a joy to hold as the ZT 301.
In order, I like the Benchmade first, the Emerson second, and the Sebenza third.
I have also obtained the Kershaw MUDD and Tyrade. The MUDD is a great knife. I wasn't even planning to get this knife originally, but I love it! It's the least expensive of the bunch, but takes a back seat to none. For the money, I would take it over all the others (except the ZT 301)
Again, all are great knives.
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Another sleeper that hasn't been mentioned is the Blade-Tech Rijbak. It's quite the beast master in S30V and titanium liners. Everything I've heard about them so far easily puts them in the same class as those already posted.
Give it a look see.
NJ
Give it a look see.
NJ