Surprise ZT 0804CF goodness!!!

[stabman]

Yesterday I was woken up by a telephone call...it was someone calling from the downstairs buzzer.
"UPS...I have a delivery for you."

"What the hell?" I was thinking. "I didn't buy anything."
But whatever, buzz him in.

Sign for the package, and open it up...and this is inside!

A ZT 0804CF folder. :thumbup:

It was a total surprise, as I had not bought it or had any e-mail notification beforehand.
I had sent Thomas a copy of each of my books a couple months back though...guess he must have liked them.

So, although my back felt like total crap, I knew what I had to do.
I needed to get outside, so I took a muscle relaxer, and looked outside...and saw a massive rainstorm.
But that wasn't going to stop me, so I headed out with an umbrella, and Twilight of the Thunder God by Amon Amarth blaring in the headphones (seemed an appropriate choice.

[video=youtube;edBYB1VCV0k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edBYB1VCV0k[/video]

On the bus, I took a few pics with the knife closed:

And then at the Tim Horton's...need coffee!

While waiting for the next bus, I realized the date stamp had been set to off, so I rectified that.
Apparently Thor was appeased by the music selection, because the storm abated as I reached the great outdoors.
It was still damn wet though:

The obligatory "knife in stump" pics:

Another shot of the wet yet green area:

A huge fallen Cottonwood tree (I think) was there, so I walked up the side of it, to get another nice pic. Cut at the bark a bit and then took the pic. The shot doesn't show how high up in the air I'm standing, unfortunately:

These thick, fast-growing grasses make for a great cutting test. A certain bushcraft knife I have as well as a folder with too obtuse an edge angel failed to cut them in the past...just bashed at them and they bent to the side. This knife cuts them with great ease:

It makes a nice notch, such as those used in traps. It was dead wood I found while walking, so don't whine at me about it.

And yes, it can make pointy sticks with ease as well:

It will also make you stronger; you'll be able to use the 105 pound dumbells for one-arm rows at the gym.

It also push (or pull) cuts paracord with great ease at all points along the edge:

And here it is for a size comparison with a Spyderco Military:

So far I really, really like it.
As it gets used more in the future, I will have more opinions (and pictures) to provide, but my initial impressions are highly favourable.

The carbon fiber looks awesome.
The blade is not too thick behind the edge.
It flips like a dream.
The pocket-clip is quite tight, but it sure won't fall out of your pocket! :thumbup:

 

[Morrow]

Thomas is a good guy. Really nice knife. I usually don't like coated blades but it just seems to work in this case. Enjoy it!

 

[stabman]

Thomas is a good guy. Really nice knife. I usually don't like coated blades but it just seems to work in this case. Enjoy it!

I certainly will enjoy it (already am! ).
I tend to prefer uncoated blades too, especially on folders, but everything seems to match on this one.

 

[wensynch]

Very nice. I like it a lot; it's actually the first ZT I like enough to consider picking up.

So I went to Amazon to check it out. Wow $280. Be sure to give us a review once you get a feel. It's really nice looking with a solid design. Not too ZT flashly.

 

[mjpgolf1]

Very nice. I like it a lot; it's actually the first ZT I like enough to consider picking up.

So I went to Amazon to check it out. Wow $280. Be sure to give us a review once you get a feel. It's really nice looking with a solid design. Not too ZT flashly.

Nothing against OPs new knife. It's really fantastic looking and I'm sure it will serve him well. However ZTs prices are absurd compared to their competition. I'm sorry but there is no way on Gods green earth that this knife is worth $300. It's just another overpriced KAI product. Please don't take it as an insult OP. Your knife is beautiful. I just have always had a problem with ZT and their prices.

 

[stabman]

However ZTs prices are absurd compared to their competition.

If you compare to other makers based on using the same materials, it's rather comparable.
This doesn't have a G-10/CF laminate, it's a solid slab of carbon fiber.

ZT also has cheaper offerings that once again are in line with competitors offering the same class of knife.

There certainly are quality knives at cheaper prices, but they aren't using CTS 204P steel, thick carbon fiber and all the rest.

 

[Comeuppance]

I'm just here to chime in and compliment the music choice. Also a good option: Live For The Kill
(I alternate between Savant, Rammstein, and Amon Amarth for my workout music.)
I don't know why melodic death metal isn't more of a thing, but it should be!

 

[folder geek]

Nothing against OPs new knife. It's really fantastic looking and I'm sure it will serve him well. However ZTs prices are absurd compared to their competition. I'm sorry but there is no way on Gods green earth that this knife is worth $300. It's just another overpriced KAI product. Please don't take it as an insult OP. Your knife is beautiful. I just have always had a problem with ZT and their prices.

Guy gets a fee knife from a great company(imo) and you just gotta go rain on his parade. Boo to you and wensynch:thumbdn: Show some courtesy.
If you hate ZT pricing that is fine but start your own rant in your own thread and let us enjoy the generosity and appreciation of others.

With that out of the way great gesture by TW:thumbup:
This is one of my favorite knives in my rotation right now. Really like the action shots.
Congrats on a terrific knife from a terrific company!
Cheers

 

[stabman]

I'm just here to chime in and compliment the music choice. Also a good option: Live For The Kill
(I alternate between Savant, Rammstein, and Amon Amarth for my workout music.)
I don't know why melodic death metal isn't more of a thing, but it should be!

It still is.
I saw Amon Amarth in concert in Toronto on April 30th.
Sold out show, and the mosh pit was insane...at least 200 people in it, perhaps 300.
During The Way of Vikings, they even had 2 guys in full chainmail and helmets battle it out with blunted steel swords and shields across the stage...there were chips of wood flying off the shields.

Their set lasted for a bit over an hour and a half, and would have went longer, but the concert hall folks told them they had to wrap it up.

 

[bflying]

That was very generous. Wow I love the look of that model. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

 

[stabman]

That was very generous. Wow I love the look of that model. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

It was insanely generous.

One thing I'm noticing is comfort in the hand, even when doing hard pushing cuts.
The insides of the scales are rounded, so you don't get the hotspots that some folders give when doing that.

The spine of the blade is comfortable too, whether using the thumb on the spine, or using your other thumb to assist when carving.
No 90 degree corners here, which is the way I like it. :thumbup:
First thing I do with a sharp blade spine is to dull it down; with this one, I won't have to.

 

[mjpgolf1]

If you compare to other makers based on using the same materials, it's rather comparable.
This doesn't have a G-10/CF laminate, it's a solid slab of carbon fiber.

ZT also has cheaper offerings that once again are in line with competitors offering the same class of knife.

There certainly are quality knives at cheaper prices, but they aren't using CTS 204P steel, thick carbon fiber and all the rest.

I hear ya, and once again I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers here. I just have never picked up a ZT and said "this is a great knife at a great price". I have benchmades and Spydercos that have high end steels and great build quality and I have yet to pay over $200 for one. I actually hate that I feel that way too because ZT has a few designs that are very attractive, especially the knife listed here. It's absolutely gorgeous.

 

[mjpgolf1]

Guy gets a fee knife from a great company(imo) and you just gotta go rain on his parade. Boo to you and wensynch:thumbdn: Show some courtesy.
If you hate ZT pricing that is fine but start your own rant in your own thread and let us enjoy the generosity and appreciation of others.

With that out of the way great gesture by TW:thumbup:
This is one of my favorite knives in my rotation right now. Really like the action shots.
Congrats on a terrific knife from a terrific company!
Cheers

If you read my contribution to this public thread where opinions are welcome you will see that I complimented the knife and said it was beautiful. Someone brought up the price and I chimed in with my thoughts. Sorry for having an opinion on a forum where opinions are supposedly asked for.

 

[stabman]

I hear ya, and once again I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers here. I just have never picked up a ZT and said "this is a great knife at a great price". I have benchmades and Spydercos that have high end steels and great build quality and I have yet to pay over $200 for one. I actually hate that I feel that way too because ZT has a few designs that are very attractive, especially the knife listed here. It's absolutely gorgeous.

No worries.
Those are solid companies too...but they also have some very expensive knives out there in addition to the cheaper ones.

ZT has some for under $200, and some right at $200, and that's the prices on their site.
With shopping around, you can find better prices.

 

[mjpgolf1]

No worries.
Those are solid companies too...but they also have some very expensive knives out there in addition to the cheaper ones.

ZT has some for under $200, and some right at $200, and that's the prices on their site.
With shopping around, you can find better prices.

Maybe in the future my opinion will change. In the meantime enjoy that beautiful new knife my friend.

 

[stabman]

Maybe in the future my opinion will change. In the meantime enjoy that beautiful new knife my friend.

I certainly shall.

 

[flarp]

That's awesome... both the knife and the generosity from Thomas. I've got my 0804CF with me today as well. I really wasn't sure what to expect when I got this one. It is larger than what I generally prefer for EDC, but the more I looked at it, the more I was drawn to it. Specs alone make it look rather large, but in hand (and pocket), it's surprisingly sleek. I'm really liking this one so far.

 

[sharp_edge]

mjpgolf1 - appreciate your opinion but not sure if I agree with you. Pick some offerrings with same/similar materials used from either BM or Spyderco that show lower prices. As Stab said, there ZTs of or lower than $200 that are in very good quality.

Stabman - thx for sharing these great pics as well as the story. Sure it is a stunning production folder that makes me drooling.

 

[stabman]

Stabman - thx for sharing these great pics as well as the story. Sure it is a stunning production folder that makes me drooling.

Definitely drool-worthy.

But of course, some folks will wonder if it's tough enough for their hard-core lifestyle.
Well, I'll let the picture do the talking:

That muffin never stood a chance.

 

[wensynch]

Heyyy, I said I liked it a lot. I still also say wow $280.

It looks even better in a better, closer. Looks sick. That is a nicely shaped, solid chunk of carbon fiber. I can see where a lot of the price goes in that piece alone. Probably why it's so expensive. Haha. Still nice!