Torn between two knives

J

JGKC9AYC

Joined
Oct 6, 2013
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59
I guess I’m going to go with an assisted opener as I don’t want the hassle of an OTF.
Right now I’m torn between the ZT 0350 and the SOG Pentagon XR Blackout.
Can anyone who has one or both chime in?
 
I do not own a SOG Pentagon, but I do have a ZT0350. It is a nice knife, although I confess I am no longer a fan of assisted opening knives or automatics.

I've owned lots of ZTs and never had a significant issue with one. I've owned a few SOG folders, and have not been happy with them, so I am pretty much done with them.

I personally would take the ZT0350 any day over the SOG! And if you decide you don't like it, it will be a LOT easier to sell the ZT...

ETA: I personally would not want an AO knife with XR (Axis type) lock. Then you have two extra points of potential spring failure... over most knives which have zero springs.
 
have 2 pentagon xr. minor issues with it. has play when closed....meaning wobbles a bit toward open and closed. lock levers rattles. other than that good knife. dont have that zt.
 
I have one of the first AO knife put out by Kershaw. It was $150 or so when I got it years ago. It developed an issue with the sliding lock mechanism that keeps it locked when closed. I contacted Kershaw about it and they said to send it in and if they couldn’t fix it they’d send a comparable replacement since it had been discontinued. I decided to pass since I didn’t know what they’d replace it with.
 
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So others have talked about the lock issues, so I won't touch on those , but one of the big things about the 0350 is that it's a knife that feels big. Even though it's shorter than the Pentagon XR, it's much wider and an ounce and a half heavier. That combined with the stock clip on the 0350 means that carrying it in the pocket is going to be very noticeable.
 
I've owned plenty of 0350s and a couple of modern SOGs -- though not the Pentagon XR -- and ZT's execution still beats out SOG, even after their quality improvements. I'd take the 0350 for sure. :)

Not sure if it's a factor where you live, but the double-edged portion of the XR might raise legality issues.
 
The ZT 0350 all the way for me. I'm sure they are different but I will never buy another SOG folder ever again. I had two trident assisted folder explode and disintegrate in my hands. They failed so bad causing injury.

The 0350 is one of two assisted knives I own and is by far the best. Carry it every day without fail or fear of failure.
 
If I had to choose, I'd pick the ZT. If I didn't, I wouldn't.

The real question is "why assisted"? I ask because I feel that assisted actions used to serve a purpose that is now unnecessary. Back in the day, great manual actions were much rarer and much more expensive. Ball bearings of any kind used to be exceptionally rare, unlike today when tons of inexpensive knives come standard with caged bearings.

Now that great manual actions have become so common and affordable, I have simply stopped being interested in assisted action. Now whenever I carry the one assisted knife that has managed to persist in my EDC rotation, I find myself feeling disappointed. Unlike breaking from a crisp detent, I notice that little bit of slop before the Speedsafe mechanism engages. The extra force required to close it stands out even more.
 
Blackfish775 said:
So others have talked about the lock issues, so I won't touch on those , but one of the big things about the 0350 is that it's a knife that feels big. Even though it's shorter than the Pentagon XR, it's much wider and an ounce and a half heavier. That combined with the stock clip on the 0350 means that carrying it in the pocket is going to be very noticeable.
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I’m not a real fan of dinky knives/blades.
Dadpool said:
I've owned plenty of 0350s and a couple of modern SOGs -- though not the Pentagon XR -- and ZT's execution still beats out SOG, even after their quality improvements. I'd take the 0350 for sure. :)

Not sure if it's a factor where you live, but the double-edged portion of the XR might raise legality issues.
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Well, Illinois repealed the switchblade/automatic knife in 2017. I haven’t found out anything about DE knives.
mmyron1 said:
The ZT 0350 all the way for me. I'm sure they are different but I will never buy another SOG folder ever again. I had two trident assisted folder explode and disintegrate in my hands. They failed so bad causing injury.

The 0350 is one of two assisted knives I own and is by far the best. Carry it every day without fail or fear of failure.
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What is the other?
Chronovore said:
If I had to choose, I'd pick the ZT. If I didn't, I wouldn't.

The real question is "why assisted"? I ask because I feel that assisted actions used to serve a purpose that is now unnecessary. Back in the day, great manual actions were much rarer and much more expensive. Ball bearings of any kind used to be exceptionally rare, unlike today when tons of inexpensive knives come standard with caged bearings.

Now that great manual actions have become so common and affordable, I have simply stopped being interested in assisted action. Now whenever I carry the one assisted knife that has managed to persist in my EDC rotation, I find myself feeling disappointed. Unlike breaking from a crisp detent, I notice that little bit of slop before the Speedsafe mechanism engages. The extra force required to close it stands out even more.
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Do you have examples?
 
JGKC9AYC said:
Well, Illinois repealed the switchblade/automatic knife in 2017.
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In that case, have you considered side-opening autos? (They're illegal in Washington, or I'd likely own them in place of my assisted knives.)
 
Bob Denman said:
Why limit yourself?
Buy both! 👍
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iu
 
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