- Joined
- Jun 8, 2005
- Messages
- 4,761
I know I SEEM extra whiny, but serious, I've had like several mildly to really flawed knives in a row. But not today. I'm happy to report both my ZT0200KW and CRKT Blue Ripple came at least 99% perfect.
The Ripple has the smoothest action of any affordable production folder. Even though it has no blade play, the blade swings almost like a pendulum just with gravity. It's so smooth that you have to modify your framelock closing technique a little because if you don't let the flipper hit your thumb it would probably just fly shut on you. The flipper action is sort of like the RAM in that, if you pull the flipper, the blade opens, no matter how little power you put into it.
Basically, if you want a gentleman's Kershaw RAM, this (or perhaps the Eros) is it. Beautiful, gorgeous knife. It's the most "custom" looking and feeling knife under $100 I can think of.
And I just got my 0200KW today too. I now have owned every folder ZT launched with. This knife also has perfect fit and finish, probably slightly better than the CRKT and is approaching flawless. It's also has the best lockup and solidity of any liner/framelock I've ever used, INCLUDING the more expensive 0300. In fact, it's the only production folder I've ever used who's blade play was as minimal as the MUDD. The lockup is perfect for a linerlock--100% interface at the VERY beginning of the tang, not 1/10th of a mm too far in either direction. The action is crazy smooth, and I'm using it right after using an IKBS folder. The action is fantastic. The flipper easily launches the blade even without a wrist flick.
Now, I know the Ripple is sticking with me for the long term. The 0200 is a truly great knife too, but we'll have to see if it grows on me more. I wasn't really that impressed with the 0300 at first, but after a couple weeks I "got it," so we'll see how it goes.
The Ripple has the smoothest action of any affordable production folder. Even though it has no blade play, the blade swings almost like a pendulum just with gravity. It's so smooth that you have to modify your framelock closing technique a little because if you don't let the flipper hit your thumb it would probably just fly shut on you. The flipper action is sort of like the RAM in that, if you pull the flipper, the blade opens, no matter how little power you put into it.
Basically, if you want a gentleman's Kershaw RAM, this (or perhaps the Eros) is it. Beautiful, gorgeous knife. It's the most "custom" looking and feeling knife under $100 I can think of.
And I just got my 0200KW today too. I now have owned every folder ZT launched with. This knife also has perfect fit and finish, probably slightly better than the CRKT and is approaching flawless. It's also has the best lockup and solidity of any liner/framelock I've ever used, INCLUDING the more expensive 0300. In fact, it's the only production folder I've ever used who's blade play was as minimal as the MUDD. The lockup is perfect for a linerlock--100% interface at the VERY beginning of the tang, not 1/10th of a mm too far in either direction. The action is crazy smooth, and I'm using it right after using an IKBS folder. The action is fantastic. The flipper easily launches the blade even without a wrist flick.
Now, I know the Ripple is sticking with me for the long term. The 0200 is a truly great knife too, but we'll have to see if it grows on me more. I wasn't really that impressed with the 0300 at first, but after a couple weeks I "got it," so we'll see how it goes.