Want hinderer owners opinions of zt collabs.

SVTFreak

SVTFreak

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How good are the zt/hinderer collaborations? How will they stand up to real, hard use? I'm considering selling my xm and replacing with a zt to free up funds for other projects.
Which zt will be closest replacement to the xm 3.5"?
 
Looks like the 562 is the closest to an XM to me. But once you sell your XM you'll regret it so... Not that I know, but I read posts about it all the time :)

Nothing is an XM unless it's an XM!!! ;)
 
Kwazy is 100% right. While I was on my quest for my first XM I carried a 560cbcf, and it really is a very good knife. It, however, didn't feel anything like my XM. I would certainly encourage people to give the 560 series a try if they are interested in them. They look like XM's, pretty much any decent knife will cut effectively if you put a good enough edge on it, and ZT makes an excellent quality product, but they aren't in the same league in terms of fit, finish, feel.
 
Well, I admit that I like it, but it didn't make me gasp and fall in love. I find myself carrying it because it's a good knife, not because I love it (like my Lloyd and Davison slippies)
 
Are you saying you like rather than love your XM or the 560? If you don't love your XM there may be better options for you out there- it's about personal needs and preferences and XM's are too expensive to not love given the other options out there. I think most folks here (including me) love their XM's and that's why we stay with them. If you meant you didn't love the 560, there are all sorts of other things in that range and quality out there. I don't really think it's fair to expect the 560 to be an XM, but it's still a good knife.

I've never owned a 550 but they have about as good of reviews as you'll see. I've handled a few and they seem quite good, but I love my flippers.
 
I have owned 2 0550's and a 0561. They really are good. That being said, my desire for perfection kept me wanting to get an xm. I have done what you are thinking about doing. I got rid of my first xm and just ended up with another down the road. I have no desire for any of the ZTs now. They just don't compare the the XM.
 
Can't make you love the XM. But who knows maybe on your search you'll find the love for the XM. Or a new love...

Haha! Anyways... That's the knife world
 
I've had a 550, 560 and now own a 566. I own an Xm 18 3.5 spanto and Slicer. The Zt's don't compare but are good substitutes if you can't have the real deal. I just got my 566 so I can carry it to the gym and not worry about it sitting in my jacket pocket like I would if my XM were. You will miss your XM if I had to bet.
 
The collaborations, while Hinderer designed are not Hinderer in feel or detail. Steel liners on the ZTs bug me a bit...really how difficult would it have been to match the liner to the handle material.

Other stuff, like the hardware isn't of the same quality. Plus, some like bearings, but I'm fine w/ simplicity...reliable simplicity.

Are ZTs ready to be thumped? Sure, no worries, enjoy. Are they say... XM eqivillants? Not for me...as every time I put a ZT in my pocket/hand/to task...I find myself wishing I hadn't left my XM elsewhere.
 
I had an 0550 for a couple years before I got my XM18. I've carried the XM every day since I got it and the 0550 got sold off. IMO the ZT/H collaborations are great knives, but they're not up to the quality that you get from RHK.
 
in my opinion the zts are way different. they feel different and do not flip the same. to me they are completely different knives that happen to look similar. Just my 2 cents i guess. id go to a store and hold one first and see if you like it.
 
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Don't do it!!
Not to bad mouth ZT because that wouldn't be fair... BUT, I have had the lock fail repeatedly on a 0550 which was purchased in December 2013. Two other acquaintances have lock failure on their 0561 models. Obviously I cannot say if there was abuse to these knives or not, but they both look virtually new. Yes, I probably have a dud which doesn't imply that the ZT range overall is not of very high quality. Their knives are well built with attention to detail and when the lock works, probably exceptionally tough. (Should you go this route, maybe just check out the lock first...?)
However, I don't believe that the ZT knives are in the same league as an actual Hinderer.
 
I have to agree with what others have said. Many years ago I used to drive a Suzuki motorcycle and people would ask me is that a Harley, I would say "not exactly". When I drove my Suzuki it got me around just find, but I always thought I was missing out on something. Once I purchased my American made Harley Davidson I knew that I was in fact missing out. The build quality and pride of ownership gave me a very special feeling. I own the ZT 0550/0551' 0561/0561, 0200, and now the 0566 models. To me the 0566 has the closest feel to an XM 18 although it is assisted opening, which I like by the way. If you just want a knife, there is nothing wrong with owning a ZT collaboration with Rick Hinderer, but if owning a higher quality knife and enjoy pride of ownership, well it's the XM.
 
Thanks for the opinions, everyone.

I admit, I've had a bit of buyers remorse since getting the xm (it's not the price, as I have bought expensive blades). It just never grew on my heart. And, being perfectly honest with myself, I don't need a heavy duty blade. Everything I need can be done with my medium stockman case, if needed.

I like the xm, I just don't love it. Thinking to replace it with something cheaper to keep the cash, but honestly, I don't need anything cheaper. Maybe I should get another Davison if I sell her lol

Wish someone around here sold better knives.

Thanks everyone. Got some thinking to do.
 
Great read guys. I'm planning on getting an XM-18 in the near future. Maybe in the lottery at Blade this year. That was going to be my next purchase but that 0562cf was too cool to pass on the pre sale. I've had ZT's in the past and while they were high quality they didn't do it for me. I think this 0562 is more up my alley.
 
My first taste to Hinderer was a ZT 560 and loved it. So I decided to check out the name on the blade (Hinderer). Well, got my first xm and now I have 3. But like others have said the quality of the ZT is exceptional for a production knife but doesn't hold a candle to the xm's. Sell your first born instead;)
 
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Good specific comments.

Need2Know said:
The collaborations, while Hinderer designed are not Hinderer in feel or detail. Steel liners on the ZTs bug me a bit...really how difficult would it have been to match the liner to the handle material.

Other stuff, like the hardware isn't of the same quality. Plus, some like bearings, but I'm fine w/ simplicity...reliable simplicity.

Are ZTs ready to be thumped? Sure, no worries, enjoy. Are they say... XM eqivillants? Not for me...as every time I put a ZT in my pocket/hand/to task...I find myself wishing I hadn't left my XM elsewhere.
Click to expand...
 
Speaking from very personal experience, you will most likely regret selling it. My experience was this: bought an XM-18 Spanto, liked it ok, but couldn't "love" it. I ended up trading it off to a fellow BF member who had his money get tight and had to move his XM-24. He was able to trade into my XM-18 and have another Hinderer, so I was really happy that we made the deal together. I moved a knife I didn't love, he got into a knife he would use and love. I messed around with other knives, but the "feel" of the XM was never there. The fit and finish, the precision, they were not present in other "factory" knives. I ultimately got back into an XM, and have carried one most every day since. I may have two knive on me, but one is my XM.

This is only my opinion, and YMMV, but you asked. I believe you will miss the whole experience of ownership by going to a ZT.
 
I've owned 2 XMs and don't regret either buying or selling them. Glad I got to try them, but knew they weren't for me. Nobody is likely to scratch the itch for a Hinderer(or Strider, CRK, etc,...) unless they buy the "real thing".

If what you want is a knife to fill the "hard-use" gap, there are plenty of knives out there( ZT offering a pile of them) that can do that for a far better price and come very close to the level of F&F you get from a Hinderer(or Strider, CRK, etc,...).
 
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