What Low Cost Replacement For A Zero Tolerance 0562?

B

B.F.U

Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Messages
8,469
My ZT0562 is awesome. Flips great, locks up like a rock, great ergonomics, awesome clip, great blade shape and grind. I just am considering going lower budget on knives. I'm in college and have rent and got bumped forward on my summer job.

Requirements:
-Flipper
-No crazy ergonomics
-No "nightmare grinds" or any other non-utilitarian blade shapes
-Under $50

Preferred:
-USA made, or from a USA company (think Kershaw, or Spyderco's imports)
-3.5"+, unless a smaller bladed knife has good ergonomics
-Moderate to good steel
-Warranty

Okay:
-Assisted
-Low end steel
-Carbon steel
-Washers or ball bearings are fine
-Under $75

Thanks for any and all help!
 
Kershaw Link under$50. Black wash with aluminum scales made in the USA. Flipper.
 
Colorodo said:
Kershaw Link under$50. Black wash with aluminum scales made in the USA. Flipper.
Click to expand...

I've been considering the Link, thanks for the suggestion! I just with it had a little more blade, but more importantly a little more handle.
 
Kershaw thermite or tremor. Kershaw knockout or piston. Tenacious. Ontario Utilitac II or rat 1.
 
Enlan EL-01. $17.95 the first place I looked.

look at the reviews. My two of these flip perfectly.

Flipper, G10 or rosewood (my G10 one has better centering and no blade play)
Overall length: ~211mm(8.31");
Blade's length: ~93mm(3.66");
 
craytab said:
Kershaw thermite or tremor. Kershaw knockout or piston. Tenacious. Ontario Utilitac II or rat 1.
Click to expand...

All of these are excellent suggestions, but I especially endorse the Kershaw Piston. It's what is in my pocket right now. It's an amazing knife for the price. It's worth far more than it's weight in gold (because it is extremely lightweight). I'd also add the Spyderco Resilience to this list. It doesn't have a flipper but it has a heck of a lot of blade.
 
How about the Kershaw JYD composite? The Ontario Utilitac should always be a contender for solid cheap pocket tank.
 
scotchleaf said:
Enlan EL-01. $17.95 the first place I looked.

look at the reviews. My two of these flip perfectly.

Flipper, G10 or rosewood (my G10 one has better centering and no blade play)
Overall length: ~211mm(8.31");
Blade's length: ~93mm(3.66");
Click to expand...

I like my EL-01 but it fails on several of the OPs preferences. No warranty, not a well known USA company import.
 
Another vote for the Link! I have the tanto version and de-assisted it. Flips like a champ!



 
craytab said:
Kershaw thermite or tremor. Kershaw knockout or piston. Tenacious. Ontario Utilitac II or rat 1.
Click to expand...
I have considered the Thermite. Do you have one? How's the grind (thick/thin)?
MaxFisher said:
I've heard this one referred to as a budget ZT by several people. Another one that popped to mind in the Kershaw Cryo 2 although the blade length is a little shorter than you mentioned at 3.25".
Click to expand...
I've heard the same. Definitely considering it, at $60 on the big river site.
grownstar said:
Another vote for the Link! I have the tanto version and de-assisted it. Flips like a champ!



Click to expand...
Do you happen to have pictures of it next to a leek, 0560, 0562, 0620, a spyderco native, manix, anything like that?

I love the new Shuffle, btw!
 
ALLHSS said:
I have considered the Thermite. Do you have one? How's the grind (thick/thin)?

I've heard the same. Definitely considering it, at $60 on the big river site.

Do you happen to have pictures of it next to a leek, 0560, 0562, 0620, a spyderco native, manix, anything like that?

I love the new Shuffle, btw!
Click to expand...

Grind on the Thermite is pretty thin. It's hollow up till the flat-ground Spanto tip. 3.5" blade and the handle, while thin, gives you plenty of real estate.



Here's a pic of the Thermite side by side with a Leek, if that helps.



As for the Link, I can definitely get a pic of it next to a Manix but not till I get home from work.
 
What grownstar said about the thermite. It will be thinner than the 0562. It is no slouch though. I use mine for all kinds of stuff. It stays in junk drawer in the kitchen. I'll post up a pic next to a 0560 & Utilitac II later.
 
Buck vantage avid or vantage force select
3.25" of Buck's 420hc
Made in USA
w/ Buck's great warranty
Deep pocket clip
Good ergos

Upgrade to bos ht'd s30v in the vantage pro for just over $60

Nothing "like" a ZT, but everything "like" a Buck though.
Just 0.25" shy of what your looking for, but checks every other box; IMO you'd be hard pressed to find a better knife in your price range, esp. If you opt for the upgraded steel.


 
Either the Thermite or the Tremor from Kershaw isn't a bad bet either though... Both are a lot of knife for the price, assisted vs. The non-assisted Buck, neither is made in the u.s. though:

 
Three knives, they've all been mentioned. The Link, knockout, and the thermite. Can't go wrong with any of the three. I continue th be impressed with the Link. It's a great knife for the money.

Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top