Which knife would you buy again after extended use?

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Panta

Joined
Oct 13, 2012
Messages
144
hello members
I think it would be interesting for many to know
which knife from your collection you would buy again with no hesitation
at what price, and what is the reason for that?

OK,
from my 9 knifes the knife i would buy again,
and recommend with no hesitation the ZT 0200!
(and CRKT Ripple first run)

ZT 0200 cost me 128$, it was under rated,
and i guess im not the only one to think that
because now it goes for 150-180$
(150-160$ is fair i think)

the lock on that knife is beyond anything i have experienced,
it seams to not travel at all after several hundreds of opening, and blade play is
no where in the horizon, and after its bean used alot it is very smooth.
awesome knife, but it's a big boy and you would feel in pocket.

what would i wish to change or add to it?
i would wish for chamfered edge in the liner lock, and thrust bearing
would made it eave faster & smoother when it was new, bit to stiff clip.

but still, i would get it again no hesitation!


I really love this knife :thumbup:
zt_0200.jpg
 
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Microtech whaleshark. Got if for around $300 a couple years ago. I'd buy again in a heartbeat.

I have carried daily and beat the crap out of a stone washed, chisel ground CTS204P model for the past couple years and it has held up great. I even had it sharpened at Blade Show last week by Tony. Now it is back to being hair popping sharp. Still flips great and has great lockup and zero blade play.
 
ZT 0561, at about $200. Virtually flawless fit and finish, and an absurdly fast and smooth flipper. Great steel, awesome size, incredible ergos. The only thing I would even consider changing about this knife is giving it an ever-so-slightly thinner bladestock.
 
My Manix 2 FRCP. Great knife. FFG, great ergos, under 3oz, blade steel has great rust resistance and holds an edge really well. Deployment speed is great and pretty smooth. The Captured Ball lock is great for one handed deployment. My only complaint it that it's a little tall which makes it a little fat in the pocket and the wire clip is great but a little weak and can get caught. I use a lanyard to clip it to my belt loop when hiking so I don't lose it to a greedy tree branch. For the price all around its a whole lot of knife and super versatile.
 
Bighaze51 said:
FFG SPYDERCO ENDURA.
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that's surprising,
my endura experience is not that nice, beside its awesome blade.
pocket clip screws stripped (not for miss use)
and back lock broke (my fault!)
but when i opened it i sow the surface contact of the lock and it's minute.
beside it's blade, i'm not impressed with it or deployment speed.
 
amg137 said:
ZT 0561
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I'm currently looking for a framelock with flipper & thumbstud.
but i head bad experience with frame locks, so decided not to get one without steel insert,
if the 0561 head it i would have got it 100%.

unfortunately there's only 1 other ZT knife with that criteria
the new factory custom 0392, which is nice but i like the 0561 looks better.
 
It's a longish list, but the one that pops to mind is the Cold Steel Tuff Lite. It feels great in hand, carries nicely with or without a clip and is just a pure utility cutter. The only thing I would really change would be the blade steel. If CS upgrades it to something like XHP then it'd be pure gold.
 
Panta said:
I'm currently looking for a framelock with flipper & thumbstud.
but i head bad experience with frame locks, so decided not to get one without steel insert,
if the 0561 head it i would have got it 100%.

unfortunately there's only 1 other ZT knife with that criteria
the new factory custom 0392, which is nice but i like the 0561 looks better.
Click to expand...

Actually, the newest 0561s have an insert. KAI's description on the 0561 page mentions it, though the images don't show it yet. They've just been rolling out of the factory for a month or two, you'd have to contact a seller to see if they have the new model or the old one. If you can find one I'd snap it up - you won't be disappointed. Good hunting.
 
Panta said:
I'm currently looking for a framelock with flipper & thumbstud.
but i head bad experience with frame locks, so decided not to get one without steel insert,
if the 0561 head it i would have got it 100%.

unfortunately there's only 1 other ZT knife with that criteria
the new factory custom 0392, which is nice but i like the 0561 looks better.
Click to expand...

I think the ZT 0301 got an upgrade to a steel insert this year. It should fit the bill if you don't mind A/O.
 
amg137 said:
Actually, the newest 0561s have an insert. KAI's description on the 0561 page mentions it, though the images don't show it yet. They've just been rolling out of the factory for a month or two, you'd have to contact a seller to see if they have the new model or the old one. If you can find one I'd snap it up - you won't be disappointed. Good hunting.
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wow good news,
i recently visited their site looking at pictures for such a knife..
if i can find the 0560BW/0561/0562 with insert version i will definitely buy it.
thanks Insipid Moniker you made my evening :)
I'll contact ZT.
 
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Opinel #7. It never fails to impress me. Think I may buy a #8... Also my Spyderco gayle Bradley the grind the blade size and shape and the angle I can keep the M4 is insane. For $130 or so I paid for it I would definitely get another
 
Panta said:
wow good news, thanks i will contact ZT. :)
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I should mention though - the "thumb stud" on the 0561 isn't meant as an opening mechanism. It acts as a blade stop. The detent is typically very strong out of the factory to accommodate the flipper, and is very difficult to open with the stud. After a few weeks of use, the detent should break in to the point that you can open it easily with the stud left-handed, but you will likely never be able to use the stud right-handed without applying some pressure to the flipper with your index finger. This is because even a very light right-handed grip on the knife will apply enough pressure to the lockbar to prevent opening.

It's still tied with my small sebbie for my favorite knife, but if you plan on using the studs for opening you may want to look for something assisted (detent strength for flippers vs thumbstuds are inherently at odds for manual openers).
 
I wouldn't hesitate to replace my ZT 0700 or the ZT 0566. The 0700 sold me on how useful the Tanto blade is, and the 0566 is a handy size for me and I like the Elmax. I would also replace my Spyderco Stretch ZDP 189. I haven't had Manix 2 Lightweight s110v for very long, but it would be replaced also.
 
amg137 said:
I should mention though - the "thumb stud" on the 0561 isn't meant as an opening mechanism. It acts as a blade stop. The detent is typically very strong out of the factory to accommodate the flipper, and is very difficult to open with the stud. After a few weeks of use, the detent should break in to the point that you can open it easily with the stud left-handed, but you will likely never be able to use the stud right-handed without applying some pressure to the flipper with your index finger. This is because even a very light right-handed grip on the knife will apply enough pressure to the lockbar to prevent opening.

It's still tied with my small sebbie for my favorite knife, but if you plan on using the studs for opening you may want to look for something assisted (detent strength for flippers vs thumbstuds are inherently at odds for manual openers).
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damn, i was happy because it's a ZT which i like & trust.
is the 0562 the same story with right side stud use ?
 
Panta said:
damn, i was happy because it's a ZT which i like & trust.
is the 0562 the same story with right side stud use ?
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Not sure, I haven't had a chance to handle one yet. Answer is probably yes. It's not anything wrong with the design - ZT explicitly describes them as an external stop pin.

The problem is inherent to flippers - a good manual flipper must have a very strong detent. When you press against a flipper, you're building up potential energy, which propels the blade open when the detent breaks. A weak detent means that you'll have to use wrist action to open the blade with the flipper, because there won't be enough energy to open the blade fully when the detent breaks.

If the detent is sufficient for the flipper to work, a thumbstud is pretty much out of the question. It will be difficult, and potentially dangerous to apply flipper-level pressure to the thumbstud. Assisted openers can avoid the issue since the flipping energy can be stored in the torsion bar and not the detent.

I suggest you pick one opening method that you prefer and find a knife that does that well, because it cannot do both well. Or go with assisted. Just my 2 cents.
 
Spyderco native
Spyderco Chokwe
Cold steel large voyager
Ontario rat 1
GEC 22

Couple others probably
 
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