Zero Tolerance 0301 Questions !

[nyefmaker]

I am interested in getting a Zero Tolerance 0301 in the near future. I am fan of framelocks including the Sebenza and Strider. An Umnumzaan is definately in my future, but the ZT has caught my attention.

My questions are:
Are there internal springs since its an assisted opener ??? To me, springs would be a weakness and would be prone to fail, possibly at the most unappropriate time.

I like the simplicity of the sebbie and strider, Is the ZT similar in construction ??? Has anyone taken one apart ???

I like the green one, so thats why I am interested in the 0301, but since the 0300 and 0302 are all the same, only different color, these questions will apply to all.

I look forward to your comments and pics of possible. Thanks In Advance........

 

[batosai117]

Hello there,

I've taken kershaws apart before, and since the zero tolerance assisted opening all run off the same mechanics, I'll put in my two cents. The torsion bar is a nice piece of metal shaped like two "L's" put together |_____| One part of the bar is in a tiny hole in the blade, and the other end is up against the handle scale. I believe the ZT knives have two torsion bars, but I've never pulled one of those apart. I owned a ZT 0301 about a year ago and it is a very nice knife for the money. I would recommend checking with kershawguy in the dealer for sale section for blems and/or new ones. The blems are damn near perfect and will save you about $50 from most places.

Now as far as being like a sebenza, it is very far from it other than having S30V in the blade steel and a titanium frame lock. It is a tank of a knife and it reminds you of it with it's size and weight in your pocket. I don't mind a hefty knife, but some people do. If you clip it to your front right pocket like I do, don't put anything else in that pocket if it is something you will pull out frequently.

I hope this helps, J.

 

[Jason B.]

I have mixed feelings about the 0300 series, one side says WoW! that's one well built folder with all the strength you would ever need in a folding knife. The re-curve blade performs well, it's extra wide blade seems to give it a lot of slicing power and a bit of a prying advantage over other folding knives. Though I would never suggest prying with a folder, it could be a very expensive mistake. The lock is a fine example of a proper fitting frame lock and has a nice solid feel of engagement when opened. The A/O works well but is slower simply because the size/mass of the blade. The handle has a lot grip and good ergonomics but can sometime be too coarse for bare hands.

The Kershaw A/O works well and is a good design but I think it has a flaw that they have yet to correct. The main bend in the spring is IMO too sharp and is always where the spring will break, though they have corrected this with the ZT by making it curved it still broke at the bend on mine. It on average takes several hundred openings to break the spring but at some point and time it's most likely to happen. The knife will still function after a breakage but you loose closed blade retention. The 0300's only have one torsion bar, it's just a wee bit more heavy duty than most.

My other feelings on this knife are that the lack of a point to the blade really pulls away from its usefulness in a EDC role. The wide re-curve blade does work well just not for most of the day to day things that I need to cut. I personally don't think it would be a good choice for military or LE either. Three main things I look for in a knife are performance, quality, and style, this knife has all three but I feel it's trying to be something its not and that's a fixed blade. Not trying to bash this knife I really do like it, I'm just stating my opinion.

 

[puukkoman]

I think you'll really like it. Mine's in my pocket at the moment, and has been since I got it a month or two ago.
Search back a little and check out some of the recent discussions on the ZT03XX series.

 

[Ankerson]

I think you will love it.

Here is the 0301 with my Strider SmF RW-1.

 

[tsiloics]

If you're into the shape and mass, I also think you will love it. The technical issues have been addressed above.

The first time I picked one of these things up, I was immediately extremely impressed. They aren't going to replace my large Sebenzas anytime soon, but they aren't really trying to.

There are things I would have done differently with the design, and I might do some modding on an 030x after I'd had it for a while, but for what it is, I think ZT did a *great* job with this knife.

 

[nyefmaker]

I have mixed feelings about the 0300 series, one side says WoW! that's one well built folder with all the strength you would ever need in a folding knife. The re-curve blade performs well, it's extra wide blade seems to give it a lot of slicing power and a bit of a prying advantage over other folding knives. Though I would never suggest prying with a folder, it could be a very expensive mistake. The lock is a fine example of a proper fitting frame lock and has a nice solid feel of engagement when opened. The A/O works well but is slower simply because the size/mass of the blade. The handle has a lot grip and good ergonomics but can sometime be too coarse for bare hands.

The Kershaw A/O works well and is a good design but I think it has a flaw that they have yet to correct. The main bend in the spring is IMO too sharp and is always where the spring will break, though they have corrected this with the ZT by making it curved it still broke at the bend on mine. It on average takes several hundred openings to break the spring but at some point and time it's most likely to happen. The knife will still function after a breakage but you loose closed blade retention. The 0300's only have one torsion bar, it's just a wee bit more heavy duty than most.

My other feelings on this knife are that the lack of a point to the blade really pulls away from its usefulness in a EDC role. The wide re-curve blade does work well just not for most of the day to day things that I need to cut. I personally don't think it would be a good choice for military or LE either. Three main things I look for in a knife are performance, quality, and style, this knife has all three but I feel it's trying to be something its not and that's a fixed blade. Not trying to bash this knife I really do like it, I'm just stating my opinion.

Did you take it apart just for me ???.........

Thats Exactly what I was looking for, Many Thanks......I was interested to see the inner workings and if there was a spring involved which I figured there was. Looks like a heck of a knife and I will definately have to look into getting one........There isn't a knife made that will ever replace my Large regular NCIS Sebenza, but there are other knives out there that draw interest...........

DO You know if Kershaw will send you a new spring or do you have to send the knife back ???, that would be a pain if only a couple hundred openings will break the spring. If that was the case and I really liked the knife, I would just get a couple springs from them.....Any idea how much they cost ?...cant be much !

 

[spiralarchitect]

Don't worry about the Torsion Bar. I have many Kershaws and have never had a bar break. You hear about one breaking every now and again, but, it is pretty rare. Also, it takes like 5 minutes to fix and Kershaw will send you all you will ever need. All you have to do is ask.

I have 6 0300s and they really are a nice knife. They handle well and are stout as all get out. However, as others have stated, there are times when another (smaller knife) is more handy. If you are curious, you should give it a go. You probably won't be disappointed.

 

[sweet_hitch-hiker]

i really want to get a 301 and then have it kreined to take the recurve out. i saw a pic of someone who did that with a 300 and i loooved it

 

[Phillip Dobson]

Here are some photos of disassembled Speed Safe knives. The Offset is the only knife with two torsion bars, as far as I know. You can see the bar in place on the 0350 with the translucent scale.

Torsion bars can break, but it's rare and easy to fix (Kershaw sent replacement bars in two days, free of charge). The most reliable way to break the spring is to repeatedly, and in succession, open-and-close the knife for a while. This will fatigue the spring, causing it to break.

A broken torsion bar will not stop you from using a 0300 due to the friction caused by the frame-lock. It is a big deal on a knife like an Offset or Bump (stud lock knives). With the bar broken, there is nothing to keep the blade closed. It would be a little dangerous getting the knife home in a state like this, if there weren't redundant systems on all of them.

 

[nyefmaker]

Here are some photos of disassembled Speed Safe knives. The Offset is the only knife with two torsion bars, as far as I know. You can see the bar in place on the 0350 with the translucent scale.

Torsion bars can break, but it's rare and easy to fix (Kershaw sent replacement bars in two days, free of charge). The most reliable way to break the spring is to repeatedly, and in succession, open-and-close the knife for a while. This will fatigue the spring, causing it to break.

A broken torsion bar will not stop you from using a 0300 due to the friction caused by the frame-lock. It is a big deal on a knife like an Offset or Bump (stud lock knives). With the bar broken, there is nothing to keep the blade closed. It would be a little dangerous getting the knife home in a state like this, if there weren't redundant systems on all of them.

Awsome Work, I love them Both, especially the translucent scale.

 

[spiralarchitect]

Awsome Work, I love them Both, especially the translucent scale.

.... Looks even better in person. :thumbup:

 

[Jason B.]

Did you take it apart just for me ???.........

Thats Exactly what I was looking for, Many Thanks......I was interested to see the inner workings and if there was a spring involved which I figured there was. Looks like a heck of a knife and I will definately have to look into getting one........There isn't a knife made that will ever replace my Large regular NCIS Sebenza, but there are other knives out there that draw interest...........

DO You know if Kershaw will send you a new spring or do you have to send the knife back ???, that would be a pain if only a couple hundred openings will break the spring. If that was the case and I really liked the knife, I would just get a couple springs from them.....Any idea how much they cost ?...cant be much !

Kershaw is really cool, I have 5 extra torsion bars for my 0300 and spec bump, free of charge.