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Zero Tolerance 0350, or Benchmade Osbourne Rift?

C

Casualvitality

Joined
May 17, 2011
Messages
8
Hey guys, I've been looking for a new knife for EDC and hard use. I was really interested in the Emerson mini cqc 15, but I can't find it anywhere. So, I decided to settle on the benchmade rift, with it's reverse tanto tip and whatnot, but then i see this beautiful 0350, with SV30 steel, for forty dollars less.
So here's the question. Which one should i chose for hard-use/EDC? Should i be considering different knives? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
 
I suggest the Rift. But that's my opinion and the 154CM sharpens up nice. As for the 0350, I have no experience but I don't like recurves, so its not for me. And if you manage to score a deal, you can get a 950BK-1001 with CPM-M4, which is hands down my favorite EDC blade.
 
opposite here.

i dont have the rift but i have the zt. i love it, some people here dont like recurves but i love them and they are semi-easy to sharpen with the edges of the rods on the sharpmaker.

i think the zt is a great choice but i dont have the rift so i cant comment on it but i have always loved the look of it.

also this knife is a TANK! very stout and bulky.
 
The 0350 is ZT's best-seller for a reason. Just keep in mind ZT's no-BS warranty and the fact that it has better steel than the Rift.
 
Thanks guys. Yeah, i know the M4 Rift is sick, but there's only fifty, and it would be way out of y price range.
All i'm debating now is if i want another liner lock, or another axis lock knife. I love the axis, but the ZT is still quite appealing, with it's "better" steel.
 
I have a ZT 0551 & 0301. If the 0350 is similar, it will be stout - should be excellent. Of course, I like BM's. I do have a BM 950 Osborne Rift, although I got it after a BM 15020-1 'Bone Collector', which I had already developed an affinity for. The B.C. is $35 less MSRP than the Rift, has a similar, but thicker (.125" vs .114") blade, has thumb jimping on the handle (None on the Rift.), and uses harder D2 rather than 154CM. It is available in black or green/black G10 - or, for $5 more, walnut. The Bone Collector skull-like logo is not a high point for me. Still, similar knife shape, size, & AXIS lock - the B.C. is .8 oz heavier and uses a Spydie-like thumb hole for blade deployment vs the Rift's dual thumbstuds. Something else to consider.

Stainz
 
Like steveg30, I've had both. Still have the Rift. I have tremendous respect for both knives. My ZT350 was perfect in F&F, opened fast, locked up great, centered blade, all that. And I have every confidence in Kershaw/ZT CS if I ever needed them. The Kershaws and ZT that I've had have been an excellent product and great value for my dollar. Speaking of the 0350, though, I just never got to likin' the recurve, and the handle didn't fit my hand like the Rift does. I also really like BM's 154CM. I have no problems with it at all, even compared to S30V. But then, I still like 440C and 1095, so I'm certainly not a "steel junkie". How a knife feels and fits my hand is at least as important to me as the blade steel. I know how to sharpen, I'm pretty good at it, and I like doin' it, so I don't put edge holding way above other considerations.

I think you'll find that either knife will work well and work hard. AXIS locks are easier for me to work than stiff liner locks and the Rift is a better RFP carry for me than the 350. I'm also not interested in A/Os. I've heard that the 350 can be disabled, but I don't want to buy a knife that I have to modify right away.
 
I own all the knives mentioned and the BM Rift is by far my favorite. Its also is the best cutter. ZT build quality is meh, IMO. I sent the ZT back to the factory because it was rubbing badly against the liners. The blade still came back off center. After 3 ZT knives, "Average Tolerance" is a more appropriate name. For that price point, I would go Benchmade.

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Come on average tolerance i have to disagree, the 350 is an excellent hard working blade, and with S30v steel, you can't go wrong, the BM rift is also a great blade but i have to say the ZT 350 beats it out, unless you get the M4....that recurve gives you great belly and plus like i said it will take a lickin!!! and keep cuttin Zero Tolerance
 
The 0350 is an excellent blade. I had one. Very solid and robust. I wasnt overly impressed with mine, as i found it too chunky. The blade was too wide, and the handle too short. It never felt right in my hand. I eventually sold it.

From the looks of it, id think the id prefer the Rift over the 0350.
 
RIFT!!!

I have a 350 and it has never seen the inside of my pocket. It is also quite brick like. On the other hand I have had a Rift in my right front pocket every single day for a couple years now since they first came out. It is my favorite knife and I have some great ones to choose from.
 
I like my zt 350. Not as smooth as a zt 200 but I still like it a lot. I think it will smooth out a lot with use.
Size is subjective with knives. You'd best hold one for yourself..My hand is almost an inch longer than my zt 350 opened and my palm is as wide as the zt 350 is long closed. Its a medium size knife at best to me personally. A knife fits everyones hands different..Im also a fan of benchmade but dont have any exp with thi particular model. It does look like a real nice knife and Im sure its a good one..
 
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mystro said:
I own all the knives mentioned and the BM Rift is by far my favorite. Its also is the best cutter. ZT build quality is meh, IMO. I sent the ZT back to the factory because it was rubbing badly against the liners. The blade still came back off center. After 3 ZT knives, "Average Tolerance" is a more appropriate name. For that price point, I would go Benchmade.
Click to expand...
Curious, did you ever get the Rift issue attended to?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/836355-Anyone-have-a-little-up-and-down-movement-in-their-BM-Rift-axis-lock?p=9474349#post9474349
 
lol

Well, I don't have experience with the 0350, but I'm one of those idiots who generally dismisses any knife of this type that uses a liner-lock.
As for the Rift, it is one fine knife. Initially, the edges of the handles came a little too rough for gripping full strength in my opinion. But a minute and the file on my Leatherman fixed that up. Now my Rift has pushed my 806 to the side. It's got a useful blade shape, a nice thin grind, and a sturdy tip. Opens smooth, locks solid, great blade/handle ratio, secure grip. And it looks pretty cool. -It's a winner.
 
I'd go with the 0350. I owned a Rift and the blade seemed to be thin and flexible for such a fat folder. Plus, I was not overly impressed with BM's 154cm as far as edge holding or toughness. Lastly, the ergos of the Rift just did not fit my hand. The lack of thumb ramp always felt off when I'd want to choke up.
 
The 0350 all the way for me. The Rift is a fine knife but when measuring all my personal preferences the ZT wins...YMMV.
 
This:
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I had the 950 Rift. I never could warm up to it. The knife was uncomfortable to me, lots of hot spots when cutting and I did not want to have to finish the knife handle. Mine came with the blade actually touching the liner, my pet peeve is a off center blade. I had to disassemble the knife completely in order to line it up and center it. Needless to say, I ended up selling it after about 2 weeks. In my experience, the ZT knives I have total of about 7 now are all pretty much centered, sharp, and fit my hand well. As an aside, I do like the ZT heat treat on the S30V blades. I think 154CM is a good steel too, but these 2 knives alone on blade steel the ZT is the hands down winner. If someone is buying ZTs and they are not less than useable right out of the box, then there must be something going wrong at the store.
 
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