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- Dec 19, 2014
- Messages
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The ZT 0801 and the Reate Hills are both very nice knives.
I have had the Hills for a month or so now and earlier this week I purchased a used ZT0801. I was immediately struck by how similar they were.
Both are frame lock flippers with titanium slab handles and their dimensions are nearly identical.
Overall Length: ZT = 8.2"; Reate = 8.3"
Blade Length: both 3.5"
Closed Length: both 4.7"
Weight: ZT = 5.8 oz. ; Reate = 5.5 oz.
The Reate flips open much more satisfyingly than the ZT. There is a serious *snap* when it opens and I've never had the Reate 'half open' when I hit the flipper lever. The ZT opens well enough to be useful and if I didn't have the Reate to compare it too I'd probably think it was great. My ZT is also used, so that might have some effect on how well it flips. The ZT does open better with a bit of wrist action to help it along. Flipping open the Reate Hills is sort of addictive though and can earn you glares from other people in the room you might be watching TV with.
The Reate uses S35VN blade steel while the ZT has Elmax. I don't really know enough about blade steel to say much about either. I am under the impression that both are pretty good though.
I'd say the ZT does win when it comes to clips. Both are tip up carry clips but the ZT has a deep carry clip and can be mounted on either side while the Reate is not deep carry and it's not drilled to be mounted on the other side.
The Reate has a small amount of jimping on the back of the blade, right about where your thumb would go in that type of grip. The ZT has no jimping.
The style of the titanium handles are a matter of preference. Both have some decorative flourishes, such as jimping on the top of the handle for the Reate and sort of a fluting on the handle of the ZT.
Both handles are comfortable. The Reate has a finger groove that some might find preferable to the ZT.
The blade shapes are another point of divergence. The ZT has a more traditional drop point shape while the Reate has an upswept shape that is reminiscent of a Southard.
I find myself liking the ZT's blade shape more than the Reate, but neither is bad.
They both seem to lock up at about 50% and neither has any stickiness when unlocking, though the Reate did need a bit of breaking in.
Both also have lock face inserts (if that's the correct term) that can be unscrewed and replaced.
Both use standard torx screws for the frame and the pivot.
Fit and finish on both are excellent. Blades on both are centered nicely when closed.
The ZT has 3 standoffs while the Reate has 2.
With the variances available on the internet, prices for both are nearly identical, approximately $200.
The huge difference for some people is that the ZT is made in the USA while the Reate is made in China.
Both have warranties, but, for those living in the US at least, shipping their knife to Oregon will be easier than China.
The ZT website has extensive info on how their warranty works, including forms to fill out and addresses to ship to while the Reate site is a bit more sparse on info pertaining to their warranty.
Zero Tolerance also offers a free sharpening service and there is nothing similar to that on Reate's website.
I have had the Hills for a month or so now and earlier this week I purchased a used ZT0801. I was immediately struck by how similar they were.
Both are frame lock flippers with titanium slab handles and their dimensions are nearly identical.
Overall Length: ZT = 8.2"; Reate = 8.3"
Blade Length: both 3.5"
Closed Length: both 4.7"
Weight: ZT = 5.8 oz. ; Reate = 5.5 oz.
The Reate flips open much more satisfyingly than the ZT. There is a serious *snap* when it opens and I've never had the Reate 'half open' when I hit the flipper lever. The ZT opens well enough to be useful and if I didn't have the Reate to compare it too I'd probably think it was great. My ZT is also used, so that might have some effect on how well it flips. The ZT does open better with a bit of wrist action to help it along. Flipping open the Reate Hills is sort of addictive though and can earn you glares from other people in the room you might be watching TV with.
The Reate uses S35VN blade steel while the ZT has Elmax. I don't really know enough about blade steel to say much about either. I am under the impression that both are pretty good though.
I'd say the ZT does win when it comes to clips. Both are tip up carry clips but the ZT has a deep carry clip and can be mounted on either side while the Reate is not deep carry and it's not drilled to be mounted on the other side.
The Reate has a small amount of jimping on the back of the blade, right about where your thumb would go in that type of grip. The ZT has no jimping.
The style of the titanium handles are a matter of preference. Both have some decorative flourishes, such as jimping on the top of the handle for the Reate and sort of a fluting on the handle of the ZT.
Both handles are comfortable. The Reate has a finger groove that some might find preferable to the ZT.
The blade shapes are another point of divergence. The ZT has a more traditional drop point shape while the Reate has an upswept shape that is reminiscent of a Southard.
I find myself liking the ZT's blade shape more than the Reate, but neither is bad.
They both seem to lock up at about 50% and neither has any stickiness when unlocking, though the Reate did need a bit of breaking in.
Both also have lock face inserts (if that's the correct term) that can be unscrewed and replaced.
Both use standard torx screws for the frame and the pivot.
Fit and finish on both are excellent. Blades on both are centered nicely when closed.
The ZT has 3 standoffs while the Reate has 2.
With the variances available on the internet, prices for both are nearly identical, approximately $200.
The huge difference for some people is that the ZT is made in the USA while the Reate is made in China.
Both have warranties, but, for those living in the US at least, shipping their knife to Oregon will be easier than China.
The ZT website has extensive info on how their warranty works, including forms to fill out and addresses to ship to while the Reate site is a bit more sparse on info pertaining to their warranty.
Zero Tolerance also offers a free sharpening service and there is nothing similar to that on Reate's website.
Living in Germany, the warranty doesn' t matter to me anyway.