Zero Tolerance 350 Composite Blade

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Muaddib1116

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Dec 26, 2010
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I saw a ZT 350 on Amazon with a composite blade, which they describe as ELMAX/Sandvik 14C28N. Does anyone have this knife or have experience with this steel? I've never heard of it, and I'm wondering how it compares to the standard S30V that the normal 350 comes with.
 
I have it, and it's a very Wide Knife, Pretty Comfortable in use, But Big and heavy for the blade size in the pocket. I like Elmax on other Knives, but since it's a recurve, it's harder to sharpen for me so I would have rather had a softer steel. I would honestly Prefer 154cm to my Elmax (I know it comes in S30). But it's cool to have an Elmax, and It's a great cutter, if you are good at sharpening, or you don't plan on sharpening it, I would go for the Elmax.
I generally dont use the Flipper because of the Jimping on the handle scratches up my finger, but the thumb stud works great for me, very easy acces, and I think it opens faster with the stud.
Nice Pocket clip, carries deep.
Pretty Ergonomic Nice knife, but although it's smaller than lots of the other ZT knives, they are much bigger than most other brand knives, but I love them.
 
Sorry, Forgot to mention, It holds an edge longer than S30 in my experience, but a bit harder to sharpen, although I have not done much serious Elmax re-profiling or anything. But I am tempted to try with my 350, I like thinner edges, especially on my Super Steels
 
Cool, thanks for the info, I'm tempted to grab one up. I'm trying to decide between that and a Sage 2 for right now. I'm afraid they are both about to get much more difficult to find. I waited too long on a g-10 caly 3 PE and now they don't exist.
 
Yes I have one. I'm know blade expert but and can't really comment on the steel other than I like it and it's been holding an edge pretty good. Calling it heavy is relative to what you'd call heavy. For me it's no heavier than any other knife of it's size. I think it makes a good edc myself.
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Muaddib1116 said:
Cool, thanks for the info, I'm tempted to grab one up. I'm trying to decide between that and a Sage 2 for right now. I'm afraid they are both about to get much more difficult to find. I waited too long on a g-10 caly 3 PE and now they don't exist.
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I believe the ZT is a sprint run. If you can get one I would buy it. They will dry up also.
 
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I have one and really like it. It hold the edge very well. I havent really need to sharpen it yet but ZT's Customer Support advices using a diamond honing rod for the recurve blade.
 
This is a very nice knife.
If I could only have this knife for the rest of my life I'm sure I could come to terms with it pretty quickly.
It outperformed (various woodworker tasks) many of my knives that are far more expensive
:thumbup:.
 
Muaddib1116 said:
Cool, thanks for the info, I'm tempted to grab one up. I'm trying to decide between that and a Sage 2 for right now. I'm afraid they are both about to get much more difficult to find. I waited too long on a g-10 caly 3 PE and now they don't exist.
Click to expand...

If you are also considering a Sage 2. You gotta get that. It is amazing.
 
Oh, don't worry, that's def. on my list. But right now, I'm trying to work through the knives that are gonna get harder to find first, and the Caly 3.5 just came out a few months ago, so I think I shouldn't have trouble finding that one for a while yet.
 
ZT 0350 CB is a sweet knife, Elmax steel is a excellent steel with very good edge retention and resistance to deformation. It may be harder in Rc than S30V but is easier to sharpen even with sandpaper. Convex sharpening with sandpaper is a simple way to easily maintain a recurve blade.

Ceramics, diamonds, and waterstones are all also very effective on this steel. The same is hard too say for S30V.

The sage in typical spyderco fashion will be a better slicer and the ZT will be more robust. The recurve of the ZT makes up for some of the lost slicing ability but a FFG spyderco has few competitors in cutting ability. Depending on your preferences the ZT also has a flipper and assisted opening. The sage is the signature spidie hole but you have handle options of carbon fiber or all titanium and framelock.

If you want a knife that will take more "abusive" tasks then go for the ZT. If you want high performance cutting and classy style pick the sage.
 
Yeah, I already have 7 Spydercos including the CF Sage. So, right now, I'm really leaning towards something different... even though there are about 15 additional Spydercos that I definitely want to get eventually. Thanks for the advice guys.
 
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