Zero Tolerance 350SW plain blade question

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cutitout

Joined
Aug 12, 2012
Messages
135
Hey Guys,
I have been shopping for a new ZT 350. I have a black blade and really like it. I decided I also want an uncoated blade. So I did a web search for a 350SW. It turned out to be more difficult than I thought it would be. Well, I did finally find one which I bought but it made me wonder. Is the uncoated SW s30V version of the 350 a limited production knife. It seems that Kershaw likes to use the 350 to make limited runs or sprint runs in different blade material like the Elmax and 189 versions for example since it is their most popular knife. Anyone know how many of the uncoated 350SW's were made? There was no problem finding a black coated or zebra coated blade but not so much of the uncoated.
 
I asked BladeHQ if they were limited and they are not. As long as they sell, BladeHQ can order more whenever they want.
 
They aren't necessarily limited editions, but they are dealer exclusives that are more than likely produced in small batches.
 
Actually I bought it at Blade HQ today from their website. But that was the only place that I could find it. Anyway, I'm glad I did, it looks like a great knife. I was going to get the Elmax version but as you all know it's out of production and starting to command big bucks for a copy. Decided that the combo of Elmax edge and 14c28N blade did not exceed the specs on the s30V steel of the 350SW. I actually use my knives but the usage is very light and frequently for fruit or veggies, so rust resistance was high on my priority list. Edge retention and sharpening ease probably next and looks. The Elmax 350 is very a cool looking knife but in my opinion, the 350 knife design is so cool looking it works in all it's iterations. I have the 560 Elmax and it is a great knife, but honestly for my uses, I can't really tell the difference between the s30V and the Elmax steel. Unless you count those cool looking shark fins.
 
The only place you found it was at BladeHQ because they are the ones that requested it be made, hence a dealer exclusive knife.
 
Okay, that makes sense. I didn't know that was even possible. They must have some clout to be able to request a special run of a knife design. Glad they did, it filled a want for me.

So Just to be clear, no other dealer can sell it? Are the numbered in sequence to the black and zebra s30V 350s or do they warrant a new serial number run? Has anyone heard if there will be any new 350 blades? I really like the variations. Kind of like the Leeks and other popular knives that have many variants.
 
If you have the money YOU could get ahold of Kershaw/ZT and have them do a special run of a particular knife. Dealers do this all the time. They typically have a special model number that they use to designate it as the special run for them. For example, Knifeworks had them do a special run of 0350s with the designation of 0350KW. There is normally just a certain number that needs to be ordered.

Yes since these are special runs requested by that dealer only they can/will typically sell them. And yes they normally get their own serial number run.

To date there seem to have been the following 0350 designations but I haven't heard of any new ones lately.

0350
0350ST
0350CB
0350CBZDP
0350CBZDPST
0350KW
0350SW
0350TS
0350TSST
0350WW
0350ZDPCKT
0350ZDPCKTST
 
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Haha. I was about to quote you and throw the CKTs in there on the last couple model numbers, but you got it. Wish I had the money to do my own run of Kershaw or ZTs. That would be cool.
 
Wow, I am amazed at the depth of info available on this forum. Great info and very interesting. Forgive my dumb question here, but I have googled some of the 350 models you described and nothing comes up. If you have time and don't mind, could you describe the variants of the 350 by the letter designations following the model number. I really like the 350 and had no idea it has been released in so many different iterations.

How many knives would you say it would typically take to get a special run, such as the 350 SW?

Thanks
 
I ordered My ZT0350Sw the first day they poped up on BladeHQ site and I got SN# 205 so im sure a bunch where made. That batch of knives are real nice too the finish on mine is perfect much better then the finish on my 560. Also s30v steel is probably one of the best all around steels so its a no brainier. I also like the price of the knife its a bit cheaper than the coated ones and it looks better if you ask me, but who knows I can tell ya I sure don't. Only thing I wish they would have done is use silver hardware and clip that matched the blade with the black contrast of the G-10 it would have made it just that much better. Its funny you asked this question too I had mine in my pocket today.
 
cutitout said:
Wow, I am amazed at the depth of info available on this forum. Great info and very interesting. Forgive my dumb question here, but I have googled some of the 350 models you described and nothing comes up. If you have time and don't mind, could you describe the variants of the 350 by the letter designations following the model number. I really like the 350 and had no idea it has been released in so many different iterations.

How many knives would you say it would typically take to get a special run, such as the 350 SW?

Thanks
Click to expand...


OvalmanPA said:
To date there seem to have been the following 0350 designations but I haven't heard of any new ones lately.

0350
0350ST
0350CB
0350CBZDP
0350CBZDPST
0350KW
0350SW
0350TS
0350TSST
0350WW
0350ZDPCKT
0350ZDPCKTST
Click to expand...

I'll give it a shot

0350 - Black blade, plain edge
0350ST - Black blade, serrated
0350CB - Composite blade with Elmax steel
0350CBZDP - Composite blade with ZDP189
0350CBZDPST - Composite ZDP with serrations
0350KW - Knifeworks exclusive uncoated blade
0350SW - BladeHQ exclusive stonewashed uncoated blade
0350TS - Knifeworks exclusive Tiger Striped coated blade
0350TSST - Knifeworks exclusive Tiger Striped coated and serrated
0350WW - Warriors and Wonders exclusive uncoated blade
0350ZDPCKT - Full ZDP black coated plain edge
0350ZDPCKTST - Full ZDP black coated serrated

I have a few of them myself. Old pic that needs to be updated, but:

IMG_4018.jpg


Hope this helps!
 
Impressive collection of 350's. I see what looks like a 350SW and 350ZDP. Are they both stone washed because the ZDP looks much more textured than the SW, if it is an SW?
 
The one in the pic is a KW although I do have an SW from BladeHQ. I don't have them to reference right now, but I think the ZDP is SW and the KW is bead blasted, giving a much less "textured" look. Someone jump in and correct me if I'm wrong. My collection is still behind lock and key from when I went out of town last week, so I can't handle them at the moment.
 
I believe that the new run of kw is stonewashed as well. I don't have a new run but that's what I have heard
 
chivilryman2 said:
I believe that the new run of kw is stonewashed as well. I don't have a new run but that's what I have heard
Click to expand...

They are SW, I believe. I just got one and traded it away a few days later, but it sure looked like a SW blade rather than BB. I had a BB one from KW's first run months ago and the blade had a different finish to it.
 
Didn't read the thread in its entirety, but the first dealer that had an exclusive uncoated blade was actually knifeworks.com http://www.knifeworks.com/zerotoler...lasts30vblackg10handleplainedgepre-order.aspx

They also have an uncoated version of the ZT 0200. http://www.knifeworks.com/zerotoler...4cmbeadblastbladeplainedgeserialnumbered.aspx

EDIT: And they are not really what I'd call limited runs. Knifeworks has had the uncoated 0350 for over 2 years now. Same with the 0200. Sometimes they get out of stock, but they always get more.
 
jimw451 said:
Haha. I was about to quote you and throw the CKTs in there on the last couple model numbers, but you got it. Wish I had the money to do my own run of Kershaw or ZTs. That would be cool.
Click to expand...

Yea went and looked again and see I had forgotten the "CKT". Brain fart..... :D
 
I've acquired one of the KW knives from the first as well as the second run now and they are different. The first run were bead blasted and the current run are stone washed. The stone washed is much more appealing to me and that one was added to the collection while the bead blasted was put into the EDC rotation. :)
 
jimw451 said:
I'll give it a shot

0350 - Black blade, plain edge
0350ST - Black blade, serrated
0350CB - Composite blade with Elmax steel
0350CBZDP - Composite blade with ZDP189
0350CBZDPST - Composite ZDP with serrations
0350KW - Knifeworks exclusive uncoated blade
0350SW - BladeHQ exclusive stonewashed uncoated blade
0350TS - Knifeworks exclusive Tiger Striped coated blade
0350TSST - Knifeworks exclusive Tiger Striped coated and serrated
0350WW - Warriors and Wonders exclusive uncoated blade
0350ZDPCKT - Full ZDP black coated plain edge
0350ZDPCKTST - Full ZDP black coated serrated

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Don't think the tiger stripe knives are exclusive to Knifeworks since EVERYBODY seems to be selling them.
 
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