Zero Tolerance 561 Hard use and Abuse testing

L

Luis G.

Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
1,855
It has been asked if anyone has hard used their ZT 56* series knife, and also in response to Elmax steel edge deformation? I decided to create a video showcasing the ZT 56* in hard use or abusive tests.

The first test was repeated stabs at wood, including a few stabs on a wood knot.

The wood is white oak from home depot, it's 1 year old and is relatively dry. Very tough stuff great for scabbard making.

As a bonus I also stabbed a T60 Palmrest, and it's "aluminum or steel" sheet reinforcement.
The knife suffered minimal to no real damage. One minor nick, and some micro chipping. The tip suffered little damage maybe .05mm from the tip was lost if that. Still stabs just as good as before the test.
The micronicks and tip damage was able to be cleaned up using the spyderco sharpmaker with a barely measurable .07mm loss in steel, measured by caliper. The nick is still there but no longer affects cutting performance, and the tip is back to normal. Overall a huge success for Elmax. The same piece of wood I used to test the ZT561 has:
Rolled S35vn from two 21 sebenza, caused microchipping on my Alan davis 1095 custom, caused micronicks on my Buck Vantage Pro S30v, among a few other knives in the $50-$100 price range (ranging from carbon to stainless steels like 1060, 1095 to chinese AUS8, S30v, 440c).

So far only the W2 Custom from Lon humphrey (sold off a while ago) is the only one which took it in stride with no damage what so ever.
Sorry for the video quality, youtube decided to screw up the scaling.
[video=youtube;9MT4AT2Gbzg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MT4AT2Gbzg[/video]

Second test is testing edge strength along the belly of the knife. Seeing if it will roll, bend, chip, nick, or micronick. Results were good, no edge damage at all. Not even micronicking.

[video=youtube;AEDYUqrNilI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEDYUqrNilI[/video]


To see other testing done, send me a private message on BF.
Send requests to my Private message.

Only paid members may send requests.
Lastly: I will not perform batoning tests, I do not feel it prudent to baton ANY folding knife and have seen the results of batoning gone wrong. If you need to baton use an appropriate strength fixed blade.

Please send reasonable requests of hard use.
 
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I'm pretty sure that I want my 561 back now Luis... :)

Thank you kindly for the video of you testing a folder identical to my EDC. :)
 
:thumbup:Interesting test. Confirms my 'suspicion' that ZT makes quality knives:D


Luis G. said:
So far only the W2 Custom from Lon humphrey (sold off a while ago) is the only one which took it in stride with no damage what so ever.
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Interesting. I like his knives too and asked Lon, if he would make me a pig sticker.

Do you have a pic of the Lon Humphrey W2 knife, you had?

IMG_0716.jpg
 
Sure. Lon's a great guy and makes some seriously nice knives.
Plus forges his knives out which I have great respect for anyone whom does that.
And actually I think I will get getting another knife from him in the future, I really liked his work.

Sheath I believe was custom from Sharpshooter sheaths. I don't remember 100%.

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TheSharpLife74 said:
May I ask why only paid members can send requests for hard use?
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I tend to take things a bit too seriously for someone my age.
So, just a heads up if it isn't that important just know I am not doing it to hurt anyone, or because im a snob or elitist sob.

The reason I will only accept paid members is mostly having to do with supporting Bladeforums.
I understand not everyone has the financial liberty to donate or purchase a membership, so I will of course made exceptions for people who's work on the community is notable or if I find your recent post have been very helpful. Just shoot me a msg here and I will let you know.

I will also accept basic members to request tests if they have donated (time or money or items) any amount of money to a non-profit organization in the past year which:
1. Is non-profit news organization.
2. Offers humanitarian aid. (Clothes food money etc)
3. Animal rights, and protection.
4. Human rights.
5. Just about any other beneficial organization.

It will have to be done on the honor system, if you said you donated you donated.


@ Back on topic:

I received the first request which is a medium to hard use prying situation. I may be fine with doing this but I am not aware of what "medium" to "hard" use would be for a folding knife.

Anyone care to elaborate? (basic or paid members)
 
Alright next test started as a edge strength test.
Digging the knife into the white oak, and then snapping or prying whatever wood it bit off. Too soft of a steel would result in a edge bend or edge roll, while too hard of a steel would produce serious chipping or micronicks. I suspected micronicks would form at the worst, however the knife decided to prove me wrong by having no edge damage what so ever. Just a little duller knife, still shaved hair though.

Note: The test quickly developed into a chopping of the white oak mixed with the prying.

Video will be edited and hopefully uploaded by today.

Didn't have time to do a prying test, and also I wasn't sure how to test it.
I figured maybe putting the knife in a vice grip, and then adding say 15 lbs of weight would do it?

I would surely prefer something more practical if anyone has any ideas.
 
Alright 2nd test done.
This time it was to test edge strength.

Video is posted on the original thread.
 
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Brilliant work Luis. Thank you so much for your testing/video labor with the outstanding 561. You have added valuable content to the forum. Bravo!
 
Nice testing Luis:thumbup: my 561 is holding up great also, I really dig Elmax. I wonder if some folks just got overheated edges and thats where these problems rose from. That would be my guess.
 
Thanks for posting your tests Luis, I got a 0560 recently and the most aggressive thing I've cut was a pile of cardboard boxes. It just laughed at me...:p
 
 
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jvarn81 said:
Not trying to be a smart a**, but that's not white oak, its white pine. I heat my house with wood, and I do a lot of wood cutting every year, so I know a little. The pine knots are super hard, so that is impressive.

Still a good test though either way. Thanks.
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Not a wood expert here but I bought this at home depot, it was sold as white oak. Either way this wood is hard as crap. It isn't the hardest of woods but it's definitely enough to damage knives.

Even with new chisels it took nearly 6 hours straight to carve out the blade shape for the sword, and I would consider my self to have some knowledge in woodwork (my granpa was a carpenter, my father learned a little about wood work from him).
 
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