Zero Tolerance and their heat treat on steel....Newb here!!!

K

Kustom Kutz

Joined
Oct 17, 2016
Messages
79
sup guys,

Long time lurker. If this has been covered im sorry just point me to the thread. I tried researching but cannot find much that is current on this site.

I know people either love or hate ZT and they are kinda looked down upon from avid knife collectors. I LOVE custom blades but i am not in a position right now to drop 1k on a knife. Thus, I am one of the people that really like a lot of the knives ZT offers and the price points. I own two 300's, 620cf, 566cf and I have a used 0801 on the way. I carry one of the 300's but I plan on carrying the 0801 for my EDC. I know ZT had/has issues with heat treat on their steel primarily Elmax. What I cannot figure out is if this has been rectified or is it is still an issue. I saw on reddit that people were saying it has been rectified but I cannot find much here. Also some of the vids on youtube that are not too old still say they are having problems. If it has been rectified was there a time frame or serial number that people say is about when it got better?

I am not trying to start a fight or have fanboi's tell me all is good when its not. I am just looking for opinions from those of you that have put the blades to work, good or bad.
 
I don't look down on ZT and don't know avid knife collectors who do. For the price point I don't feel there are better made in America offerings. Others maybe comparable but not better.

I've owned maybe 20 ZT knives dating back to 2006 and have not had a single issue with their heat treat. I actually think it's pretty good but what would I know I've only been using, collecting, and making knives for 20 years
 
They dont have any issues with Elmax, not for a very long time. that may have been on one of there first elmax blades probably. that has now stuck with ZT for a long time because noobies keep spreading the word because they dont know any better. i personally like there elmax alot. its not a phil wilson heat treat or anything, so its edge retention isnt perfect, but thats to be understood with any mass produced production blade.

you will not have any issues with any of there blades, they are one of the best production blades in my opinion. Custom knives may have much better heat treat (if you specify as its costly $$$).
 
ZT's steel, heat treat, and everything else is perfectly fine. As far as production Ti flippers with bearings go, they are as good as it gets.
 
I bought an 0801 shortly after release, and I think the supposed Elmax issues had been resolved well before then. My only ZT prior to that wasn't Elmax, so that wasn't a concern.
 
No - there is no ZT heat treat problem. ZT is the high end brand of Kershaw, who has been making knives since the 70s, and was founded by people who made knives before that. They know their stuff, and there is no problem with heat treat. Period.

No, ZT is not "kinda looked down upon from avid knife collectors". ZT is one of the most popular brands of higher-end production knives.

Welcome to the forum.

best

mqqn
 
Noobie here too, but wondering why ZT is doing a rolling change to ALL Elmax blade knives to S35VN?
 
PT1911 said:
Noobie here too, but wondering why ZT is doing a rolling change to ALL Elmax blade knives to S35VN?
Click to expand...

Availability of steel, they had issues with getting Elmax and M390 so they went with local steel manufactures. That's why you now see some of their blades in 204P instead of M390.
 
PT1911 said:
Noobie here too, but wondering why ZT is doing a rolling change to ALL Elmax blade knives to S35VN?
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum!

Great screen name - I love 1911s.

For ZT - when you make 10s of thousands of knives, you have to be able to source steel in quantity, and Elmax and M390 seem to not be as available.

Simple business.

best

mqqn
 
The main perpetrator of the 'ZT has issues with Elmax' used what little clout he gained to steal a bunch of people's money and disappear...


So there's that...
 
Scurvy092 said:
The main perpetrator of the 'ZT has issues with Elmax' used what little clout he gained to steal a bunch of people's money and disappear...


So there's that...
Click to expand...

Yea but you are ZT's number one fan boy so..... :P

best

mqqn
 
Personally, I think ZT has excellent heat treatments, far better than you will find in a regular Kershaw IMO.
 
Scurvy092 said:
The main perpetrator of the 'ZT has issues with Elmax' used what little clout he gained to steal a bunch of people's money and disappear...


So there's that...
Click to expand...

Don't forget he also accused CRK of something similar involving heat treatment that was pretty much unsubstantiated. It's an unfortunate byproduct of the size of the knife community that a certain few tastemakers can make waves that ripple through the community for years after, even when they've been discredited.
 
No problems at all with ZT! Excellent knife, and materials, for the money........fantastic CS also!
Joe
 
Misanthropia said:
Don't forget he also accused CRK of something similar involving heat treatment that was pretty much unsubstantiated. It's an unfortunate byproduct of the size of the knife community that a certain few tastemakers can make waves that ripple through the community for years after, even when they've been discredited.
Click to expand...

Sorry to cause any drama that wasn't my intent. I was just trying to substantiate what I have seen doing research on ZT. Even though the knives are only generally 200-300 that is a lot of money for me with a 1 year old daughter.

I appreciate all the feedback so far!
 
I've owned a few ZT knives , still have a Hinderer 0561.

They are excellent knives and well worth the money. Also, they do have a few models that are in the $140 to $150 range.

If that's still too expensive, check out the Dendra Deer Hunter and Typhoon, both made by Lionsteel and IMO at $120 are bargains.
 
Welcome to BF!

As mentioned above, you will have not have any problems with the heat treat on the ZT's. I currently own 5 and have not had a problem with any of them! I feel your pain about the budgeting for knife purchases when having the endless money pit of a child(ren). Your best bet is to keep your eye on the production folder exchange here! There are many individuals that sell hardly used knives for some amazing prices. I've been lucky enough to get 3 of my 5 from other members here :thumbup:
 
TBL said:
Welcome to BF!

As mentioned above, you will have not have any problems with the heat treat on the ZT's. I currently own 5 and have not had a problem with any of them! I feel your pain about the budgeting for knife purchases when having the endless money pit of a child(ren). Your best bet is to keep your eye on the production folder exchange here! There are many individuals that sell hardly used knives for some amazing prices. I've been lucky enough to get 3 of my 5 from other members here :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Ya I fine spending the 200-300 on a quality product. But thats just it....I wanted to do my due diligence and make sure that I spent my money wisely since my youngster will be getting powder milk now for awhile(Kidding geesh)!

There are 3 ZT's I want starting with the 0095 but I may save up for a Grayman Dua or used Sebenza from the market first. All in all just researching at this point and from what everyone says ZT is GTG.
 
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