Zero Tolerance could push their way back to the forefront of premium production knives. Why don’t they do it?

[vjb.knife]

The non damascus version already used M390. Not too many premium steels that would be an upgrade over that.

True but, not a lot easier to find than the original. And when you find one for sale they are usaually asking stoopid money for it.

 

[sgt1372]

Don't know if it "means" anything or not but . . .

Just looking at the Exchange, there are two 0200's, two 0450's and one 0562 that have remained unsold for several days. Only one low ball offer on one of the 0450's. In years past, those knives would have sold in seconds.

So, at least around here, it doesn't seem like the "old school" ZTs are that popular right now. I'm still buying some to backfill/expand my small/selective "old school' collection of ZTs but . . .

Knife buyers around here can be fickle.

 

[argyle1812]

I dont think ZT can do a knife that has enough "fidget factor" to be top of the pile anymore.

 

[The Grendels]

They're probably happy with all the money they're raking in with Kershaw sales, with Kershaw churning out a ton of new models this year. The Zero Tolerance knives act as guarantor of quality for Kershaw as much as anything these days, for people beyond the "me need sharp and pointy thing now" crowd. I'd love to see them go back to doing collaborations with well known/established designers again, but I can imagine any manufacturer is going to be thinking about playing it cool with the global supply crisis and a recession looming on the horizon. It's not a great time to start sticking your neck out as a manufacturer. It really comes down to the management of KAI and who is in charge of that and the Zero Tolerance division to see if there's any appetite to renew the brand with new designs.

 

[JD Bear]

0566 in titanium with a micarta scale and no assist....I'd buy one for every day of the week

 

[sharp_edge]

Don't know if it "means" anything or not but . . .

Just looking at the Exchange, there are two 0200's, two 0450's and one 0562 that have remained unsold for several days. Only one low ball offer on one of the 0450's. In years past, those knives would have sold in seconds.

So, at least around here, it doesn't seem like the "old school" ZTs are that popular right now. I'm still buying some to backfill/expand my small/selective "old school' collection of ZTs but . . .

Knife buyers around here can be fickle.

0450 and 0562 are still in production. These two 0200s are priced very high (perhaps the highest among the ones for sale here that I have seen)

 

[Silent H]

I spent a big chunk of change for this ZT

with the blade open and the locking mechanism latched, it takes a small tap to the back of the blade to cause the lock to fail, resulting in the blade unlocking and rotating. Best way to test this is by holding the handle sides between the thumb and forefinger, that way I don't run the risk of being cut when the blade breaks loose.

I consider that a fail, and I am not going to spend $300 for a more expensive fail.

I had the lock on my 909 fail while I was cutting a particularly long and thick piece of cardboard. I paused the cut to get a better grip on the cardboard and let up pressure on the knife, then when I started trying to cut again the handle moved ant the blade did not. Turns out the lockface was very soft and deformed, so the blade was able to just slip right off. ZT replaced the lock and sent it back, I've never been able to trust the knife after that though. They also sharpened the blade while it was in for service despite me asking them not to, and now it's monstrously thick behind the edge. It's too bad, since it's a great working knife, and I love Les George's designs.

I've always felt that ZT was at their best when they were making designs from custom makers in the USA at a reasonable price point. I mean, where else could you get a GTC knife for ~$300? The ZT0055 was a pretty much one for one rebuild of his Airborne design. Same for Les George's Harpy and Emerson's Raven, among others. Unfortunately it seems like the ease of outsourcing has killed off that aspect of the market, and now designers are more likely to make and market production versions of their designs themselves.

 

[tony281sc2]

0450 and 0562 are still in production. These two 0200s are priced very high (perhaps the highest among the ones for sale here that I have seen)

Well someone can always make an offer. I see the 0300s go for a decent amount more and those are assisted..
Also it’s tough to let go of a “brand new” knife that is 10+ years old. At least for me it is lol

 

[sharp_edge]

Well someone can always make an offer. I see the 0300s go for a decent amount more and those are assisted..
Also it’s tough to let go of a “brand new” knife that is 10+ years old. At least for me it is lol

Nothing wrong to set whatever price the seller likes. I'm just pointing out why those ZTs did not move quickly. Also, 0200 is no comparison to 030× and its price has always been significantly lower than the latter.

 

[helobite]

I had the lock on my 909 fail while I was cutting a particularly long and thick piece of cardboard. I paused the cut to get a better grip on the cardboard and let up pressure on the knife, then when I started trying to cut again the handle moved ant the blade did not. Turns out the lockface was very soft and deformed, so the blade was able to just slip right off. ZT replaced the lock and sent it back, I've never been able to trust the knife after that though. They also sharpened the blade while it was in for service despite me asking them not to, and now it's monstrously thick behind the edge. It's too bad, since it's a great working knife, and I love Les George's designs.

I've always felt that ZT was at their best when they were making designs from custom makers in the USA at a reasonable price point. I mean, where else could you get a GTC knife for ~$300? The ZT0055 was a pretty much one for one rebuild of his Airborne design. Same for Les George's Harpy and Emerson's Raven, among others. Unfortunately it seems like the ease of outsourcing has killed off that aspect of the market, and now designers are more likely to make and market production versions of their designs themselves.

Blade closing on your hand must have hurt! Sorry to read of it. I still have cuts on my fingers from similar incidents. I really appreciate the lock backs we have today, it is just too easy to get cut if you have to rely only on mainspring strength.


Safety features should work. I consider this axiomatic. There are those here who challenge the need for a blade lock, by their questioning of my back whack. My whack force would not have broken a pencil, and yet the lock failed. And the lock should not have failed. I wonder if the faithful Product Cultists will ever learn that when safety devices fail, catastrophic accidents happen. Will they remember this if they get their pants leg caught in the wood chipper feed, and find out that the emergency stop button does stop the machine? Probably not, and if they are dragged in with the tree branch, they will be spit out the other end as wet pulp.

I could create a thousand crazy examples of the dangers that could happen when safety devices fail. Thousands die every year when their safety belt malfunctions, who would have thought?

Not only should safety devices work, but manufacturers should not ship knives where the locks fail so easily. Others will of course disagree, but I am only worried about my fingers, and hope the doubters earn the nickname "Short fingers".

 

[Silent H]

Blade closing on your hand must have hurt! Sorry to read of it.

The flipper tab hit my finger first, one of the reasons I love flippers. The blade was embedded in the cardboard, so it wouldn't have been all that deep of a cut anyway.

 

[MSchott]

Don't know if it "means" anything or not but . . .

Just looking at the Exchange, there are two 0200's, two 0450's and one 0562 that have remained unsold for several days. Only one low ball offer on one of the 0450's. In years past, those knives would have sold in seconds.

So, at least around here, it doesn't seem like the "old school" ZTs are that popular right now. I'm still buying some to backfill/expand my small/selective "old school' collection of ZTs but . . .

Knife buyers around here can be fickle.

There is a lot more competition these days. I am no old timer when it comes to knives but when I first started collecting 6-7 years ago ZT was very popular on this site. Maybe it's me but brands like Hinderer weren't on my radar back then. Maybe they and other similar brands were over my budget. I ended up with an 0450 and an 0460. I still own both but now I focus on the next level. I have a higher end WE and 2 Hinderers.

 

[DocJekl]

There is a lot more competition these days. I am no old timer when it comes to knives but when I first started collecting 6-7 years ago ZT was very popular on this site. Maybe it's me but brands like Hinderer weren't on my radar back then. Maybe they and other similar brands were over my budget. I ended up with an 0450 and an 0460. I still own both but now I focus on the next level. I have a higher end WE and 2 Hinderers.

I have 3 Hinderers (XM-18 and Half Track) but still really enjoy my ZT 0562Ti and 0562CF (custom shredded CF scales). Mine are very well built and an exemplary demonstration of workmanship. They feel like $400 knives. My ZT 0770CF feels more like a high-end Kershaw assisted flipper, but I knew that going into it. My $270 We Vision R SNECX also feels like a high end knife, so I know where you are coming from.

 

[tony281sc2]

Here’s what we have been waiting for, a blackwash titanium 0562!

But why oh why S110V on a hard use knife? Magnacut would’ve been a no brainer I woulda thought…???

 

[Bryan J]

Here’s what we have been waiting for, a blackwash titanium 0562!
View attachment 1978115
But why oh why S110V on a hard use knife? Magnacut would’ve been a no brainer I woulda thought…???

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not here, but to me this knife is very, very "ZT". And it is a good example how they are not going to be "pushing their way back to the forefront of premium production knives".

 

[tony281sc2]

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not here, but to me this knife is very, very "ZT". And it is a good example how they are not going to be "pushing their way back to the forefront of premium production knives".

I was excited when I saw it.. I just don’t know how many knife people are going to want S110V on that knife.
magnacut makes perfect sense for a company who prides themselves on being a hard use brand.
I’m tired of seeing them use the same damn steels. Look at Spyderco, they have magnacut, M4, Rex-45, cruwear, 3V, 4V etc.

 

[Hackenslash]

Here’s what we have been waiting for, a blackwash titanium 0562!
View attachment 1978115
But why oh why S110V on a hard use knife? Magnacut would’ve been a no brainer I woulda thought…???

That’s a boatload of NOPE.
That blade could be solid gold and it’d still be a NOPE, Magnacut can’t save it.
As Bryan J said, that knife is concrete evidence that ZT isn’t heading back to the top anytime soon.

 

[tony281sc2]

That’s a boatload of NOPE.
That blade could be solid gold and it’d still be a NOPE, Magnacut can’t save it.
As Bryan J said, that knife is concrete evidence that ZT isn’t heading back to the top anytime soon.

What don’t you like about it, the graphics on the handle? I could do without those, it looks like an 80s muscle car.
FWIW, if Hinderer realeased some XM-18 (I hear those have been around a while too ;-) ) slicers, in battle black, with G10, they would sell out in a day. But Rick would NOT choose S110V.
Whatever I don’t care All that much, I don’t need more 0562s.
I would like (no, love) to see the 0393 offered with about 3+ more blade shapes.

 

[Hackenslash]

What don’t you like about it, the graphics on the handle? I could do without those, it looks like an 80s muscle car.
FWIW, if Hinderer realeased some XM-18 (I hear those have been around a while too ;-) ) slicers, in battle black, with G10, they would sell out in a day. But Rick would NOT choose S110V

It’s old and worn out. I’ve had an 0562 since release and I have no desire to buy another one. It’s the same old gripe against ZT: take a model from the past (or in this case, the present) and release it with “X”changed.

This appeals to ZT collectors and that small segment of the population that notice the 0562 for the first time in this iteration.

It doesn’t do anything to restore former glory or move ZT back to the top. This knife moves my needle not at all.

The last ZT I bought is the 0609; I haven’t wanted anything I’ve seen from them since. I take that back, I might grab an 0470 if I ever see one at the right time and price.

 

[tony281sc2]

Good time to get A 0609, they’re being discontinued along with the base 0640, and both are on sale at some places.

And part of my point was that Hinderers have been the same (more or less) since they came out. Yet people still LOVE them. Maybe it’s the aftermarket mods, or maybe it’s all the different blade shapes they offer (probably more like it).
ZT, would it kill you to offer more blade shapes for the 0562s and 0393s? They WILL sell at that $300 mark