Zero Tolerance Current/Upcoming/Discontinued Models

b00n said:
That's kinda weird to me. But I guess they are getting rid of old S35VN Stock. (Also I hate exclusive sprint runs. :( I really wanted a 0452Ti but I am not dealing with customs/importing anymore)
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I don't think ZT is "getting rid of old S35VN stock".

Also, these may not be Russian and/or overseas exclusives. Too soon to tell.

Both 0452TI (CPM-S35VN) and 0452TIBLU (CPM-S35VN) were widely available everywhere including U.S. as Sprints and you can still find them in stock at some U.S. dealers for $212 shipped.
 
RamZar said:
I don't think ZT is "getting rid of old S35VN stock".

Also, these may not be Russian and/or overseas exclusives. Too soon to tell.

Both 0452TI (CPM-S35VN) and 0452TIBLU (CPM-S35VN) were widely available everywhere including U.S. as Sprints and you can still find them in stock at some U.S. dealers for $212 shipped.
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Well, it just seems likely to me. As for the 0452Ti/Blu, they were US Exclusives from Blue Ridge Knives (IIRC), my ZT Dealer (here in Germany/Europe) couldn't import them and they weren't offered/available to him from ZT. I could order it AND probably get it fine, but after a big legal f-up with my local customs office, I shy away from it since I don't wanna go through a two year legal battle that gets eventually dropped. o_O:D
 
b00n said:
Well, it just seems likely to me. As for the 0452Ti/Blu, they were US Exclusives from Blue Ridge Knives (IIRC), my ZT Dealer (here in Germany/Europe) couldn't import them and they weren't offered/available to him from ZT. I could order it AND probably get it fine, but after a big legal f-up with my local customs office, I shy away from it since I don't wanna go through a two year legal battle that gets eventually dropped. o_O:D
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I couldn't tell you were in Germany.

Like most knife manufacturers, ZT sometimes produces a batch for a particular dealer or distributor. Just the nature of the game.
 
RamZar said:
I couldn't tell you were in Germany.

Like most knife manufacturers, ZT sometimes produces a batch for a particular dealer or distributor. Just the nature of the game.
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No worries, you weren't wrong. And I know the nature of the game, I still can be a bit miffed about it though. ;)
 
Yeah, ZT is continuing to produce several models in S35VN. They’re definitely not trying to use up their stock.
 
b00n said:
Oh, yeah. Older models, just the new one's and upcoming in 20CV *goes and sits in the corner* :oops:
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There seems to be a widespread misunderstanding on this front, I’ve heard it from lots people. All ZT has said is that their new models for 2018 will be in 20CV. Past models are staying as they have been, and post-2018 is undetermined.

Somehow a lot of folks heard their announcement and eagerly reinterpreted it to mean: “ZT is changing everything they ever made or will make to 20CV!!”
 
halden.doerge said:
There seems to be a widespread misunderstanding on this front, I’ve heard it from lots people. All ZT has said is that their new models for 2018 will be in 20CV. Past models are staying as they have been, and post-2018 is undetermined.

Somehow a lot of folks heard their announcement and eagerly reinterpreted it to mean: “ZT is changing everything they ever made or will make to 20CV!!”
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They did indeed but I think the whole "We'll be using 20CV from here on out" was the part that stuck with most people, which sort of gave the impression of "We'll be using it from here on out in our entire production process" which they of course didn't say.
 
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Had this thing for a little over a week now so it's definitely old news for most of you guys. Been in my pocket every day now and it is an excellent tool. I have a few other ZT's but this is by far the best slicer. With the .030" thinner blade than usual and a fairly high flat grind, that was to be expected and it didn't disappoint. It reminds me in that regard to my favorite Kershaw, the Camber. The Camber and the 0609 have other similarities too in weight, length, width. It replaced my 0450 this weekend since it's light enough to not make my shorts droop. I could see my 0450 being relegated to just nightlife and other social affairs.

The other thing I like is how this thing feels in the hand. The clip is placed in such a manner that you just don't feel it while gripping. And for a smallish knife, my medium hand wraps around it with all fingers in place.

Unfortunately I'm not goo-goo over the looks of this thing. Obviously subjective. It's not that I find it ugly, as I actually think it's a very pretty knife. It's just not my style. It looks a little insect-y. The coating on the handle is gorgeous but again, not something I desire. Plain jane Ti would have been perfect. And since I'm whining like a little girl I would also prefer a stone washed blade. Now, none of these cosmetic gripes with the knife will make me get rid of it as it is just such a pleasure to use.

My other gripes are that it weighs more than quoted; 3.6 oz to the 3.3 advertised. Mine has the blade just a bit off centered. KAI, we need the STP tool! And the lockbar was making a clicking sound when I first got it but that seems to be gone now. Maybe something was caught in between the blade and lockbar insert, I dunno.

Overall, I would buy again. Especially if they do a natural Ti with all stonewashed blade.
 
Get the anodizing removed? Not a really difficult process. For stonewashing you might need to ask somebody with experience to do it for you. :thumbsup:
 
hectorsn said:
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Had this thing for a little over a week now so it's definitely old news for most of you guys. Been in my pocket every day now and it is an excellent tool. I have a few other ZT's but this is by far the best slicer. With the .030" thinner blade than usual and a fairly high flat grind, that was to be expected and it didn't disappoint. It reminds me in that regard to my favorite Kershaw, the Camber. The Camber and the 0609 have other similarities too in weight, length, width. It replaced my 0450 this weekend since it's light enough to not make my shorts droop. I could see my 0450 being relegated to just nightlife and other social affairs.

The other thing I like is how this thing feels in the hand. The clip is placed in such a manner that you just don't feel it while gripping. And for a smallish knife, my medium hand wraps around it with all fingers in place.

Unfortunately I'm not goo-goo over the looks of this thing. Obviously subjective. It's not that I find it ugly, as I actually think it's a very pretty knife. It's just not my style. It looks a little insect-y. The coating on the handle is gorgeous but again, not something I desire. Plain jane Ti would have been perfect. And since I'm whining like a little girl I would also prefer a stone washed blade. Now, none of these cosmetic gripes with the knife will make me get rid of it as it is just such a pleasure to use.

My other gripes are that it weighs more than quoted; 3.6 oz to the 3.3 advertised. Mine has the blade just a bit off centered. KAI, we need the STP tool! And the lockbar was making a clicking sound when I first got it but that seems to be gone now. Maybe something was caught in between the blade and lockbar insert, I dunno.

Overall, I would buy again. Especially if they do a natural Ti with all stonewashed blade.
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Mine's so new I haven't even started slicing with it yet, but one reason I made this became my first ZT was its relatively thin blade, as I love a great slicer.

You make a great point regarding the clip. I was actually just looking online at an aftermarket clip for it, but I'm not sure I want one after all. I might prefer a deeper carry clip, but not much of the knife sticks out of the pocket as it is, especially given the tapered handle end. And such third party deep carry clips seem likely to stick into the palm more than the stock clip.

I get what you're saying about the finish. For my taste, it's a nice change from other titanium handle knives I have. I was pleased that the finish is darker and less yellow than it appeared on some of the YouTube clips where I first saw the knife. I do really like the look of the blade shape, and it's impressive how long a cutting edge they fit into the handle.

The grip also feels great in my XL size hand. Really impressive for the handle length. I'm not sure yet whether it will replace the SpydieChef as my favorite EDC slicer, but it may make my M390 PM2 obsolete. That knife now feels so big in the pocket compared to the 0609, which has a longer cutting edge.
 
First post. Great forum.

I want to thank everyone here on the pics and input on the 0609. I picked up this knife really based on this post and I love it.

I have been mainly a Spyderco guy over the years and I recently decided I needed to go in a different direction. I had several requirements when I began the journey:
  • Preferably CPM-20CV or M390 steel. Not a big fan of CPM S30V.
  • A blade close to 3.5" long.
  • Weight of 3.5 or less ounces. I have several knifes that are 5 - 5.5 ounces and they always feel heavy and noticeable to me in my pocket.
  • Not bulky. Thin. Most my knifes feel really bulky in my pocket.
  • Budget $200 - $250 but could stretch this if needed.
  • Smooth action.
  • Preferably flipper.
  • Preferably harpoon style blade.
I looked at a bunch of other knifes and the 0609 kept coming up on top. The only other knife I ended up seriously considering was the Benchmade 940-1 but after reading and watching reviews I was very concerned about shoddy QC and getting a decent knife. It is also not a flipper.

The 0609 is an awesome knife. Everything is so well executed. It is light and relatively small. It is really amazing they fit a 3.4" blade in this knife. There are so many significantly heavier and bulkier knifes out there that give you a blade only .1" longer. It has a great weight, is relatively thin, and is not bulky at all. It goes in my pocket and I forget it is there. The action is silky smooth. The design is awesome. Everything is so well thought out. Blade is centered and out of the box it is sharp as well (I have a cut on my finger to prove it). First ZT knife and I'm very impressed.

Thanks!
 
fliptwister said:
First post. Great forum.

I want to thank everyone here on the pics and input on the 0609. I picked up this knife really based on this post and I love it.

I have been mainly a Spyderco guy over the years and I recently decided I needed to go in a different direction. I had several requirements when I began the journey:
  • Preferably CPM-20CV or M390 steel. Not a big fan of CPM S30V.
  • A blade close to 3.5" long.
  • Weight of 3.5 or less ounces. I have several knifes that are 5 - 5.5 ounces and they always feel heavy and noticeable to me in my pocket.
  • Not bulky. Thin. Most my knifes feel really bulky in my pocket.
  • Budget $200 - $250 but could stretch this if needed.
  • Smooth action.
  • Preferably flipper.
  • Preferably harpoon style blade.
I looked at a bunch of other knifes and the 0609 kept coming up on top. The only other knife I ended up seriously considering was the Benchmade 940-1 but after reading and watching reviews I was very concerned about shoddy QC and getting a decent knife. It is also not a flipper.

The 0609 is an awesome knife. Everything is so well executed. It is light and relatively small. It is really amazing they fit a 3.4" blade in this knife. There are so many significantly heavier and bulkier knifes out there that give you a blade only .1" longer. It has a great weight, is relatively thin, and is not bulky at all. It goes in my pocket and I forget it is there. The action is silky smooth. The design is awesome. Everything is so well thought out. Blade is centered and out of the box it is sharp as well (I have a cut on my finger to prove it). First ZT knife and I'm very impressed.

Thanks!
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I’m right there with you. I had almost all Spyderco knives and just got the 0609. I agree with all you said. What a great knife! Easy to carry, extremely well built with a superb blade.

I’m questioning why I would carry my M390 PM2 now. Still not sure whether it will overtake the SpydieChef as my favorite all-around pocket knife.
 
The SpidieChef looks interesting. Not familiar with LC200 N steel so hard for me to comment on it. The height (not sure if that is right term, not handle thickness) of knife closed of SpydieChef looks a bit more than 0609. The PM2 appears to have the same issue. I have a Manix 2 and the "height" of knife really is significantly more than the 0609. Relating to less "height" another thing I like about 0609 is that it does not interfere with putting other stuff in pocket as much when using clip. One thing that also drives me nuts on Spyderco is that the cutting edge length often seems to be significantly less than blade length (though the SpidieChef looks good in this regard). My Manix 2 has a blade length of 3.375" and cutting edge of 2.92". The PM2 has blade length of 3.4" and cutting edge of 3.0". The 0609 has a blade length 3.4" and cutting edge of 3.375". Handle length also seems to be longer related to blade length with many Spyderco knifes. The handle length is about 1.2" - 1.4" longer than blade length with the SpidieChef, PM2, and Manix 2. With the 0609, the handle is only about .6" longer than blade length. I'm really loving the size of this knife for the size blade and cutting edge that you get.
 
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fliptwister said:
The SpidieChef looks interesting. Not familiar with LC200 N steel so hard for me to comment on it. The height (not sure if that is right term, not handle thickness) of knife closed of SpydieChef looks a bit more than 0609. The PM2 appears to have the same issue. I have a Manix 2 and the "height" of knife really is significantly more than the 0609. Relating to less "height" another thing I like about 0609 is that it does not interfere with putting other stuff in pocket as much when using clip. One thing that also drives me nuts on Spyderco is that the cutting edge length often seems to be significantly less than blade length (though the SpidieChef looks good in this regard). My Manix 2 has a blade length of 3.375" and cutting edge of 2.92". The PM2 has blade length of 3.4" and cutting edge of 3.0". The 0609 has a blade length 3.4" and cutting edge of 3.375". Handle length also seems to be longer related to blade length with many Spyderco knifes. The handle length is about 1.2" - 1.4" longer than blade length with the SpidieChef, PM2, and Manix 2. With the 0609, the handle is only about .6" longer than blade length. I'm really loving the size of this knife for the size blade and cutting edge that you get.
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I agree that the 0609's cutting edge to handle length ratio is really impressive. Plus the texture of the handles is a nice contrast to the SpydieChef's smooth titanium. You're right about the handle height, and the SpydieChef is definitely higher in that sense, especially when closed. The widest (highest?) part of the SpydieChef's handle exceeds the width of the widest part of the 0609. Plus the 0609 is quite tapered near the clip. Thankfully the wide end of the SpydieChef, near the pivot, sits off to the bottom and outer side of the pocket.

The SpydieChef's handle is a little longer, and its cutting edge is only barely longer than that of the 0609. The 0609 weighs 0.1 oz less. I think the 0609 may be slightly better in the pocket, but I haven't had it long enough to say. The SpydieChef's attractive features in the pocket are the angled handle that keeps the lower half of the knife lateral in the pocket and its minimal handle thickness, plus the lack of a flipper tab. It has a deep carry clip, which is nice.

I think the 0609 may edge out the SpydieChef in pocket presence generally, but both are great for the blade size. Due to handle thickness, the SpydieChef may be better for tight pockets of normal width, but the 0609 should be better when either the pocket width side to side or the pocket height is limited. Both feel nice and smooth next to the hand and have great ergonomics. I think one of the most impressive features of the 0609 is how nice it feels in the hand, even my XL hand, for the size of the handle. And to accomplish that without a forward finger choil, which would eat up blade length, preserves that great cutting edge.

Both these knives are outstanding. One reason I may at times reach for the SpydieChef is that it's a supreme slicer. That high blade is extremely thin behind the edge. The 0609 may be superior for harder use tasks.

LC200N is a really interesting steel, practically rustproof. It retains a fine edge quite well and is easy to sharpen. It's essentially the same steel as Z-FiNit. Still, 20CV is hard to beat. I love my M390 PM2, but 20CV is very similar, and the 0609 is so much easier to carry. With the SpydieChef, 0609, and my CF/G-10 Chaparral for a small attractive slicer that disappears in the pocket, I'll never need to buy another knife again.

Yeah, right.

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Does anyone know why the black versions would have only S35VN steel when the regular version has CPM-20CV?
 
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Most likely do to profit margins... I like s35vn, But it would've been nice of them to keep the blades 20cv. The un-coated 393 would've been an instabuy in 20cv.
 
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