Zero Tolerance knives what is all the hype?

Congrats SunOfAtom....let us know how you like it when it arrives. For me, ZT makes some great knives...everything everyone else has already said in this thread. My only gripe is KAI's policy of being able to change designs without notice. My newest ZT (a 560) came without drill-outs on the the lock side titanium. The company siad they had changed the design and reserve the right to do so whenever. Problem is, the knife's published weight of 5.9oz was not updated and the knife weighs in at over 6oz (6.365oz). Would have expected at a minimum for KAI to update all the specs when they decide to change a design on existing production. Still, I love the knife and the extra weight is not an issue for me...just think manufacturers should have a responsibility to accurately represent their products. Other than this philosophical difference, I am a huge fan.
 
grownstar said:
Dude, my daughter has the exact same fork! Excellent :p
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Plot twist: straitr is your daughter :p

Oh yeah, and...

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I have ZT's and RHK's and I love them both but I tend to carry my XM-18 more but love the ZT quality too. I figure for the price I paid, I'm gonna use it!! ZT's are a great bang for the buck knife especially with the Hinderer collaboration.
 
fnzeee said:
Congrats SunOfAtom....let us know how you like it when it arrives. For me, ZT makes some great knives...everything everyone else has already said in this thread. My only gripe is KAI's policy of being able to change designs without notice. My newest ZT (a 560) came without drill-outs on the the lock side titanium. The company siad they had changed the design and reserve the right to do so whenever. Problem is, the knife's published weight of 5.9oz was not updated and the knife weighs in at over 6oz (6.365oz). Would have expected at a minimum for KAI to update all the specs when they decide to change a design on existing production. Still, I love the knife and the extra weight is not an issue for me...just think manufacturers should have a responsibility to accurately represent their products. Other than this philosophical difference, I am a huge fan.
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To paraphrase The Bard, a brick by any other name would weigh as much. ;) :D

Seriously, I agree that any change to a knife that alters a fundamental characteristic of that knife should be reflected in the knife's specs. Having said that and based on the number of times I've had to coax the information out of ZT staff, weight doesn't appear to be considered a "fundamental characteristic" of ZT knives. If anything, I suspect that adding more weight to an "overbuilt" knife would be seen as beneficial by ZT.
 
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I am gonna find out soon about this hype.
I handled ZT0350 which belonged to my friend and didn't really like it. I mean, the blade is too wide and thick... my EDC rotations are mostly Spyderco PM2, Caly3, or Endura. I really wanted to try ball bearings flipper and based by some reviews I tend to like the newer 0801. the size is OK for me (I haven't handled it yet) and I hear good things on KVT and overall the blade geometry. the design are really appeal to me also... clean lines.

so in short time I plan to order the original 0801 --- then some guy in my country put the M390 0801 CF for sale... and I bought it. i thought it is pretty rare and he sells it at MSRP. soon : the knife already at home, but I just went to another island for work until late July..:( gonna be my longest month ever.
 
I only recently got into ZTs, but I have two now and have already worked them a bit. I think I've had my 0550 for about a week and a half, and I've already put it through probably... 30 zip ties, 100 feet of cardboard, plastic wrap, blister packaging, paper, etc. While using it to bust zip ties off packing crates, I realized it was fastest to press the blade across the tie and whack the back of the blade to basically make a single pop baton. The blade blew through the thick ties we use and bit into the plastic below, time after time.

I am still on the factory edge, with no touch up required yet. It still slices great. No, it's not taking paper quite as laser-clean as it did out of box, but it is damn close. My Persistence would have required multiple touch ups along the way. Sure, it was easy to maintain it for work, but the 0550's CPM S35VN is ready to rock and roll even after lots of work. I will not find myself holding a poor working edge with this blade on me.

My 0566 has been with me a couple weeks longer and has done even more work. That's my usual work day carry lately. Still on the factory edge. Still slicing paper pretty cleanly. The Elmax has been awesome.

Ergonomically, I prefer the 0550 for extended use (that fat handle is great in use!), but they are both fantastic in hand.


You should note that I haven't bothered to discuss lock strength, opening speed, or how smooth the action is. The reason is simple: these things have not mattered at all in use. What I care about is where the rubber really hits the road-- how the blade interacts with what it is going through, and how the handle helps or hurts my ability to work with it.

For my purposes, these ZTs are living up to their reputation and then some. The Elmax controversy has not been reflected in my experience at all. On the contrary, I love it so far.

Would I buy more? Sure... The 0770cf would be a great 'going out' blade. The 0801 is an aesthetic miss with me in it's original form, but the washed versions are sexy beasts. I will own an 0562, though I wish it had a lanyard hole.

Oh... and KAI is 2 miles from my house in a Tualatin, OR, so it doesn't suck to be supporting local business :)
 
Opinions, even backed by the experiences of the more knowledgeable posters(definitely not me) can only help so much. I'm glad that I bought a used, modded ZT0550 2nd Gen to see what the hoopla was all about. This fits me perfectly. The seller put it through a Wicked Edge which made it super sharp. It's a "tank." I'm modding it further with a Cuscadi Digital Camo Scale. My Para 2s, which I also love are crying in the drawer, saying "Remember us?"

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In the mail...

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I'm not normally a fan of camo scales, but the scale on that 0550 looks amazing. :eek: :thumbup:
 
cigarrodog said:
Thank you. You're one of the more knowledgeable posters I was referring to.
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That's nice of you to say. But believe me, what I know wouldn't fill a thimble compared to what some folks know around here. I mostly just pay attention and try to pick up as much as I can from those who know far more than I do.
 
bld522 said:
Believe me, cigarrodog, what I know wouldn't fill a thimble compared to what some folks know around here. I mostly just pay attention and try to pick up as much as I can from those who know far more than I do.
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I hear you, but I still meant it. Oh no... I just did it again. Must stop.:)
 
Interesting thread. I guess I need to handle one to understand.

Everytime I see a ZT knife, I think of how the DPx HEST is better. A friend of mine has a DPx and its straight up awesome. I'd love to see a side by side comparison of a ZT xxx vs. DPx HEST.
 
White.Lightning said:
Interesting thread. I guess I need to handle one to understand.

Everytime I see a ZT knife, I think of how the DPx HEST is better. A friend of mine has a DPx and its straight up awesome. I'd love to see a side by side comparison of a ZT xxx vs. DPx HEST.
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Handle one before you decide the HEST is better ;)
 
I am sure the quality is there and the knife will last but I am not a fan of frame or liner lock. I have been using an Axis for so long it just comes natural to me to one hand the knife and never have any of my hand in front of the blade. This doesn't mean I would never own a ZT. I have not found one I feel is worth the outlay just to have it in my collection. It is a very stout knife and I wish I could warm up to the design.
 
A couple of years ago, I bought a ZT 0200.

I don't really care for it because of it being so heavy and the pocket clip will tear up pockets because of the handle texturing.

I did recently pick up a 0801 and really like it. It is the closest I have gotten to a custom knife so far. At a much more reasonable price.

It is too bad that so many of the cooler ZT designs are limited editions.

I would really like to see production versions of the 0600.
 
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