Zero Tolerance knives what is all the hype?

You're preaching to the choir, my friend. Hopefully Scurvy will drop by soon and tell you what I'd like ZT to build next. ;) :D
 
I'm a big ZT fan. I own a few and love them all with the 0550 being my favorite. I enjoy overbuilt knives. I just wish that ZT would make more non-flippers.
 
I like the designs, but they're all too big and heavy for my needs. A 3" model under 3 oz would get my attention.
 
I really dig the big over built knives ZT produces. The 0200, 0350, 0550 and 0560 are my standbys but my newest addition is continuing in the new thinking. The 0801 is such a smooth flipper its almost no fun to flip...I did say almost. USA made to boot. No other knife delivers what I look for in a knife at this (or any) price point
 
Akapennypincher said:
I am not trying to start a war, but I am wonder if ZT Knives are really something special, or the company just has some wonderful PR Machine that is driving?

Personally I like the looks of the ZT Blackwashed Blades, but the knives almost look to fancy to put in a pocket with key, or they will get unpretentious fast.
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Well, having just become the proud owner of a brand, spanking new ZT 560, I think there really is something special about this knife.

Here's a photo I just took of it...





Of all the ZT's I own, this one is quite possibly my favorite. Why?

Well, it's uber cool, for one. It has that ball bearing system that makes it a breeze to flip or flick open, holds a wicked edge. And it sure does make clipping cigars a breeze. Oh, it's also a plenty strong knife, as most all my ZTs are.

What's not to like? Hmmmm.... don't know!
 
The company was started to make knives for the military and law enforcement/emergency services industry. They do a great job. I have owned many of their models...all good. Generally, they have been too heavy-duty for my very casual carry needs.
 
The LE knives have been fantastic..A top 3 manufacturer of Made in USA production folders that won't break the bank from my experiences.Good quality knives.
 
I've always been a bit perplexed by Zero Tolerance. The build quality and materials used on most of their knives shout "hard use", but the price tags alone lead me to believe that a lot of these knives end up being safe queens. Sure, you could use a 0350 to (slowly) chop down a tree, but I really doubt most users would risk tweaking the lock or marring the finish by wailing on their ZT. I've handled a few of their knives and kept an eye on the company over the years, and they seem to be very well built knives that usually look great (I love those Ken Onion recurved blades). I just can't personally justify spending so much money on something just to wail on it when there are so many less expensive overbuilt knives on the market. I'm also a tool user, not just a collector, so I couldn't justify owning something as sturdy as a ZT without hard using it. My opinion is that a large portion of their sales have to do with their price point being out of the range of so many other companies. Exclusivity is certainly a motivation for many knife knuts. If the knife you carry is more expensive than 9/10 knives carried by most other people, then it suddenly becomes a bit of a status symbol. I understand that and I'm not knocking it, but let's at least be honest about it.

As a side note, I think it doesn't hurt that ZT knives get a lot of screen time on NCIS. I'd bet a lot of folks get turned on to the company because of that product placement.
 
FPS Knifer said:
I've always been a bit perplexed by Zero Tolerance. The build quality and materials used on most of their knives shout "hard use", but the price tags alone lead me to believe that a lot of these knives end up being safe queens. Sure, you could use a 0350 to (slowly) chop down a tree, but I really doubt most users would risk tweaking the lock or marring the finish by wailing on their ZT. I've handled a few of their knives and kept an eye on the company over the years, and they seem to be very well built knives that usually look great (I love those Ken Onion recurved blades). I just can't personally justify spending so much money on something just to wail on it when there are so many less expensive overbuilt knives on the market. I'm also a tool user, not just a collector, so I couldn't justify owning something as sturdy as a ZT without hard using it. My opinion is that a large portion of their sales have to do with their price point being out of the range of so many other companies. Exclusivity is certainly a motivation for many knife knuts. If the knife you carry is more expensive than 9/10 knives carried by most other people, then it suddenly becomes a bit of a status symbol. I understand that and I'm not knocking it, but let's at least be honest about it.

As a side note, I think it doesn't hurt that ZT knives get a lot of screen time on NCIS. I'd bet a lot of folks get turned on to the company because of that product placement.
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My comments are in response to the parts of your post that I've highlighted in bold.

None of my ZTs are safe queens, and they've all been sharpened by me, thus "destroying their value" to a collector. I could care less about that. I sharpen them because I use them. That said, I don't put them through chores they aren't built for. So, I don't chop with my folders. My ZT 0100 fixed blade, of course. And I modify just about all my knives, with perhaps the exception of a custom Eddie White fixed blade that I don't use at all, just admire.

It's also possible that your idea of hard use and mine are different. To each his own. I'm not going to try to chop a brick in two with my folders, ZT or otherwise. I've other more appropriate tools for that.

As for ZT's price point, well, I suppose they're a pretty good bang for the buck. I have quite a few Kershaws, Benchmades, and a few Spydercos. My favorites by far are the ZTs and the Benchmades, but that's about it. I do like my Kabar fixed blades, natch. Awesome knives. Also, have a Strider SNG that I don't use hard, even though it's built for it. And I don't EDC it either, but it's been sharpened and gets used a fair bit. Did I destroy it's value as a consequence? Hmmm.. doubt it. If I ever decide to sell it, it won't be tough.

BTW, I have plenty of "value priced" knives too, but they sure don't get very much pocket time. I wonder why?
 
goodeyesniper said:
They make knives of exceptional quality, with great materials, here in my home country. Can't say anything bad about them as a company. The part I don't really like is the current tend of overbuilt knives they solely subsist on. Sure, just about everyone does it to an extent, but not everyone makes their entire line up into this trendy, pocket jewelry knife that gives a bunch of people the illusion of strength. Yeah, they're strong, but so are plenty of knives built much thinner, which cut and carry more efficiently, and ultimately will make a day of hard use much more enjoyable.

I'm not trying to say there anything wrong with preferring that feel at all. I'm a firm proponent of carrying what makes you happy. I just get on edge when people treat it like it's some necessity for a hard use knife to carry like a brick. It's akin to people thinking old cars from the sixties are so much safer because they "feel so strong" with all that steel and bulk, yet you see it get in a crash with a new Camry and you really see where the feel of bulk does not necessarily translate into actually being better...
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Well, I was just about to type out a post that would have looked almost exactly like this one! Thanks for saving me the time. ;)
 
I like the designs, but they're all too big and heavy for my needs. A 3" model under 3 oz would get my attention.
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Yes! But I'm not sure ZT will go this direction. I'd be more interested in the brand if they did. The 0566 is relatively dainty by ZT standards, and it's 3.25" and 5.3 oz.
 
ChrisB507 said:
Yes! But I'm not sure ZT will go this direction. I'd be more interested in the brand if they did. The 0566 is relatively dainty by ZT standards, and it's 3.25" and 5.3 oz.
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With a name like "Zero Tolerance" do you really think they are going to get into providing lightweight stuff? Kershaw does a fair amount of that already.

Imagine if a knife brand were to appear named "The Beast." Do you think they'd make dainty knives? It'd be the end of their brand.
 
Folderguy said:
With a name like "Zero Tolerance" do you really think they are going to get into providing lightweight stuff? Kershaw does a fair amount of that already.

Imagine if a knife brand were to appear named "The Beast." Do you think they'd make dainty knives? It'd be the end of their brand.
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You are almost right. The thing is, ZT is not just the LEO/Duty arm of KAI anymore but also their high end, limited edition, higher price point brand. Case in point, Kershaw used to carry knives like the Tilt and the Volt3600. Nowadays, you see those type of knives like the Volt's follow up of sorts, the 0600 with ZT instead. That's what Jimmer, Thomas, and members of their fan group wanted to clarify... So expecting them to appeal to a wider group (their actual goal) can't be too far fetched is it?

They're gonna have to (and will) maintain that reputation they built with the tough guy hammer knife crowd while showing what else they can do all under the ZT banner instead of relying on Kershaw as well... a balancing act but it's paying off so far with knives like the 0770CF, the upcoming slicer grind 0562CF, and their fancy dolled up LE's that collectors not just duty personnel and hardcore badasses can't get enough of. At this point though, to me I look at it as a "what's in a name"thing, It's all KAI anyway but yeah...People are expecting them to do things outside of their reputation.
 
Akapennypincher said:
I am not trying to start a war, but I am wonder if ZT Knives are really something special, or the company just has some wonderful PR Machine that is driving?

Personally I like the looks of the ZT Blackwashed Blades, but the knives almost look to fancy to put in a pocket with key, or they will get unpretentious fast.
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Too fancy? Wait until you see actual custom knives.

00ChevyScott said:
I'm a big fan of their earlier designs. Their newer ones look too fancy to be associated with their name/purpose. Not a knock on them, they're still outstanding knives, maybe even better than they used to be, but I don't see them being users as much as the older models (0200, 0300, 0350, 0500).
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The 056X series are pretty good - I prefer it to the 030X, though I like both. However, I do find the limited editions (777, 888, etc) to be a bit much (and inevitably most of them end up as safequeens/secondary market flipped goods). I'd really like to see them bring to market a plain/cleaner version of the 0454, similar to the prototype.
 
Stays Sharp said:
People are expecting them to do things outside of their reputation.
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You make interesting points..

However, if it isn't "overbuilt" then, to me at least, it's isn't really "Zero Tolerance."

It would be a pity to see the brand go to pot.
 
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