Zero Tolerance Knives - what's up?

Thomas W said:
What idea is that?

Aesthetically and practically, we've taken designs from some of the best in the business (RJ, KO, Hinderer, Galyean, Strider) and applied them with top end materials, 3-D machining, USA production, updated technology, and offer a variety of locks. There are manuals, fixed blades, AO's, flippers. ZT has won multiple awards including last years Collaboration of the Year (0560) and Overall Knife of the Year (upcoming 0777). Additionally there have been some monster LE's.

While the brand is still quite young, and the width of the line some what limited (today), we will continue to offer modern designs, hot blade steel, lot's and lot's of titanium, more carbon fiber. There will be over built beasts to more pocket friendly speedsters. Truthfully, the best is yet to come.

I guess there will be folks that don't like the brand, but IMO I'm not sure why.
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Wow, sounds like you guys are movin' and shakin'. I had several Kershaws years ago and they were ok but it sounds like things are getting more interesting now. Maybe it's time to look again. :)
 
Thomas W said:
What idea is that?

Aesthetically and practically, we've taken designs from some of the best in the business (RJ, KO, Hinderer, Galyean, Strider) and applied them with top end materials, 3-D machining, USA production, updated technology, and offer a variety of locks. There are manuals, fixed blades, AO's, flippers. ZT has won multiple awards including last years Collaboration of the Year (0560) and Overall Knife of the Year (upcoming 0777). Additionally there have been some monster LE's.

While the brand is still quite young, and the width of the line some what limited (today), we will continue to offer modern designs, hot blade steel, lot's and lot's of titanium, more carbon fiber. There will be over built beasts to more pocket friendly speedsters. Truthfully, the best is yet to come.

I guess there will be folks that don't like the brand, but IMO I'm not sure why.
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Yes, I know what your saying. And that's what I meant when I said that I "appreciate" the idea behind the concept. I love that there is a company that offers beefy, tactical folders, with good blade steel, different options in locks and deployment and good ergonomics at a fair price. And that is why they're popular, of course.
But there is still that something that turns me off of them. And of course, yes, you shouldn't buy something you don't like. I understand that. But I feel my opinion is valid here. It seems like others on this thread share part of my perspective.
I think it might be simply how THICK the blades are. They just seem too chunky and heavy for me to carry. And believe me, I have taken a good hard look at the line. I think I've always wanted to like them, but always there is something that doesn't click for me.
That being said, I'm always looking forward to seeing new models. Perhaps something a little less "extreme" but still maintaining the ZT philosophy. (the 560 is going in the right direction for me)

thanks for your work
 
Picked up a new ZT today. Have several of the 350's and they are really great knifes. Does everything that you ask it to...no problems. Heard and read about the 550 series and the new 560 series, sounds good. Pulled thre trigger on the ZT 550. Wow what a knife. Everybody has their likes and dislikes but all said this is a quality product. Great F&F and feels great in my hand.

Now trying to decide do I use the crap out of it or keep it close and admire the craftsmanship....hummm...think I'll use this one!
 
jossta said:
You like the flipper angle of the non flipper?
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Yep. Well, the guard on the 550 anyways. Extend that out and turn it into a flipper a bit, with that upwards curvature, and stick that onto the 560, and you've got my kinda knife. Course, gotta be 3.5" long too. It's frustrating because they're both SO close, but just not quite there. And for the asking price, it's gotta be perfect for me.
 
frenchmade said:
I think it might be simply how THICK the blades are. They just seem too chunky and heavy for me to carry.
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I agree with frenchmade that perhaps a few of your ZT models are more difficult (for some folks) to carry with comfort. Of course, a thick blade, e.g. 0.190" in some cases, likely leads to a thicker overall knife. I see from the catalog that ZT blades show quite a large range of thickness variability.
I haven't held or owned a ZT folder, but have watched a bunch of videos and I'm impressed.

I've been trying to find any stats on the total thickness of the ZT folder lineup, but have been unable to find this data. I'm NOT looking for a knife that can pry two nailed boards apart; just a good folder that's well-made and has blade steel that stays sharp for a long time.

Perhaps Thomas W. can give me some specs on these ZT folders...particulary the thinner ones with "super" blade-steel. I would appreciate it; email, PMs. Thanks.
Sonny
 
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You have a tactical store in your town?!? Damn, I do wish there was one in my town where I could look at all the ZT's like you. Btw, I'm serious.
 
I started several years ago with a ZT-0301. It joined a collection of Buck 110s and a Kershaw JYDII in Ti & SG2 as a nice larger knife, as well as my favorite big knife - a Benchmade 630 Skirmish. It set a new standard in quality of construction - barely - the Ti/SG2 JYDII and BM 630 are pretty tough acts to follow. The tiger striped blade, robust construction, and assisted open function made the ZT a definite 'tactical' knife, in my eyes. It gets little use. Last year's ZT-0551 became an EDC - as will yesterday's purchase, a 0561. All three ZT's have similar blade thickness - .156" - the 0301 in S30V and the others in Bohler's ElMax. Oddly, that too-fancy-for-it's-name BM 630 'Skirmish' has a 4.3" edge by .161" thick S30V blade - the thickest of the mentioned blades, by my micrometer. While the ZT-0301 is definitely the most 'tactical' folder I own, the 0551 & 0561 are just larger EDC knives to me. Oh... and I will find a slipjoint in my pocket some days!

Stainz

PS I wonder what a re-make of the BM 630 would sell for today... less the colorful divits and extra 'Spydie' holes... but with a Hinderer lockbar stop...
 
Bought a ZT a couple of years ago and IMO the best bang for buck knife in their price category. Actually I can't think of any knife at any price that exceeds my 302, titanium frame lock, G10 scale, S30V steel, Assisted openiing and Tiger stripe blade finish.About the only modern knife that exceeds it is the Kershaw (same company) Tilt and this is coming from a Spyderco lover.
 
Morrow said:
They are knives built to appeal to a specific group of the knife buying community. They aren't marketing these knives to people that carry slip joints. I would think this would be pretty obvious. IMHO they are doing a great job with their products. With all the combinations of designs and materials out there...I think buying what YOU like is a good idea especially when everyone else is doing just that regardless of whether or not you "get it."
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I edc a Queen mini trapper with jigged bone scales and a ZT 0350. :-) I have to say the ZT kicked my other folders out of my pocket. I love having a slipjoint and a bigger folder on me. One for delicate tasks and the other for everything else.
 
neuron said:
Well said, gentlemen. Just to add to that a little, especially with some of the less recent ZT models like the 0200 and 0300, I'm sure a lot of people, even though they had read the specs, didn't fully realize how big/heavy the knives were until they got them in hand/pocket.
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Yes I agree with all of this. They seem like well made knives, but I don't like the bulky weight of these heavy folders (they are heavier than many well made fixed blades of the same size), don't like the coatings, and don't like the recurve blades they have on many models. Finally, their liner locks bug me, not well set up for left handed users.

Good knives in the sense of well made and good materials perhaps, but for the reasons mentioned above, not good for me.
 
Good knives.

edc317121.jpg
 
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