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Zero Tolerance might be the best thing to ever happen to knives.

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powernoodle said:
I own a few ZTs, but they don't really float my boat. To me, they are just to big and blingy (0561), too blocky (0350) or too dang heavy (0300). So I can't jump on the bandwagon that they are the greatest thing ever. But picking what you like and don't like is part of the fun.
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I agree with this. I have only owned a 0561 but I can not judge all ZT by this one. A couple do appeal to me, the higher priced ones. For me it all depends on how they carry in my pocket.
 
I personally like a lot of the new Kershaw/ZT offerings. A couple of the Emersons, the Camber and 562 to name a few. I also like quite a few Spyderco designs. I honestly couldn't care less who came up with what first as it really doesn't influence by buying habits. What I do care about is that "feeling" I get from a particular knife and to only a slighter degree the way which a company will stand behind it's product. I don't particulary care for the fact that Spyderco doesn't want me taking my own knife apart, but it doesn't stop me from buying their product. One company pushing the envelope and being innovative makes the other companies have to up their game to stay competitive. The "one upsmanship" if you will, is how we get some really cool designs and some not so cool ones as well. No one company can please everyone and personally I think it would be futile to try. At the end of the day not everyone is going to like Kershaw/ZT and that is ok with me.
 
KnottyEagle said:
This doesn't make ANY sense at all. Who came up with assisted opening? Kershaw did. Who came up with composite blades? Kershaw did. To say those aren't innovations is stupidity at its finest. Rick Hinderer, Ernest Emerson, RJ Martin, Todd Rexford, Tim Galyean, Ken Onion, Frank Centofante, etc. Have all collaborated with Kershaw or ZT, some both. New Steels? Kershaw and ZT have always used "super" steels. M390, S110V, Vanax 75, Vanax 35, 3V, SG2, CPM-154, ZDP-189, to name a few.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted-opening_knife

Blackie Collins invented the first assisted opening knife in 1995. Ken Onion designed Speedsafe and applied for the patent in 1998.

So, no, Kershaw did not come up with assisted opening.
 
Fanglekai said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted-opening_knife

Blackie Collins invented the first assisted opening knife in 1995. Ken Onion designed Speedsafe and applied for the patent in 1998.

So, no, Kershaw did not come up with assisted opening.
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and that really is what I think the difference is between spyderco and KAI. IMHO spyderco are the true innovators. The company itself is responsible for some serious advancements in knife technology that have had an impact on the whole knife industry custom makers and production alike. To me that is innovation. Creating new and exciting technology that advances the knife or certain types of knives. To me Kershaw is not really an innovative company. They HAVE adopted certain technologies such as assisted opening and bearing systems before they proved to be a viable market in production knives but they didnt invent the technologies. In fact I cant remember anything in recent years that KAI usa Invented. Someone correct me if im wrong but I dont remember anything that at least a custom maker didnt do first. The whole composite blade thing being a interesting Idea I dont feel qualifies as I really dont see any advantage the user would have by going that route instead of a solid blade of the better steel. I mean, I can put steer horns on the front of a ferrari but is there any advantage to doing so? Its kinda like making a tooth brush from carbon fiber. Its cool that it can be done, but Im not really benefiting from it at all. In some respects the brazing process actually prevents the ability to realize the full potential of a given steel when you consider the lower melting point of the material bonding the two steels together which will limit the heat treating temps you can run at.

I do have to tip my hat to them as they usually are pretty quick in adopting innovative designs before most other companies are willing to bite but I dont think that qualifies as innovative. That is just predicting the market. Long story short, adopting existing technology and having it be successful I dont think qualifies as innovative. Creating new technologies that advances the art of knife making and changes how everyone does things however is. If you stack this company against company I think spyderco wins hands down. But I think both companies have been slightly stagnant in true innovation lately. I think true innovation is found now with custom makers who have come up with some seriously crazy yet viable ideas. Grant and Gavin hawk, Jake hoback being two that come to mind.
 
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The "blood pressure" in this thread is starting to rise ever so slowly. Share your opinions but do so in a civil manner.
 
Not really a fan of automatics and I honestly forgot about the MUDD,
It was discontinued before I bought my first ZT.

Who knows, maybe they will team up again, the guy is an innovative machine.
 
cncpro11 said:
Not really a fan of automatics and I honestly forgot about the MUDD,
It was discontinued before I bought my first ZT.

Who knows, maybe they will team up again, the guy is an innovative machine.
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0500 is hands down my favorite model ZT has produced. So damn ugly it was cool and just a great example of function over form. If they started collaborating with G&G Hawk again I'd be all over it.
 
Stays Sharp said:
What is innovative to you? Innovation, Spyderco innovated using pocket clips for crying out loud, that alone should end the discussion. They were the first to put serrated blades on pocket knives, and back when all there was were nail nicks, Spyderco came out with their own deployment method. With programs like the Mule team, Spyderco is always pushing for new steels like K390 and 4V ... Locks... nuff said. Your examples... Speedsafe, uh oh watch out a feature mainly popular with those new to knives who dont yet realize that they dont need assistance to open a knife with washers etc. Composite blades, while adds to the cool factor I guess and aesthetics but how much better does it make the knife perform? How does that have a lasting effect on knives as a whole? Given a choice, I'd rather have an M4 blade come in full M4 edge to spine. You are getting the term innovation confused with something else. Like I said they are breaking new ground on production quality and they have a very impressive lineup but that is not innovation.
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I could act and use the same sarcastic tone that you did, but because of this:
The "blood pressure" in this thread is starting to rise ever so slowly. Share your opinions but do so in a civil manner.
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I won't.
cncpro11 said:
Blackie Collins designed the first assisted opening knife in 1995 called the Strut 'n Cut. Not sure but I don't believe that was a Kershaw knife.

As far as composite blades go, the technology for brazing metal has existed for thousands of years.
Brazed swords discovered in modern day Iraq were dated from 2500 BC.
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Glad I was able to learn something from this discussion. You can't deny though that Kershaw has by far been the leader in assisted opening knives. As was said in this post:
pretty quick in adopting innovative designs before most other companies are willing to bite
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The same goes for composite blades, which they have no competition with at all.
Insipid Moniker said:
I can respect that, but your difference of opinion does nothing to make my statement irrational.
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More like an opinion.
 
Why did we start bickering about who is the most innovative? Not once in the OP was the word innovation, or any of its derivatives used.
 
ZT has great looking designs (and great designer collabs) and great materials and great marketing... and I have had very good luck with my ZTs... but I have seen some QC problems on friends' ZTs... what seems like shortcuts. But all in all I am a fan. Especially of the Hinderer designed knives... those just rock!
 
It's going to be another banner year for ZT deliveries.

I expect the 0888MAX, 0770CF and 0801CF within the first quarter of this year.

Within the second and third quarter I expect 0454, 0180, 0562, 0562CF, 0620, 0620CF and 0102. All of them by the end of the Summer - hopefully! I'm sure we'll see some variations of the 0566. Hoping for a 0454-M390 as it'll look real sleek!

Here are some of the new ZTs that came out last year: 0777, 0560CBCF, 0550BLK, 0801, 0600, 0600BLK, 0777-M390, 0777-M390BLK, 0770, 0566, 0560BLK, 0560BW, 0300BW, 0360, 0350-M390, 0350SW, 0350OR, 0350GRN, 0350BRN, 0350BW. There have been over 20 variations of the venerable 0350!
 
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