Who else is doing what they do? They've raised the bar for production knives in a way no other company has ever done. Tolerances that are fantastic, prices that are more than reasonable, materials that are high-end, designs through collaboration with talented and industry-changing makers... Right now, you can buy a titanium framelock bearing flipper made with elmax for at or under $200. You can't get most custom makers to spit on the ground for that much. What does that mean for the custom market? Competition. Better tolerances are needed and better materials are demanded. What does that mean for the production market? The same.
You can use that knife without any fear, because they have a warranty and customer service department that beats almost any you would find in any industry. Slight wiggle if you force it? Fixed for free. No return shipping charge - just get it there. Baton a blade to bits? $30 to replace the blade. You can bet it cost them more than that just in labor to produce the replacement blade, let alone install and ship it.
They make well-priced knives out of good materials at good prices. Always coming out with new, extremely different models. Almost all of their products have become classic standbys. How many times have you seen someone here talking about their 05XX, 03XX, 08xx, or 0777?
I know this is just short of getting on my knees and unzipping ZT's pants, but, really, there's nobody else out there doing what they do. It's strange to see a company offshoot that I initially disregarded as a niche for the overbuilt market turn into a major competitor on it's own, but I'm glad it did. It means good knives at good prices, and it means better workmanship and materials for all of the competitors.
It's a good time to be into knives, I think, to no small degree because of Zero Tolerance.
(Thomas, just PM me and I'll send you my shipping address. I'll take an 0888, please and thank you.)
