Zero Tolerance serial number lookup

S

Shrub

Joined
Feb 7, 2012
Messages
406
So I'm just trying to look up the information on my 0909 and I thought you could look up any Kai/ZT knives by the serial number.
I tried looking on the Kai and ZT websites and found nothing. When I typed in 0909 on the ZT website ot didn't even come up as a model. Not even listed in the discontinued models section. What in the world? Do you guys know where to find any information? Especially where to search the serial number? Thanks for any help.
 
AFAIK there's no way to look up ZT knives by serial number.

What do you want to know about the knife based on its serial number?
 
Mostly just curious about the system and how to use it. Thought it would be cool if they could trace the number and tell me the details of how it was made and such. Like the date, and what steel, etc.
Mine is serial number 5437.
 
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Shrub said:
Mostly just curious about the system and how to use it. Thought it would be cool if they could trace the number and tell me the details of how it was made and such. Like the date, and what steel, etc. Mine 8s serial number 5437
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I'm afraid that ZT does not maintain (or at least does not make public) any such records.

Based on what little info that I could find on the Net, the 0909 was released in 2016 and discontinued in 2017, which is a pretty short lifespan even by Kershaw/ZT standards. So short it should be considered a "Sprint" model.

The blade steel on the 0909 is S35VN. ZT says that all ZTs are made in its manufacturing center in Tualatin, Oregon and your higher SN indicates that it was probably made sometime in 2017 before production was discontinued.

Click on the following link for ZT's description of its manufacturing process: ZT Manufacturing.
 
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Well, it's not the answer I was hoping for, but at least it's an answer. Thank you for the information. I didn't realize this knife was such a short run. I wonder why they got rid of it so quickly. It's one of my favorite ZT models. Or knives in general for that matter.
 
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Shrub said:
Well, it's not the answer I was hoping for, but at least it's an answer. Thank you for the information. I didn't realize this knife was such a short run. I wonder why. It's one of my favorites.
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If you search BF for reactions to the 0909 back in 2016, you'll find that the initial major complaint against it was that it was "too heavy" at 7.5 ozs, which is pretty funny considering that the 0200 (which was one of the 1st ZT's made) weighed 7.9 oz. The 0300 was even heavier at 8.1 oz.

It's also ironic that people were complaining about the 0909's size and weight, given that ZT built it's reputation on producing BIG KNIVES that were "Proudly Overbuilt" since 2006 but times had changed by 2016 and, despite giving lip service to wanting BIG KNIVES, people weren't buying that many of them any more.

That's about the time that KAI USA decided to make a change in the type of knives that it made to those that you see now that are (with a few exceptions) a far cry from the type of knives upon which ZT built its reputation.

The only "new" models that ZT has produced in the past few years that live up to its earlier reputation are the 0308 and 0470. There are also still a few hold overs from the earlier tradition -- like the 0452 and 0562 -- but by and large the knives that ZT makes now are a mere shadow of what they once were.

BTW, I own over 40 ZTs (including the Les George designed 0909 & 0920) and almost all of them have discontinued and can be purchased ONLY in the 2ndary market now. I do not own any newer models which tells you what "kind" of ZT collector I am.
 
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sgt1372 said:
If you search BF for reactions to the 0909 back in 2016, you'll find that the initial major complaint against it was that it was "too heavy" at 7.5 ozs, which is pretty funny considering that the 0200 (which was one of the 1st ZT's made) weighed 7.9 oz. The 0300 was even heavier at 8.1 oz.

It's also ironic that people were complaining about the 0909's size and weight, given that ZT built it's reputation on producing BIG KNIVES that were "Proudly Overbuilt" since 2006 but times had changed by 2016 and, despite giving lip service to wanting BIG KNIVES, people weren't buying that many of them any more.

That's about the time that KAI USA decided to make a change in the type of knives that it made to those that you see now that are (with a few exceptions) a far cry from the type of knives upon which ZT built its reputation.

The only "new" models that ZT has produced in the past few years that lives up to its earlier reputation are the 0308 and 0470. There are also still a few hold overs from the earlier tradition -- like the 0452 and 0562 -- but by and large the knives that ZT makes now are a mere shadow of what they once were.

BTW, I own over 40 ZTs (including the Les George designed 0909 & 0920) and almost all of them have discontinued and can be purchased ONLY in the 2ndary market now. I do not own any newer models which tells you what "kind" of ZT collector I am.
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Thank you again sir.
A very well spoken and informative answer. Sort of sad given that I too like the large and strong style folders of older ZT design, and am not interested in their newer models at all. Perhaps soon the general market will stop whining about a few ounces and get back to building strong tools? We'll see.
Have a good night.
 
sgt1372 said:
If you search BF for reactions to the 0909 back in 2016, you'll find that the initial major complaint against it was that it was "too heavy" at 7.5 ozs, which is pretty funny considering that the 0200 (which was one of the 1st ZT's made) weighed 7.9 oz. The 0300 was even heavier at 8.1 oz.

It's also ironic that people were complaining about the 0909's size and weight, given that ZT built it's reputation on producing BIG KNIVES that were "Proudly Overbuilt" since 2006 but times had changed by 2016 and, despite giving lip service to wanting BIG KNIVES, people weren't buying that many of them any more.

That's about the time that KAI USA decided to make a change in the type of knives that it made to those that you see now that are (with a few exceptions) a far cry from the type of knives upon which ZT built its reputation.

The only "new" models that ZT has produced in the past few years that lives up to its earlier reputation are the 0308 and 0470. There are also still a few hold overs from the earlier tradition -- like the 0452 and 0562 -- but by and large the knives that ZT makes now are a mere shadow of what they once were.

BTW, I own over 40 ZTs (including the Les George designed 0909 & 0920) and almost all of them have discontinued and can be purchased ONLY in the 2ndary market now. I do not own any newer models which tells you what "kind" of ZT collector I am.
Click to expand...
Well done...very lucid.
 
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