ZeroTolerance 0560 in S-110V??

MicroAlign

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Feb 1, 2004
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I noticed that KnifeArt has the model 0560 in a bi-metal with S-110V as the cutting edge. I loved the design of the 0560 that I had, but I wasn't satisfied with the ELMAX steel. Has anyone bought the S-110V model? What did you think of steel?
 
It's a solid knife. I've used mine daily since the launch and I am just now on my first sharpening. ZT claims to be running these at 58-59rc which seems to still hold an edge very long. It performs at or near what my S90v Paramilitary did.

I took mine up to a 2000grit stone so it has decent polish.

5D2B98A0-06F5-4D9F-B07B-F5A722710CA6-562-0000002982F19713_zps1ea9f09d.jpg
 
With the hardness dropped to 58-59, how would you compare it overall to steels such as S30V or M390?
 
There are really too many variables to form a good comparison.

I compared it to Spydercos S90v which I believe is run at 60-61rc(don't know for sure)

But the edge geometry on these two knives are completely different.

It will greatly outperform the Elmax on my ZT0551 if that helps.
 
I've had an older 560 which was a nice flipper. I have NOT owned one in S110v. I do have a Spyderco 2013 Forum Knife, in S110V, which has a measured hardness of 63, according to both Sal Glesser (Spyderco CEO) and Jim Ankerson (knife-testing guru). The much larger 0560 may well be intended for more heavy-duty operation, and so the hardness difference between the two folders is not terribly surprising. Very interesting, however.

Poster 5.56 writes, of the 0560 in S110v... "It will greatly outperform the Elmax on my ZT0551 if that helps." I do have a new 0550 Gen2 with Elmax. If I'm not mistaken, ZT hardened the Elmax considerably on these newer generation folders, due to published (videos) edge-holding problems of some owners with the first generation Elmax folders. Would also like clarification on this issue by anyone who might know...
Sonnydaze
 
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Poster 5.56 writes, of the 0560 in S110v... "It will greatly outperform the Elmax on my ZT0551 if that helps." I do have a new 0550 Gen2 with Elmax. If I'm not mistaken, ZT hardened the Elmax considerably on these newer generation folders, due to published (videos) edge-holding problems of some owners with the first generation Elmax folders. Would also like clarification on this issue by anyone who might know...
Sonnydaze

That would be interesting to know. The ELMAX in the 0560 I had about a year ago was very disappointing. A test I like to perform is to take a pine stake and scrape off light shavings for firesteel kindling. It makes for a very practical utility test, and the ELMAX did worse than regular 154CM. Totally turned me off to ELMAX. Not as bad as a Bark River in S35VN though which rolled the edge over quickly.
 
I've had two different offerings in ZT's ELMAX (0551 and 0561)

It's a nice steel, but it didn't hold an edge nearly as long as the S110v does.

05510561.jpg
 
I got one when they first came out, and have been using it moderately since. It hasn't needed a touch up yet, in fact it looks and cuts the same as it did when I first pulled it out of the box. My initial disappointment with the hardness numbers has proven completely unfounded.
 
Okay, on the 0550 Gen2, I made a big mistake. Just got this knife in, and the steel is "upgraded" to S35VN and NOT a harder Elmax as I said in post #6. Should be a good move on ZT's part, as the Elmax has had some major detractors. Sorry for the large error on my part.
Sonnydaze
 
The composite blade technology used was another reason for running the knife at a lower Rc (ZT0560CBCF). Had it been much harder the brazing would have not worked as well if at all.
 
Thanks, RevDevil, for clarifying that hardness issue with the S110v. Excellent point.
Sonny
 
There were a few ZT0550's that snuck out with Elmax. Somewhere around 130 if I remember correctly.
 
Okay, on the 0550 Gen2, I made a big mistake. Just got this knife in, and the steel is "upgraded" to S35VN and NOT a harder Elmax as I said in post #6. Should be a good move on ZT's part, as the Elmax has had some major detractors. Sorry for the large error on my part.
Sonnydaze

The 550 has always been s35vn. only the 551 had elmax.
 
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