ZT 0121 and ESEE 5 for camping combo

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chrispy513

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Hey all, I'm a new member to the forum but have been reading for awhile. I just wanted to get some feedback on what people thought about pairing a ZT 0121 with an ESEE 5 for camping.

The way I envision it, I would use the ZT for more delicate tasks like slicing (i.e. food prep) and whatnot and when I'm out and about on the trail and then have the ESEE 5 for hard-use and around camp work.

In addition, the ZT would probably become my BOB/car knife when not camping because I've heard it's tough as nails, it's compact, and S30V is a killer stainless steel.

Thoughts on this setup?
 
One thing you'll notice is the complete lack of discussion on these forums about ZT's fixed blade knives. I'm guessing there's a reason for that (apart from them being fugly). And the ESEE 5 is a crazy heavy hunk of steel.

For the tasks you describe I'd get the following:

Mora Companion - costs about $15-$20, slices like a laser, use it, abuse it, after a few years it will wear out, throw it away and get another
ESEE 4 - very functional mid-sized knife. Can do food prep but excels at camp chores.
Becker BK-9 - for heavier duty work.

I'd also maybe look at a Spyderco Military, which is the S30V you're eyeing, but in a lightweight folding package and an outstanding slicer (as is the Spyderco Endura as well in either VG-10 or ZDP-189)
 
I love both ZT and ESEE, everything I have from both companies has been great so far. However, the two models you're looking at are probably the only ones I don't like from each brand. I think that they are too thick and heavy for their size, and unless you have a specific application for which you need something that stout you can get similar toughness and better cutting performance from a lighter knife.

I don't know what type of camping you do, in my case I carry everything on my back and wander around the mountains for a few days. While I'm not an ultralight hiker, I like to keep weight low. I've found that a SAK with a saw and a 4" or 5" fixed blade do most of what I need. When I travel on my horse (usually much longer trips), I add a good chopper (either a kukri, an axe or whatever fits the terrain best) just to make my life a bit easier.

For general camping use, I think you'd be better off with an ESEE 3, 4 or 6 (depending on your blade length preferences). Add a folding saw or a SAK/multitool and you should be covered.

You mentioned a car BOB, Beckers are great for that. They are tough and affordable. The new 'Tweeners are pretty handy multipurpose knives.
 
Thanks for the recommendations!

I really wanted the ESEE 5 so I'd have something that would literally last a lifetime no matter what I needed from it. As for the folders you recommended, the reason I'm looking at fixed blades is I have a shiny new Kershaw Rake to fill that role as well as my old spyderco Manix2 in 154cm.
 
It sounds like you are considering the ZT 0121 as a fixed blade slicer. Its a bit "much" for a slicer in my opinion.

As has already been mentioned a Mora is a great fixed blade slicer, so is an AG Russell Deer Hunter, which is much thinner than the ZT. Also, neither is recurved, which I find makes food prep more difficult.
 
I have to agree that the ZT 0121 may be overkill to use for food prep but its still a great knife. I bought one just out of curiosity and I love it...if I have work to do I'll wear it inverted (if not it sits too high for my liking) and use it like a sharpened crowbar and the knife has held up wonderfully. I'd go with a thinner blade to use with food...though I'd still pickup the 0121.
 
Well food prep was just an example off the top of my head for something it may end up getting used for. Like I said, I have a Kershaw Rake that's a beautiful slicer for things like that.

However, my vision for the 0121 was more of an all around fixed blade to carry on my person when camping. I find it an interesting piece for a good price given the name and quality it holds. From what I've read, it works like an old Timex, and that S30V sounds perfect as an all-around workhorse.
 
I have found a great combo to the be Fallkniven F1 and a small hatchet or folding saw.
 
I really like Esee knives, and have the Izula and the 4. I'm on the hunt for the 6. I've looked at the 5 and it's just too thick for my tastes. When I head to camp I generally take with my my Izula for small tasks, the Esee 4 for general camp work and food prep. I also have an F1 that I like for the same stuff. I have a Queen in D2 for skinning chores. And, I have a big Gravelle that I use for heavy work. I'll also have a folder or two along, usually my 561 550 or one of my BM's or Spydies. It just depends on what I feel like. I enjoy the variety of using several brands.

I will say that I enjoy using Elmax, VG10, 1095, A2, and CPM M4 steel. Out of those the M4 holds an edge the longest for me. The VG10 is the easiest to sharpen, and get a razor edge. The A2 and 1095 get the toughest work, and do quite well. I don't know how much help that was for you. The great thing about our hobby is the variety. I get lots of enjoyment out of using many different steels and knives.
 
IMHO

there are some nice camp knives that are low cost, buck hoodlum, sharade new one be had for 50 bucks, most of the onterio knives. new kewshaw's seem pricy.

good camp axe - can be had for $30 at hardware store.

take all the savings and buy a better knife, say a zt 0560 or even the cbcf prices are falling, it is one sweet knife - i own one.

fixed blade, a good folder, cheap folder and axe is good camp combo

you can sharped a 440 knife on a rock cheap has it's uses and if you loose - who cares
 
chrispy513 said:
Well food prep was just an example off the top of my head for something it may end up getting used for. Like I said, I have a Kershaw Rake that's a beautiful slicer for things like that.

However, my vision for the 0121 was more of an all around fixed blade to carry on my person when camping. I find it an interesting piece for a good price given the name and quality it holds. From what I've read, it works like an old Timex, and that S30V sounds perfect as an all-around workhorse.
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Well...Ok. You did say "... I would use the ZT for more delicate tasks like slicing (i.e. food prep) ..." so you can understand us thinking you wanted to use it for food prep.

If it's what you want, and it does certainly sounds like it is what you want...then you should get it. KAI/ZT are excellent knives and many around here highly reccommend them.

As far as the ESEE-5/ZT 0121 setup, have you considered something smaller/thinner than the ZT? Getting the ZT, you would be getting another fixed blade just 1 inch shorter and 1/16 inch thinner than the ESEE. Really pretty similar knives.

How about something like a Fallkniven WM1 at 2.8 in long, .14 inches thick? Then you would have a knife very different from the ESEE.

Or the other direction like a Ontario Ranger RD9 or Kabar Becker BK9...again, you would have a knife very different from the ESEE.

Or there's the option of abandoning the 5 inch blade entirely, and getting a 7 inch or so chopper and a 3-4 inch slicer. Kinda what I would do.
 
I have the ZT121 and it is a great knife but for food prep I would go with something thinner and full flat ground ,while being a comfortable knife the 121 is much more heavy duty than I would find idea for around the trail and whatnot. Maybe a ESEE3 or a Tops lite trekker would be a better choice ,I am not saying skip the ZT but for food prep/whittling it is a bit thick/robust . Also the ESEE5 is a tank good for a BOB as it might need to pry but I like a nice big blade for around the campfire like the BK9 or the new thinner RD9 .Just my 2 cents get what you like what do we know ...
 
And for $6.95 try the Joyce Chen "My Handy Little Knife". The 4" stainless blade is perfect for camp food prep. Comes with a friction fit sheath that is perfect for camp areas. Razor sharp!
 
no offense, but that sounds like about the worst camping combo I can think of. LOL

why would you choose a short, stubby tank for "light work" namely food prep? Have you ever prepped food before? The name of the game for food prep is long and thin, you chose the opposite. And the 5 is overkill for anything you can do at camp besides fighting off killer androids.

Get yourself an Opinel #9 for the "light work", and a less ridiculous fixed blade of your choosing for the heavier stuff. (though the Opinel could handle your wood prep needs and heavy stuff, too)

My personal combo is my Spyderco Military being my main pocket knife, and I usually use this for 99% of the stuff I need to do. It makes a passable food prep knife, it's more than tough enough to handle wood work, etc... Then I have a Mora fall back in my pack, usually this just gets loaned out to another camper who needs a knife, or if we are doing more food prep and need more knives.
 
I'd recommend a Fallkniven F1 as a good stainless fixed for more intricate chores and a ESEE RC-6 for a camp knife, much better cutting ability, around the same price. The ZT 121 and ESEE 5 would be good choices for a "urban survival, escape evasion, getting out of a major city after a large earth quake/natural disaster" type knives where you'll be using them to break in to/out of buildings and using them as pry bars as much as you use them for knives.
 
Perhaps I got too caught up in the food prep use for the 0121. In reality, i have a folder that is much more tuned for that kind of work. The 0121 would be a more all-encompassing knife than anything else. A sort of jack of all trades (but master of none, I know how it goes). As for the price, since it's been discontinued, the prices have been falling to a much more reasonable level. I like the style of it for what it is. I've heard good things about the Fallkniven, but I'm not thrilled with the style or the warranty. I want to buy knives that will last a lifetime plus some.

As for the ESEE, I'm still contemplating that purchase. I'm not dead set on the 5, and I actually initially was looking at the 4 until I discovered the thickness of the 5 was a hefty 1/4" like the BK2 (which I had also been looking at). I'd rather learn to use the 5 to do what I need than to look back one day and wish I had gotten the heftier blade.
 
The more you use a thicker blade the more you might wish it was thinner. Just sayin.
 
sweet_hitch-hiker said:
for the price of the 0121 you could find a custom maker on her to make about darn near whatever you want
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Actually if you look around the 0121 can be had for just over $100. It's been reported to be discontinued and retailers were recently dumping them on the market.
 
thebrain said:
The more you use a thicker blade the more you might wish it was thinner. Just sayin.
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not if I'm in a position where I need to beat the living daylights out of it to get it through what I'm working on. I don't want the ESEE 5 to be the only knife I ever carry again. Rather, I feel it might fill a nice gap left open by the fact that all I currently have in the way of good sturdy knife hardware is a nice kershaw folder that just won't take abuse like a full tang fixed blade of that caliber would.
 
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