Zt 0180

[rodriguez7]

So, I just ordered a zt 0180, should be here tomorrow. It has the steel, that I had wanted in a custom, its just hard to come by. Just wondering why it doesnt seem to be to popular here, does it not appeal to anyone here. Seems like a great hunting/ bushcrafty type knife. Wondering how zt's heat treat is, should I be expecting a lot? I have a couple of their folders, an 0560, and 0550. My favorite pocket knives so far. I would imagine zt would have their heat treat down right for this tool. Just looking for some opinions.

 

[Silvanus]

For me, the design looks solid. I like all Rick's designs and ZT has done excellent work with the collabs. That said, I think $220 street price for it is a little much. If it was around $150 and was actually the same size as the original Field-tac I'd probably pick one up.

 

[Inazone]

My first ZT was a fixed blade 0160 Shifter, bought when I was on a bit of a "tacticool" buying spree. After buying it, I basically stopped buying fixed blades, as it was just so much nicer than the others I'd bought up to that point, although it hasn't seen any real use. When the 0180 was announced, it immediately went on my "must buy" list along with the Kershaw Camber, but when both finally became available, I could only afford one and opted for the Camber. At some point, I'll definitely buy the 0180, especially since I have a legitimate use for an outdoor-oriented fixed blade as opposed to (realistically) a tactical safe queen.

 

[MatthewSB]

I like mine.

The blade is short enough that it works very well in a high riding kydex sheath with a large TekLok on a broad belt. The handle is perfect, the finger grooves make it extremely secure in the hand while not confining me to one grip or another. The narrow clip point blade works equally well for carving, batoning, drilling with the tip, and other woods chores.

Sizewise, the 0180 is very similar to the Bark River Bravo 1.

Two things I don't like: First, the factory sheath is mismatched, it's not even deep enough for the blade. The knife sits slanted in the sheath because the blade is longer than the sheath is deep. Second, with the factory edge and stout saber grind it is a horrible slicer, I tried to do a heap of cardboard with it and got frustrated fast.

Overall, this is an extremely capable survival knife. I made a kydex sheath for mine, cleaned up the factory edge, and it's replaced my Bravo 1 as my "go to" fixed blade. I can deal with it being a poor slicer, I have a folder if I need a thinner blade.

 

[@LeathermanGX]

Love the 0801. Love :love_heart:

 

[rodriguez7]

Well since I posted this, I have recieved my zt, and put it to the test. So far I'm really impressed by the steel, and the general ergo's of the knife. It seems to hold an edge as good as my customs done in cts-pd1, slicing cotton rope, and cardboard. The edge measures around .025, pretty dam thin, perfect for skinning and meat cutting. I also had to check the toughness, so I batonned really heavy cross grain on aged oak, and got zero edge damage. I would say thats really impressive considering how thin the edge is. This knife will continue to be put to the test, I really like the size, for an all around outdoor blade matched with my tomahawk. Now I need to try it on some animals. Killing a pig this weekend, we'll see how it holds up.

 

[Neo]

So, I just ordered a zt 0180, should be here tomorrow. It has the steel, that I had wanted in a custom, its just hard to come by. Just wondering why it doesnt seem to be to popular here, does it not appeal to anyone here. Seems like a great hunting/ bushcrafty type knife.

I was excited for a fixed blade in VA4E but the design spoiled it for me.
Have you ever seen bushcraft knives with heavy jimping or finger contours?
A bushcraft knife should be easy to hold and use in quite a lot of different grip positions.
The handle should be more general so it could be used comfortably by a whole range of people with different hand sizes.

If the 0180 looked like the Lionsteel M5 I would have bought two in a heartbeat.