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ZT 0200 vs Emerson CQC 15: which?
- Thread starter MTHall720
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The tanto-recurve blade of the 15 is one of a kind. Also, the current versions of the knife has the grippiest G10 I've handled. The finish is very good on the Emerson but I'd say the ZT has better polished liners--if you care for that sorta thing. Also note 15 has a chisel edge.
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my 2cents
i love my mini cqc 15 (opted for the smaller version as it would be more practical for carry for me)
between the two, i would have to say cqc15 as itll carry better with its smaller slimmer profile and lighter weight... its a great knife.
if you want something to pound on and tank like i'd say go for the 0200 i'd say the lockup is more solid and itll be easier of the two to sharpen.
i love my mini cqc 15 (opted for the smaller version as it would be more practical for carry for me)
between the two, i would have to say cqc15 as itll carry better with its smaller slimmer profile and lighter weight... its a great knife.
if you want something to pound on and tank like i'd say go for the 0200 i'd say the lockup is more solid and itll be easier of the two to sharpen.
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The 15 isn't a Bowie at all. It's an Americanised tanto with a recurve. You must be thinking of the 13.
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- Jan 11, 2012
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If for SD I'd go Emerson. For EDC definitely ZT0200.
The ZT0200 154cm steel is also heated harder (60 to 61 RC) than the Emerson (57 to 59 RC)
Check the end of catalog for steel ref
http://www.kershawknives.com/pdfs/zt_catalog.pdf
The ZT0200 154cm steel is also heated harder (60 to 61 RC) than the Emerson (57 to 59 RC)
Check the end of catalog for steel ref
http://www.kershawknives.com/pdfs/zt_catalog.pdf
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- Feb 24, 2011
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- 4,423
I've had two ZT0200's; one was an ST version the other plain, both were amazing and I regret getting rid of them. They blew my emersons (A-100 & CQC-16 out of the water as far as in ergos, beefiness/strength and actual cutting ability. YMMV though...
I'm not a fanboy of any brand so I try to look at knives very objectively and without any brand bias.
Czech
I'm not a fanboy of any brand so I try to look at knives very objectively and without any brand bias.
Czech
Last edited:
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Thanks my friend. You are right.
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I have a 200 and a CQC 13,
200 will hold an edge longer with its (IMO better) heat treat, is more solidly built but is also heavier, will have a more solid lock (steel is stronger than titanium), ergos I really like both, and its individual so that depends on you, the softer steel of the Emerson will be easier to sharpen, and if you meant the 13 not the 15, the non-recurve blade will also be easier to sharpen. I do really like the blade shape of the 13. The ZT will probably have better fit and finish (less likely to have play, a break in period, sticky lock, etc)
200 will hold an edge longer with its (IMO better) heat treat, is more solidly built but is also heavier, will have a more solid lock (steel is stronger than titanium), ergos I really like both, and its individual so that depends on you, the softer steel of the Emerson will be easier to sharpen, and if you meant the 13 not the 15, the non-recurve blade will also be easier to sharpen. I do really like the blade shape of the 13. The ZT will probably have better fit and finish (less likely to have play, a break in period, sticky lock, etc)
Hi MTHall,
While I don't have an 0200 and a 15, I do own a 0350 and a mini-15. The mini-15 is going to have the exact same blade, liner, locking liner and handle thickness as the full size 15. It is essentially the same knife, just scaled down in length. The 0200 however is going to have a thicker blade and handles, but the same liner and locking liner width as the 0350.
Im going to re-direct you to this post that compares the 0200 to the 0350 (with pictures!) so you can get a better idea of the size difference: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/950294-ZT-0350-vs-ZT-0200
For reference i'll post a few comparisons of my mini-15 and 0350. I know its not exactly what your looking for and they're from a camera phone but hopefully these will be useful:
If memory and google serve me well, both the 15 and 0200 have the same steel 154CM so they are on par as far as steel performance. If you want to get nit picky, i'm going to say emerson's 154CM will be a bit softer by 1-2 RC. Keep in mind that all emerson knives will have a chisel ground secondary (cutting edge) bevel. The 15 models will have the emerson v-grind with the chiseled secondary bevel like this:
(reference: http://www.emersonknives.com/ekKnifeAnatomy.php)
In my experience the chisel cutting edge is incredibly easy to sharpen and hones to a razors edge with very little effort. I would say as a generality that my emerson knives slice and cut better than any other folding knife I own with the same blade thickness. If you are going for EDC tasks and cutting/slicing ability, you would be hard pressed to beat the 15's blade. For brute strength and heavier chores, I would prefer the extra thickness and stoutness of the ZT 0200. Lockup on both knives should be similarly strong although the ZT will trade emerson's titanium liner for a slightly thicker stainless steel liner and thicker blade face. Keep in mind that proper lockface/liner geometry can be more important than thickness of components. Both being quality knives I would not expect this to be an issue. The ZT will be significantly heavier.
TL;DR - Both knives are excellent high end choices and I would expect similar performances out of both. It really depends on your personal tastes and what you plan on using the knife for. For EDC tasks, I would suggest the emerson, but if you prefer a beefier overbuilt tank of a knife than I would go with the ZT.
Good luck and congrats on whatever purchase you make!
~ CLE
While I don't have an 0200 and a 15, I do own a 0350 and a mini-15. The mini-15 is going to have the exact same blade, liner, locking liner and handle thickness as the full size 15. It is essentially the same knife, just scaled down in length. The 0200 however is going to have a thicker blade and handles, but the same liner and locking liner width as the 0350.
Im going to re-direct you to this post that compares the 0200 to the 0350 (with pictures!) so you can get a better idea of the size difference: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/950294-ZT-0350-vs-ZT-0200
For reference i'll post a few comparisons of my mini-15 and 0350. I know its not exactly what your looking for and they're from a camera phone but hopefully these will be useful:
If memory and google serve me well, both the 15 and 0200 have the same steel 154CM so they are on par as far as steel performance. If you want to get nit picky, i'm going to say emerson's 154CM will be a bit softer by 1-2 RC. Keep in mind that all emerson knives will have a chisel ground secondary (cutting edge) bevel. The 15 models will have the emerson v-grind with the chiseled secondary bevel like this:
(reference: http://www.emersonknives.com/ekKnifeAnatomy.php)
In my experience the chisel cutting edge is incredibly easy to sharpen and hones to a razors edge with very little effort. I would say as a generality that my emerson knives slice and cut better than any other folding knife I own with the same blade thickness. If you are going for EDC tasks and cutting/slicing ability, you would be hard pressed to beat the 15's blade. For brute strength and heavier chores, I would prefer the extra thickness and stoutness of the ZT 0200. Lockup on both knives should be similarly strong although the ZT will trade emerson's titanium liner for a slightly thicker stainless steel liner and thicker blade face. Keep in mind that proper lockface/liner geometry can be more important than thickness of components. Both being quality knives I would not expect this to be an issue. The ZT will be significantly heavier.
TL;DR - Both knives are excellent high end choices and I would expect similar performances out of both. It really depends on your personal tastes and what you plan on using the knife for. For EDC tasks, I would suggest the emerson, but if you prefer a beefier overbuilt tank of a knife than I would go with the ZT.
Good luck and congrats on whatever purchase you make!
~ CLE
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ive got both, and if you want the larger, tougher folder, id say go with the zt.
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The 0200 also has large bronze washers as compared to Emersons nylon/plastic whatever they are...
Both ZT 0200's I had were incredibly smooth and had rock solid lock up and no blade play side to side. My A-100 locked up decently but the ti liner and blade tang were not as tightly mated as they should have been i.e not parallel to one another.
Also, in order to eliminate side to side blade play I had to torque the pivot down pretty tightly to the point where opening the knife was quite an effort. The same was true of my CQC-16.
I know newer production model emersons are supposedly getting better from a Q.C and build perspective but I still don't see them out performing an 0200 by any means.
The 0200 can also be opened by the flipper as well as more discretely by the thumbstuds; either requires very little effort even with the pivot tightened quite a bit.
Although emersons are touted as being easier to sharpen, they typically have thicker edges resulting in poor cutting performance; that's why we see so many folks getting regrinds on their emersons! Both my 0200's edges were very sharp out of the box and cut quite well and they are definitely thinner at the edge because of the blade grind.
Of all the emersons I've held in hand (ten knives or so...) non have impressed me as much as all the ZT's that I've owned and handled. The only downside to ZT's in my opinion is they are typically heavier than a similarly sized folder.
Pictures just for fun!
ZT's:
Emersons:
Both ZT 0200's I had were incredibly smooth and had rock solid lock up and no blade play side to side. My A-100 locked up decently but the ti liner and blade tang were not as tightly mated as they should have been i.e not parallel to one another.
Also, in order to eliminate side to side blade play I had to torque the pivot down pretty tightly to the point where opening the knife was quite an effort. The same was true of my CQC-16.
I know newer production model emersons are supposedly getting better from a Q.C and build perspective but I still don't see them out performing an 0200 by any means.
The 0200 can also be opened by the flipper as well as more discretely by the thumbstuds; either requires very little effort even with the pivot tightened quite a bit.
Although emersons are touted as being easier to sharpen, they typically have thicker edges resulting in poor cutting performance; that's why we see so many folks getting regrinds on their emersons! Both my 0200's edges were very sharp out of the box and cut quite well and they are definitely thinner at the edge because of the blade grind.
Of all the emersons I've held in hand (ten knives or so...) non have impressed me as much as all the ZT's that I've owned and handled. The only downside to ZT's in my opinion is they are typically heavier than a similarly sized folder.
Pictures just for fun!
ZT's:
Emersons:
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I'd go for the ZT any day. IMO Emersons are over priced for what you get, and I don't like the funky grind.
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Indeed. The "funky" edge grind is waaaaay to thick for a 3"-4" blade folding knife, especially when you look at the prices emersons are selling for now. I guess it's something I just don't understand?...
The A-100 edge literally looked like a wood chisel to me except it didn't work as well as one lol!
