Recommendation? ZT 0450 or Kizer T1?

I

Ian Follett

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Oct 15, 2018
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I just bought a Delica 4, my first decent knife and I'm hooked. I blame everyone on the internet who posts videos/content about knives.

Any way, now I'm look to get something a little bit nicer and the first two on my list are the ZT 0450 and the Kizer T1.

The 0450 seems to have the edge on quality but, to me, the T1 has the edge on looks.

Any way, any and all opinions welcome. Also accepting other recommendations.

Thanks!
 
0450 FTW!
The T1 is a good knife, but I personally didn’t feel there was anything particularly special about it. That being said, there are those who find the 0450’s ergonomics disagreeable, and it IS a wee thick behind the edge. For me, however, the 0450 is simply magical. It was my gateway knife and whenever my EDC rotation gets back to it, I still feel the magic. It sounds corny, but sometimes I look at it and think, “Dang, this is really well done!” If I lost it tonight, I would replace it tomorrow. Hmmm, maybe I need a backup. ;)

The correct answer is to visit a store and hold one or both, if you can. Tastes and ergonomics can be quite personal.

ETA: Congrats on the Delica!
 
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Ian Follett said:
I just bought a Delica 4, my first decent knife and I'm hooked. I blame everyone on the internet who posts videos/content about knives.

Any way, now I'm look to get something a little bit nicer and the first two on my list are the ZT 0450 and the Kizer T1.

The 0450 seems to have the edge on quality but, to me, the T1 has the edge on looks.

Any way, any and all opinions welcome. Also accepting other recommendations.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

These are two very different knives. If you like the Kizer then go for it. Their quality is quite good.
 
My opinion, get the kizer. I had them both but now I only have the T1. Smoothness is just as good as any zt I own. Like above said, the 0450 doesn't agree with some people ergonomically. I do agree that ZT warranty is fantastic, I have no idea about kizers though. T1 is one of my favorites and the 0450 was just meh for me.
 
T1 is a probably a slightly more efficient cutting tool, but I’m from Tualatin, OR, so I have to vote for the home team.

Although, you could kinda get both by picking up one of these...

0uxAeKmh.jpg
 
The zt is higher quality and more solid. But it's much smaller and not good for medium to large hands. It's a flipper with no thumb studs. It's bit my thumb more times than I can count on the drop. Also occasionally forget to take my fingers off the lockbar when opening. It's solid knife.

The Kizer t1 is way lower quality and design.and execution in comparison. It's better in function than the zt. Better ergos, better blade geometry. Better deployment. However not with issues. Pivot comes loose very easy and often. You'll need to add at least blue locktite. The blade grinds are not even from side to side (not the edge bevel, apex was okay). Lockbar is tiny and weak. Detent occasionally has issues on first flick out on mine. So qc may vary alot between the lot on he detent. Action on close is drop shut most of the time cause the tiny lockbar with the pivot also loosing up often. Feel like I have to tune it for Kizer cause it's not tuned from the factory.

For use I prefer the Kizer t1. For show/art and quality I prefer the zt. The zt can do some serious work if it fits your hand. A guy I follow on ig hard uses one. I've used mine plenty to just cut many things.

I don't really carry them much anymore. Just prefer other knives better. Spyderco and crk are probably my most preferred for actual use and quality.

Though the higher end real Steel knives are excellent for the price. Megladon 2017 full flat grind is nice. Bit thick at the top but thin behind the edge. The 2018 version for me has a better more fun action but looks like it's copying the zt 0452 as well as looking bland all together. and geometry isn't as nice for slicing,but I've cut many things with out much fuss otherwise. Also got a poltergeist with marbled cf and s35vn that I felt was an interesting knife. Not really my type of knife in the least but it's decent quality and it doesn't have any glairing design issues like the t1. Not a fan of the blade for any slicing tasks. Action was nice and good lockbar. Easy to flip or thumbstud which has it on both the zt or t1. Better action on close than the zt cause I don't bite my thumb with it.
All three are larger than the two in this thread. But they are priced decently "on sale" if you know where to look.
 
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I've owned both, and still own the T1.

The 0450 is a great knife, I'm a big fan of ZT. Better with the MXG milled Ti clip, and swap out the red stand offs. I found the detent on my example strong, resulting in snappy deployment. Because the knife handle is not tall, you need to know where your fingers are during deployment not to press on the frame lock bar. Can be a challenge since the handle is smallish. If your hand does not fit within the handle shape, it's not ideal. It's not a tall blade and not full flat.

The T1 is amazing for what it is. Especially if you're looking for a non-flipper tab frame lock. My example fires open with the thumb studs reliably and free falls shut with one shake. Lock up is solid. Can also slowly rotate the blade out with your thumb. Two handed opening as well. Fit and finish are great, as are the ergos. The T1 has a better handle IMO. Comes with the milled clip. Taller blade with a much higher grind make it a better cutter in my experience.

It's a subjective choice, and having owned both I'd recommend the T1 unless you need to have a flipper tab.

450.jpg

3.JPG
 
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I don’t have the Kizer, so I can’t speak for it. I do have a ZT 0450 and it’s a flawless piece. The action is unbelievably easy, smooth and fast. It drops free to close with ease that’s also hard to believe. If I’m not careful, it’ll nick me on the left side of my thumbnail when I let it drop and that’s happened several times so far. I have XXXL hands, so to me it’s what I see as a small-ish knife. That makes it excellent for very discreet concealed carry, because it gets lost in my pocket without producing a telltale “I’m glad to see you” type bulge. The edge grind is even, the blade is perfectly centered, lockup is solid and there is no blade play, etc ad infinitum. I couldn’t speak more highly of the 0450 and I think it’s one of the best values for that price level that I’ve seen in a flipper. It’s definitely small in my hand, but the ergos work well and I accept it being small for me as a consequence of it being an ideal discreet concealed carry knife.
 
4mer_FMF said:
The correct answer is to visit a store and hold one or both, if you can. Tastes and ergonomics can be quite personal.

ETA: Congrats on the Delica!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think this is the only way. Each time I read a vote for the 0450 I'm like, OK, that's definitely the one and then I read a vote for the Kizer and I change my mind.
 
RBid said:
T1 is a probably a slightly more efficient cutting tool, but I’m from Tualatin, OR, so I have to vote for the home team.

Although, you could kinda get both by picking up one of these...

0uxAeKmh.jpg
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Being in Seattle, ZT is almost local which I do really like. That's the Gemini, right? Really nice looking!
 
ZT makes some of the best flippers out there. It's small, but it's pretty similar in size to a 940. If you've ever held a 940 and it feels comfortable in hand, the 0450 should work just fine.
 
Ian Follett said:
Yeah, I think this is the only way. Each time I read a vote for the 0450 I'm like, OK, that's definitely the one and then I read a vote for the Kizer and I change my mind.
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Gemini on the left, Ursa Minor on the right. Same handle scales, different blades. Both fantastic. I’d consider Seattle pretty local! We’re all PNW fam.
 
Ended up getting a good deal on a 0450CF! Really nice! I would have preferred the titanium version but the deal was too good to pass up. Trying to decide if it makes sense to pay $10 for a Basic membership so I can post in the trade forum.

Any way, thanks again for the recommendations!
 
Ian Follett said:
Ended up getting a good deal on a 0450CF! Really nice! I would have preferred the titanium version but the deal was too good to pass up. Trying to decide if it makes sense to pay $10 for a Basic membership so I can post in the trade forum.

Any way, thanks again for the recommendations!
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Do it! ;)
 
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