ZT 0551 vs SnG vs XM18

[bearcut]

No offense is meant, but the bold part of your post starts out like a nutnshmancy video. Can you honestly tell the difference between .5 ounces in your pocket? If you can, you must wear scales for pants.
If 5 ounces in the pocket is out of the question, my response is those people need to start eating more, maybe get to a gym. We are talking the weight of 3 American nickels = 15~grams.

I dislike Nutnfancy’s videos. I’m no fan of his.

However, I tend to agree with him, and countless others, about the over 5 ounce rule. Much beyond that weight, EDC folders get really annoying to me. The knife has to have some other really endearing features to make it worth carrying. My XM-18 is an example of this. BTW, it currently the heaviest folder I own. At 5.6 oz, it barely qualifies.

And yes, some people, myself included, really can tell the difference in our pockets between a 5 oz knife and a 6 oz knife, especially if one wears thin material pants. Tight, heavy blue jean pockets carry folders much differently than loose fit, thin nylon pant pockets.
And yes, lean guys, like myself, seem to notice heavy, bulky folders more than fat guys.

 

[BEknives]

Do any of y'all know a stocking dealer of the 550 or 551. I think I would like to order one right now.....

 

[BP Green]

That's a good point you made about pants made of light material. I wear some for fishing in the summer that are designed to dry quickly. They are loose fitting and the material is ultra thin and light.

I have a tough time wearing anything but the lightest, slimmest folders while wearing them because they constantly remind you they are there. It's like having someone continuously tugging at you while you're walking around. And it rubs against your skin as well.

When wearing jeans it's "Game On!"

 

[Ankerson]

Out of those 3 choices I would take the SnG every time due to the fact it's more comfortable to use and fits my hand better than the others.

If you get the SnG CC vers it's very light and flat, the Striders just plain feel better to me.

Comfort is a huge deal for me and I have pretty big hands so I tend not to care for the smaller profile folders, I prefer the SmF CC over all those 3.

 

[JNewell]

Out of those 3 choices I would take the SnG every time due to the fact it's more comfortable to use and fits my hand better than the others.

If you get the SnG CC vers it's very light and flat, the Striders just plain feel better to me.

Comfort is a huge deal for me and I have pretty big hands so I tend not to care for the smaller profile folders, I prefer the SmF CC over all those 3.

I have not used the other two. I agree that IMO the ergos of the SnG are truly superior - which you'd never guess from a picture, you have to get it in your hands to appreciate it/them.

 

[Ankerson]

I have not used the other two. I agree that IMO the ergos of the SnG are truly superior - which you'd never guess from a picture, you have to get it in your hands to appreciate it/them.

I have a 0551 sitting here now on loan and it's the most uncomfortable knife I have ever held in my hand. IMO it's a blister magnet so I will be wearing a glove when I test it so my hand won't get torn up.

Sorry Kershaw but that's how I see it....

 

[Reeek]

Well, it just goes to show how subjective knives can be because my opinion about the grip comfort of the 0551 is the exact opposite of yours. I feel like mine almost disappears in my hand because it feels so good.

This is one reason why the pursuit of knives is so interesting and fun

I have a 0551 sitting here now on loan and it's the most uncomfortable knife I have ever held in my hand. IMO it's a blister magnet so I will be wearing a glove when I test it so my hand won't get torn up.

Sorry Kershaw but that's how I see it....

 

[Ankerson]

Well, it just goes to show how subjective knives can be because my opinion about the grip comfort of the 0551 is the exact opposite of yours. I feel like mine almost disappears in my hand because it feels so good.

This is one reason why the pursuit of knives is so interesting and fun

Yes that's very true.

We all have our own ideas etc and that's a good thing. :thumbup:

THat's not saying ther 0551 isn't a good knife because it is, F&F, lockup and materials are all first rate.

 

[Kaizen1]

I have a 0551 sitting here now on loan and it's the most uncomfortable knife I have ever held in my hand. IMO it's a blister magnet so I will be wearing a glove when I test it so my hand won't get torn up.

Sorry Kershaw but that's how I see it....

I really like the ergos on the SnG myself. I thought the 055x would be similar from the looks of it. Have you handled an XM-18? The ergos on those work well for me, pretty much tied with the SnG, just different.

 

[Ankerson]

I really like the ergos on the SnG myself. I thought the 055x would be similar from the looks of it. Have you handled an XM-18? The ergos on those work well for me, pretty much tied with the SnG, just different.

Yeah, they are too small for my hand....

 

[Ankerson]

Cut rope with the 0551 today and after reprofiling the edge to 30 degrees inclusive it cut very well.

Won't know the Rockwell Hardness until I get it back.

 

[Folderguy]

Unless you can identify some really critical difference (to you), the price points are pretty compelling. I have an SnG I'm really pleased with, but you could buy two ZTs for the price of the SnG.

Very fair points.

I have 2 ZTs (and numerous other knives, too) and a Strider SnG. My ZT 0300 is a tank, and it has the assisted opening too, which I like, a powerful knife. However......... my SnG has a special place in my collection. I reground/convexed the edge and it's super sharp. I doubt I'll ever sell it, although, for the right price, who knows?

Here are a few pics:

Now, why do I like it more than the ZTs? Who knows, but I do. Simple as that.

 

[Folderguy]

All do respect,...Nutnfancy's self imposed 4oz rule is for him and him alone. He is not a expert or should his opinion weigh any more than anyone else on youtube that post a review. Weight is not as important in a knife as much as balance of the design. Some guys carry around a ZT 0301 and think nothing of it.

If I'm out traipsing around in the country, I'll have a ZT 0300 in one pocket, a Strider SnG in another, a Cold Steel Magnum Tanto IX on my belt, a SOG Jungle Primitive bowie on the other side, and a couple other smaller knives in other pockets. It's all fun. In the city, nothing like that at all. Probably a lockback Kershaw... the 5200 with the tortoise scales, with which I've never had any trouble from sheeple...

I could care less what nutnfancy says about the weight, heck, it's just one factor, and the fact we're discussing it here shows his opinion on this is taken seriously by some, but not all, me included...

 

[JNewell]

Now, why do I like it more than the ZTs? Who knows, but I do. Simple as that.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is that! Ask others what they like, but at the end of the day, it's your knife. :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[mihaun]

Do any of y'all know a stocking dealer of the 550 or 551. I think I would like to order one right now.....

You can find it at knifeworks.

 

[cziv]

You can find it at knifeworks.

Not sure what you can find there. They call it Elmax, then Vanax, then Elmax steel in their sales copy. They do show the brick pattern of the G-10 but are flip-flopping between the 0550 and 0551 blade steels.

 

[Ankerson]

Not sure what you can find there. They call it Elmax, then Vanax, then Elmax steel in their sales copy. They do show the brick pattern of the G-10 but are flip-flopping between the 0550 and 0551 blade steels.

0551 is ELMAX steel.

 

[cziv]

0551 is ELMAX steel.

Yup confirm that Jim. :thumbup: Knife Works sales copy is using both versions in the same description of the knife. I just thought it seemed a bit odd.

The ZT0551 folding knife features a bullet-tough blade of EL MAX stainless steel.
This ultra high-performance steel is a third-generation powdered steel. So it’s incredibly clean
with virtually no inclusions and has an exceptionally uniform distribution of
carbides. Vanax 35 high-nitrogen steel is extremely hard, wear resistant, and
corrosion resistant. In other words, it can take whatever
you can dish out. Designed by Rick Hinderer.

**Limited Edition of 1,000 pieces.**

Specifications
Blade Length: 3.5" (8.8 cm)
Closed Length: 4.5 " (11.4 cm)
Blade Thickness: 0.156"
Blade Material: EL MAX Stainless Steel

 

[Benny-x]

I dislike Nutnfancy’s videos. I’m no fan of his.

However, I tend to agree with him, and countless others, about the over 5 ounce rule. Much beyond that weight, EDC folders get really annoying to me. The knife has to have some other really endearing features to make it worth carrying. My XM-18 is an example of this. BTW, it currently the heaviest folder I own. At 5.6 oz, it barely qualifies.

And yes, some people, myself included, really can tell the difference in our pockets between a 5 oz knife and a 6 oz knife, especially if one wears thin material pants. Tight, heavy blue jean pockets carry folders much differently than loose fit, thin nylon pant pockets.
And yes, lean guys, like myself, seem to notice heavy, bulky folders more than fat guys.

Funny that you're "lean", but not skinny. And the opposite is fat, but not big or muscular...

Anyway, I carry around a Buck/Strider 880 SP and that thing has some real weight to it, but surprisingly i notice it no more than my other regular EDC which is a Kersahw Blur. But the kicker is the pants material that was mentioned, if i throw on some lose or thin cargos it doesn't matter what I have I can still notice it and dislike it.

It's a tough call between these knives, that's for sure. They're all in the same range of use, so i'd agree that it would come down to feel in hand. Since you're posting on here you probably don't have the opportunity to fell the 3 before you buy, so why not look for some people that own several folders you have felt or at least soemthing you have felt and also like one of the mentioned knives. That should give you some idea of which way to roll, and if you don't like it you can always sell it for next to no loss :thumbup:

 

[bearcut]

Funny that you're "lean", but not skinny. And the opposite is fat, but not big or muscular...
:

Your reasoning is flawed due to your misunderstanding of body physiology.

There are three main body types:
Ectomorphic - “thin” They tend to have less muscle mass and body fat than the average person. Their bone structure is smaller than the average person.

Mesomorphic - “average” Just what it means.

Endomorphic -“big” They tend to have more muscle mass and body fat than the average person. Their bone structure is larger than the average person.

All three body types can be lean or obese. Period.

My body type is ectomorphic. My current body fat percentage is 11%.
I am muscular and lean.

I have carried body fat percentages as high as 19%, which , for my body type, meant that I too was FAT. Through diet and exercise, I lost 10% of my body fat and almost 45 pounds of weight. I re-built up my muscle mass and I am now, once again, lean and muscular. (Although not at 9% anymore)

Many professional female models have very little lean mass, (muscle), while their body fat percentages run in the low to mid 30%. They may be “skinny” as a rail, but technically, they are obese!

Endomorphic people can run low body fat percentages and be very lean.