ZT 0551 vs SnG vs XM18

[cziv]

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.

FINISH THE STORY....WHAT ABOUT THE KNIVES?? I know you've owned them..lol. Was waiting for you to respond last night.

 

[Ankerson]

The interesting thing is when talking about clothes etc is that it really doesn't matter to me what kind of pants I wear. It could be jeans, Khakis, or dress pants, I don't notice the weight differences in the 4 to 6 ounce range at all. And I like my pants to fit loose for more comfort.

I never wear shorts or cargo pants and I wouldn't be caught dead wearing cargo shorts under any circumstances.

 

[bearcut]

FINISH THE STORY....WHAT ABOUT THE KNIVES?? I know you've owned them..lol. Was waiting for you to respond last night.

I still have an Sng and an XM-18. I love them both. The Strider is probably the lightest, thinnest, super strong folder currently made. However, the thin handle is not as comfortable as the XM or ZT offerings.
The XM-18 is super strong also, but has a thicker body which I find more comfortable to use during extended cutting of heavy materials.

I like the ZT 0551 a lot. It is a super nice knife for the price. If you can’t reasonably afford one of the $400 folders, get one of these, you won’t be sorry.

I just sold mine, (at a discount, since I used it), to a friend of mine. There was nothing wrong with it, it just wasn’t as well made and designed as the Sng or the XM-18. It cost half what the others did, it shouldn’t have been as nice! It was an EXCELLENT $200 knife. It was not an excellent $400 knife!

Besides, I really didn't need another heavy duty folder. Want, yes. Need, no.

I am going to try out the new HEST folder though.

 

[cziv]

I totally agree "want yes, need no." The ZT 0551 is one heckova knife for the $$, but my hard use folder category is booked solid.

I enjoyed handling it and getting to check it out, then passed it on to another member at my cost, who wasn't on the list. Nice low serial number too.

Good luck on that HEST folder man. :thumbup:

 

[Thomas W]

I’m unsure if it’s really fair to compare a custom to a production folder, but I guess we’re doing something right just to be in the conversation.

A benefit with a high end production folder is that you get volume, at least limited. The factory knives are produced/handle/assembled by a multitude of production peeps. Is it going to be perfect? Of course not. Most manufacturers, even the specialty manufacturers, don’t employ the skilled labor necessary to meet (I’ll compare the XM to the 551 here) Rick’s talent level. Never will.

ZT can’t do what Rick does, and Rick can’t do what ZT does.

Not everyone can afford or even find Rick’s knives, and to some, they want more than a ZT offering.

In the end we both just hope there is a knife that satisfies.

 

[cziv]

In the end we both just hope there is a knife that satisfies.

I think that's a real understatement Thomas. What Zero Tolerance achieved with Rick's design has been the biggest "new knife" to come down the pike since I've been participating on the boards.

I feel secure posting that after all of the wildness, foaming at the mouth, clamoring for this and that feature, bugging you constantly for the product, some early release issues which were mopped up in style and now a 100% success. A real achievement! :thumbup:

 

[Reeek]

Bingo!

i’m unsure if it’s really fair to compare a custom to a production folder, but i guess we’re doing something right just to be in the conversation.

in the end we both just hope there is a knife that satisfies.

 

[evilblade]

The ZT is a awesome knife. I love all my ZT knives. ZT best knives are collaborations with Strider or Hinderer and should tell you that the original designers knives are going to be better. The real deal knives tend to be more than the sums of their parts or designs that other companies borrow or collaborate. The Strider and Hinderer are the next level up as a semi/custom production model's. Resale value, exclusivity, and desirability also are a big reason for their increased price over the ZT. It's like this.....If you want a Strider, Hinderer, or Sebenza anything else won't be the same. A collaboration knife will give you a taste of the original designers knives.

you speak the truth!

 

[mdc5162]

I have had a SNG dgg and absolutely loved it, was and still is my favorite knife. I kick myself everyday for selling it but the offer was too good. I am going to recieve a 551 this weekend and after all the reviews I cant wait to get my hands on it. I am really interested to see how I like it compared to the strider and the Umnumzaan that I have now.

It is hard to beat the combination of strength, comfort, and sleekness of the sng dgg handle.

 

[Followthehollow]

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

Same here, the 0551 is the most comfortable knife I own.

 

[Pilot1]

Some guys carry around a ZT 0301 and think nothing of it.

My ZT 0301 is my weekend carry knife most of the time. I forget I have it with me, and I am only 6' 170 lbs. I am looking forward to receiving my 0551 though.

 

[Noctis3880]

By all rights my ZT 0551 is one hell of a comfortable knife, but I just don't find myself carrying it all that much.

I'm thinking maybe the sandpaper texture of the G10 scales isn't rubbing me quite like titanium or 3D G10 does, even with the brick pattern taking most of the aggression off.

 

[Darkstar2520]

zt 0300 or 551? Both around the same price Need a hard use folder which to get

 

[Pilot1]

zt 0300 or 551? Both around the same price Need a hard use folder which to get

I've had the ZT 0301 for a few weeks now and have been carrying it a lot. I will soon be receiving a 0551, but don't have it yet to compare, but from the pics the 03xx is a bigger, heavier knife with assisted opening, which I actually like.

The 0551 is a bit smaller and should be easier to carry. While it does not have a flipper or AO, reports are it is very easy to open after initial break in, but I don't have personal experience yet. That will change in a day or so.

I think there are some side by side pics in the 0551 thread, or maybe some of the FS threads.

 

[Noctis3880]

zt 0300 or 551? Both around the same price Need a hard use folder which to get

Actually the 0300 is cheaper on the secondary market. However the 0551 has a steel with better edge retention, corrosion resistance, and possibly toughness as well(unconfirmed). It's also lighter and not quite as fat in the pocket, whereas the 0300 will quite literally drag your pants down at 8 oz.

Though even with all that said, I find myself having some trouble letting go of my 0301. It still gives me the distinct impression that I could pry a tank hatch open with the blade. The pivot screw seems sizably fatter and the tip is distinctly thicker.

The 0551 cuts better while the 0301 has a stronger tip. Also might want to consider whether you can reliably sharpen a recurve or not.

 

[misterjuiceman]

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.

hahaha, that's exactly my thoughts as well

 

[stabman]

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.

Absolutely. Preach it brother!
Hell, I'm 6'2" and 170 pounds (I eat everything AND go to the gym), and an 8 ounce folder is nothing to carry.
Nothing at all.
I must be a superhero and just didn't know it.