ZT 0560 Vs. Benchmade 275 ADAMAS?

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BladeChick777

BladeChick777

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I have the ZT 0560 and have carried it as my EDC blade for a long while now.
I love it and part of me wants to keep it. But the other part of me wants to try something new but still want a big and beefy folder.

So is the ADAMAS worth it? I have a shot at one and don't know if I should go for it or keep what I have and keep searching.
 
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I was just on the fence about the 275 Adamas and a ZT 0200/0300. People convinced me to get the Adamas, not because the blade steel is better, but the overall construction of it is better. Titanium used in the framelocks on the ZT series knives have a RHC rating of about 40. I am told that the Axis lock on the Adamas is beefed up more than the average axis lock and will hold about 800lbs of force.

So about 2 hours ago I put in an order for the blacked-out version of the 275 Adamas. I also like how it is easier to sharpen since there is no recurve in the blade.
 
Fixed blades aren't my thing.

The 0560 doesn't have a recurve though.
The hardness of the lock side isn't really a big thing for me because I'm not prying open car doors or doing anything stupid. Titanium is stronger than steel and doesn't need a super hard HRC.
 
BladeChick777 said:
Fixed blades aren't my thing.

The 0560 doesn't have a recurve though.
The hardness of the lock side isn't really a big thing for me because I'm not prying open car doors or doing anything stupid. Titanium is stronger than steel and doesn't need a super hard HRC.
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I have the 275 and I love it. I also have the 0560 on order expecting it tomorrow :-)

The 275 is VERY beefy, I think the biggest thing is the thickness of the handle...

any questions just let me know :-)
 
I like both quite a bit, but I like the ZT 560 more, the higher grind, the steel and the overall design. I will say the Adamas is much likely stronger (both blade and lock) and is a nice blade in its own right, its just a little more overbuilt that I usually need at the sacrifice of cutting/slicing ability. I don't think I'd get rid of either though.
IMG_2395.jpg
 
Is the ADAMAS a good cutter though?
My 0560 has been used and sharpened like crazy and doesn't really have a thin edge but is built very beefy but works for everything I need a knife for. Would the ADAMAS be the same as in it will work for what I need to cut?
I always carry a slicer or thinner type knife along with my big beefy knife in case I needed a thinner tip/blade/edge.
 
I have them both,like them a lot, i think the zt 560 is a bit easier to carry,the adamas is heavier & more noticable in the pocket...
 
I'd say it cuts just fine, as long as you're not expecting to be able to slice through thick objects (like the whole blade has to go through it) like a FFG Spyderco would, but as far as shallower cuts it works great, I'd say it would be a good combo with a nice thin ffg lighter duty blade as you mentioned before. D2 doesn't hold an edge quite as well as Elmax of course, but it's up there with S30V IMO.
 
I see that you already have the 560, so as per the old adage here... get both (or in your case, the other)! Personally, if I were choosing between the two, I would go with the 560. I like Elmax more than D2. I like the high flat grind on the 560 more than the sabre grind on the Adamas. I think that even though the Axis lock is strong as hell, the likelihood that it would fail to engage initially is higher than that if the frame-lock failing to engage initially. I also prefer the flipper to thumb stud deployment. That said, I think in the end, for most of us there wouldn't be much noticeable difference in performance from the overbuilt-tank folder standpoint. Slicing and edge retention are maybe the two things I would ever notice in my EDC use. The reality is that I could probably get away with using a slipjoint for my EDC tasks. It's just cool to know that if I had to, my folder could open an Abrams tank like a can of sardines.
 
I have a 560 and I love everything about it. I was going to get an Adamas but after handling one at my local shop I changed my mind. It seemed quite a bit chunkier and much less comfortable to hold. I also found the knife rather hard to open with the thumbstud, however that might get better with a little break in time. Even then I don't think it would be as easy to open as my 560.

All in all i just could see where it would give my anything that my 560 didn't already provide.
 
I don't have a 0560. But I do have an 0300/0301.

The flipper/assisted opening of the 0300's seems to open fasted, but after practice with the adamas the difference is negligible.

The axis lock makes closing the knife much quicker.

As to the strength of both locks....the axis generally considered to be stronger, but I don't think either will fail without exceptional abuse.

The pivot on the 0300's is stronger but I don't know if that is carried over in the 0560.

The Adamas is just as easy in the pocket as the 0300's if not a little easier to carry, but it's clip is noticeably weaker.

The blade of the Adamas is very strong due to the combination of grind and steel used. It takes an excellent toothy edge and holds it very well. The higher ground edge of the 0560 may slice a little better, but the Adamas would perform more than adequately in most all circumstances.

The zt's DLC coating is vastly superior to the BK1 coating on the Adamas.

Both knives handles are rigid and very stiff and strong, though the greater strength may rest with the Adamas in that respect.

Overall both are exceptional knives with very strong build strength.

But you can get the Adamas for $100 less. For the price the Adamas is avert good deal.
 
BladeChick777 said:
Fixed blades aren't my thing.

The 0560 doesn't have a recurve though.
The hardness of the lock side isn't really a big thing for me because I'm not prying open car doors or doing anything stupid. Titanium is stronger than steel and doesn't need a super hard HRC.
Click to expand...

This is a big misconception due to marketing hype. The most common Titanium alloy is Ti6Al4V (used almost exclusively in knife applications) has a tensile strength of 170,000 psi, while the stainless that Benchmade uses for its liners (Grade 410) has a tensile strength of 200,000 psi. Many steels exceed 200,000 psi in tensile strength with some of the more exotic ones reaching just shy of 300,000 psi. Now, of course we're not talking about he dynamics of the locking mechanisms, but SO MANY types of steels are way stronger than titanium. Titanium is advertised often as being lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel. The fun part about that fact that they leave out is the "per pound" referring to the characteristics of titanium that allow it to be formed into structures that are handle more stress than aluminum or steel per pound. Titanium is actually heavier than aluminum and weaker than most steels.
 
michaelmcgo said:
This is a big misconception due to marketing hype. The most common Titanium alloy is Ti6Al4V (used almost exclusively in knife applications) has a tensile strength of 170,000 psi, while the stainless that Benchmade uses for its liners (Grade 410) has a tensile strength of 200,000 psi. Now, of course we're not talking about he dynamics of the locking mechanisms, but SO MANY types of steels are way stronger than titanium. Titanium is advertised often as being lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel. The fun part about that fact that they leave out is the "per pound" referring to the characteristics of titanium that allow it to be formed into structures that are handle more stress than aluminum or steel per pound. Titanium is actually heavier than aluminum and weaker than most steels.
Click to expand...
So then, why so desirable if it's all hype?
 
wildmike said:
I don't have a 0560. But I do have an 0300/0301.

The flipper/assisted opening of the 0300's seems to open fasted, but after practice with the adamas the difference is negligible.

The axis lock makes closing the knife much quicker.

As to the strength of both locks....the axis generally considered to be stronger, but I don't think either will fail without exceptional abuse.

The pivot on the 0300's is stronger but I don't know if that is carried over in the 0560.

The Adamas is just as easy in the pocket as the 0300's if not a little easier to carry, but it's clip is noticeably weaker.

The blade of the Adamas is very strong due to the combination of grind and steel used. It takes an excellent toothy edge and holds it very well. The higher ground edge of the 0560 may slice a little better, but the Adamas would perform more than adequately in most all circumstances.

The zt's DLC coating is vastly superior to the BK1 coating on the Adamas.

Both knives handles are rigid and very stiff and strong, though the greater strength may rest with the Adamas in that respect.

Overall both are exceptional knives with very strong build strength.

But you can get the Adamas for $100 less. For the price the Adamas is avert good deal.
Click to expand...

The adams' coating is actually cerakote. And since when do 560's have dlc...?

The Adamas will last longer because there's no Ti lock face to wear out and cause lock rock. The Zt IMO has better build quality and carries better. I'd say get the Adamas, but keep the 560 ad well :)
 
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