ZT 0562 or ZT 0562CF? (Elmax or M390)

Charr said:
This is a good point, and if it works better for you because of that, then that's perfectly fine, but higher toughness to most people isn't that much of a difference, unless the difference in toughness is very significant, and between M390 and Elmax, it is not an incredibly drastic difference.
Also, Elmax's higher toughness is one of the reasons it's notably harder to sharpen than M390, and takes considerably longer to get to a screaming edge. M390 also has a better reaction to sharpening, and in my experience feels smoother against stone, without giving too much difficulty or requiring a lot of effort to sharpen from dull or to re-profile (your mileage may vary).
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When I reprofile I use diamond and it is not too bad with either steel. I have a 562CF on pre-order and like M390 very much and will continue to buy knives in both. In fact I am looking at a few 20CV knives to try it and see how it compares to M390. I still buy customs in 5160 and W2 and the edge holding doesn't bother me a bit. Just a personal preference.
 
I'll probably go with the M390CF, but Elmax and G10 would also be great. What I'm more interested in is the blade and edge geometry. If ZT takes the geometry down enough, this could be an awesome knife.
 
My internal debate between the two has been focused on the blade finish. I prefer stonewashed to the two tone with the high polished blade.

I use knives a lot at work for cardboard, zip ties, plastic binding strips, etc, so edge retention is a consideration but my 0566 and 0550 have been great, so I don't see a need to step up in steel.

It's a tough call. I think I'm leaning toward the standard.
 
Twindog said:
I'll probably go with the M390CF, but Elmax and G10 would also be great. What I'm more interested in is the blade and edge geometry. If ZT takes the geometry down enough, this could be an awesome knife.
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My guess is that they'll continue to use 23 degrees per side...
 
Most people will probally want the m390. I would say get the cf version. I'm willing to bet that some one would trade your cf scale for a g-10 one if you really prefer g-10
 
The CF texture of the 0562CF will be one key as ZT has various finishes from very grippy like on the 0777 to pretty good grip on 0560CBCF and quite good on 0770CF. The 0350SWCF has a pretty smooth finish so it's not as grippy for sure.

On the M390 vs. Elmax there's information to read and compare in these documents from Bohler-Uddeholm:


Personally, any CF scale is preferable over G-10 and always M390 over Elmax.
 
RBid said:
My internal debate between the two has been focused on the blade finish. I prefer stonewashed to the two tone with the high polished blade.

I use knives a lot at work for cardboard, zip ties, plastic binding strips, etc, so edge retention is a consideration but my 0566 and 0550 have been great, so I don't see a need to step up in steel.

It's a tough call. I think I'm leaning toward the standard.
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From what I've seen, the beveled area will be done in a satin finish, with the flate portions of the blade in stonewash. If you wanted to have more of a working finish, you could always have someone stonewash the blade, or just do it yourself if you have a tumbler and access to some media. I know a couple people on here that would do it for not that much at all, besides shipping, and do a nice mirrored edge on it as well after they wash the blade.

Another reason I optd for the 0562CF that I didn't think to mention is the moding potential. Since I like carbon fiber, and would likely replace the G10 anyway and have the titanium anodized, it just saves me some money to get the 0562CF over the regular one. And like many have said before, if you prefer G10, there is almost garanteed to be someone who will trade scales, so "why not" is sort of how I feel about it.
 
Airlsee said:
Love the insights guys, I've decided on the 0562CF. I just can't justify passing up the M390 for Elmax...super stoked, now if it will just come out already!
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I think you've made a good decision. As far as the handle material, normally I too would prefer G10 for many of the reasons you listed in our original post. However, having played with both versions at Blade Show (you can check out my Blade Show article in another thread) I can tell you that the G10 version does NOT provide significantly better traction as compared to the CF version. I was actually going to buy both versions and swap the scales, but I abandoned that idea after I handled them - the G10 version is quite slick with almost no texture on the G10.

I personally believe this knife will be one of ZT's biggest sellers EVER. That means it should be WELL supported by the community of knife modifiers who will hopefully make some nice grippy G10 scales available for the 0562 in the not too distant future.
 
Rolex John said:
I think you've made a good decision. As far as the handle material, normally I too would prefer G10 for many of the reasons you listed in our original post. However, having played with both versions at Blade Show (you can check out my Blade Show article in another thread) I can tell you that the G10 version does NOT provide significantly better traction as compared to the CF version. I was actually going to buy both versions and swap the scales, but I abandoned that idea after I handled them - the G10 version is quite slick with almost no texture on the G10.

I personally believe this knife will be one of ZT's biggest sellers EVER. That means it should be WELL supported by the community of knife modifiers who will hopefully make some nice grippy G10 scales available for the 0562 in the not too distant future.
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I see a lot of community support on this one too. If only the 0392 was a more prolific run, I would say it would be the best model for modding, but as it stands I think the 0562 (both versions) will be one of the best knives for the modding community to play with for a while, considering the nice clean Ti, and the scales. Not the easiest to mod if they stick to their current design I think, but some awesome stuff will come from it.
If anyone has the ability to make a Ti front scale them, I would happily drop the coin for one that could copy the machining on the lockside. Might be a bit much to ask for though :o
 
tokerblue said:
My guess is that they'll continue to use 23 degrees per side...
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To be honest, I don't care what profile they give the edge, it won't be acute enough and I can easily change it.

The problem will be the blade thickness at the edge. I reprofiled my ZT0560 to 15 dps, but the thick blade grind means the edge is 0.047 inches wide at the shoulders -- horrible blade geometry. By comparison, my Sebenza in S30V is 0.017 inches at the edge shoulder. The main reason I don't carry my 0560 is because I have other EDC blades that cut much more efficiently.
 
Twindog said:
To be honest, I don't care what profile they give the edge, it won't be acute enough and I can easily change it.

The problem will be the blade thickness at the edge. I reprofiled my ZT0560 to 15 dps, but the thick blade grind means the edge is 0.047 inches wide at the shoulders -- horrible blade geometry. By comparison, my Sebenza in S30V is 0.017 inches at the edge shoulder. The main reason I don't carry my 0560 is because I have other EDC blades that cut much more efficiently.
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I really hope they go at least a little thinner than usual as well, but from the images we've seen, and the prototype I've seen, it doesn't look like it. Could easily be wrong though, and I do hope I am. Would be a shame to waste a slicer grind on something that can never really be a proficient slicer.
 
Does anyone make a current model, in stock knife in both Elmax and M390. Same blade profile, thickness and length? Fix of folder?
 
I agree with Rolex John. I think the 0562 should be ZT's new best seller and kind of the flagship for awhile.
 
Is it difficult to get hands on an anticipated production blade like this if you dont preorder?
 
gga357 said:
Does anyone make a current model, in stock knife in both Elmax and M390. Same blade profile, thickness and length? Fix of folder?
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I can't think of anything in stock right now, but a friend and I have Shirogorovs in both M390 and Elmax. His is a 95 Hati, and mine is a 95-T, but they're the exact same blade. Both are very excellent. I sharpen his for him, and that's where I get a lot of my experience in comparing them. I also have a Diskin Fire in Elmax, but the blade geometry is much different.

jprime84 said:
Is it difficult to get hands on an anticipated production blade like this if you dont preorder?
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It probably will be, at least at first. Once they have the second and third distributions, it will be pretty common. There are usually a bunch of people who sell them off as soon as they come out, because they got several, or because they know they can get a little extra cash out of the lack of availability.
It might take you a little longer than those with a pre-order, but since these are both regular production models, eventually they will calm down and become readily available. it varies pretty heavily in how long it takes to get there though...
 
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