ZT 0770CF - A True Gentleman's Folder from Zero Tolerance

At this point it is undetermined how we will be selling the aluminum version. My guess is that you will see that sold as an exclusive to one dealer.
 
xICEMANx said:
True, BUT do those numbers translate to the assited Kershaw branded knives or the Zero Tolerance knives? I think your knife nuts like us go more for the ZT line? Just curious. I know my preference is definelty not towards speedsafe. I'm glad to see most of the new knives coming out on the ZT line aren't assisted. 0600, 454, 801,etc.
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Think about it this way - manual action is like a manual transmission car, Speedsafe is like an automatic transmission car. You want to put a numer to how many people drive an automatic versus how many people drive a manual? I bet you'd find that the vast majority of the general public (like my wife) prefer an automatic transmission, while the car enthusiasts (like me) prefer a manual.

By nature, the enthusiasts are some of the loudest voices, but they are not the majority. The majority doesn't speak up very loud, but they do vote with their wallets. As a company we want to please both markets. You'll note that even though we make a lot of entry level Speedsafe knives, we also make 0777's, 0888's, 0600's, 0801's, 0560's, 0550's, and knives liked the Tilt, Volt, and Speedform. Every single one of those knives is a manual action. And wouldn't you know it, but every time we hear a few people say "it must be broken, I can't open it all the way". You can almost smell the clutch burning when they pull up with their new Ferrari. And that's ok - we're always happy to teach people to open a knife properly. But with Speedsafe they can do it every time, no instruction necessary.

At this point, we're trying out the compromise - offering some Speedsafe knives with a drilled detent hole. We'll see if it works. We generally try to do what makes sense for a particular pattern, and for the intended end user. Just keep in mind that Speedsafe continues to be very popular on a large scale. We are sincerely doing our best to offer a diverse product range and cater to both kinds of users - entry level and enthusiasts.
 
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jimmer_5 said:
Think about it this way - manual action is like a manual transmission car, Speedsafe is like an automatic transmission car. You want to put a numer to how many people drive an automatic versus how many people drive a manual? I bet you'd find that the vast majority of the general public (like my wife) prefer an automatic transmission, while the auto enthusiasts (like me) prefer a manual.

By nature, the enthusiasts are some of the loudest voices, but they are not the majority. The majority doesn't speak up very loud, but they vote with their wallets. As a company we want to please both markets. You'll note that even though we make a lot of entry level Speedsafe knives, we also make 0777's, 0888's, 0600's, 0801's, 0560's, 0550's, and knives liked the Tilt, Volt, and Speedform. Every single one of those knives is a manual action. And wouldn't you know it, but every time we hear a few people say "it must be broken, I can't open it all the way". You can almost smell e clutch burning when they pull up with their new Ferrari. And that's ok - we're always happy to teach people to open a knife properly. But with Speedsafe they can do it every time, no instruction necessary.
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If you were my Fluid Mechanics Prof, I guarantee I would have gotten an A. Its no wonder you're input is highly valued at KAI, love your knives Mr. Mc Nair =)
 
Thanks for taking time to weigh in here, Jim. I'm definitely in the manual transmission (KVT) camp. Having said that, I can live with SpeedSafe in the 0770CF and will purchase one with or without it. I'm just so damn happy you guys decided to build a true ZT Gentleman's Knife I can hardly see straight! :)
 
jimmer_5 said:
At this point, we're trying out the compromise - offering some Speedsafe knives with a drilled detent hole. We'll see if it works. We generally try to do what makes sense for a particular pattern, and for the intended end user. Just keep in mind that Speedsafe continues to be very popular on a large scale. We are sincerely doing our best to offer a diverse product range and cater to both kinds of users - entry level and enthusiasts.
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That's why we love you guys!
 
So the ZT 0770CF is going to have the Speedsafe. Just trying to get it all figured out. I would also be in the manual camp, why would you need an assist with a flipper?
 
atony said:
So the ZT 0770CF is going to have the Speedsafe. Just trying to get it all figured out. I would also be in the manual camp, why would you need an assist with a flipper?
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Yes, it will have speedsafte. They are making it with a detent hole so it can be a manual flipper by removing the detent.
 
jimmer_5 said:
Lots and lots of people struggle to get a manual action flipper to open all the way. Weird, but true.
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Lots of people initially struggle opening the manual thumbstud-opening 0550.

Perhaps a short video by KAI showing the proper technique to open the various opening mechanisms as a sticky?!
 
Thanks. Will it void the warranty by removing it, or will it need to be sent in? If it needs to be sent in for removal you guys are going to get hit by a Tsunami I think.:D
 
atony said:
Thanks. Will it void the warranty by removing it, or will it need to be sent in? If it needs to be sent in for removal you guys are going to get hit by a Tsunami I think.:D
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Um....errr...well... Look at it this way - there are certain things that make things difficult for our Warranty staff. For example, Warranty doesn't like seeing knives coming back as a ziplock bag full of disassembled pieces. They also don't like when a user modifies or "pimps" the knife and causes it to malfunction.

Now if a fully functional knife came back and the torsion bar just happened to be missing? Hmmm..... ;)
 
jimmer_5 said:
Um....errr...well... Look at it this way - there are certain things that make things difficult for our Warranty staff. For example, Warranty doesn't like seeing knives coming back as a ziplock bag full of disassembled pieces. They also don't like when a user modifies or "pimps" the knife and causes it to malfunction.

Now if a fully functional knife came back and the torsion bar just happened to be missing? Hmmm..... ;)
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I feel ya!
 
jimmer_5 said:
Um....errr...well... Look at it this way - there are certain things that make things difficult for our Warranty staff. For example, Warranty doesn't like seeing knives coming back as a ziplock bag full of disassembled pieces. They also don't like when a user modifies or "pimps" the knife and causes it to malfunction.

Now if a fully functional knife came back and the torsion bar just happened to be missing? Hmmm..... ;)
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I truly don't understand the people who cannot seem to reassemble a knife after they've taken it apart. I mean didn't you watch the knife come apart?

Scary thing is those same people share the road with us.... And vote.
 
You shouldn't need a "technique" to open a knife. That sounds silly.
Give it some wrist!
 
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