ZT 0777 - KAI customer service email

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Here's the official word from the big man on campus.... TW asked me to share....

Just a little update on the recent story and progress on the ZT 0777:

The 0777 is an original Kai design that has/had become popular with multiple manufacturers since it won the Overall Knife of the Year in 2011. Microtech and "their" Matrix knockoff started the odd situation of others beating us to market with our own award winning design. Sad but true. Now it seems even more have jumped into deliberately copying this desired design. Boker is the latest to show off their true colors. You can see some of the unoriginality here: http://forum.guns.ru/forummessage/308/1026230-14.html

To say it's taken a bit of wind out our enthusiasm would be accurate. We have a lot to produce when it comes to both the Kershaw and ZT brands, and due to the clones (both high and low end), the project really just went to the back burner. Being that it never was intended for the masses, for better or worse, we decided that the urgency getting the 0777 to market was not a priority.

I don't think you'll see 0777's on the market this year, but they are being produced. Shipping a very small amount seemed complicated, so we will hold on prior to allocating, and look to produce a higher number before letting them hit the streets.
I figure the original will be about the 4th one to hit the streets when it makes its debut. To all those manufacturers that liked our design so much you decided to produce it and market it as your own, well you know, we know, and now everyone knows. As to who cares, well unfortunately not many I'm afraid.

It'll be soon, and while I appreciate those that still have interest, and understand those that don't...I guess we're looking for a little understanding with this whole situation. As to

I questioned whether to post a pic of the 0888 and the 0600 (both top 2012 Award winners) for those manufacturers that needed additional designs for the up coming new year, but figured they had them copied and will be ready to go shortly.


**********************************************
Thomas Welk
Director of Sales & Marketing
Kai USA ltd. - Sporting Division
Kershaw Knives, Zero Tolerance & Shun
**********************************************

Remember to play nice on the forums.
Happy holidays!
 
If you don't have a 0560/0561, their prices have dropped as the availability has improved. Love my 0561! That you might still get by this Christmas. Dangerous Christmas Season this year... if we make it past this Friday, 12-21-12, then there is the 'fiscal cliff' we'll fall off 1/1/13. Of course, after that there is the Pope's dilema... does he pull for Nick Say-ban's University of Alabama or Notre Dame to win the BCS Championship? It's a mine field, I tell you! Seriously, with the looming increased taxes and healthcare costs, I wonder how many folks will be able to afford a big buck knife this February - or next, as the case may be? My extra bucks are going into aluminum foil to wrap stuff in... you know, protection from solar flares, EMP, etc. I used the last of my stash wrapping my pith helmet - keep the mother ship from reading my mind, you know. Do I sound crazy? Hey, I got to fondle the pre-production sample 0777 at BLADE 2012 and, still, I'm not the one with a deposit on a production knife for over a year and a half! I really wish they had made their appearance before now - my best wishes to you folks waiting. Me, I'm 'off', so to speak, to get more aluminum foil...

Merry Christmas, all!

Stainz
 
Low on the priority list is an understandable answer, especially this late into it.

I suppose there's a reason why companies like Apple don't unveil their products until they're ready to be sold.
 
I wish people would stop asking/complain is it here yet ..is it here yet.... Kershaw/ZT never said the 0777 will be out on This said date... There projected release dates are not set in stone. Stuff happens...Its being made out of Devin Thomas Damascus and Vanax 35...I'm sure they had to wait to get enough of the steel in to make them. And those Beautiful CF handles are I'm sure difficult to produce too..And beyond that when everyone gets there how many people are actually gonna use them? maybe 10-15 people...the rest will sit in Safes, closets and cases never to cut a thing..Most will probably hit the exchanges marked up $200.And if you want one go buy the MT one...seen one for $2500...or get one custom made and wait a year or so and pay at least of $1000..At the end of the day its just a knife...yes I said it...Is life really so bad because your waiting for a $500 pocket knife.. I will wait for mine and not complain as they have released many cool knives in the time being to quench my knife thirst ..The ZT0350OR, ZT0550BLK, Carbon Fiber Blur, Spider Blurs, Awesome Shuns and continue to treat me like I'm family when I need a part or have a Question. Its easy to point fingers and stuff but keep in mind, look how many different knifes they produce from a Small Factory in the USA. They could start outsourcing more knives to Taiwan/China etc etc..Then someone would complain about that.

Thanks KershawLynda, Jimmer and ThomasW for all that you do!
 
100eyes said:
It'd be nice if ZT cut the BS and just said the reason behind the delay.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure we have never BS'd anyone on this subject - I think we've been pretty straightforward. The reason for the delay is the blades. Due to the high cost of the materials, the damascus in particular, we decdided early on to cut the blades with our Wire EDM rather than with the cutting Laser. The process is very slow, and this has been the biggest bottleneck from the start. We have plenty of handles/backspacers/clips/lockbars/et cetera, but the blades are coming along slowly (and will continue to be slow).

For those who feel that these knives are vaporware, here are some pics. What is it people say on the forums? Pics or it didn't happen! :D


Blades:

0777Bladeblanktray_zps94b7c9b1.jpg

0777Bladeblank_zpsc352ae21.jpg

0777FinishedBlades02_zps50550b5b.jpg

0777FinishedBlades01_zps817ac711.jpg


Handles:

0777HandleBlanks_zpsd383b6a4.jpg

0777finishedhandles_zps3e55792d.jpg


Pivots:

0777pivots_zps1a237d34.jpg


Lockbar Blanks:

0777Lockbarblanks_zps3eefac6b.jpg


Finished Knives:

0777FinishedKnives02_zpsa78b24cb.jpg

0777FinishedKnives01_zps43703141.jpg
 
That's the power of manufacturing I guess, trays and trays of treasure :eek: Pictures are shown just to make us drool more with jaws dropped :D
 
Now I understand what you were saying about the clip Jimmer.
I like the new flat clip. I'm not sure about that little hole. What is the purpose? Maybe I'll love it once I understand why it is there. Even with the hole, I still prefer it over the more plain rounded clip and really like it.. The new clip seems to take design cues from the cut outs in the backspacer on the 0888.
 
any one who has had the pleasure of holding a 777 in person knows the wait will be more then worth it.
 
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Thanks Jimmer and Lynda. You guys just keep doing what you are doing! They look most excellent!
 
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