ZT 300 vs 350

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Pier23

Joined
Jan 4, 2015
Messages
64
Gentlefolk,

Newbie here, and I don't want to start any wars. This is a simple inquiry.

I have been taken by the ZT 300 series - yes, it is an NCIS knife, but at least I admit it that I can be swayed by Hollywood. But armourers do tend to have good taste.

Here is my question: the 300 is twice the price of the 350, but I don't see the reason. The blade is what...half-inch shorter? But is that really that big of a cost savings?

I am lusting after the 300 -a larger knife is a larger knife after all. But the price discrepancy of two such similar knives has me confused. What am I missing?

Thx!

Edit: ahhh...after some more drooling, I see the 350 is a liner lock and the 300 a frame lock. Not sure of the difference, but does that account dor the price difference? Frame locks are a more involved assembly?
 
It may not be all that much bigger by the numbers, but side by side in person and in hand there is a noticeable difference. The 350 is a full g10 handle with steel liners and a liner lock. The 300 series are titanium frame locks with texturing on both sides of the frame. The 300s also have a beefier pivot.

Personally I prefer the 300 over the 350.
 
I have both and while there are big differences between the two as listed by shandrydan1 (along with the 300 having a thicker blade stock). I really think the difference is more about marketing price points.
 
The 0300 is considerably more complicated to make. Besides the basic construction differences, there is also the 3D machining required for the texturing on both the titanium and G10 slabs. There is a fair bit more of expensive material and shop time involved in the 0300 than most of the 0350s. I think that this makes some of the clearance prices out there on some 0300 series knives worth a hard look. And honestly if you get one, chances are you'll get the other sooner or later any way. If you are comfortable with a large knife, go for the 0300 first. I think the 3D machined handles are a bit more comfortable.
 
kneedeep said:
The 0300 is considerably more complicated to make. Besides the basic construction differences, there is also the 3D machining required for the texturing on both the titanium and G10 slabs. There is a fair bit more of expensive material and shop time involved in the 0300 than most of the 0350s. I think that this makes some of the clearance prices out there on some 0300 series knives worth a hard look. And honestly if you get one, chances are you'll get the other sooner or later any way. If you are comfortable with a large knife, go for the 0300 first. I think the 3D machined handles are a bit more comfortable.
Click to expand...

Same idea with the ZT 0550 and the bigger 0560. The 3D machined Ti makes it more expensive. The 350 is moving it's way up on my want list. But then again so many others are as well....so many designs to want to try...
 
Most people shopping in this price point won't have issues with the difference in price...what it comes down to for me is what I will be using the knife for and how will I be carrying the knife...for me the 300 is more of a kit/backpack knife where the 350 is better suited for pocket carry...
 
I personally found the 0300 a little large in the hand. All its potential for a 'heavy use' folder is wasted on me because I EDC a fixed 0121. I went with the 0350;
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Thanks, all, and esp to TBL for the photo comparison. That gives an excellant reference to size I have been looking for.

I have a largeish Cold Steel Code 4 that I carry around the farm, and a smaller Gerber for EDC. My wife got me both <ggg>. But, like getting a .44 magnum, I just have this urge to go massive, with no clear-cut or defined purpose...the ZT 300 just LOOKS so durn cool to have!

I figure once I get this urge out of my system I can concentrate on some knives more reasonable and useful.

Now, I understand the liner lock system, but have not seen yet any descriptions of how frame lock systems work. For once, Google has failed me. Maybe I am not phrasing my query correctly. Is there a quickie tutorial on basic knife-for-dummies info here? I haven't found it yet.
 
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