ZT 300 vs ZT 550

T

Tarant

Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
48
Hi folks,
Looking at getting my first ZT and would like a little help deciding.

I am looking for a large knife for edc (now I have a Benchmade Barrage 580 and I like the size but not the slippery grip and it feels to light to me) and daily tasks and both these knives have me stuck. Could someone who has both give me some feedback and possibly comparison pictures. I dont have a ZT dealer anywhere close so I cannot see/feel before i buy.

Thanks
 
Hi

One order of crappy photos coming up

If you want a big knife out of the two, I'd go with the 300. Both knives are awesome, however I have a better grip of the 300 than the 550. Also, having the assisted opening thingymajig on the 300 doesn't hurt either. For the 300, you have scales on both sides of the handle. For the 550, the side with the clip is smooth, however there shouldn't be any problem with flipping the blade open with one hand. I'm going to let the seasoned vets give you some useful feedback. :p
zt001.jpgzt002.jpgzt003.jpg Top knife is a 300, middle one is the 550, and the bottom one is the 350 to confuse you.
 
I like the 0550/0551. It is much easier size to carry and less scary to non knife folks because it isn't as beefy and doesn't have a tacti-cool black blade. Kershaw's stonewash blades all look really nice (I want a 0300ww!!) They are both really nice knives, but to me it would be down to a preference over SpeedSafe or manual. Keep in mind that the 0550 doesn't have a flipper. Mine opens easily with the thumbstuds though except after chopping off the tip of my thumb that gave me a new appreciation for SpeedSafe. If I had very limited funds I'd wait and get the 0560 (see my post about my love of KVT in the Tilt) or get the 0300 and 0560 and maybe skip the 0550.

All that being said, I carry an 0300 pretty much everyday. The thing is a beast and wouldn't be comfortable carry for a lot of people. I partly carry it because I moved here from Montana and have taken a lot of crap from the elitist lefty Portland liberals I work with over the years and am now "embracing the stereotype" :P I've always worn cargo pants to carry around lots of junk but now more often than not each pocket has a knife or two in it. My Mystery Ranch [made in MT] hat has been replaced with a Kershaw hat. Even being an obnoxious knife nut I still tend to use some discretion and will pull out a Skyline or Leek to open boxes and things like that.
 
I had a 301 and have a 0550. I like the 0550 hands down for carrying. The 301 was big and bulky, looked cool, popped open with "A thor A TIE" but I didnt like the way it carried. I traded it off. I dont know, nor is it my business of your financial abilities, but get a 0550 then wait for a a 560 if you want the flipper. I love both my 0550 and xm-18 so when the 0560 models come out that might be a collector thing for me, except serrated models.
 
I have both the 301 and the 550. When clipped into the pocket the 0550 is light as a feather compared into the 301. And the 501 feels less bulky as well.
 
Thanks everyone, And great pics Avira exatly what I was looking for.
I have decided to go with the 300 because the size seems great, i do like the 550 but it is a tad smaller than my Barrage. I am a big guy and have big hands and usually am in cargo pants or carharts so the size doesnt worry me.

But I will be looking at the 560 when it comes out though.

Thanks again,
 
Have you considered the BM581? It's essentially an overbuilt Barrage with G10 scales.
 
I have an 0301 and an 0551, and the 0551 does carry a little easier. I really like them both though, and with a pair of jeans it really doesn't matter. I have a 0560 on pre-order, and I am looking forward to comparing all three. I think I like the Hinderer designs a bit better than the Onions, but more due to aesthetics, and that I'm not a huge fan of recurve.
 
i have both as well and they are both good but I much prefer the 0551 due to it being a manual knifeinstead of assisted, also seems to cut better as well
 
I'd say if you are going to carry it hands down 0550. I have heard of guys edcing the 30x series but definitely in minority. The 0550 is actually heavy for many as an edc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top