ZT 560 Fakes, Clones, Counterfeits??

[SidTheMuss]

so i finally decided to buy a zt 560. my question is are there any fakes, counterfeits or clones out there i should be aware of and if so what to look for? thanks (i wasn't sure where to ask this with the kai/kershaw forum gone)

 

[Silvanus]

I'm sure there are clones out there, but I'm not familiar with them. If you buy from a Bladeforums dealer you won't have to worry about getting a fake or clone.

 

[Kai Winters]

Probably...
If the deal is too good to be true it is probably a rip off of some sort...
Buy from a reputable seller or dealer and you will be better off...

 

[PURPLEDC]

yes there is. And they make a variety of them. They range from the easy to spot to the not so easy to spot. The best advice is to buy from an authorized dealer.

 

[SidTheMuss]

yeah, i totally understand the risks and benefits of who to buy from, an authorized dealer is always the safest way to go. but a lot of us buy from the secondary market (like our exchange here) as well so i'm just curious if anyone knows of any counterfeits (other than the smaller, non frame lock one that popped up from china a couple years ago) out there that could be passed off as an authentic zt 560/561. i have looked all over the net and haven't found anything. i'd love to know where you guys that responded yes found yours. thanks

 

[DosOne]

I was browsing microtech pics on instagram a couple weeks when I came across a guy around Ukraine or Russia who had a ton of clones (not selling them ) but just his collection and it was very scary to me because they all looked perfect, he had a halo v, hinderers, striders, shingorov (or however you spell it) and many other customs.

 

[flarp]

The few fakes I've seen were pretty easy to spot. In general, they have a flat frame lock scale (all the 3-D machined pattern in the titanium is missing). Also, the G10 pattern is noticeably different from the real thing. Some of the fakes I've seen weren't even frame locks... they used a liner lock and G10 (with the wrong pattern milled into it) on both sides. The amount of machining to get the pattern and texture on both the G10 and titanium scales has to be pretty substantial, if you've seen a 0560 up close. My guess is that the counterfeiters don't want to go that much effort. There are easier knives to counterfeit.

 

[Lost Cosmonaut]

Can't say I've seen a counterfeit of the 056x. The counterfeiters tend to go for stuff they can potentially make more money on, like Striders, Hinderers, Shiros, etc. where it seems like you are getting a "steal" for buying one at $150-200 but you are getting a fake. A really good, scarily close to the real thing fake, but a fake. Meanwhile, the seller laughs all the way to the bank. Not enough profit margin in that sort of game on a knife that costs that in the market already.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are billions of fake Spydercos. It's almost terrifying how many fake Spydercos are out there, from all levels Spyderco makes.

 

[Jastab]

Yes they make fake 0560... check out this thread http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1060229-Counterfeit-ZT-0560

 

[grownstar]

Unfortunately, I've seen a few fake 0560s. Like the other guys said, buy from a dealer with a solid rep.

99% of people on the exchange are honest about what they're selling, so that's a plus.

 

[K.O.D.]

Avoid Ebay like the plague.

 

[Rasco]

Yes they make fake 0560... check out this thread http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1060229-Counterfeit-ZT-0560

If you know what a 0560 looks like, or is supposed to look like, these are very obvious fakes.
But I hadn't seen any prior to this.

I wouldn't worry too much about a fake being sold on the forums here. Just don't buy from eBay and you'll be fine.

 

[PURPLEDC]

yeah, i totally understand the risks and benefits of who to buy from, an authorized dealer is always the safest way to go. but a lot of us buy from the secondary market (like our exchange here) as well so i'm just curious if anyone knows of any counterfeits (other than the smaller, non frame lock one that popped up from china a couple years ago) out there that could be passed off as an authentic zt 560/561. i have looked all over the net and haven't found anything. i'd love to know where you guys that responded yes found yours. thanks

knowing where people bought a fake from only helps those who want to buy a fake. And if you are thinking of buying used then the information wont help you. Buy from a dealer or a trusted member. But there is no good to come from posting a link to buying the fake knives on a public forum. Ebay actually isnt bad. In fact while some fakes do pop up there its the easiest place to get your money back if you do get shafted.

The few fakes I've seen were pretty easy to spot. In general, they have a flat frame lock scale (all the 3-D machined pattern in the titanium is missing). Also, the G10 pattern is noticeably different from the real thing. Some of the fakes I've seen weren't even frame locks... they used a liner lock and G10 (with the wrong pattern milled into it) on both sides. The amount of machining to get the pattern and texture on both the G10 and titanium scales has to be pretty substantial, if you've seen a 0560 up close. My guess is that the counterfeiters don't want to go that much effort. There are easier knives to counterfeit.

They make replicas of almost all of the various 0560 models. And they do make. Some that copy all the mill work and logos.

 

[Rasco]

i'm just curious if anyone knows of any counterfeits out there that could be passed off as an authentic zt 560/561. i have looked all over the net and haven't found anything.

That's a lil odd. That almost makes it sound like passing a fake off as authentic is your goal... >_>
Not accusing you, just sayin, nobody here is gonna point you toward where to get knockoff blades. And rightly so.

Pics have been provided and you should have pretty much everything you need at this point to make an informed purchase.
If you want a 0560, just pony up the $200 or so and get one you know is real from a reputable dealer, or a forum member with good feedback.

 

[grownstar]

If you want a 0560, just pony up the $200 or so and get one you know is real from a reputable dealer, or a forum member with good feedback.

This.

Not to mention the fact that if you watch the exchange like a hawk, you'll find sweet deals. I've seen 0560s for as low as $125-130. That's just a steal.

And if you're trying to get a fake 0560 to impress some girl...she's not worth it, bro

 

[marcinek]

... i'm just curious if anyone knows of any counterfeits (other than the smaller, non frame lock one that popped up from china a couple years ago) out there that could be passed off as an authentic zt 560/561. ...

Answering that question would get one an red card, if not a ban.

Asking that question should, in my opinion.

 

[RobertA.R]

I bought a few chinese microtech clones a while back for which i am now repenting, and they can be very high quality. Id buy it from a place like Bladehq or knifecenter, sites like that. Im not familiar with how great they are making them now but i wouldn't be surprised if they are doing them spot on with maybe a difference in logo font, or screw color, something not easily noticed. Happy hunting.

 

[Kru03]

Answering that question would get one an red card, if not a ban.

Asking that question should, in my opinion.

Personally, I think it's a fair question. I've spent a lot of time trying to avoid buying fakes by scouring the internet for pictures and videos of a knife to see if it's been closely counterfeited. i.e. Sebenza 25. I did not want to find a source for the fake, I wanted to avoid buying a fake from a potentially unscrupulous (re)seller. I believe that's what the OP was asking.

 

[Rasco]

Personally, I think it's a fair question. I've spent a lot of time trying to avoid buying fakes by scouring the internet for pictures and videos of a knife to see if it's been closely counterfeited. i.e. Sebenza 25. I did not want to find a source for the fake, I wanted to avoid buying a fake from a potentially unscrupulous (re)seller. I believe that's what the OP was asking.

Mmmmm, kinda. I think that was the intent of the original post, but then read this one :

"i'm just curious if anyone knows of any counterfeits out there that could be passed off as an authentic zt 560/561. i have looked all over the net and haven't found anything."

At the time he typed this, the forums had already provided him with good info and pics, etc.
I think he just worded it in a poor way.
It makes it sound like he's scouring the internet for a "good fake" or a fake that can pass as real. All he needs to be looking for is a good deal on a REAL 0560.

The 0560 has a textured titanium handle that takes over an hour at the factory to mill out, so I really doubt you'll find many fakes out there that have a milled Ti framelock. The pics from that other link show G10 on both sides.

So I think we're done here. Dude can't find any fakes out there, so the odds of him unintentionally buying a fake 0560 are pretty low. I think OP has all the info he needs to make an informed purchase.

 

[marcinek]

Personally, I think it's a fair question. I've spent a lot of time trying to avoid buying fakes by scouring the internet for pictures and videos of a knife to see if it's been closely counterfeited. i.e. Sebenza 25. I did not want to find a source for the fake, I wanted to avoid buying a fake from a potentially unscrupulous (re)seller. I believe that's what the OP was asking.

Point taken. I can see reading his question that way.