ZT 620 vs 630: tanto vs upswept; M390 vs S35VN

M

MaestroGustav

Joined
Dec 15, 2013
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ZT announced its 0630. Looks identical in form to the 620, except:

Steel: S35VN instead of M390

Blade shape: "Upswept Tactical" instead of the tanto.

Also, apparently no CF option, only G10

Here's a pic:

http://zt.kaiusaltd.com/knives/knife/zt0630

I own the 620 and was just about to order a duplicate. Why would YOU choose the upswept blade and different steel? Or would you choose to buy another 620 as a backup?

Let's set aside the likely long wait for the 630. Thanks.
 
The blade shape of the 0630 is more practical for the end user. While i love the looks of a tanto, and i owned an 0620... i sold it in hopes for a model like the 0630.
 
I have a 0620CF. Hopefully ZT makes a 0630CF. I prefer the 0630's upswept blade over a tanto for everyday cutting but I don't regret purchasing my 0620CF. The blade has beautiful grinds and that's what drew me to it. Plus the M390 steel is a good choice.
 
If we're talking the regular 0620 vs 0630 we're looking at Elmax vs S35VN, and I honestly don't have a strong preference if given that choice. I'd take M390 over either. As for blade shape, I like tanto points for office EDC tasks, but the versatility and aesthetics of the upswept blade appeal to me more.
 
I have the 620cf, for some reason I don't like the 630 blade shape. I'll end up with a back up 620cf.
 
If you already have a 0620 get a 0630. Try it out and if you dont like it, just sell it here :D guaranteed it will sell!
 
I appreciate those answers, thank you.

What sort of tasks are easier with a more traditional blade shape than a tanto?

Please note my post count; I hang around here to learn stuff that may be self evident to you. Thanks.
 
The belly allows for better slicing as well as skinning. But I have knives with those tasks in mind.
MaestroGustav said:
I appreciate those answers, thank you.

What sort of tasks are easier with a more traditional blade shape than a tanto?

Please note my post count; I hang around here to learn stuff that may be self evident to you. Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
One more difference besides blade steel, is blade stock thickness. The 620 is 5/32nds of an inch thick, and the 630 is 1/8th of an inch, give or take, if I understand correctly.
 
Maestro--

Yes, I am likely going to get the 0630 for the upswept blade; as much as I like the looks of the tanto, I find it less practical than lots of belly. Now, by practical I mean doing everything from opening/ breaking down boxes and packages, to slicing meats and apples/ fruit, and just about anything else everyday life might throw at an urban-suburban-dayhiking-bbqing-workingaroundthehouseandgarage-professor-fatherofthree-matrialartspractionerandinstructor...

In short, I really like the 0630.

:)

I will have one...
 
ohmyheckinslc said:
The 620 is 5/32nds of an inch thick, and the 630 is 1/8th of an inch, give or take, if I understand correctly.
Click to expand...

I really hope that this is true..... hopefully not a typo. A thinner blade in this knife would make an ideal slicer with the blade shape.

I also hope they come out with a CF model in something like CTS-204p.... I don't think we will be seeing m390 anymore
 
Popsickle said:
I really hope that this is true..... hopefully not a typo. A thinner blade in this knife would make an ideal slicer with the blade shape.

I also hope they come out with a CF model in something like CTS-204p.... I don't think we will be seeing m390 anymore
Click to expand...

I do want to know what you mean by this. As far as I know, there shouldn't be any reason not to see M390 around.

Anyway, as far as I'm concerned on one or the other...I would rather have the 0620. Even in the base version, I would still rather have the 0620, but I much prefer the offering of the 0620cf. M390 is an excellent steel in almost all respects. It sits on a similar overall philosophy as S35VN, performing very well in all categories, instead of being amazing at one perticular property at the expense of other characteristics.
The difference is that M390 will completely outperform S35VN in just about everything, though S35VN is still a very good steel.

In addition to that, I have seen a simple regrind that someone did here on their 0620cf that turned it into a drop-point/spanto blade instead of a true tanto. The blade in that shape is exquisite, and from talking to him, it performs insanely well.

Now, the slicing potential of the 0630 is not lost on me, but I would really hold out for a CF version myself.
 
Charr said:
I do want to know what you mean by this. As far as I know, there shouldn't be any reason not to see M390 around.

QUOTE]


Im just talking as far as Zero Tolerance knives are concerned. They have clearly had issues getting the 0620cf and 0562cf out. The 0392 has been switched to CTS-204p which is the Carpenter equivalent to M390.
Click to expand...
 
Popsickle said:
I do want to know what you mean by this. As far as I know, there shouldn't be any reason not to see M390 around.

QUOTE]


Im just talking as far as Zero Tolerance knives are concerned. They have clearly had issues getting the 0620cf out and the 0562cf. The 0392 has been switched to CTS-204p which is the Carpenter equivalent to M390.
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware that the 0392 was changed. Of course, I stopped really paying attention to the 0392 a while ago honestly.
I guess maybe ZT is moving away from Bohler altogether. Elmax is also a Bohler steel, and they've moved over to S35VN.
We might be about to see them switch over entirely to Carpenter and Crucible steels instead of Bohler. That does bring up the question of what they will do for their existing models. I wouldn't pay the same amount for S35VN as Elmax personally.

I don't mind the change overall, but S35VN is an overall downgrade from Elmax for most people. It has lower toughness by a good margin, and it will not hold an edge as long, though it will sharpen more easily. CT-204p is virtually identical to Bohler M390, though it doesn't use the same powder metalugery generation, and is a little less pure (not that most people will really notice).

I guess as long as ZT maintains a good quality HT it won't matter in the long-run, but I do prefer M390 overall. Oh well. I can understand some possibel reasons for them switching.
 
Charr said:
In addition to that, I have seen a simple regrind that someone did here on their 0620cf that turned it into a drop-point/spanto blade instead of a true tanto. The blade in that shape is exquisite, and from talking to him, it performs insanely well.
.
Click to expand...


Wow, curious to see that!
 
I just got an 0620CF and it's a very usable tanto blade shape. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for any task except perhaps skinning. I do like the looks of the 0630 and will definitely get one when they are available.
 
The edges of the 620 are curved, not straight. I figure that after a few sharpenings, that pesky tanto point should be gone, and the knife will be better.


I just don't care much for the 630.
 
Charr said:
It was in the EDC IV thread, but I don't remember the page. I do know it was posted again not that long ago so maybe check there to see it.
Click to expand...

Found it... I think.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1235082-EDC-IV-Which-knife-or-knives-are-you-carrying-today?p=14378452#post14378452

Very cool! I did something similar to a Benchmade WARN years back.

WarnC.jpeg


Dang it, now I'm tempted to pic up a 620... :)
 
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