ZT knife names

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nitsua9001

Joined
Apr 25, 2013
Messages
104
So, is it just me or does anybody else wonder why zt only numbers their knives(if this has been answered, sorry but I didn't find anything when searching)? Also, anybody wonder what they would be named if they were named?
 
You know, I realized a few days ago I could list every ZT's model number from memory:o (not including variations)
 
I think it got to be painful trying to come up with original names for everything and so the stopped when they started the ZT line.
 
Maybe for the same reasons Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, Cadillac, etc do the same?
 
Honestly...I prefer the number system for products.

Product name brandings are so ubiquitous that they no longer achieve what they're supposed to. After all the entire point of naming a product is to make it more memorable. Unrelated names slapped on merch are so flowery and common, that they do the exact opposite-they make them completely unmemorable. Think about it. Those commercials you saw last night watching TV-how many of them were for cars or Rx drugs...and how few of those products can you remember the name of?
 
KnottyEagle said:
ZT 0100 = First ZT
ZT 0200 = Second
I don't know past that.
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That makes sense





Skripka said:
Honestly...I prefer the number system for products.

Product name brandings are so ubiquitous that they no longer achieve what they're supposed to. After all the entire point of naming a product is to make it more memorable. Unrelated names slapped on merch are so flowery and common, that they do the exact opposite-they make them completely unmemorable. Think about it. Those commercials you saw last night watching TV-how many of them were for cars or Rx drugs...and how few of those products can you remember the name of?
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I prefer numbers too, I was just wondering why they only used numbers.
 
I think I prefer the numbers as well. I like how those European car companies name their products as well. Maybe it's because I'm an engineering major who loves math...
 
I wasn't around when the ZT brand was started, so I can't speak to the original thought process behind the numbering system. However, I can tell you one thing - picking a name for a product is HARD. It's easy to come up with a cool name - coming up with a cool name that isn't already copyrighted is a nightmare. You would be amazed how many beautiful, interesting names have been copyrighted and used on some worthless $2 piece of crap knife. It's one of the more difficult parts of our job.

Ironically, the ZT products tend to be the coolest, so you want to give them some cool, evocative name, but all you get is a number. And, oddly enough, it's a blessing - it takes about five -ten minutes of discussion ot come up with a new ZT model number. Coming up with names for all those new Kershaw knives takes us months - you come up with ideas throughout the year and write them down. Most of those ideas won't make it, so you need lots of them. Funny, but it's true.
 
AdioSS said:
Maybe for the same reasons Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, Cadillac, etc do the same?
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nitsua9001 said:
But what's their reason?
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IIRC, It was more about Mercedes and BMW did it first because it's a very continental thing. You'll notice Jaguar, Saab, Volvo also do it. Then gradually all of the luxury auto makers decided to follow suit because they felt like it made the cars sound more upscale than hokey names.

IMHO, I like the way ZT does it. As long as they stay with 3 digits, it should be relatively easy to remember them. They still haven't even tapped into the 09xx series yet and some only have one member (06xx, 04xx).

It's not that easy with Kershaw, yeah they have a lot of models but being a full 4 digits makes it that much harder.

It's perfect just the way it is.
 
I don't know why but I kind of like it. If the 0301 had a "name" I would call it Tank.
 
The best model numbers are just like the aforementioned automakers with a few numbers and/or letters.

Along the way, they become synonymous with say performance like the BMW M series, Mercedes AMG, Audi RS and Cadillac V series.

Plus of course numbers and letters are easy in legal speak.
 
jimmer_5 said:
You would be amazed how many beautiful, interesting names have been copyrighted and used on some worthless $2 piece of crap knife.
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Do you have any examples? Now I'm curious what they are. Must be pretty good, to be described as "beautiful and interesting."
 
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