ZT or Benchmade - I cant decide!!

Both ZT and BM make great knives. I have more BM than ZT, but my preference leans toward the ZT line. I don't have experience with the barrage, never grew on me. Attached are the ZTs I have experience with - top to bottom: 0561, 0200, 0300, 0350, and 0400. Based on your original post I'd give strong consideration to the 0200. It's non-assist, but has a smooth opening so an "assist" really isn't necessary. It has a decent liner lock. It is a re-curve blade which can be a pain to sharpen, but I have a Spyderco sharp maker that works like a charm. You should be able to find one with you budget. If you don't have a sharpening system, you'll want to invest in one. Dull knives suck.

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I like the recommendations for 0550, 0560, 0566, and 0801. But what about the Benchmade 710!
 
I love both companies!

I'd give my $$ to BKC every time though. I'm not surprised to see so much for love for ZT in this thread, the fans gotta post SOMEWHERE. :p Seriously though, a lot of the most ardent fans of Benchmade will be in the Benchmade forum, may want to look there too.

I saw someone mention f&f and claimed better from ZT. That hasn't been my experience. In fact, every aspect of every Benchmade that I have owned (probably around 10) has been spot on. I really thought that I'd turn my nose up at 154cm, but I become a fan. I owned a LE Barage in m390 and G10 and that was a superior knife too. My Contego is a ridiculous value.

If you compare a knife made in the 90's to one today you'll most likely find better quality in the newer knife. ZT is fairly new compared.

I've loved the ZT's that I've owned, but for me Benchmade makes a superior product, and they do it in the states. I don't believe that KAI makes every knife here. Doesn't matter to me, but it does to some.

Good luck!
 
Strigamort said:
I love both companies!

I'd give my $$ to BKC every time though. I'm not surprised to see so much for love for ZT in this thread, the fans gotta post SOMEWHERE. :p Seriously though, a lot of the most ardent fans of Benchmade will be in the Benchmade forum, may want to look there too.

I saw someone mention f&f and claimed better from ZT. That hasn't been my experience. In fact, every aspect of every Benchmade that I have owned (probably around 10) has been spot on. I really thought that I'd turn my nose up at 154cm, but I become a fan. I owned a LE Barage in m390 and G10 and that was a superior knife too. My Contego is a ridiculous value.

If you compare a knife made in the 90's to one today you'll most likely find better quality in the newer knife. ZT is fairly new compared.

I've loved the ZT's that I've owned, but for me Benchmade makes a superior product, and they do it in the states. I don't believe that KAI makes every knife here. Doesn't matter to me, but it does to some.

Good luck!
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The OP was looking for a Benchmade or ZT. All Zt's are Oregon made.
 
Both brands are good although I think ZT is more on top of the current market and coming out with more appealing designs.

That said, the Benchmade 710 is one of the all-time great knives. Absolutely worth looking at and comes in your price range (I think I paid 140 for my M390 version).

I think for general utility I'd put the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and the Benchmade 710 towards the front of the pack. The ZT 0560/1 are great knives, a little sturdier blade, and I really like the flipper.

I guess I'd have to ask: what do you want to use this knife for? light every day cutting? balls-out, cut a car door apart use? Do you care about weight and how easily it carries (i.e., dress pants vs. BDUs)? Do you have a preference for thumb stud / opening hole / flipper? That might help narrow it down a bit.
 
For around the $150 price point, the BM 581 or the ZT550. It's hard for me to choose if I had to pick between these 2 as they are quite different knives, but I've been carrying the 581 more ever since I de-assisted it.
If you're finding the ergos of your JYD2 to be just right, the BM581 and the ZT550 will feel even better in-hand.

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cards94 said:
i guess you trust the omega springs on the axis lock?
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Yep. Even when one on my 710 was bent, it still worked fine, to the point that after 2 years, I didn't know it was bent until after I sold it and the new owner took it apart and told me. Never a problem w/ an omega spring. Also, the Benchmade's I've owned cut better and held an edge as long or longer than any other tactical folder I've used, covering steel from AUS-6 to 20CV.
 
after thinking about this for awhile all my bm get more pocket time , they are more then adequate for daily chores, and they have a more practical look. IMHO. Bottom line what a wonderful predicament to be in huh...
 
I have not had one omega spring on any of my benchmades some have been opned thousands of times . I have had torsion bars brake on four of my Kershaw , at knives but they sent me new ones and some extras. For the price benchmade contego or adamas is hard to beat big heavy duty folders around $130.
 
In my humble and some what bias opinion, considering the price range you are looking at I would go with the ZT 0550 Gen.1 with s35vn blade steel. Solid knife at a very reasonable price. Just posted two for sale here on the forum. :)
 
Ive had many knives from both makers. Both make great knives of equal quality. It depends on the features that appeal to you. I keep coming back to BM and the 275. That may be too beastly for your desires. However, the 580/581 is also a very good knife with fast assist firing, axis lock and fits easily in pockets. The Zt is nice too if you like liner locks and recurved blades. Its the beefier feeling of the two. Feels a little short for my hands. Both steels will work just fine for you. If you can, buy both and return the one that you don't like as much. Sometimes it takes a lot of experimentation to know what you like.
 
cards94 said:
no i'm not a benchmade owner or zt owner, but trying to make the best decision and get the most for my money. the omega springs is what holds me back from looking further into the bm. they just look like they aren't made to last and flimsy looking.
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While lemons can happen, they are very dependable and benchmade will fix them if they break. Each knife has 2 omega springs. The knife only needs one to work. Unless they both break at the exact same time the knife will not fail you.

On topic, I would go benchmade because I prefer fully ambidextrous knives and I don't like frame locks. I'm also not that interested in flavor of the month steel in something that is intended to be a beater.
 
I would definitely say that, for your gateway knife, the BM will serve you better. I have 3 BM's right now, and just got a ZT 0550, though my friends have several ZTs, and one of them is the Barrage. I would say that it is easily one of my favorite knives, bar none. The 0550 is a wonderful knife, and gets a lot of pocket time, but the BMs always win out. There's a very good reason that there's an Osborne 940 (absolutely wonderful knife!) and a Barrage in my pocket right now, and not a 0550.
If you're worried about the omega springs, you shouldn't be. They almost never fail, and I have used my knives extensively, with easily over 10,000 openings on my griptilian especially, and not even a sign of failure.
 
If you do chose the Barrage, btw, you should look into Knifeworks.com, where you can get the knife for just around $100 after shipping, when you enter the discount code for benchmade knives. I usually get all of me BM knives from there recently.
 
Benchmade. The 710 and 940 are especially efficient, strong knives.

ZT makes good knives (especially the 0777 and other limited models) but ZTs usually suffer from a common flaw. The vast majority of ZT's knives cater to the hard-use titanium frame-lock flipper fad. The resulting product is an excessively heavy, thick knife that does not provide additional strength to compensate for its size and weight. Most Benchmades are slimmer and lighter, have stronger and more functional locks, and out perform ZTs in terms of pure slicing ability. Benchmade also has far superior customer relations, respect for knife consumers, and warranty servicing.
 
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I, like many here, have both brands. I have absolutely no opinion on "which is better?" I think we live in a time where they are all so good, the differences are very insignificant. These are truly wonderful times we live in with the fantastic offerings of knives. I just wanted to comment on the Benchmade Axis Lock, it is fantastically strong for a folder. The 275 Adamas will hold over 300 pounds without failing. That is an amazingly strong folder. I currently own several Axis Locks, and WOULD NOT let the Omega Spring issue sway me in the least.
 
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