ZT or Spyderco?

I prefer Spyderco myself. The only ZT I ever really cared much for is the 0561. They're both solid companies though, so you can't really go wrong. Like most others said, it really boils down to preference. ZT makes a tank of a folder, while Spyderco seems to focus more on simple aesthetics and slicing capability, as someone else mentioned above. So if you plan to beat the snot out of your knife, ZT won't let you down, whereas if you're interested in carrying a locking razor, go for Spyderco. Personally though, if I really wanna thump on a knife, I'll get a fixed blade. ;)
 
Last edited:
The 0350 is a very solid assisted flipper. I sold mine because I don't like recurves, pain in the butt to sharpen (at least for me). It was and very well made.

No experience w/ the Manix 2 but I had the original Manix (never used and sold it for almost twice the retail cost), about as good as it gets for a folder quality-wise without going custom.
 
Spyderco for me for a couple of reasons, one there knives are designed to cut which is what a folder is meant for and two I would take Spydercos S30V over any KAI steel. I personally just dislike the over built folders they are not nearly as tough as a fixed and they don't cut as well as knives like Spydercos.

Random Dan said:
By Christmas you could probably get an 0566 or 0770 with Elmax blade.
Click to expand...


Or you could get a Domino now :)
 
Anybody want to point out that the 350 comes with cpm s30v steel as well? ZT is a premium brand for a reason. My advice would be NOT to listen to suggestions but do your research, then choose the knife YOU like.
 
crom said:
Anybody want to point out that the 350 comes with cpm s30v steel as well? ZT is a premium brand for a reason. My advice would be NOT to listen to suggestions but do your research, then choose the knife YOU like.
Click to expand...

Very few companies do S30V to the level that Spyderco does not saying KAI cant but from what I have seen Spyderco truly makes S30V what is meant to be. Spyderco is known for running all there steels to a very hard level (like there S30V is ran at 60 hrc) I think Sal would turn back flips in his grave before he ran S110V at 59 hrc.
 
christmas? its august man hahaha


i tend to perfer spyderco's. i owned a manix run sprint run for over a year and carried it for several months. it was a very nice knife.
 
goodshepherdknives said:
wow so many opinions. i havnt heard anything good about ZT yet. they look great and are really expensive for so so materials, but in my opinion, with a 3 to 13 ratio of kershaws to spydercos owned, i generally have preferance to spyderco. but as which is better can never truely be won, whichever you have stuck inyour head the longest and fall in love with. and yes, both is also i choice. this is 'Merica where you can get both. i would like to own a Zt knife though, as a collecter, and for my own experience and because they look cool :)
Click to expand...

I mean this as a honest question, how are S30V and G10 "so so materials"?
 
Never held a clash, but the tenacious rocks! In the higher category ZT wins by a long shot. Got with ZT in the long run, you won't regret it.
 
The clash has a cramped handle design and the plastic type handle feels cheap. The blade is bead blasted and it developed surface rust after less than a day of carry. I gave mine away.
 
I'd rather have the 0350 than the manix 2. I'd rather have a PM2 than a 0350 (for edc).

It's just a matter of preference, but the PM2 checks more boxes for me.

I wouldn't be unhappy with any of the 3 choices, if that's all I had.
 
Spyderco.

ZT's offerings tend to be bulky, large and do not match the ergonomics and cutting performance of many Spyderco models. There are exceptions here and there [the 801 and 560 come to mind]. I'm glad to see ZT offering smaller and more functional offerings.

The one large advantage ZT has over Spyderco is 100% USA made. It's unfortunate that so many of Spyderco's best models are coming out of Taichung these days.
 
Oakengroves said:
Spyderco.

ZT's offerings tend to be bulky, large and do not match the ergonomics and cutting performance of many Spyderco models. There are exceptions here and there [the 801 and 560 come to mind]. I'm glad to see ZT offering smaller and more functional offerings.

The one large advantage ZT has over Spyderco is 100% USA made. It's unfortunate that so many of Spyderco's best models are coming out of Taichung these days.
Click to expand...

While I do really like a lot of Spydercos new designs I personally wont purchase any that aren't made in Golden. Thankfully the PM2, Manix 2, Native 5, and Military are all amazing knives made in America. Sadly the Sage series and the Domino look like real winners to me but until they produce them in Golden I personally wont own them.
 
What do you guys think of the recurve on the blade of the 0350? It's been holding me back on getting one. Been looking at ZT for a while now.
 
Recurves are not difficult to sharpen. You will need a cylinder or rod set up like the Spyderco Sharpmaker of the Croc Stick. Or make one yourself with some fine grained sandpaper taped to a dowel rod. People like to make more out of it than what it is, which is really just common sense.
 
OP, an alternative to the 350 is the Blur. They come in Sandvik, 154cm and s30v, all under your price limit. It's a hell of a knife and if you want to you are able to remove the torsion bar for a manual folder.
 
both are great companies, I personally prefer zt/kershaw because I like then better and they appeal to me however spyderco has a few designs that.are cool to me the manix 2 being one of them, the end question you really have to ask is if you want a manual knife or spring assisted flipper first both are fantastic you will be happy either way, cheers mate
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top