ZT0450, no edge retention whatsoever.

Status
Not open for further replies.
F

Floatingby

Feedback: +0 / =0 / -0
Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Messages
320
So, I've got this ZT0450 that I bought a few years back. The steel is supposed to be S35VN according to the manufacturer and the stamp on the blade.
Problem is it does not hold an edge, like not at all. We're talking a single cut through cardboard box, and the edge is gone.
I don't know if it's because the blade profile is extremely thick behind the edge, or the steel had faulty heat treat, but I have cheap knives, like Kabar Dozier for example, that hold a better edge by a few order of magnitude.
As it is, I don't carry or use the knife at all.
What should I do with it? Can I send the knife back to the factory for that? If I go through that expense, what are the chances that I'll get a functioning knife back?

Wanted to post photos of the knife in question, but it doesn't seem to work on this board for some reason, it ask for external link...
 
I would reach out to ZT. At the very least they can sharpen it for you. Maybe ask them if they can verify heat treatment. I’ve had similar experiences with knives, never in that price range though. I’d be pissed off.
 
Floatingby said:
Wanted to post photos of the knife in question, but it doesn't seem to work on this board for some reason, it ask for external link...
Click to expand...
Paid members can post images directly. Everyone can post images by using an image host and pasting the link here; just make sure the link you paste ends in an image file extension (.jpg, .png, etc.).

+1 on contacting ZT. I've used their warranty before, and it was great. They might be able to give you some guidance as to whether it's worth sending it in, just ask.
 
jeepin said:
Are you sure you don’t have a burr on the edge?
Click to expand...
I have a collection of 32 folders, with about half a dozen made of S35VN, and I sharpen them all myself, using a guided system for the last few years, offhand before that for about 45 years. So I'm not new to sharpening, nor do I lack comparison point.
The problem is not about getting that blade sharp, the problem is that it won't hold it at all. I've tried every sharpening trick in the book, it get sharp, then it get dull as soon as the edge touch something.
 
Floatingby said:
A well known, established and respected dealer off of the west coast of Canada, a dealer which I've been ordering from for years. So not a fly by night ebay special.
Click to expand...

Then just return it to the dealer, if you can or send it to ZT for assessment, if you can't.
 
ZT has offered Blade replacement in the past. I’d assume this would be covered by warranty. If they did charge you to replace the blade, still cheaper than replacing the entire knife. Reaching out to ZT is the best bet here imo
 
Floatingby said:
No, I've been "complaining" for 4 years 😂. (not so much complaining in reality, I just carried other knives)Now I was asking if there's something to be done about it.
Click to expand...

At this point your only choice is to have the steel tested yourself to verify if it's been properly hardened or not or just send it to ZT for a similar assessment and a blade replacement if need be. Or, just give it away or sell it as a "user" w/full disclosure here or elsewhere.
 
This is one of the reasons why I don’t buy ZT’s anymore.
I will stick with Spyderco, Buck, and old Cold Steel as they have a track record with me for not botching or low balling the Rockwell hardness.
 
It would not surprise me if it had a borked heat treatment. I probably harp on it too much but I haven't been impressed with ZT on that front at all.

Send that thing in with a warranty claim. Make sure they test the blade instead of just sharpening it and sending it back to you.
 
Floatingby said:
Well, thanks for the suggestion, which I followed. Placed a call to them, explained the situation, and to my surprise they said to send it in and they'll replace the blade under warranty.
Click to expand...
Wait, was that W&W (I assume it was the West coast Canada retailer), or ZT that told you to send it in? If to ZT, I hope the border pirates don't steel it on the way back.
 
colin.p said:
Wait, was that W&W (I assume it was the West coast Canada retailer), or ZT that told you to send it in? If to ZT, I hope the border pirates don't steel it on the way back.
Click to expand...
It was ZT I called. And yes, sending it across the border is a concern, I don't want to get dinged on import duty... for my own knife. And before somebody says it never happens, it happened to me already(not for a knife) where they charged me import duty for something I had sent for repair. I filed a claim on it in... 2016, it's still pending.
 
marrenmiller said:
It would not surprise me if it had a borked heat treatment. I probably harp on it too much but I haven't been impressed with ZT on that front at all.

Send that thing in with a warranty claim. Make sure they test the blade instead of just sharpening it and sending it back to you.
Click to expand...
I really wanted to get a 0562CF, I'm a sucker for CF and have very few large folders, but my experience with the 0450 left me cold a little bit, and I never got that 0562. I hope my experience is just a fluke, those thing aren't Ferrari money, but they aren't exactly cheap either.
 
Floatingby said:
So, I've got this ZT0450 that I bought a few years back. The steel is supposed to be S35VN according to the manufacturer and the stamp on the blade.
Problem is it does not hold an edge, like not at all. We're talking a single cut through cardboard box, and the edge is gone.
I don't know if it's because the blade profile is extremely thick behind the edge, or the steel had faulty heat treat, but I have cheap knives, like Kabar Dozier for example, that hold a better edge by a few order of magnitude.
As it is, I don't carry or use the knife at all.
What should I do with it? Can I send the knife back to the factory for that? If I go through that expense, what are the chances that I'll get a functioning knife back?

Wanted to post photos of the knife in question, but it doesn't seem to work on this board for some reason, it ask for external link...
Click to expand...
Update:

Sent the knife in, got a strange reply by email from Kai USA saying one or more blade on the knive was broken and they wanted 47 buck to replace it.
So I called, lady on the phone said the blade not broken, it was a "typo", the steel meet their standards, without telling what the Rockwell result were or if they even tested it, so if I wanted the blade replaced it would cost 47 buck.

It's at that point I got angry, told her to kindly &!#* off and send the knife back as it is.

So, there it is, the worth of ZeroTolerance products and warranty service.

Needless to say, it was my first ZT product, it turns out to also be my last, ever. Can't wait to get the knife back, so I can... Throw it in tthe garbage bin.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top