ZT0562 - love the look, but hate buying sight-unseen

[jsarche]

Hi everyone and happy holidays! I'm hoping to pick the brains of the more experience knifehounds here. I got a nice cash gift that's starting to burn a hole in my pocket, and I'm seriously thinking of finally scratching the ZT itch I recently developed. I have enough to comfortably afford either of the new 0562 models, if I can find either for sale anywhere. Both look great to me and both have gotten really good reviews.

My EDC for the past several years has been a Spyderco Native, and the size is near perfect for me, though I have big hands and sometimes wish for a bit more handle and blade length on it. I don't own a flipper, and I think something from ZT's unassisted line-up will be my next EDC.

Here's my dilemma: The 0562's dimensions are pretty close to the dimensions of my Spyderco Tuff, which I really like but don't carry much because of its size and weight.

So what do you all think: Is the 0562 so close in size to the Tuff that I wouldn't like it as an EDC knife? I live in Denver and have looked at the store locator function on the ZT web site, but it doesn't seem very up-to-date or useful. Anyone know of any brick-and-mortar stores in my area where I could actually handle one and make the comparison myself?

Thanks in advance!

Jon

 

[EChoil]

I'm sure you'd like the knife if you got it. If you want a bigger handle go the 560/561. A good dealer would make the exchange easy....

God there have to be a couple knife stores in Denver. A major one will likely have the ZT's. Sometimes the phone book beats Google.

 

[jsarche]

Thanks - I meant I want a bigger handle than my Native. I think one of the things I don't like about the Tuff is the width (depth?) of it when its folded. It's about 1.75 inches at the deepest point and takes up a lot of room in my pocket.

 

[flarp]

I just got a 0562 recently, and I like it a lot. It is very well built, has great ergos, and the flipping action on it is awesome.

The 0562 is quite a bit larger than a Native. It is going to take up more pocket space than the Native. I've never handled a Tuff, but based on the specs, the Tuff is a little bit longer (open and closed), has more handle space, has a little less blade (cutting edge), and is a bit heavier. Handle-wise, the Native5 actually has a slightly longer one if you include the finger choil. If you exclude the choil, the 0562 will be a bit longer. At its peak width when closed, the 0562 is about the same as the Native5 at ~1.5". Also, the 0562 has a deep carry clip, so more of the knife will reside in pocket.

Pictures might illustrate it a bit better...

Open & closed:

Blade & handle lengths:

Thickness & pocket footprint:

 

[jsarche]

flarp, that's extremely helpful - thanks! Mine isn't a Native 5 - I think mine was released either just before or just after the 5 was, but I don't think there's that much difference.
Thanks again!

 

[flarp]

Maybe you have the Native FRN? Looking at the specs for the different generations of Native, they do all look very similar in size (blade length, open/closed length). So, it may not be exact, but the above pics might be a close estimation. The Native FRN is going to be even thinner than the Native5 on account of it not having the full steel liners.

 

[jsarche]

That sounds right. It's not G10, I'm sure of that much, and the handle is molded in one piece - no liners and no way to take it apart for cleaning. That being said, it's almost identical in thickness to the Tuff.