ZT562CF Replacement Blade, Wrong Blade Etching

A

Andrew124c41

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Mar 19, 2017
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I am curious as to opinions on the following. I sent two knives to ZT to have their blades replaced, a ZT0652CF in CPM20CV and ZT0462CF in S35VN. They just came back today. The etching on the ZT0652 says CTS 204P.

So, I call ZT up and speak with the warranty and blade replacement person and after some research, he tells me that the blade is indeed CPM20CV that they are only using that material for this knife at this point and that a mistake was made in the etching.

He offered to replace it with the caveat that they were again out of CPM20CV. As it was, I waited at least three months to get my knives back.

Considering that they would not re-etch the blade, that I do not plan to sell the knife, I decided simply to keep it as it is since it is one of my go-to knives and will only get dinged as I use it.

My question is simply whether or not you think ZT was BSing me or were they telling me the truth?
 
I’m not sure what your complaint is, they are essentially the same steel CTS-204p was only replaced by 20CV because of availability issues
 
I am reading the OP is complaining that KAI etched cpm 20cv steel mistakenly as cts 204p.
 
Andrew124c41 said:
I am curious as to opinions on the following. I sent two knives to ZT to have their blades replaced, a ZT0652CF in CPM20CV and ZT0462CF in S35VN. They just came back today. The etching on the ZT0652 says CTS 204P.

So, I call ZT up and speak with the warranty and blade replacement person and after some research, he tells me that the blade is indeed CPM20CV that they are only using that material for this knife at this point and that a mistake was made in the etching.

He offered to replace it with the caveat that they were again out of CPM20CV. As it was, I waited at least three months to get my knives back.

Considering that they would not re-etch the blade, that I do not plan to sell the knife, I decided simply to keep it as it is since it is one of my go-to knives and will only get dinged as I use it.

My question is simply whether or not you think ZT was BSing me or were they telling me the truth?
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They are virtually identical steels. I wouldn’t worry about it. Cts-204p is just the carpenter steel brand name for 20cv. Likewise 20cv is just the crucible brand name for cts-204p.
 
I'd be more concerned if they labeled it 0652CF instead of 0562CF. But the steel, meh, you're gonna use it, it's an ubiquitous production knife and the steel label is close enough, I'd complain maybe if it was labeled with a steel the knife never came with, but like that. *shrug*
 
You can always request a letter from ZT explaining the mistake to authenticate the steel. If you ever sell it, you can prove what the steel really is. Look at it like this, you've probably got a one of a kind ZT, how many can say that?????

Or, you can rub out the etching and no one will be the wiser.
Or, you can simply use the knife and have a great conversation piece.
 
Ajack60 said:
You can always request a letter from ZT explaining the mistake to authenticate the steel. If you ever sell it, you can prove what the steel really is. Look at it like this, you've probably got a one of a kind ZT, how many can say that?????
Click to expand...
I doubt anyone can tell the difference CPM20CV and CTS-204p.
 
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tokerblue said:
I doubt anyone can tell the difference CPM20CV and CTS-204p.
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Absolutely, but steel snobs, being steel snobs will want some sort of validation of what they're getting. Some people are funny about these types of things, and not funny ha ha
 
Ajack60 said:
Absolutely, but steel snobs, being steel snobs will want some sort of validation of what they're getting. Some people are funny about these types of things, and not funny ha ha
Click to expand...
They're virtually identical steels. This isn't a case of where the blade is stamped CPM20CV and is really S30V. Any buyer that would have an issue with the steel being CTS 204P is someone I would never sell to.
 
204p 20cv and m390 are the same metal. Just different manufacturers. I would say 204p is the cleaner steel with smaller grains due to how its made.
 
CTS 204P. is not a blade steel i would feel good about that would replace CPM20CV in a blade steel.
Myself i would want the blade replaced with the CPM20CV in a blade steel.
I have seen the charts comparing to M390 and CPM20CV and saying they say are equivalent steels, but when i watch some of the testing videos i find the CTS 204P does not stand up as well as the CPM20CV.
online video
online video
Keep in mind it's how the steel is heat treated that make or breaks a knifes steel.
 
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snapshot2017 said:
CTS 204P. is not a blade steel i would feel good about that would replace CPM20CV in a blade steel.
Myself i would want the blade replaced with the CPM20CV in a blade steel.
I have seen the charts comparing to M390 and CPM20CV and saying they say are equivalent steels, but when i watch some of the testing videos i find the CTS 204P does not stand up as well as the CPM20CV.
online video
online video
Keep in mind it's how the steel is heat treated that make or breaks a knifes steel.
Click to expand...
Different brands heat treatment is different and blade grinds and edge angles.

ZT heat treatment is around 61-62 but thick behind the edge and edge angles. So take those videos with a grain of salt.
 
FSUwelder1212 said:
I’m not sure what your complaint is, they are essentially the same steel CTS-204p was only replaced by 20CV because of availability issues
Click to expand...
We had a ZT 456 in M390 blade steel in the sporting goods store where i worked, it got sold and i wanted one so i ordered one online, it came with a CPM20CV blade.
I called KAI spoke to their Tech. Support was told they were out of M390 and the CPM20CV almost the same steel, looking at the material sheets i feel the CPM20CV will still offer a good blade steel.
But if my ZT 456 had come with CTS-204p as it's blade steel i would have returned it quickly.
 
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They could have been bs’ing you, or telling the truth—I’m not sure which would be worse though.
 
snapshot2017 said:
But if my ZT 456 had come with CTS-204p as it's blade steel i would have returned it quickly.
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lol you are funny. spyderco and zt use different ht. that video is not going to be the same for every knife let alone every brand.

here's more
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...ed-on-edge-retention-cutting-5-8-rope.793481/
Not only is it in category 1 it does better than m390... The 20cv Michele Raymond is a custom with very very thin behind the edge .. Wouldn't really count that as a mass produced knife.


That all basically says its about the same. You should never base your opinions on just one data point of one knife.

Please read this post
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...y-cpm-20cv-vs-cts-204p.1600607/#post-18280295
 
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snapshot2017 said:
We had a ZT 456 in M390 blade steel in the sporting goods store where i worked, it got sold and i wanted one so i ordered one online, it came with a CPM20CV blade.
I called KAI spoke to their Tech. Support was told they were out of M390 and the CPM20CV almost the same steel, looking at the material sheets i feel the CPM20CV will still offer a good blade steel.
But if my ZT 456 had come with CTS-204p as it's blade steel i would have returned it quickly.
Click to expand...

They have changed the 0562CF three times, and as someone else said, they are all virtually the same steel, and will perform similarly. No one that I've ever seen posting here has ever had issues with any of the three as far as edge retention goes. I have an early production number 0562CF in M390 and it's a fantastic knife, part of my permanent collection for sure. I know I'd be just as happy with either of the newer steels.
 
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