PDA

View Full Version : ZT blades



breakingtime91
02-10-2016, 07:51 PM
I recently got a ZT assisted opener. Not sure how I feel about it yet, anyone else own one or carrying it?

TheRoland
02-10-2016, 08:03 PM
My daily carry is a ZT 0350. It's more "tactical" than I'd like, and pretty heavy, but I can abuse it as much as I'd like and it's generally up to the task because it's so overbuilt. I've dropped it in mud, snow, a pond, used it as a prybar, and am pretty happy with how it's held up. If it quit for any reason, I can go just get another that's just like it.

I really like Kershaw's stuff (which is the same holding company) for roughly the same reason.

OnionsAndDragons
02-10-2016, 09:17 PM
I've had a couple. I like them as a value proposition.

I'm not a big fan of assisted opening. It's pretty easy to de-assist most of the ZTs. They are almost, if not, all torsion bar assists. Open it up, pull the torsion bar and viola; regular knife.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

CCT125US
02-10-2016, 09:22 PM
I've had a ZT0350 fo several years. I have broken / worn out 1 torsion bar that was promptly replaced. I use it everyday, and would buy another.

Chuck Haggard
02-11-2016, 01:22 AM
I've carried a non assist opening ZT for years, it's a beast of a knife, I like it a lot.

olstyn
02-11-2016, 01:30 AM
I really like Kershaw's stuff (which is the same holding company) for roughly the same reason.

Kershaw/KAI has a great CS department, too. They sent me a replacement torsion bar for my Leek recently even though it's one of the factory seconds with XXXX on the blade. I emailed asking how much it would cost to get a replacement, and they just said they'd send me one for free. This was even though I informed them up front that it was a no-warranty knife. Pure awesome.

gringop
02-11-2016, 02:24 AM
I've carried a 350 for 4 years and have broken 2 torsion bars. I did buy it used so who know how many cycles it had before I got it. When the last one broke I asked them to send me two replacements, somehow they double shipped and I got 4. So now I have 3 spares.

When mine broke, the blade just flopped around loosely, I could not carry it that way.

I'm on the hunt for a good used 300/301, I would like to have the full frame lock instead of just the liner lock. Unfortunately, no one will let them go for a reasonable (cheap) price.

Gringop

backtrail540
02-11-2016, 03:30 AM
I've got an 0630 zt/emerson collabo. It's solid. The detent was very tight at first but i worked it for a few days, maybe 400 times and i can throw it open with just my thumb and index now. It smoothed up nicely, blade is centered, and the lockup is good. My only real complaint is the disc. It was my first venture into a disc knife and i prefer studs or even better yet a thumbhole.

JM Campbell
02-11-2016, 08:49 AM
I recently got a ZT assisted opener. Not sure how I feel about it yet, anyone else own one or carrying it?
0350 for over 5 years, carried daily. It is large/smallest of there line up from what I recall but like it alot. Very solid lock up and can pry a house window open if needed....tried and tested.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

CS Tactical
02-11-2016, 12:02 PM
I've got an 0630 zt/emerson collabo. It's solid. The detent was very tight at first but i worked it for a few days, maybe 400 times and i can throw it open with just my thumb and index now. It smoothed up nicely, blade is centered, and the lockup is good. My only real complaint is the disc. It was my first venture into a disc knife and i prefer studs or even better yet a thumbhole.


I love mine and carry it daily, it's a beast of a knife!

NCmtnman
02-11-2016, 01:09 PM
I have carried a ZT 350 for almost 4 years and for much of that time it rode in my cargo pocket while I was in the field. Benchmade makes a much finer knife in my opinion and is what I prefer, but for gloved use the 'flipper' won me over. My one gripe which has no effect on function is that the black coating on the blade stains easily. I'm not a knife junkie but I maintain my gear properly and I have noticed that it needs to be wiped off a bit more. Also, a pocket clip that would allow for a deeper carry would be nice while in casual clothing. The 'flipper' can also dictates placement in my pocket for me as well. It can protrude some, but I also wear more fitted clothing.

OnionsAndDragons
02-11-2016, 03:08 PM
I've got an 0630 zt/emerson collabo. It's solid. The detent was very tight at first but i worked it for a few days, maybe 400 times and i can throw it open with just my thumb and index now. It smoothed up nicely, blade is centered, and the lockup is good. My only real complaint is the disc. It was my first venture into a disc knife and i prefer studs or even better yet a thumbhole.

I definitely prefer the hole design best. I've come around on the disk, though. I do think it is better than most thumbstuds. Some studs I find better, but on average I like the disk better.

WOLFIE
02-18-2016, 11:16 PM
I recently ordered a ZT Emerson 0620 and it has the black coating. It should arrive tomorrow :)

SeriousStudent
02-18-2016, 11:39 PM
I have five ZT's, I had to go look. My faves are the 561 and the JB2.

45dotACP
02-19-2016, 12:46 AM
My ZT350 is probably my "go to" knife. I have other knives I like maybe a little more, but none that I carry nearly as much.

da6dspanburg
02-19-2016, 08:22 AM
I have a ZT350TS and a ZT360 SKD-P.T. I carry everyday. The 350 is my use it on everything blade.

Rich@CCC
02-19-2016, 09:04 AM
I have the 0350, and 0560 and have had the 0300(traded it for the slightly sleeker Hinderer 0560). All are well built and I love the assisted opening on the 350. The 300 really did not need the assist. It would have been just as easy and fast to open as a manual flipper.

I will be on the prowl for a ZT0450 at the gun and knife show this weekend. Another forum member got me looking at it and it has a lot going for it.

6005

Rich@CCC
02-19-2016, 09:08 AM
...I'm on the hunt for a good used 300/301, I would like to have the full frame lock instead of just the liner lock. Unfortunately, no one will let them go for a reasonable (cheap) price.

Gringop

I gotta guy...

Seriously, I know where the 0300 I traded is and I should be able to get it for a reasonable price. If you are interested PM me and let me know what you are looking to spend. It's in nearly new condition. Sharpened and carried but not ever really used.

TheRoland
02-23-2016, 05:37 PM
I have the 0350, and 0560 and have had the 0300(traded it for the slightly sleeker Hinderer 0560). All are well built and I love the assisted opening on the 350. The 300 really did not need the assist. It would have been just as easy and fast to open as a manual flipper.

I will be on the prowl for a ZT0450 at the gun and knife show this weekend. Another forum member got me looking at it and it has a lot going for it.

6005

A large caution on the 450: depending on your hand size and grip, it can be very hard to open with one hand. In my grip, I put enough pressure on the side panel to lock it closed, unless I'm very careful.

It's a really pretty knife, though. If I'm wearing a tux, I ditch the 350 for the 450 every time.

BWT
02-23-2016, 06:45 PM
I have a ZT 0350 that I've had for about 4 years, and I'm generally happy with it.

I wish the grip was slightly bigger. However, it's been a very good knife and the 0300 (which is about 10% bigger) is about 100-150% more expensive (I found one listed for $350 and a ZT 0350 listed for $140) I use the flipper on the back of the blade almost exclusively, and haven't found much use for the thumb studs.

In a rare case for me, I've never sharpened the knife and it's kept a workable edge for years; I'm a strong believer in the S30V after my experiences here.

That being said; One of the things I don't like is the organic shape specifically in the "belly" of the blade because of the difficulty in re-sharpening.

Other then that; I've got one in the serial number 8,934 and I'm content.

God Bless,

Brandon

Rich@CCC
02-23-2016, 07:42 PM
A large caution on the 450: depending on your hand size and grip, it can be very hard to open with one hand. In my grip, I put enough pressure on the side panel to lock it closed, unless I'm very careful.

It's a really pretty knife, though. If I'm wearing a tux, I ditch the 350 for the 450 every time.

I think I've decided to go with the ZT 0452 instead.

6113

It's much larger and has a nicer feel overall.

TheRoland
02-23-2016, 07:50 PM
I don't have the 0452, but it looks like the same mechanism, which means it might have the same issue. To be clear, I still really like the knife, but it's just not as practical as the 0350.

It also looks like carbon scales wouldn't match my cuff links, but you may not have that problem :p.

TCinVA
02-24-2016, 09:27 AM
I picked up an 0566 after deciding I wanted a strong, easy open folder to carry along with my CP.

TCinVA
02-24-2016, 10:05 AM
That's a pretty cool knife (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GB8LCKW). I like that it lacks the belly that a lot of the earlier ZT blades had.

6116

I went with it primarily because it's a frame lock (stronger) and because after playing with a bunch of different knives I was able to reliably open it single-handed no matter how I grabbed it.

LittleLebowski
02-24-2016, 11:46 AM
0350 for over 5 years, carried daily. It is large/smallest of there line up from what I recall but like it alot. Very solid lock up and can pry a house window open if needed....tried and tested.


They do seem to work when needed (https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?18978-Firsthand-account-of-defensive-use-of-a-folding-knife-in-a-Hawaii-hotel) :D

Rich@CCC
03-22-2016, 01:39 PM
I picked up the ZT 0452 this past weekend.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb258/luvmy40/Knives/be3fe0a3-3200-45c3-b718-b59b1fc1217e_zpskgjc4ypx.jpg (http://s206.photobucket.com/user/luvmy40/media/Knives/be3fe0a3-3200-45c3-b718-b59b1fc1217e_zpskgjc4ypx.jpg.html)

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb258/luvmy40/Knives/c30b61f1-835c-4ca0-9d28-18aa6eb63b27_zpsr1vku5lg.jpg (http://s206.photobucket.com/user/luvmy40/media/Knives/c30b61f1-835c-4ca0-9d28-18aa6eb63b27_zpsr1vku5lg.jpg.html)

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb258/luvmy40/Knives/a80fd554-d8b9-46e5-a1ca-8b70f978e01f_zpstwwlivtg.jpg (http://s206.photobucket.com/user/luvmy40/media/Knives/a80fd554-d8b9-46e5-a1ca-8b70f978e01f_zpstwwlivtg.jpg.html)

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb258/luvmy40/Knives/9c588bb3-52ec-4a9a-849b-4f1d2422281d_zpsshq2k5bg.jpg (http://s206.photobucket.com/user/luvmy40/media/Knives/9c588bb3-52ec-4a9a-849b-4f1d2422281d_zpsshq2k5bg.jpg.html)

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb258/luvmy40/Knives/5ab46a29-78c8-4d7e-8f83-71afeeb5248c_zpsgy6ym3mr.jpg (http://s206.photobucket.com/user/luvmy40/media/Knives/5ab46a29-78c8-4d7e-8f83-71afeeb5248c_zpsgy6ym3mr.jpg.html)

Light weight and nearly absurdly long. It snaps open smoothly and quickly on the pivot bearings. It almost feels like it's assisted. The steel locking insert is invisible and acts as the lock bar over travel stop as well. The blade lockup is rock solid with zero play at all. A fantastic knife at a fairly reasonable price point considering the features, titanium/carbon fiber frame S35VN blade, pivot bearings. I'm in it extremely cheap with with a trade but they can be had for $220.00 delivered.

Up1911Fan
03-22-2016, 06:39 PM
I should have a 0562 here in a couple days.

got2hav1
03-23-2016, 07:21 PM
My favorite ZT is the 562 closely followed by the 566. My favorite steel is M390. I now have 7 ZTs. Five of which are the 562, and 566s. I think they make a great knife obviously.

Whiskey_Bravo
05-30-2016, 11:46 AM
I recently picked up one of the new ZT/Emerson collaborations, the 0630. This knife is like a perfect combination of the Emerson CQC-8 and a rock solid and slim frame lock folder. Compared to my trusty Strider SMF.

8223

8225

It also has a nice insert on the lock bar for strength.

8226

I installed a PDW titanium clip I had laying around and set the knife up for left side carry. This is now my EDC task knife at work as well as a Deffensive option. I carry left side because my duty holster completely blocks my right pocket.

StraitR
05-30-2016, 06:48 PM
Nice. How well does it deploy with the clip on the G10 scale side? I have a few Emersons that I've sanded under the clip to help get them out of jeans. I like Ernie, his designs, and the wave, but I'm not a fan of chisel grinds, liner locks, or nylon pivot bushings. I'd also like to wear one in a support side pocket. I like everything about my 0561 so I'm guessing I'd really like the 0620/0630's Emerson/ZT collabs.

Clusterfrack
05-30-2016, 07:00 PM
I was looking at an Emerson/ZT also but wasn't thrilled about having to put the clip on the G10 side to carry it with the wave forward (Pkal style). Is there enough threads on the clip bolts that way?

Whiskey_Bravo
05-30-2016, 08:45 PM
I understand your concerns completely and was initially hesitant about purchasing this knife due to wanting to set it up for left side carry. The grooves cut into the G10 handle scale do not interfere with the clip at all. The supplied clip as well as my PDW clip both land on a section of the slab between the grooves. The G10 is also not as aggressive as the factory Emerson scales. Mine has not done any visible damage to my uniform pants in the month or so that I have carried it, but is still very secure and doesn't move at all. I went on a stupid long K9 track last week through thick woods and got snagged on a ton of brush and other nature. The knife never moved in my pocket.

One big bonus about this blade is how thin it is. It is a larger knife but thanks to the thin profile it carries extremely well l and I seem to forget it's there most nights. Is it as strong a say a Strider AR or Hinderer XM-24? Dunno. But it is well balanced and carries well and would wager its strong enough for anything I'll probably do with it. I tend to beat on my knives. I pried a manhole cover open once with a Hinderer just because I read in a magazine once that Matt Graham did and I wanted to be cool.

The wave feature on the ZT also works very well. The opening of the wave seems more pronounced than a traditional Emerson. I think that may be to account of the extra heft of the blade since it is on the wide/thick/long side. The conventional grind on this blade is also very favorable. I like the chisel on tantos, but a conventional grind just feels right on a blade of this style. Very quick, very fluid, and slicey (???)