willis68

Today I got a Zero Tolerance 350. The ZT set me back $112, a hefty price for a knife but it was something I wanted and, I dunno, maybe it was my birthday. Or possibly I was a little drunk when I ordered it. No matter, it is here now. It’s nice and it is almost impossible to feel ripped off when you hold it. Hence, I am not sending it back. They can have my ZT when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers or offer a ZT 300 for in trade. Turns out I also have a Kershaw Blur. The blur runs 30 bucks. So the question is: was the ZT worth the extra eighty bucks? Got to say that the answer is, for me, a resounding: No friggin’ way! you seem to be contradicting yourself with these statements, if you are trying to say that it is not worth the extra money to you why on Earth would anyone have to pry it from your cold dead fingers? The blur has the ZT beat all the way. Where the ZT has G10 scales the blur has roughed up aluminum scales coated in grippy rubber. You can hold on to either knife with ease and I suppose that the ZT might be slightly better when gripping it while covered in blood I was unable to test this hypothesis. I strongly disagree with that opinion, but everyone is entitled to their own The blur snaps open a little faster than the ZT, likely owing the less substantial (but still beefy) blade. The Blur is a thumb stud only deal while the ZT has both thumb studs and a flipper. I couldn’t really get the thumb studs on the ZT to work but the flipper part was fine. We must have very different knives, my 0350 is faster than the Blurs that I have used The ZT has one of those Tungsten DLC coated blades while the Blur has a simple stonewashed blade. DLC coatings, from what I can tell, are nice to prevent corrosion, wear and add slickness for machine tools but I can’t tell that they are that useful with a knife. I say this because if it worked for machine tools the cutting part of the blade would be coated as well as the rest of the blade. The cutting part of the blade lacks the coating so, from what I can tell, the coating is mostly there to look tacticool. That said, If the entire blade was coated in a couple angstroms of DLC tungsten it probably would stay sharp longer this would never work, if you ever properly sharpen the knife, any coating will be sacrificed that is one of the several reasons companies do not apply DLC over a finished Edge while you’re stabbing a million zombies or opening 10,000 fed ex packages. From the manufacturing I really can’t tell that the coating is there for a good reason. I could be wrong. Both knives come plenty sharp put of the box (same company after all) but sharpness as an indicator of knife utility is misleading. A really sharp knife is impressive but cutting tools need to be sharpened to the intended use. If you’re doing eye surgery you need a very sharp, precise instrument. If you are quartering a chicken with a cleaver you want something less sharp, to sharp and you’ll be pulling it out of the cutting board too often. The knives are probably oversharp for a utility knife but to each their own. Eighty bucks is a lot right? Kershaw all the way? Hold on there for a second. The ZT is a much stouter beast. The liner lock is much thicker and the quality seems much better on the ZT. Eighty bucks better? Doubt it. But this has been an unfair competition. You can get a plainish blade for 30 bucks with a Kershaw blur but you can’t get a plainish blade from ZT. With ZT you’re getting a S30V blade. Here’s the thing: If you’re buying the equivalent blade, an S30V blur (they make those) you are into it for at least eighty bucks. Compared to the cost of the ZT you’d be crazy not to spring for the ZT. If you’re going for the best knife for the ducats, for the knife you’re going abuse and probably lose the cheapest Kershaw blur is probably your friend. If you’re going for a multiyear knife the difference between the Kershaw and ZT is substantial. Yes, a ZT 300 is on my buy list, I hope I can find one without the coating. The closest that you will get is the 0303, it has Tiger Stripes like the 301 and 302 but has Black G-10 scales Here is a picture of mine I had an S30V Blur and last week gave it to my stepson, they are very nice knives but I feel that the Zero Tolerance models are a notch above

:usa:that my friend is the Ticket!

Start out with very cheap knives that you do not care about, until you get the hang of it

That is a very cool article, thanks for posting this

Mac, I was referring to the G-10 scales on that remark

It came in the mail a few hours ago and I must say after owning approximately 30 Spyderco knives over the years, this one opens and closes faster than any other. The locking mechanism is sheer Genius and nearly closes the blade when moved. I would have to say this is by far my favorite non stainless Spyderco and a great little carry knife

Thanks man, I am more than happy to do this and in the future may add more knives to the pass around

PM me your address and it will go out this afternoon! Let the games begin

Bryan, Since you posted first do you want it first?

Ok here is the deal. Major Kong and myself both have some very expensive knives and both choose to ultimately carry our $100.00 Zero Tolerance 0350. The other day I loctited the screws for a tip up carry, problem is I made it for a left handed user by mistake, I still carry the knife but decided to buy myself a new one. This only applies to senior members of TGO who have posted comments in the Knife section of TGO I will ship my ZT to the first person who replies to this thread that fits the criteria I want you to use and carry the knife for 3 days after you receive it in the mail, after the 3 days of use you must ship it to the next person meeting the criteria in line, this will continue until everyone who wants gets to try it out. Eventually I would like the knife back so the last person will ship it to me I have gotten TGO David's approval for this I feel that this is a good opportunity for everyone that wants To but may not be able to afford or justify spending $100.00 on a knife (I use to be one) to see what they are like! The only thing this will cost you is shipping to the next person in line

I am friends with some of the Kershaw Mafia on Blade forums, after being a member there for over 10 years I have befriended some of their top guys, so if after 4 weeks you don't here anything, I may be able to get you results

Agreed, I just sent one of my two Zings in for service as it does not flip like it should

He sounds like he was an awesome man

Bryan,That is really cool, see if you can find some pictures I think that it is awesome that you Knew Blackie when you were a kid

It does look like an Axis lock Fred, that was the second thing that struck me after the Blue G-10 Eric, I bought it off a power seller on Ebay I paid $107.95 shipped so I was very hapy with the deal the guy just emailed me it will ship this AM if you want the same deal I got ,This knife has a great Blade steel as well S30V may be the ticket for you http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Spyderco-C123GPBL-Sage-3-Bolt-Action-Knife-G10-S30V-/190510457530#ht_5294wt_1042

Fred, Did it need anything besides what it came with, any adapter to sharpen a re curve blade, such as your 0350? if not I am sold and will sell my Edge Pro that several people have asked me about to help fund the Wicked Edge pro kit

Thanks Guys, I am looking forward to it

I use 40 degree, 20 per side as well with my Edge Pro most custom knife makers go this route as well it works for my knives, I am however thinking of getting a Wicked Edge sharpener after seeing the edge that a Dutch friend of mine put on his XM-18 Here is sharpening perfection in my opinion

Yes it does Mac, I think I will like this one very much

I dont know OS, I have wondered the same about Spyderco they have had some awesome knives that people continued to buy and then all of a sudden the model is discontinued? I like that meyerco looks to be a cool knife

Dolomite, I just wanted to say, that after reading this thread, you and your family are in my prayers and I wish nothing but the best for you!

I just ordered one of these Guys it looks to be a really cool knife. I have always liked Spyderco I have owned several but have not bought a new one in a long while. This one caught my eye Spyderco Sage 3 Bolt Action G-10 I guess more than anything I bought it as a tribute to Blackie Collins, may he rest in peace

I agree with you, the weight of the knife would be a downside for me as well

That looks like a very nice Benchmade

They all get the numbers wrong on weights, Kershaw even has it weighing more but I weighed mine on a precision scale and it reads 4.8. See if you can find one to try in your hand, you are correct in saying that it is more of a utility knife, now if you are wanting what I call a Gentleman's knife, thin extremely light it may not be for you.