The review you didn't need or want: the Zero Tolerance 0300

[Guest lostpass]

If you've got a couple of hundred bucks burning a hole in your pocket I strongly suggest, and I mean this, you send it to me. If you want a knife (cause I'm just going to spend your dough on myself) it might not be a bad idea to invest in the ZT 0300.

For those unfamiliar with kershaw and ZT the next bit is going to seem a bit convoluted. So don't read this part. The kershaw blur is a fantastic knife. To most people it seems huge. It seems great until you get a ZT350 and, once you have that knife, the Blur seems almost ethereal. A knife that has been purposely reduced to the weakest possible components for the sake of lightness and ease of carry. This take isn't reflective of reality. The blur is a fine knife and probably more than enough for every day carry. But once you get the ZT 350 in your hand you start seeing the inadequacies of the Blur. At least the perceived inadequacies.

The ZT 0300 is a lot like the difference between the Blur and the ZT 350. From the specs you wouldn't say it is any better but once you hold it you can tell there is a big difference. A big difference in quality and in size.

If you were confused by the comparison, I told you not to read.

For the KAI unaware: The 0300 is a huge knife. The blade is less than four inches so in TN you should be good. That said This thing is a beast. You could use it for EDC but you probably wouldn't want to. It is just too big. The knife is very wide and takes up a lot of space.

Size noted the knife opens easily with the flipper or the thumb studs. Here I have to be careful, most people say the thumb studs are close to useless. They have a point, if you follow the directions found with the knife (push down and outward) the thumb studs are worthless, you've got no chance of opening the knife that way. IF you just push straight up on the thumb studs the knife pops open.

As for the sharpness: Everyone always talks about how sharp the knife comes out of the box. This is like talking about how full the tank comes when you buy a new car. The knife is plenty sharp, later it will be less sharp and you'll have to sharpen it. I suspect it will be some time before I have to sharpen it but, sooner or later, I will have to sharpen it.

Final rating: If knives just don't matter to you then forget about this knife, you'll be better served by the Blur. If you halfway like knives, if you find them somewhat interesting you won't be disappointed by the 0300. It costs a lot but it is worth every penny.

[TGO David]

Very good review.

[mav]

For the KAI unaware: The 0300 is a huge knife. The blade is less than four inches so in TN you should be good. That said This thing is a beast. You could use it for EDC but you probably wouldn't want to. It is just too big. The knife is very wide and takes up a lot of space.

Nice review. I have just one point of disagreement with you and others. I carry the 0300 everyday, and while it is heavier than a lot of your typical folding knives (233.12 grams) and is bit larger, it can be used as an EDC quite comfortably. I have carried one for so long that I don't even realize I have it until I need it. I liken this disagreement to a lot of people's issues with government model 1911s. A lot of people do not want to carry a full size 1911 because they say the government 1911s are too big or too heavy. Yet, there are a lot of people that do carry them, me included.

I do not want to dissuade anyone from buying a fantastic knife because it is perceived as too heavy or too large. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference. I do not like very light knives, guns, or watches.

As a final note, there is one other nice thing about the slightly larger size and weight of the 0300. You can smash the hell out of someone's face with it without worrying about the knife falling apart on you.

[daddyo]

As a final note, there is one other nice thing about the slightly larger size and weight of the 0300. You can smash the hell out of someone's face with it without worrying about the knife falling apart on you.

Do you do that on a regular basis?

[willis68]

I have to Agree with Mav, I carried my 0301 for over a year, I still do I have absolutely Zero problems with it's size in fact I just realized it is one me right now. These 300 series of knives are built as well as Strider knives and that is saying a whole lot. I have said this several times for slightly over $200.00 you will not find a better knife and while some people think that is a huge amount of money to spend on a knife in this case I assure you that you will get what you pay for.

[Major Kong]

Great review lostpass. I love my 0300 but it is a hoss of a knife to carry.

Mav, I'm gonna have to try out that "smash the hell out of someone's face" maneuver...

[Guest lostpass]

thanks for the comments everyone. I can see how you could carry it, I've done it but my preference is to scale back to the 0350 or kershaw scallion. If you want to carry a knife that big more power to you but it isn't for me and most of the people I've talked to agree that they love it but wouldn't want to carry it everyday.

But a review is just a personal take on something so I'm not saying that you couldn't EDC it, I;m saying if your like me (incredibly lazy and annoying) you probably wouldn't want to.

Whether you EDC it or not I suspect that you won't be disappointed if you drop the double hundy on the 0300. I'm sure there are better folders out there, I know there are cheaper folders out there but I haven't found the same combination of quality and price in any other knife. AND, SO HELP ME, I'M GOING TO STOP TRYING! Sorry for the yelling, I've just got to get rid of this compulsive knife buying thing.

[Guest italia]

lostpass, you really shouldn't have done that. I thought I had gotten past needing an 0300. Damm you! ;-)

[Guest lostpass]

lostpass, you really shouldn't have done that. I thought I had gotten past needing an 0300. Damm you! ;-)

I hate to tell you this italia but I like it even more 10 days later.

[Guest mambro]

I know this is a VERY old thread, but just wanted to let "lostpass" know it struck a chord with me.  I have a Blur in S30V; picked up a ZT 0350SW not too long after that... and just today purchased a ZT 0301 and am now waiting for it to arrive.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience! It was a worthy Google hit.

 

:up: