Zero Tolerance ZT0392

The ZT0392 is the latest collaboration between Rick Hinderer and Zero Tolerance Knives. The 0392 is a limited edition piece that is currently sold out. According to ZT, they will not be producing any more of these for sale (a little bird may have mentioned another model based off this design coming soon). The 0392 is based off Rick Hinderer's Eklipse model and is the first of the line ZT calls their "Factory Customs". I'll get into what that means along the way. 

The 0392 sports titanium on the show side and the lock side. The handles are nicely finished with no perceivable machining marks. The handles are stonewashed but have a bit of a darker color like a bead-blast. I believe ZT/Hinderer call this a working finish. This should do very well at hiding any wear over time. The handles are thick but not overly so. I like the balance they strike with them.

The standoffs, LBS, pocket clip, filler tabs, and pivot on the 0392 are all supplied directly from Hinderer's shop. On this model, they are anodized a nice subtle blue. The ability of ZT to manufacture the handle slabs to such a tolerance that Hinderer's hardware fits so well is a true testament to their manufacturing prowess. In fact, the only machining flaw on the knife is on one of the filler tabs by the pivot. I'm not saying Hinderer's quality is bad, it just says a lot about how good Zero Tolerance is. You can purchase replacement hardware on Rick's site to further customize your 0392. 

The Eklipse design leads to a fairly narrow package compared to the XM line and I find that this knife carries very well. The pocket clip is mounted high and hold the knife securely. I was unsure about the cutouts for your thumb and first two fingers but after holding it, I think they really add to the ergonomics.  There is a run of traction at the bottom of the handle but nothing on the spine. I appreciate this as there is no worry about hurting your finger during flipping. This knife also sports a stainless lock bar insert that acts as an over-travel stop in addition to the lock bar stabilizer. I think there is not a good reason for this other than ease of design. They were probably going to add an insert anyway and figured they might as well keep it congruent with their product line.

And it does flip. This has the heaviest detent of any knife I've owned (the previous record went to the 0801s110v). It took a minute to get used to but once you get it, this things has a fantastic action. The flipper tab is a bit pointy but if you use it like a light switch, there is no issue there.  It deploys with authority and locks up solidly using dual stop pins seated into the blade that directly contact the Ti handles. The stop pins are located in the place where thumb studs normally reside but they are not designed to be used to open the blade. As this is the intended design, I have no issue with them. 

The blade is a very attractive drop point design with a harpoon swedge. The blade profile is thinner than that of the XM series of knives and it gives the 0392 a sleek fast look. There is no choil on the blade which I appreciate as it gives more usable edge. I find that when a knife with a choil is inserted into material to cut, if your not there to stop it, the material will ride into the choil. The blade steel on the 0392 is CTS-204P. This is a carpenter steel analogous to Bohler M39 and DuraTech 20CV. It is a highly corrosion resistant steel with great wear resistance and good toughness. It's one of my favorite cutlery steels. 

The 0392 is one of the best knives to come out of the ZT factory that I've owned. I appreciate the lack of dress on the knife and it makes for a great EDC. It's a bit unfortunate that they are limited to what has already been sold but that doesn't detract from what is a fantastic knife. 

Hinderer XM-18 3.5" Slicer Grind

The Hinderer XM-18 is a great knife. There is a lot of history behind this knife that I don't really want to get into. I will say that these are some of the most popular knives among the knife enthusiast community. Since Rick has started ramping up production, these are becoming more and more available, which is great for the average enthusiast. 

The XM I have here is the 3.5" model. 3.5" is just about my favorite size for an EDC knife. The blade is a classic drop point blade with a flat grind that Rick refers to as a "Slicer Grind". The grind does not terminate parallel with the spine of the blade but, rather, it is ground at an angle such that as it moves from the heel to the tip, the grind steadily climbs till it reaches the spine. The blade steel on my example is DuraTech 20CV. This steel has very high corrosion resistance, high wear resistance, and good toughness.  Here is a data sheet from Alpha Knife Supply. Being that this is 20CV, there are no markings on the blade. The standard models come with S35VN, one of my favorite EDC steels, and have the Hinderer logo and the steel laser etched on the blade. I prefer the sterile look myself. The blade is finished nicely with a stonewash and Rick's is one of the cleanest I've seen.  There is a small run of jimping on the spine of the knife that is chunky but sharp and provides good traction. 

the slicer grind creates a slightly thicker angle at the heel than towards the tip where it is fairly thin. I say fairly because in terms of Hinderers it is thin but this is certainly still a stout grind. I have had some of the other styles and this one certainly emphasizes cutting rather than tip strength or prying. Rick has a spearpoint model coming soon that I am very interested in. 

The knife features both thumb studs and a flipper tab to open the knife. The thumb studs act as the blade stops as well as an opening mechanism. They seat securely and the blade has no play in any direction.

The flipper works to open the knife but it does require some attention. The knife uses teflon washers and while it is very very smooth, the detent is not as strong as some dedicated flipper knives. The lack of a strong detent is responsible for the slow flipping but, because this is how it was designed, it is perfectly acceptable to me.

And the lighter detent makes using the thumb studs very easy and smooth. There is a bit of added traction on the flipper tab that works well as designed. The angle of the jimping forces you to "pre-load" tension on the tab, making it flip out securely. 

The handle on the XM is very well appointed and finished. The titanium on my example is bead blasted instead of stonewashed. The finish is even and there are no noticeable machining marks. The word "HINDERER" is rolled into the TI across the top of the knife.

The knife use the frame lock mechanism and this one is very well "tuned". There is very little effort required to unlock the knife yet when it opens, it locks nice and securely. The knife does not sport a stainless steel insert of any kind so it is bare Ti against the blade tang. While I would prefer an insert, I've never had any problems with mine and I doubt you will either. 

The hardware on the XM-18 is fantastic. Hinderer machines his own screws, standoffs, pivots, and pocket clip. The clip is blasted to match the handle but the rest is nicely polished. The contrast really adds visual appeal to the knife. The knife uses Hinderers lockbar stabilizer that works to prevent accidental overextension of the lock bar. Rick says he came up with the design after doing that very thing to a knife he had. 

The pivot accepts a standard flat bit but the opposite side requires the use of a spanner wrench. I see this as a bit of a detractor but it might not be a big deal to some.

Near the rear of the handle, there is a hole that can accept a lanyard. The hole is rectangular and rounded and is designed to be compatible as a oxygen tank wrench (although I have no idea about that). 

The show side of the knife is covered by a G10 handle scale. Mine is plain black but they are available in a variety of colors. Part of the appeal of these knives is the customizability. You can purchase replacement scales and hardware from a variety of sources to add you own touch to the knife. 

Overall I love the XM-18. The shape fits the hand perfectly, the grind is useful, and the build quality is at the top of production knife standards. Forget all the history and focus on the knife and you have a great knife with impeccable finish and a hard-use flair. I'd gladly recommend this knife to anyone (especially now that you can find them readily). 

Prometheus Lights Beta-QRv2

The Prometheus Lights Beta-QRv2 (QR) is a fantastic small 1xAAA light. This size is my favorite for EDC as it is small and discreet and provides all the light I need. My choice of battery are eneloop rechargeables. Prometheus Lights is owned by Jason Hui and you can read more and purchase direct on his website darksucks.

The QR has a very nice nickel plated finish atop it's machined aluminum body. The plating has held up very well and I don't expect to ever have an issue with it. The milled grooves in the handle are smooth and pleasing to the touch. This is, no doubt, excellent work. The only complaint I have is the lack of any texture parallel to the direction of the light. The mechanism is a twist of the head and the lack of any real traction when twisting can make the light a bit hard to use in certain conditions (wet, cold, etc.). 

This being the second version of the light, it is compatible with Jason's new pocket clip. Normally this light functions as a keychain light but I prefer to carry them on my person so I opted for the clip. Once the clip is on, I'm not sure there is a safe way to take it off without scratching the light. There is a lot of tension on the quick release spring, you'll never have to worry about it detaching by accident. The clip is fairly secure but I could use a bit more tension (see my previous comment about the lack of texture). The light has never fallen out of my pocket but I still worry. The clip is nicely anodized blue. 

The QR uses the Nichia 219 high CRI LED. That means you sacrifice output for the sake of beam quality and color accuracy. It's a welcome change from the slew of cool XML-2 LED's out there. While this may not have class leading output, I would argue that there is plenty of light here. I use this light to walk my dogs at night and I'm never left needing more. The quoted output is 60 lumens on max but I swear it's putting out more. The beam is also very nice. There is a good amount of throw with a generous spill. A perfect pocket light beam. 

Overall I love this little light. When I picked it up, I was very surprised at how light it was. I could easily see using this on a keychain. Jason from Prometheus lights did a fantastic job with this light and I will look to obtain one  of his other offerings in the future. 

Zero Tolerance ZT 0550

The Zero Tolerance 0550 is a legacy design. The 0550 was the first of many collaborations between Custom Knife Maker Rick Hinderer and Zero Tolerance Knives. Based on a design Rick calls his Camp Knife, the 0550 is a great heavy duty folder. The 0550 was the start of a relationship that continues to bear fruit to this day. Knives that include the 0560 and the Kershaw Cryo. The 0550 of today has undergone a few iterative changes that refine the original design. Here is a link to Amazon where it can be purchased. 

The blade shape of the 0550 is a classic drop point profile. A high flat grind meets a large swedge that starts about halfway down the spine and terminates a half inch from the tip. This adds a visual flair while maintaining cutting geometry. There is a row of chunky jimping on the spine that doesn't add a lot of traction but is visually appealing. The blade is 3.5 inches long which is right in the sweet spot of my preference for a pocket knife. I've had a gen 1 0550 and this model (gen 3) has a stonewashed blade where the previous generation had a blasted finish. I prefer the stonewash as it will show less marks with use. 

The blade steel is  CPM-S35VN. S35VN. Developed by Crucible Powder Metals in conjunction with Chris Reeve Knives, S35VN is An evolution of the venerable S30V steel. It features similar edge performance to S30V but with the slight reduction in vanadium (3% vs 4%) and the introduction of 0.5% niobium. This change in composition produces a steel that has similar wear resistance to S30V but has better toughness and is easier to machine. In my own use, I have found S35VN to chip far less than S30V and be easier to service. A win-win in my book. This, combined with it's ready availability and reasonable cost,  makes it one of the best EDC steels on the market. 

See here for Crucible's Data sheet on S35VN 

The handle on the show side is G10 and titanium on the locking side. The G10 has machined grooves running at a slight angle vertically. They are useful for traction and also break up the otherwise blank surface of the black G10. All the edges of the handle are nicely chamfered  to avoid any sharp angles. For a while, there were several companies selling aftermarket scales for the 0550. Since this model is older now, they are becoming harder to find.

The titanium lock side is thick and very stout. The Ti sports a blasted finish that I like. Even though blasted Ti scratches easily, it adds character to the knife over time. The lock face has been updated with a steel insert that contacts the blade tang. This is par for the course for all new ZT frame lock knives and a good improvement over the raw Ti. One change from the gen 1 is the lock bar relief cut. This generation has moved the relief cut to the outside of the knife. I don't know what effect this has on the lock but I think this makes it easier to unlock and may also be more secure from my observation (The lock bar travels at slightly less of an arch to meet the tang when the cutout is on the outside). This knife also features the Hinderer Lock Bar Stabalizer (LBS). The LBS prevents you from accidentally pushing the lock bar too far out and ruining the lock. I personally have never had that happen but I definitely understand the purpose of the design. In fact, Rick cam up with the design after accidentally bending the lock out on a knife.

Overall, I really like the 0550. I like it much more so that the larger more expensive 0560. The size and balance are great on the 0550. It is also one of last remaining knives that ZT makes that is not a bearing flipper. This knife uses standard phosphor bronze washers but you could easily think it did have bearings; this thing is smooth. I thoroughly enjoy owning this knife and I recommend anyone to check it out. 

Zero Tolerance Knives ZT 0801

The ZT 0801 is a collaboration piece between custom knife maker Todd Rexford and Zero Tolerance Knives (ZT) a subsidiary of KAI USA Ltd.. All ZT knives are made in the USA using premium materials and top notch craftsmanship. The 0801 is not different. Here is a link to Amazon where it can be purchased.

I have owned a few 0801's and it is one of my favorite designs. Simple and elegant with a useful blade shape and grind. It may be a bit thick for some people but I think it is perfect. There is a pointy tip with a good belly that transitions smoothly to a flat portion before the heel. I would argue that the grind is a mix of a drop point and a spear point with its large swedge.  The length is just right at 3.5 inches which I think is perfect for me. 

The model I currently own is a limited edition using CPM-S110V blade steel. This model also forgoes the grooves milled into the handle scales for a cleaner stonewashed look (of which I prefer). S110V is a high vanadium stainless steel with excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance. It, however, is not as tough as some other steels. This is a good steel for a pocket knife in that it will spend most of its time in a pocket (corrosion resistant) and cutting things (wear resistance) rather than chopping or prying (toughness). The standard 0801 uses Elmax stainless steel. Elmax is a powder metal steel from Bohler Uddeholm. Elmax is a good general purpose steel but is not as wear resistance as S110V. 

The knife features all titanium construction and utilizes the frame lock mechanism. ZT has upgraded their design over the years to include a stainless steel insert that mounts to the frame lock tab. This insert is what contacts the tang of the blade instead of the raw titanium. This is a great update to the design as titanium is much softer than steel and will wear and gall against a hardened steel surface. The steel insert prevents this and increases the life of the lock (although, there are many plain Ti frame lock knives that will last a lifetime). 

Another great feature of this knife is the way it opens. The 0801 uses a flipper tab to deploy the blade. This in conjunction with Kershaw's KVT (Kershaw Velocity Technology) washer bearings, make for a very fast and smooth deployment. A bystander may even confuse this knife for an auto. Flippers have become somewhat ubiquitous but ZT still makes some of the best. I have owned several (my first was the Tilt) with this set up and each one has been just as impressive as the next. The flipper shape on the 0801 is perfectly designed for it's intended use. There is a run of jimping to aid in purchase but it is not sharp or rough. There is also no jimping on the back of the handle to contact your finger when flipping the knife. This is just very well designed and executed. 

One thing of note; The 0801 has a unique detent setup. When disengaging the lock and closing the knife, there is a noticeable "half-stop" when the detent climbs the tang of the blade. It's not a huge issue but it is something to note. If your fingers are out of the way as they should be, you'll be just fine. But get it wrong and leave you finger in the way, and it can slam shut. What i'm saying here is that if you are not paying attention and are going to get cut, this knife may cut you deeper. So be safe. 

Overall, I really love this knife. I sold my regular 0801 only because I have the S110V version. Otherwise, it would be a regular carry for me. You can pick them up for just under $200 which is a great value for a USA made, full titanium, frame lock knife with bearings. Kuddos ZT.