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.