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).