Zero Tolerance ZT0456

The ZT0456 is a collaboration between Zero Tolerance Knives and Dmitry Sinkevich from Belarus build in Tualatin, Oregon.  Sinkevich has designed several Zero Tolerance models (the 0450 and 0452cf etc)  as well as several Kershaw models. (product page here)

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The 0456 is a departure from Sinkevich's other ZT designs with it's short and stout build. The other designs have been more long and slender. The departure shouldn't be surprising to anyone familiar with Dmitry's custom work. The entire knife is only 7.7" in overall length with a 3.25" blade while weighing a hefty 6.6oz. 

The knife is constructed of two slabs of titanium. The handles are nicely milled and provide a nice angular aesthetic that works well and feel good in the hand. The milling is present and even on both sides. 

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The lock features a stainless lock insert (as the flipper gods intended). And the action is smooth and fast. It is actually one of the smoother ZTs that I have handled. The flipper tab is well designed and points the user to the "push-button" method of deployment. It is possible, however, to use the "light-switch" method with just as much success. The knife uses Kershaw's KVT caged bearings for smoothness. 

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The 0456 features several treatments that help to break up the stark grey finish of titanium. They come in the form of a blue pivot, pocket clip, and backspacer. The sample I have is pre-production so the color is a bit off on the pivot but ZT assures me they are working on it. 

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The pocket clip will look familiar to anyone who owns a ZT0450 or ZT0808 save for the blue anodizing. The backspacer runs almost the full length of the spine of the handle and is very attractive. 

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The blade on the 0456 is sheepsfoot style with a swedge that looks great and is made from Carpenter's CTS-204P (data sheet here). 204P is a highly wear and corrosion resistant steel. It is in the top tiers of knife blade steels and should serve you well. The shape of the blade really inspires confidence. It is stout but tall and should excel in most EDC tasks. I prefer this style to the traditional wharncliffe due to this having a more robust tip. 

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Overall, the 0456 is a compelling package. There are several knives that come to mind when handling this knife and one of them is the Les George designed ZT0900. Now, I know the 0456 is larger but they are both knives that punch above their size (I would place knives like the Spyderco Techno in this category as well). After having handled and owned many of Zero Tolerance's products, the 0456 is right up there with the best of them. 

Zero Tolerance ZT0804CF

The 0804CF is a Todd Rexford design built by Zero Tolerance Knives in Tualatin, Oregon and based of Todd's Gamma custom. (Product page here)

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Todd Rexford's past collaboration, the 0801, was one of my favorite ZT knives of all time, (He also has designed several Kershaw models) so suffice to say, this is a great design. 

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Rexford is known for his clean straight lines and work that is among the top tiers in the custom knife world (I have seen them sell at auction for as much as $20,000 to collectors). The 0804cf is no exception. With clean purposeful lines, the knife is attractive and utilitarian at the same time. 

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The handle is composed of one side carbon fiber, and one side titanium. The carbon fiber show side is liner-less (there's really no need for one) and creates a lighter-than-expected feeling in hand (5.1oz). There is a cutout for the pocket clip for those lefties out there. I would have liked to have some kind of filler tab but I know that's nit picking. The pivot is adorned with the words "USA MADE". I don't mind it but I have heard some people offer criticism, which is fair, you can't please everyone with something like that. 

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The titanium locking side is DLC coated to match the all-black aesthetic of the knife and it really does look good. There is a stainless lock insert, as there should be on a Ti flipper and the pocket clip is a machined titanium and really looks great on the knife. It is, of course, DLC coated to match. The backspacer is a machined aluminum and is, you guessed it, black. Back in the day, I would have called this knife "murdered out" but I'm more refined than that now. 

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Rexford is known for his attention to detail and the flipper on this knife is very well laid out. First off, it's in the proper geometry. I feel, in this day and age, proper flipper geometry should be a given but I have been let down by offerings from other companies that shall not be named. Secondly, there is a unique aspect that I have noticed on a few other knives, like the 0900, where there is traction cut into the flipper tab both in the "push-button" and the "light-switch" positions. This leaves the preference up to the owner and allows for easy manipulation either way. 

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The action is, as you would expect, very well tuned. The blade pops out with authority and locks up solid every time due to the use of Kershaws caged bearing system known as KVT. Speaking of the blade, it is a nearly 4" long (3.9" to be exact) piece of CTS-204P (data sheet can be found here), a very high wear resistant and corrosion resistant super steel. The shape is a classic drop point and should perform very well in a large number of tasks. The blade is tungsten DLC coated but this is really for design purposes as the steel does not need protection from corrosion with it's 20% chromium content. It looks great, so I have no complaints. 

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The knife does sit a little high out of the pocket but I don't mind that in a larger knife. The mur... all black design helps keep things discrete enough despite that if you are concerned. 

Overall, I have to say I am very enamored with this knife. The clean straight lines, the blacked out aesthetic, and the flawless execution have created a compelling package. 

Zero Tolerance ZT 0600

The Zero Tolerance Knives ZT0600 is a limited edition model designed by R.J. Martin. The knife won collaboration of the year in 2012 from Blade Magazine but while I think it is the closest production knife to a custom R.J., it's not really in the same league. That should really go without saying but I feel the need to express it in light of this review. I'll explain later. 

The 0600 is a big knife. I mean really big. It's got a 4.25" blade and it weighs in at 7.3 oz. The size and weight wouldn't be a huge issue if it weren't for a few things that I'll get into later. The blade stock is equally as hefty at 4.8mm on my calipers.

The grind is a hollow grind with a recurve and is distinctly R.J. Martin. The blade steel is B75P which is a powdered version of BG-42, a ball bearing steel.  

The handles feature a really nice 3D machined diamond pattern that I like a lot in comparison to, say, the 0560. The presentation side in inlaid with carbon fiber and I find the whole look interesting and elegant.

The handle is also sculpted to provide a good feeling in hand. While this knife is big and heavy, it is easy to hold. 

The knife features a sculpted Ti clip that could use a bit more tension, especially for a knife this big. It does a good job of keeping the knife where you want it though. 

The 0600 also features a full titanium backspacer that is milled to match the traction at the butt of the knife as well as a cutout for a lanyard. I think there is a few ounces in this piece alone. The execution is there but it does not match both sides of the frame evenly, being a bit more raised on one side than the other. 

The knife features a bearing system for the pivot and it is quite smooth. That combined with the heavy blade stock let the blade freely fall on it's own weight. This might also be due to the relatively light lockbar tension and detent. This knife was made before ZT moved to the stiffer detent they are using now and, in my opinion, it could use a bit more detent as the action of the knife is not that great. The heavy blade and weaker detent don't really allow it to rocket out. A few pain points for me are the flipper tab and the back of the knife right under the flipper. The tab itself has no traction cut into it at all. This makes it slippery if you're not paying attention and I've slid off it a few times. Under the flipper, there is no jimping but the frame is cut harshly on the inside and, being that the blade is so thick, creating a large gap between the slabs, your finger goes down into the gap and it doesn't feel great hitting the harshly cut handle scales. 

The frame does not feature two screws on each side but rather just one side for the handle. The reveals a rather rough tap for the screws and looks unfinished. I will probably take a deburring tool to it or sand down the inside just to finish it a little better. 

Overall I am disappointed with this knife. An R.J. Martin custom is one of my grail knives and I was hoping that this would be close enough to keep me from wanting too hard (a custom R.J. is in the thousands not hundreds of dollars) but alas, it has not. I think with some tweaking, this knife would be fantastic. Looking ahead, it seems ZT has stepped away from features like custom milling and moved more toward good basic designs. The 0392 was one of the best production knives I've handled and that philosophy shows there. If that philosophy was applied to a R.J. design, that may do it for me. Are you listening ZT? 

Zero Tolerance ZT 0900

The ZT 0900 is an offering in a new spirit for Zero Tolerance. ZT used to be a division dedicated to the overbuilt and the oversized. The smallest knife they had at one point was the not-so-small 0350. Then last year, the company released two models that somewhat bucked that trend. The 0566 and the 0770 were two knives that were smaller and more pocket-friendly than the established group. I'm willing to bet those models were very successful for ZT because this year we have knives like the 0900 and the 0450. 

The 0900 is the shortest knife ZT has ever produced. With a blade length of 2.7", it is significantly smaller than the previous record holders, the 0770 and 0566 (both around 3.25"). The knife is interesting, though, in that it is not necessarily small. Yes it is short, but it is pretty heavy for that length (4.3oz) and is much thicker than, say, the 0770 for example. It is firmly in the "little-big knife" category. That is not a bad thing, though, as similar models (like the Spyderco Techno) have been favorites in the knife community. 

The 0900 is designed buy Les George of Les George Knives. Les is known in the knife community for his customs, "mid-tech's", and production collaborations. For the 0900 he brings his Harpy model. The blade shape is purely Les' with a simple drop point with a good amount of belly and a spine that meets a row of thick cut traction. The chunky jimping pattern is a signature of his designs. The blade material is Crucible S35VN, a fine powdered steel that is great for EDC uses. Going along with the overall theme of the knife, the blade stock is a hearty 4mm. Taking 4mm down to the edge and tip of such a small blade using a flat grind is naturally going to result in a relatively thick cutting edge and tip. Filet knife, this is not. 

The handle of the knife is composed of two titanium slabs with a frame lock cut out for right hand use. The lock cutout does have a unique pattern that adds a little something to the design. The handle is larger than the blade and enough to get a good solid grip on the knife. 

There is a little milling on the slabs that break up the flatness and It looks good. Going along with ZT's new more sterile look is the addition of the words "ZERO TOLERANCE" on the show side of the handle along with the subtraction of any markings on this side of the blade. I like. 

The pivot  closely matches some others we have seen but this one is not black but satin. In fact, the hardware on the knife is all the same satin. I prefer this to the black coated parts as it will wear much better over time. 

The action..... The action is amazing. The combination of a great flipper design, smooth pivot bearings, and lightweight blade make this a rocket of a flipper. 

With pressure, it will fire with authority and without is just as addicting. My "touring test" for flippers is if my wife can operate it. She carried this knife for weeks and absolutely loved it. Not only could she flip it, but could do so effortlessly (My wife is 5'4" 105lbs). This is one of the best designed flippers I've ever used, it's really that good.

Rumor has it that Les is working on another offering with ZT and I really hope is is a larger version of this knife. That would be a home run if this knife is any indication. I think the trend towards smaller designs is a good one for ZT. I love my 0452cf and I wouldn't trade that knife for this, but I appreciate the design and function of this knife so much, I want them to keep doing it. 

Zero Tolerance ZT 0452cf

The time has finally come. The 0454 was a groundbreaking knife for ZT and the knife community. It caused a stir unlike anything I saw or have seen since. With such a fever surrounding it, it should come as no surprise that ZT released not one but two new knives based off the 0454 design. The first is the smaller 0450 and the next is the full size spiritual successor the 0452cf. 

The knife is very slim for what you are getting. This knife reminds me of a Spyderco Military but without the hole, a better blade to handle ratio, a clip on the correct end.... OK scratch that, it's nothing like the Military. But it is nice and thin. 

The 0452cf is a lean long knife. With a blade length of 4.1" it is the largest blade I own in a folding knife. The shape is a nice classic drop point with a full swedge. The blade is fairly short, however, giving it a thin, sharp, and long profile. The grinds have all been left polished and the flats stonewashed. This two tone look is not as pronounced on this design as some of the others but it does not detract from the attractiveness. 

The steel is CPM-S35VN, a standard of the knife industry at this point. The move to S35VN from Elmax is a smart one. It allows them to get more knives into the hands of the customers while not losing any appreciable performance. The edge was very sharp and the point is nice and well.. pointy.

There is a run of traction on the top of the spine as well as the front when the knife is closed. That section is clearly for aesthetics only. The flipper tab is perfectly shaped. Allowing for either method of deployment. 

The handle consists of Titanium on the lock side and a carbon fiber scale over a liner on the other. I wish I could tell you what the stonewash was like on mine but as you can see, mine has already undergone a unique anodized finish. The Liner side is the same carbon fiber used on the 0562cf and it works well in it's appearance as well as provide decent traction. It's a nice balance.

The pivot is straight of the Kershaw Ruby and really fits this knife's look. It is coated black in the recesses and polished on the surface. 

The lock features a stainless lock insert that has become par for the course on new ZTs. The lockbar is short and provides good lock engagement but is still easy to release. 

The action on the 0452cf has been the subject of much discussion recently due to it's strong detent (another feature par for the course for new ZTs). I find it perfectly dialed in on my example. I can light switch or push button the flipper tab and it opens every time. The knife is very smooth and will only get smoother as it breaks in. 

This knife was long awaited for me. I missed out on the OG 0454 and I am glad to see this in the lineup. The knife is long and sharp but sits well in a slacks or jean pocket. This one of my favorite knives that has come out in recent years and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes knives in this category. 

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. 

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.