Zero Tolerance 0801 - revised and reviewed
Oct 15, 2014 9:00:27 GMT
Post by hhmoore on Oct 15, 2014 9:00:27 GMT
(image from zt.kaiusaltd.com)
Introduction:
I have admitted to this forum that I am a knife enthusiast....something of an addict; but not as knowledgeable or obsessive as many. I have too many knives - in part because I periodically go on buying binges...trying to distract myself from other things, treating/rewarding myself, and searching for THE knife. Luckily, they're self limiting; and they burn out fairly quickly - leaving me with a handful of newly acquired knives, and generally without long lasting regrets. Enough about me, though - this is about the ZT0801.
I became interested in this knife soon after I found Zero Tolerance. It intrigued me - I rather liked the look, I'd had good experiences with the brand...but there was always something holding me back. Time after time, I searched & found decent prices; but couldn't bring myself to purchase. This knife just wasn't me - I came to accept that, and I stopped looking.
Enter the ZT 0801 BW
O
M
G
I had to have it.
(I'll apologize now for the dark pictures - the background is white, and I had two, big, natural white lights set up & close enough that the camera was touching them; but that is how they came out.)
Disclaimer:I'm still stuck buying my own knives, with my own money. The opinions stated here are mine, based on my experiences with this particular knife. I do not receive gifts or reduced pricing in exchange for reviews - that's probably for the best (because my reviews aren't really all that good)...however, I am open to gifts or reduced pricing if somebody is inclined to give them to me "just because". Luckily, this purchase happened before ZT's MAP enforcement came crashing down, so I was able to get it for about $40 less than the current pricing.
Initial Impressions:
The first thing I noticed was the new box
Behold, the knife
Anybody that has read my other reviews knows how much emphasis I place on feel. This one doesn't have the ergonomic shape of the Manix2...nor does it have the awesome heft and fullness of the ZT0550, or the great all around fit of my (ground down) 0200; but it works. It takes a lot to impress me in this particular category, and this knife doesn't quite do it. I don't really have anything particularly negative to say about the feel, though...so maybe that's praise enough, lol.
The blade is well centered
The spine is thinned slightly by the swedge/shaping, giving the appearance of increased thickness just before the tip, as can be seen in the above picture, here's another look
I was less than thrilled with the BW finish on my 0350 blade, originally; but they got it right on this one
This knife flips like a champ; which is a good thing, since there are no thumbstuds. The flipper extension (whatever it's called) is not overly long. It is grooved for improved traction; and I have experienced no finger slip even during light efforts. With the blade open, the flipper serves as a small guard. The depth and placement of the grooves, combined with the shape of the flipper, mean no discomfort (in contrast to my findings on the HTM gunhammer).
Lockup is solid, and the there is no stick on release.
Specifications:
Overall length: 8.2"
Blade length: 3.5"
Closed length: 4.7"
Weight: 5.85 oz (167g)
Handle: titanium
Blade steel: Elmax
Lock type: frame lock
Opening: manual
Clip: reversible for right or left carry - tip up only. "Deep carry" style
The test of time:
It's easy to love a knife when you first get it; but how you feel about it later is a bit more telling. I've had this knife for 6-8 weeks, now (time is a blur, and I really don't feel compelled to look up the purchase date.) It has spent much of that time in my pocket, and I still like it a lot. My pocket knives don't generally see "hard use" - I'm lucky enough not to HAVE to use them that way - but they do get used. The 0801BW still looks brand new, thanks to the finish (which also makes it look like an old favorite). The edge has held up great, with no obvious signs of dulling. I'll probably put this on the shelf, because I want it to stay nice (and because the 0200 is more comfortable in hand). I'm not putting it into storage, and I'm sure it will still get carried.
PROs
aesthetics - I love the look
weight - nice heft, without being too much.
flipper - works great
framelock - solid and smooth.easy release
Elmax - I've got a few knives in Elmax...it's held up well for me.
CONs
Hmmmmmmmm
okay, I've got one - I can feel where the tip of the pocket clip touches my hand. It isn't uncomfortable, but I do notice it occasionally. (Hey, I had to list something)
Oh - and MAP. It wasn't an issue for me, but MAP sucks.
Do I regret the purchase? Not at all
Would I buy it again, if I lost this one? That depends. I'm not sure I would pay current pricing; but if I could find a like new one for the price I paid - absolutely.
(comparison photos in next post)