hey guys David C Andersen here coming at you from the knifeCenter today we're
gonna be taking a look at zero tolerance one of our favorite brands of high-end
knives that are made right here in the USA
ZT is dedicated to using some of the highest end manufacturing processes
available today they're not afraid of taking chances which you're about to see
and today we're gonna be taking a look at some of our favorites what we think
represent the best of the ZT lineup and you can find them all here at knifecenter.com
one of the things ZT is known for is
their collaborations with some of the best custom knife makers in the business
and this first one is a collaboration with Rick Hinderer this is the ZT 0562
this knife is definitely one of the best EDC s in their lineup and it
features all the hallmarks of the best modern knife construction like most of ZT's
lineup this is a flipper design featuring a titanium frame lock it opens
very smoothly thanks to their bearing based pivots the titanium lock bar
features a hardened steel face which interfaces with the tang of the blade
and there's a disc here which prevents over travel when you're disengaging the
lock the steel on steel interaction in this lock not only lasts longer but it's
going to help prevent lock stick which can plagued certain titanium frame locks
over time the grind on this knife is unique they call it the slicer grind
it's an angled flat grind that both allows for efficient slicing and a
strong tip you can get this with a carbon fiber front scale but the version
we picked here comes with g10 and it also comes with a deep carry pocket clip
making this just a perfect option for hard use EDC when you think of ZT the word
stylish and over built immediately come to mind says so right on the box proudly
over built in the USA and this next knife is a perfect example of that
aesthetic this is the ZT0456 which is a collaboration with Dmitry Sinkevich
this knife definitely feels substantial in the hand and features a very angular
sheepsfoot style blade with a high flat grind this titanium frame lock rather
than featuring g10 or carbon-fiber on the front features 3d milled titanium
and we've got blue Hardware for contrast both on the pocket clip back spacer and
on the pivot and the anodization on the pivot really stands out it actually
shifts towards purple depending on where you hold it in the light the finish on
this blade is two-toned with a stonewashed finish on the flats
and satin finish on the grind and there's a lot of meat behind this blade
you really feel like you can get a lot of work done when you're holding this
knife next up is another collaboration with Dmitry Sinkevich but this is on the
complete opposite end of the spectrum as the ZT 0456
this is the ZT 0450 the ZT 0452 is the bigger brother to this ZT 0450 and that's a great
knife but we really like this small version right here it's definitely one
of the most easy to carry ZT's out there and can still get a lot of work
done thanks to that slim but very sharp blade this version features carbon fiber
handles as well as a black dlc coated blade some nice green anodized standoffs
for contrast next up is the ZT 0770 this knife is notable for a couple of reasons
this is the only knife on our top list that was designed completely in-house by
ZT it's not a collaboration with another knife maker but the knife this was based
on the ZT 0777 as soon as it came out the sleek and elegant lines of that knife
made it an instant classic and we're happy to now see this design more widely
available some other things that set this knife apart this is the only knife
on our list to feature an assisted opening mechanism that assist mechanism
is called SpeedSafe and was designed by Ken Onion a frequent collaborator with
ZT's parent company rather than a frame lock this knife features an inset liner
lock showing off the precision that ZT is able to achieve this knife is
available in a couple of different finishes a black dlc coated blade and
ZTS signature black wash finish which is a blackened blade that's been lightly
stonewashed for an awesome looking texture this type of finish has some
advantages over certain other blade coatings and that it doesn't add any
thickness or friction to the blade ensuring your cuts stay nice and
efficient next up is the ZT 0055 and this is a completely different kind of flipper
for ZT this faceted design is a collaboration with Gus T. Cecchini and
you can see as initial right here on this hidden flipper tab
when you're ready to deploy this knife the tab rotates open until it engages
the tang of the blade at which point works like any other flipper with
practice this happens in one smooth motion once the blade is open the
flipper tab disappears right into the frame for a very streamlined design this
design is all about angular momentum with faceting on the machine titanium
handle echoing the shape of the blade the blade itself features compound
grinds and a fully stonewashed finish which not only helps hide scratches
after you've used the knife but it also increases the corrosion resistance of
the steel the other detail on this knife that we really love is this anodized
blue floating back spacer really complements the overall style of the
blade this next knife is a collaboration from two of the biggest custom knife
makers in the business todd Rexford and dimitri syncovich this is the ZT 0850 and
the first thing you notice about this knife is how light it is for the size
and that's all down to their patented subframe lock rather than the normal
frame locks you've seen so far the only titanium piece on this backside is the
lock bar itself it's anchored in this case to a full carbon fiber frame which
is what allows it to get that same great lock up while minimizing the weight this
is also the only knife here that doesn't feature a flipper mechanism but the
action is still excellent thanks to that buttery smooth pivot some of the really
cool details on this knife include the thumb stud and the pivot which are
reminiscent of the cylinder on a revolver and that theme continues
through this machined cylindrical aluminum back spacer also upping the
style even more rather than a simple stamped and folded pocket clip you have
a full machined pocket clip on this side finally we've got the ZT 0609 if every ziti
is a statement piece the original ZT 0606 on which this knife was based was a master
thesis this is essentially the same knife only scaled down to be a perfect
size for everyday carry this knife is a collaboration with RJ Martin and it
really shows off the manufacturing prowess that ZT is able to bring to bear
the anodized titanium frame is not only sculpted on the front but also the back
it also features RJ Martins signature see-through pivot writing on kvt
bearings making this one supremely smooth firing blade this knife would
make a great gentleman carry but because it's built by ZT you also know it can
put in a lot of hard work all the machining work that ZT do
on this knife not only looks great but it actually makes it a more usable knife
the machining on the handles create a nice bit of texture to hold on to and
this edge of the spine right here is rounded making it great for choking up
and doing finer detail work with it all in all you're getting a knife that's
extremely usable and extremely stylish so that's it for our list of top ZT's how
do you guys think we did did we leave anything out if you want to make your
own list or leave any suggestions make sure to leave it in the comments and to
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you liked what you saw here you can find all of these knives over at knifecenter.com
and be sure to come back often to see what deals were running on the best
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