Any Zero Tolerance 0452CF fans in the crowd?

el gigantor

el gigantor

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Oct 5, 2015
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I haven’t seen anything said about this knife in years, and the shape/dimensions/etc seem almost too good to be true for my purposes. I’ve read every article and watched every review, but I’d love to hear from a few of BF’s finest who have experience with the 0452CF. Things they love about it. Things they hate about it.

I'm on the verge of pulling the trigger, but of course I can’t try the knife out in-hand before purchase, so hit me with your relevant info and thank you in advance!
 
There were numerous discussions about this ZT. It is a great folding knives, one of the best ZTs. It is long and slim and carries great. There were several variants of it (sprint/limited runs) that are difficult to acquire nowadays. The main concern for many is the blade length may exceed the legal limit.

I can't imagine anyone liking ZT but not having at least tried the 0452.
 
Hell yes. It’s my favorite knife and I have about 50 ZTs and a couple Hinderers. I have every version except for the bluCFM390, but even the regular version is beautiful and one of my favorites. It has a huge satin blade, comfortable handle, deep carry clip, and IMO the weight is just right. Doesn’t feel light and cheap, but not a brick either, like a 303 or a 0200.
Funny thing is, it was the first ZT I ever bought, and I actually ordered a 0450CF, but good ole Amazon sent me a 0452 instead. If they hadn’t I would probably have $10,000 right now instead of a massive knife collection lol
 
I have mixed feelings about the 0452. It uses my least-favorite ZT/Kershaw clip, necessitating a replacement. Aesthetically, I dislike minor things like the logo placement and the mix of black and silver screws on the clip side. Several folks here have also mentioned that their example's lockbar could be slid over (engaging more deeply) with just light finger pressure.

On the other hand, it's a gorgeous knife -- a true pocket sword and a paragon of blade:handle efficiency. I liked mine when I owned it, and I sometimes consider buying one again. I love big knives, and there's so much about this design to like.

That said, for me the 0462 scratches a nearly identical itch while eclipsing the 0452 in almost every way.

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I like this model, it's the only ZT I have ever found interesting. I would probably still carry mine, but I have developed a disdain for flippers and carbon fiber. There is nothing wrong with flippers or carbon fiber, I just don't enjoy them.
 
I’m a huge fan of ZT and own several. You might want to also consider the discontinued 0620 or 0630, considered by a lot to be the greatest ZT’s ever produced. I have both in carbon fiber /titanium and they are 2 of my favorites in my entire collection. Better action, detent, overall quality and feel than A LOT of my higher end midtech folders. The problem is finding them!
 
I had one for several years. It was very well made, pretty, and cool looking. It was also way too thick to be a good cutting tool. I sold it for that reason.
 
I had the CF model, but I replaced it with the G10, rose ti model with 390 steel. The CF model had mushy lockup and I could move the lockbar over all the way with thumb pressure. The G10 model is solid.
 
I own the standard 0452CF S35VN, the Sprint CFM390TIBLU and the Sprint G10 M390TI Rose, which I think are among the most attractive knives in my limited collection of ZT knives (37 at last count). Never found the other variations -- like the all Ti and Glow-in-the-dark scale models -- attractive enough to buy,

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0452CF was my first knife over $100, and I have never regretted it. It doesn't get a lot of attention from me these days, and it's still a great knife IMHO
 
Dadpool said:
That said, for me the 0462 scratches a nearly identical itch while eclipsing the 0452 in almost every way.
Click to expand...

Everyone has different taste.

The 0462 isn't more appealing to me than the 0452 because I think that the blade/handle design is impractical for ordinary use.

On the other hand, I find the 0462 very attractive to look at because of the way that it is designed but the only variation of it that I like/own is the all black Sprint. The red CF just puts me off, as do most other CF scale variations other than basic black.

Here's a commercial pic of it. I'll post an actual photo of mine later.

LnBuZw
 
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hhmoore said:
I'm now more more interested in the claim that the 0620 and 0630 are considered by a lot to be the greatest ZTs ever produced...
Click to expand...

Wasn't going to say anything until you mentioned it.

I own 2 variations of the 0620 - a black G10 Elmax and a CF M390 -- and recently sold a 0630 G10 S35VN because it was unnecessary to keep because I still have the 0620s and I prefer the tanto blades on them to the drop point on the 0630.

The 0620/0630 are very nice licensed Emerson variants (nicer to me than "real" Emersons are) but I don't think the 0620/0630 are the "greatest ZTs ever produced" by a long shot.

People could debate this matter endlessly but, IMO, the 0200, 0300, 0452, 0560, 0610ST, 0620, 804, 0850, 0909 and 0920 (as well as others) could all be given such consideration but, in terms of something really "special," the list probably should be limited to just the 0454 Composite , the 0777 M390 or the 0888MAX.

Anyone want to start a poll? LOL! ;)
 
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Yeah, while I like the 630, it's been a disappointment. The blade is prone to jamming up and not deploying with the thumb disk with even the slightest pressure on the lock bar. It's also been the most easily defeated in a spine tap test of all my ZTs.
Not to beat a dead horse as I think spine whacking is dumb, but for a knife thsts supposed to be a self defense fighter, failing a tap to the back of a the spine on a roll of duct tape does not inspire confidence if I were to get down and dirty in a fight.

The 0452 was my first ZT. Set the bar WAY high. However, like Dadpool Dadpool said, I think the 0462 is just a bit more my speed. I rarely carry mine as I tend to carry a CRK or Microtech more, but the 462 is a pocket scimitar. Lightsaber-like being both beautiful and fearsome at the same time. I may have to dig mine out as my travel knife for my upcoming vacation since my autos will be frowned upon in some of the locations I will be visiting.
 
I have one and like it. Like most all ZTs it needs a good sharpening out of the box. ZT = Butter Knife. Often reshaping/re-profiling of the blade angle is needed too. ZTs are far from razor sharp. Also I added a deep carry clip to it. The stock clip is way too short/shallow and can fall out of pocket when you sit down depending on the angle of the knife in pocket.

I had the 0462 as well and is another cool Sinkevich carbon/Ti combo... except for the Persian style blade.
 
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