Benchmade or Zero Tolerance

Mick_1KRR said:
Bearings also have a MUCH smaller contact surface than good solid washers, so if you are one of those guys who pry things with your ZT since they are marketed as hard use pry bars, then bearings are a complete contradiction in this case.
Click to expand...

Factually incorrect. No ZT has ever been marketed as a hard use pry tool. Ever
 
if i have to pry something i use a pry bar or if i don't have one because i wouldn't just carry a pry bar i use my Busse never a folder.
 
I agree, I have the zt0450cf and the 0456, love them both, but like you the only benchmade I also am interested in is the 940
 
As a user with only a couple of each, I find that ZT makes a very nice knife but I less frequently like their designs. They have a few that suit my needs (light EDC/outdoor work knives) but many are too large or a bit too flashy for the environments I work in. Very nice stuff, just not always the right pieces for me. I tend to find more Benchmades fit my use needs.

In terms of price and quality and which is best you need to list some specific knives for specific functions to facilitate comparison.
 
in a folder i look for a fast easy to use with one hand durable work knife i usually go for palatially serrated knives. any zt of benchmade suggestions.
 
I'm not a big fan of either companies, I'll take Benchmade over ZT. Why?

Benchmade has a much wider variety in style, steel and materials
ZT has become "Ti Framelocks 'R' Us

If you want hard use, just look at the Adamas.
 
Benchmade has just came out with a ti/g10, bearing flipper, frame lock. Premium steel and it has a 2 piece handle, Strider style. Proxy is the name.
 
The Benchmade 940 is a great edc knife , so is the zt 0770cf. Both are in the top of edc knives for me . Slicing it goes to the 0770cf because it has a thinner blade.

I've owned just about the entire lineup of zts and they are great knives as well . I bought the 909 and I love it .

The 275 from Benchmade is going to be as tough IMO as any zt knife . I've had 3 of them now and I kept selling them off but I'm keeping the one I have now .

Both have great customer service , both offer blade replacements . ZT customer service is awesome if you need a clip or a screw or a spring go to website and order it few days later it's in your box , no charge .

You can't go wrong with either one of them . I'll be honest I was iffy about the lock on the 0770cf when I got it . It opens with authority and it's a liner lock . I can tell you it's about 4 years old and been opened I can't count the times and the lock hasn't moved any .

For maintenance if you take your knives apart zt wins and they are so easy to take down and put together . Benchmades can be tricky with the springs , or so I've heard I've never actually taken one down .

As far as steels go I've had great luck with Elmax on a edc knife . I live in the south and most steels rust down here if left to it . Elmax doesn't and it takes a great edge .

Zts s35vn and Benchmadea s30v are no slouch either . Zts tend to be a little thicker grinds .

I'd pick a top 5 from both companies and of those top 5s I'd find the one I could get the best deal on and be done . Like I said for edc 0770cf or 940 .

Bigger for robust folders the 275 from Benchmade or the 909 from zt or the 630,560,300,350, any of them however I'm partial to the 0909 right now just for the money and the quality it or the 275 would do anything I'd ever ask of a folding knife .
 
Last edited:
Mick_1KRR said:
Really interested to hear the explanations on this. Not trying to be rude, it's just nice to hear peoples reasons behind enthusiastic statements.

1- How is the standard titanium used by all makers now so much better than stainless steel and G-10 other than weight savings? when most of these beefy ZT's weigh more than knives with thick stainless liners.
2- How is the same old S35VN, M390 154, S30V and ELMAX (famous for having heat treat issues from ZT) better than the M390, M4, 20CV, S30V S90V and 154CM offered in Benchmades line-up?
3- How is a titanium frame-lock with steel inserts which still slips out when too much force is applied negatively, so much better than time tested axis lock which would only ever fail if a spring broke, i have 10yr old battered Benchmades that still work like brand new, no lock slip, no play, no wear on the tang or lock faces. I have ZT's that have had the lock face wear down so they are touching the other side of the handle, 100% exhausted with vertical play.

Just want to know how ZT are so much better? where are these amazing materials you speak of? i own heaps of ZT's and Benchies, from a honest perspective i don't see how ZT is better other than design taste and price. For the money i'd take a 908 M4 stryker, 20CV Griptilian, M390 710, S90V 940 or M390 Contego any day of the week over ZT's current line-up.
Click to expand...

I want to know also.

Years of standard use, hard use, even abuse... Pound for pound, (knives similarly sized, not 941 compared to zt560) I dont see how BM is disadvantaged and "would outlast them by a long shot". I undrstand that BM has smaller EDC models in their line up, yet even those types have over a decade of being in the market and have proven durability. A decade ago ZT didnt even exist. I could probably even beat on a plastic Griptilian just as harder or harder than one of those artsy shiny tank models ZT has.

As far as marerials, I mean, BM runs the gamut yet a "boring" steel and G10 710 for example I do not find inferior AS A KNIFE.

I understand that ZT's look like knives from the popular framelock custom segment. Framelock, slap on some anodized standoffs, Ti, some CF and voila you got a nice looking knife. If nice looking Ti framelock is your thing then they are great. But they are not worse or better in other categories just because of that.

Edited for iPhone typos
 
Last edited:
IMHO it doesn't matter what knife will outlast what knife because both have exceptional customer service . So if your knife did have issues from either company it would be made right or like new again.
 
Stays Sharp said:
I want to know also.

Years of standard use, hard use, even abuse... Pound for pound, (knives similarly sized, not 941 compared to zt560) I dont see how BM is disadvantaged and "would outlast them by a long shot". I undrstand that BM has smaller EDC models in their line up, yet even those types have over a decade of being in the market and have proven durability. A decade ago ZT didnt even exist. I coukd probably even beat on a plastic Griptilian just as harder or harder than when of those artsy shiny tank models ZT has.

As far as marerials, I mean, BM runs the gamut yet a "boring" steel and G10 710 for example I do not find inferior AS A KNIFE.
Click to expand...

You are correct on the griptilian I have a mini grip in my tool bag that I've used for everything you can think of over the years and it's still ticking . In a pinch at work it's been a screwdriver ,scraper ,wire stripper pry bar you name it it did it .
 
i think i narrowed it to benchmade 484s nakamura or a ZT 0350ts i realy liked the ZT 0200s but i cant find it for sale possibly the benchmade osborne rift
 
Ericz said:
i think i narrowed it to benchmade 484s nakamura or a ZT 0350ts i realy liked the ZT 0200s but i cant find it for sale possibly the benchmade osborne rift
Click to expand...

also maybe a 275 sbk adamas from BM im torn.
 
The Nakamura has always caught my eye, and the new G-10 Grip/Mini-Grip with 20CV has caught my eye as well.
 
Ericz said:
i think i narrowed it to benchmade 484s nakamura or a ZT 0350ts i realy liked the ZT 0200s but i cant find it for sale possibly the benchmade osborne rift
Click to expand...

If you like those and can get a hands-on with a ZT 0909, check it out. I love it for the G10 on both sides (steel liner lock), no frame lock bar exposed like on my 0452. Like someone mentioned you can inadvertently press the lock bar while gripping the 0452 making it hard to overcome the detent. I find it just fine with an 0801 clip which helps shield it a bit. The 0909 is just tough grippy and doesn't require a timid or practiced grip.

Personally, I do prefer ZT overall but I am not married to it. I am looking at the Crooked River and 940-2 G10 right now.
 
As always, the correct answer is "both."
You have more than one pocket, right?
Fill them with knives from more than one manufacturer. :)

Now back to your regularly scheduled bickering. :D
 
Stays Sharp said:
I want to know also.

Years of standard use, hard use, even abuse... Pound for pound, (knives similarly sized, not 941 compared to zt560) I dont see how BM is disadvantaged and "would outlast them by a long shot". I undrstand that BM has smaller EDC models in their line up, yet even those types have over a decade of being in the market and have proven durability. A decade ago ZT didnt even exist. I could probably even beat on a plastic Griptilian just as harder or harder than one of those artsy shiny tank models ZT has.

As far as marerials, I mean, BM runs the gamut yet a "boring" steel and G10 710 for example I do not find inferior AS A KNIFE.

I understand that ZT's look like knives from the popular framelock custom segment. Framelock, slap on some anodized standoffs, Ti, some CF and voila you got a nice looking knife. If nice looking Ti framelock is your thing then they are great. But they are not worse or better in other categories just because of that.

Edited for iPhone typos
Click to expand...

You buy a ZT if you want people to say "Wow, that's cool!" when you whip it out. You buy a Benchmade if you want to cut things.
 
jstn said:
You buy a ZT if you want people to say "Wow, that's cool!" when you whip it out. You buy a Benchmade if you want to cut things.
Click to expand...

Wrong.

Knives from both companies are to cut things with.
Trust me, no one says "Wow, that's cool!" in real life when you pull out a knife, unless you happen to have that one in a million thing happen where a fellow knife knut just happens to be there at the moment.
In which case a Benchmade will get a "Wow, that's cool!" just as much as a ZT or Spyderco, because all they see the rest of the time is people using gas station knives.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top