Hey everyone, first post here. Ive been collecting knives for a little over five years, and I'm finally returning to the knife that really got me hooked. The first super steel nice knife i ever owned was a zt0350. after several years of being away from it, I saw a good deal on one thats almost mint. Whats everyone elses opinion on them? Are there similar knives you would reccomend? it will be accompanying a Cold Steel Immortal and a Benchmade Bugout. i think the stout recurve will let me do many cutting tasks that i dont like to use the bug out for (i mainly save it for food or fine slicing) and it will fill the slot between tactical folder and fine slicer. Thanks for your time to read this post, and if you comment, thanks for that too!
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Opinions on the Zero Tolerance 0350
- Thread starter Xisix
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2008
- Messages
- 5,364
I just traded mine away. Great knife but I wear XL/2XL gloves and the handle wasn't the most comfortable for me. If I had a smaller hand or the handle was an extra half inch longer, I would have kept it and carried it more. It is built like a tank and a great design.
If it fit your hand well, go for it. It is a great knife for the $ imo.
As for alternatives, I also like the Cold Steel Recon series or Ultimate Hunter. I also like a ZT 200 if you can find one. Not much else at ZT interests me tbh. I'm not a framelock fan (too thin, big hand remember) or Ti handle fan (too slick). I wish ZT made more big, beefy liner lock knives. Not sure the 0357 would fit my hand.
Good luck and welcome to Bladeforums!
If it fit your hand well, go for it. It is a great knife for the $ imo.
As for alternatives, I also like the Cold Steel Recon series or Ultimate Hunter. I also like a ZT 200 if you can find one. Not much else at ZT interests me tbh. I'm not a framelock fan (too thin, big hand remember) or Ti handle fan (too slick). I wish ZT made more big, beefy liner lock knives. Not sure the 0357 would fit my hand.
Good luck and welcome to Bladeforums!
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2019
- Messages
- 110
If you like a ZT and a recurve, the 0920 is much better IMO.
I just sold my 0350. Never carried it and it was my first supersteel knife as well.
I just sold my 0350. Never carried it and it was my first supersteel knife as well.
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2014
- Messages
- 6,155
I almost bought one at a gun show. Unfortunately, it had a black blade. I passed on it because of the subdued finish.
I also passed on a DPX for the same reason. Oh, and the skull on the pocket clip.
I think the most heavyweight folder that I own is a Griptilian.
If you can call that a heavyweight.
I also passed on a DPX for the same reason. Oh, and the skull on the pocket clip.
I think the most heavyweight folder that I own is a Griptilian.
If you can call that a heavyweight.
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2015
- Messages
- 1,038
I loved the zt 0350 and it was one of my first over built super steel knives as well. It is a beast of a cutting tool. I have moved away from zt because their designs dont interest me as much anymore. I have moved more towards spyderco. The manix 2 in m4 or any tough tool steel may be something for you to check out.
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2012
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- 1,203
The 350 is a solid knife and will perform well no matter the use you will give it. The recurve works great cutting fibrous material like rope/webbing whilst not being a hindrance for normal cutting tasks like say cardboard or apples or something along those lines.
I find it comfortable in hand and the Speedsafe mechanism works well. Not for everyone but many don’t mind it and can attest to its reliability.
I have no experience with either Cold Steel or the Bugout but I’m sure they are fine knives as well and your trio should perform dutifully for you.
I find it comfortable in hand and the Speedsafe mechanism works well. Not for everyone but many don’t mind it and can attest to its reliability.
I have no experience with either Cold Steel or the Bugout but I’m sure they are fine knives as well and your trio should perform dutifully for you.
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2017
- Messages
- 1,743
For the money, I am much more impressed by offerings by Cold Steel, at least as far as tough folders go. Mine wasn't that nice of a knife considering the price point, and I quickly got rid of it. It felt much closer to a mid-range kershaw in build quality than that of a more expensive ZT.
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2013
- Messages
- 2,569
I had some 0350 (0350brn, 0350m390, 0350 dlc) in the past years and I have enjoyed all of them
It is a good knife design and the s30v from ZT is good to go
Never had a problem with the tension bathe recurve is easy to sharpen on the spyderco sharpmaker
The weight of this knife can be interesting for some cuts and the recurve makes it a good slicer
i have used it quite a bit as a backup when hiking
Nowadays I prefer lighter blades so I have replaced it by a paramilitary 2
bit clearly a good knife
It is a good knife design and the s30v from ZT is good to go
Never had a problem with the tension bathe recurve is easy to sharpen on the spyderco sharpmaker
The weight of this knife can be interesting for some cuts and the recurve makes it a good slicer
i have used it quite a bit as a backup when hiking
Nowadays I prefer lighter blades so I have replaced it by a paramilitary 2
bit clearly a good knife
The 0350 is a great knife, it was my first ZT. It cuts like a laser when you put a good edge on it, but there are some downsides. S30v is pretty chippy as far as "super steels" go, and with the recurve just make sure you have the ability to resharpen when it does chip. The speed safe is going to solidly deploy 99% of the time you hit the flipper, the bad part of that is there's no really easy way to deploy it slowly around people, so if that matters to you it's something to consider. The g10 is great for grip, and it really makes the knife feel solid while using, but it will absolutely destroy your pocket. I also find the 350 to be a bit heavy for it's size.
There are a ton of knives in the same category to compare to. Some options I feel are very similar are the Spyderco Paramilitary 2, Benchmade Griptillian, Freek, Presidio 2, ZT 609, 566 (discontinued but easy to pick up on the secondary market), and 770. My real suggestion is to try out the new Kershaw Link 20cv, it gives you a very premium steel and allows you to try out speedsafe for half the price of the brand new 350. The link is also about the same size and weight, and has the same width blade stock.
Good luck with your decision!
There are a ton of knives in the same category to compare to. Some options I feel are very similar are the Spyderco Paramilitary 2, Benchmade Griptillian, Freek, Presidio 2, ZT 609, 566 (discontinued but easy to pick up on the secondary market), and 770. My real suggestion is to try out the new Kershaw Link 20cv, it gives you a very premium steel and allows you to try out speedsafe for half the price of the brand new 350. The link is also about the same size and weight, and has the same width blade stock.
Good luck with your decision!