Zero Tolerance could push their way back to the forefront of premium production knives. Why don’t they do it?

jstn

jstn

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ZT got me into high-end knives. I still have a soft spot for some of their older designs. With their ability to make precision, USA made knives, they could easily force their way back to the front of the pack.

I suspect if they came out with a solid new model, something clean, utilitarian, and fairly beefy, and use Magnacut steel, they would not be able to keep them in stock. The steel makes so much more sense for their brand of hard-use folders than 20CV, plus it’s the hot steel right now. I imagine they could even create a new tough locking mechanism. So why don’t they?

It seems ZT is set on repackaging previous models in different steels and handle materials. I guess they must be selling since they keep doing it, but I never see much buzz about ZT anymore. I would love to see that change. Are they just doing so well with the existing line that no change is needed?
 
I think the market is just flooded with $200-400 high quality folders, and they are most likely too invested in the tooling for the pocket jewelry niche that they have been hanging in over the last 5+ years.

Obviously they know what sells, but I too think they could go back to their "tough as hell" roots and find success. Premium knives made in China are yielding a product that is objectively better in fit and finish at the same price point. However, a sizeable chunk of them are more modern and artistic in design.

I would like them to go back to the 200 and 300 series, the 909, etc. Release them in Magnacut or Cruwear. Hell, beef them up further. Offer me an alternative to a Medford that doesn't come with goofy baggage.
 
I'm not sure. With their current price range of $300+/- for folding knives, I'd rather spend ~$100 more on Hinderer. If they make some fixed blades, that could be a different story.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
I think the market is just flooded with $200-400 high quality folders, and they are most likely too invested in the tooling for the pocket jewelry niche that they have been hanging in over the last 5+ years.

Obviously they know what sells, but I too think they could go back to their "tough as hell" roots and find success. Premium knives made in China are yielding a product that is objectively better in fit and finish at the same price point. However, a sizeable chunk of them are more modern and artistic in design.

I would like them to go back to the 200 and 300 series, the 909, etc. Release them in Magnacut or Cruwear. Hell, beef them up further. Offer me an alternative to a Medford that doesn't come with goofy baggage.
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I don't see why they can't do both. They could keep the artsy designs while adding in a few more tough designs. But when it comes to the steel, the 20CV, 110V, etc. baffles me for hard use knives. Cruwear, Magnacut, heck, even Nitro-V would be awesome. Maybe they are just targeting mass appeal rather than enthusiasts. I'm seeing super beefy folders making a bit of a comeback, so maybe ZT will jump back on and rival Medford.
 
jstn said:
I don't see why they can't do both. They could keep the artsy designs while adding in a few more tough designs. But when it comes to the steel, the 20CV, 110V, etc. baffles me for hard use knives. Cruwear, Magnacut, heck, even Nitro-V would be awesome. Maybe they are just targeting mass appeal rather than enthusiasts. I'm seeing super beefy folders making a bit of a comeback, so maybe ZT will jump back on and rival Medford.
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I assume it has to do with a wider company perspective for KAI which sees Kershaw as a feeder brand for ZT. So, if cheaper artsy/fartsy Kershaws sell, then they make more expensive arsty/fartsy ZTs to sell to those buyers who want to move up.

But, there actually are still more "old school" style ZTs being sold -- like the 0308, 0350, 0357, 0393, 0450, 0452, 0462 0470, 0562 & 0770 -- than the newer arsty/farsty designs -- like the 0022, 0223, 0230 0235, 0707, 0762, 0990.

So, the perception that ZT isn't living up to its tradition isn't entirely accurate.

It's just that the few newer "old school" type designs that they've produced -- like the 0308 & 0357 -- really aren't all that exciting to fans of the older designs and all that remains are older models that everyone who is/was interested in has/or has passed on already.

However, most of the newer and older ZTs that they are selling are smaller/lighter knives which gives also the impression that ZT has given up on building larger/heftier knives built in the "over built" tradition -- like the 0200, 0300, 0301, 0400, 0550, 0551, 0560, 0561, 0804, 0850, 0909 & 0920.

The only recent exception to the small/lighter trend in ZT knives is the 0308 that I never bought because it isn't that much different or better than the 0300s that I've already got. Not sure how well the 0308 has been selling but, if it a knife doesn't sell, ZT is pretty quick to pull the plug on it.

Anyway, if KAI is doing well selling the smaller/lighter and artsy/fartsy knives, can you really expect them to make more "overbuilt" knives? I think not.

Things change (all the time). Often in ways we don't like. Really nothing be can do about it, except whine, but whining won't change anything. 🤷‍♂️
 
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There seems to be under the impression they aren't selling.

The ZT rep said on USN back in January not to expect much in the way of new models because demand was already too high to keep up.

Not much point in going crazy with innovation when you're already swamped with work.
 
I don't understand the mentality that a company's creation then must be unchanged for all time. Zero Tolerance has come out with phenomenal designs they don't all have to be hard use tanks. Personal favorite of mine is the 0990

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I consider this model a premium production model, love the materials, fit and finish is exceptional, and wanted it because it's lightweight and completely capable as a slicer. Blade profile is amazing how the geometry of blade to handle ratio is perfect.
 
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kreole said:
There seems to be under the impression they aren't selling.

The ZT rep said on USN back in January not to expect much in the way of new models because demand was already too high to keep up.

Not much point in going crazy with innovation when you're already swamped with work.
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This is really what I was wondering about, and it makes sense. I was under the impression the brand was dying off since I rarely see anything new out of them, but I guess if they are at capacity as-is, that explains it.
 
Dealers do have ZT knives in stock so they must be selling. The newer models of the past 5+ years have not been well received. The only new models they produce are variations of the old models. The 0308 is the best they've produced in the most recent past. A true descendent of the 0300 series but without the assisted opening -- a great manual flipper. Expensive milling on the titanium and G-10. However, you're talking about $332.00 for 0308 and $352.00 for 0308BLKTS. Of the old ZTs the 0350 is selling very well. ZT still shows 24 models in production. Let's see if that changes with the new 2023 catalog.

They are concentrating on the Kershaw line.
 
They need to start making more fixed blades including a neck knife.

Also we need more designs from Emerson. Bob Terzoula, Shane Sibert, Charles Marlowe, etc would be great additions as well.
 
I think they need to get into the front flipper game. It would not be hard to modify the 0470 to be a front flipper.
 
jeepin said:
They need to start making more fixed blades including a neck knife.

Also we need more designs from Emerson. Bob Terzoula, Shane Sibert, Charles Marlowe, etc would be great additions as well.
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I said this before and I am saying it again: ZT needs to resume its collaboration with famous knife designers, including Hinderer, Emerson, Sinkevic, and even Onion. Imagine a skinny ZT0562 (ti or cf or g10).

Their In-house design is at best meh, including 0308 of which I can't get passed the goofy pivot hole.
 
sharp_edge said:
I said this before and I am saying it again: ZT needs to resume its collaboration with famous knife designers, including Hinderer, Emerson, Sinkevic, and even Onion. Imagine a skinny ZT0562 (ti or cf or g10).

Their In-house design is at best meh, including 0308 of which I can't get passed the goofy pivot hole.
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Yeah I can’t stand the hole. I don’t know what they were thinking.
 
I hate to admit it but the damn hole in the blade makes me steer away from Rockstead's...
 
RamZar said:
Dealers do have ZT knives in stock so they must be selling. The newer models of the past 5+ years have not been well received. The only new models they produce are variations of the old models. The 0308 is the best they've produced in the most recent past. A true descendent of the 0300 series but without the assisted opening -- a great manual flipper. Expensive milling on the titanium and G-10. However, you're talking about $332.00 for 0308 and $352.00 for 0308BLKTS. Of the old ZTs the 0350 is selling very well. ZT still shows 24 models in production. Let's see if that changes with the new 2023 catalog.

They are concentrating on the Kershaw line.
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I wouldn't call the 0308 a true descendent of the 0300 series, as ZT didn't get Ken Onion to design it. Frankly the execution of the design shows it, as from a "combat" or "tactical" folder perspective the knife overlooks a bunch of small features that made the 0301 great - and why I still use the 0301 over it.
 
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