ZT 0804CF vs Reate Horizon D CF vs ???

FlaMtnBkr

FlaMtnBkr

Joined
Oct 20, 2004
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Anyone have experience with these 2 knives and have any comments or opinions? A side by side pic would be great as well as I likely won't be able to handle anything first.

I'm looking for a nice full size flipper. Something in the 4.75" to 5" handle range ideally but a little outside is ok. I'm a steel snob so a high end steel with a good (great?) heat treat would be nice. Not a huge fan of frame locks but I don't think I'm going to find anything I like that's not one.

I really want a great flipping action. I don't want to have to flick my wrist or tear up my finger getting it to flip. I want to give it a reasonable flick and the blade open and lock with authority. I don't think this is as big of an issue as it used to be with bearings and manufacturers figuring out a good detent.

The Reate Horizon D CF is probably top of my list right now followed by the ZT 0804CF. Really, that's the extent of my list. Would like to keep it under $300 but can go higher for the right knife. I'm also going to use the knife so I'm not opposed to users if anyone has by chance seen one.

Does anyone have any other suggestions that are similar? A cheaper option is fine if it has good steel and flips well. Just trying to see if there is anything I've missed. Even the Spyderco Domino is nice though it's a little small and the one I was able to handle didn't flip quite as smooth as I was hoping for. I also don't need a heavy duty folder and a thinner blade that cuts well would be preferred. I would love to try a Shiro but not in a position to spend that much as I'm disabled and can't work these days.

Any and all suggestions and comments appreciated!!!
 
I like both the ZT 0804 and the Reate Horizon D CF, although the only one I own is the Reate. I think the milling makes the Reate a more refined knife while the ZT is "tanker". The Reate should have better fit and finish and flip a little better. ZT certainly wins in warranty and support.

Honestly, my favorite new flipper is my WE 606CF. It's such an amazing knife and so much lighter and slender in pocket than either ZT or Reate. I've liked all my WEs but the 606 has really impressed me.
 
The Horizon D is an awesome knife. A little pricey but on sale now for Thanksgiving at GPKnives.
 
I agree with the very-well machined scales and the blue anodized titanium hardware including the beautiful backspacer and the pocket clip, the Reate is one level up compared to ZT0804. However, ZT's warranty is far superior and much more convenient. If we are looking at the full retail price of Horizon D at ~$400, I'd go with ZT0804. However, at $320 the Reate Horizon D (cf or ti) is a steal. That discount does not come often. I have the cf version and I absolutely love it.
 
Hackenslash said:
the Reate a more refined knife while the ZT is "tanker".
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I respectfully disagree. Looking at the 0804 in youtube vids and pictures it gave me the same idea. That it was a beastly knife. I ordered one and received it yesterday. The very first thing I noticed was how delicate the knife felt in hand instead of feeling like a tank.
I don't mean delicate in the sense of lacking in strength or buildquality. Just that it feels very "refined" for the lack of a better word, think Ferrari instead of Tank.

It's very easy to get the wrong impression, hell I was way off myself. Here's what's deceiving:

1 The wide lockbar. If you look at it it's wider than the the average lockbar as it spans over half the width of the handle. For some reason that adds some heft to the look of the knife.
2 The spine of the knife is completely flush with the handle, offering the illusion of fixed blade ruggedness.
3 The low weight, because it's completely black DLC coated it looks far heavier than it actually is, even if there's CF on there. It's incredibly light for such a large blade.
4 The blade itself is far more delicate than it appears to be. It's a very high hollow grind and very thin behind the edge. Pretty much on par with the Kershaw Blur.

Again, I too was expecting a beastly knife. It really isn't. In hand it feels more like a gentleman's folder than a hard use monster. Still a very attractive blade that I'm very satisfied with!
 
I think I'd like the 0804CF a lot more if it were satin finished rather than coated.
 
Thanks for the replies! And thanks for pointing out the sale price. That might be something I have to jump on. I wouldn't mind getting a used one but probably wouldn't save much.

Still open to other suggestions and comments!

Have a great turkey day everyone!
 
NetshadeX said:
4 The blade itself is far more delicate than it appears to be. It's a very high hollow grind and very thin behind the edge. Pretty much on par with the Kershaw Blur.
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Flat grind, not hollow.
It can actually hold up to a lot of actual use. Used mine for carving ironwood witih no issues, and for general woods usage.
Being thin(ish) behind the edge is a good thing; makes it cut better.
The steel is strong enough that you don't have to baby it either, unlike a certain "bushcraft folder" I bought where the edge chipped and rolled all to hell with normal usage.

I like thick, overbuilt knives as much as just about anyone, but it doesn't have to be thick like a brick behind the edge to be used for "hard use tasks."
Unless you define that as actually chopping bricks. :D
 
I have no experience with the ZT 0804 but have 3 Reate flippers right now and they are some of the nicest knives out there for the money. Reate flippers seem to have no trouble finding the balance between detent strength and flipping action, something ZT seams to struggle with.

Mike
 
stabman said:
Flat grind, not hollow.
It can actually hold up to a lot of actual use. Used mine for carving ironwood witih no issues, and for general woods usage.
Being thin(ish) behind the edge is a good thing; makes it cut better.
The steel is strong enough that you don't have to baby it either, unlike a certain "bushcraft folder" I bought where the edge chipped and rolled all to hell with normal usage.

I like thick, overbuilt knives as much as just about anyone, but it doesn't have to be thick like a brick behind the edge to be used for "hard use tasks."
Unless you define that as actually chopping bricks. :D
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Sorry man it IS 100% a hollow grind blade and a pretty obvious one at that. You can quite easily make that out by looking at it with the tip towards you. You can also quite easily feel it by moving your finger over the side of the blade and lastly if you don't want to take my word for it, retailers also have it listed as a hollow grind. Just check BladeHQ for instance.

I wasn't hating on the knife or doubting it's capabilities, it's just not a tank. Not like the 0200, 0301 and 0909. THOSE are tanks. And no, thin behind the edge isn't a bad thing. It's certainly useful with slicing tasks or cutting tough materials like leather. It does make the edge more prone to damage, that's just physics. It's why axes and machetes typically don't have hollow grinds but appleseed grinds. The more steel behind te edge the better for hard use high impact tasks. I'm not saying the 0804 is a bad knife, absolutely not, it's a quality product. All I'm saying is that you don't get a sense of what kind of blade it is by looking at pictures. Because the knife has some deceiving traits that I mentioned earlier.
 
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AF said:
I think I'd like the 0804CF a lot more if it were satin finished rather than coated.
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I've found the DLC coating as done by ZT to be much more durable and resilient to abrasion than many other types of coatings. After having some blades in the past with poor blade coatings (probably just cheap paint in some cases), I became kind of anti-coating for some time. But after trying my first DLC ZT, I was very impressed. It takes a lot to scratch through the coating.

Most of my DLC with average use usually just smooth out and change sheen. You can take a blade that "looks" all scratched up from playing in the woods, clean it up, and in most cases discover that none of the marks are actually permanent. Blade almost good as new again.
 
NetshadeX said:
Sorry man it IS 100% a hollow grind blade and a pretty obvious one at that.
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Well, mine is very obviously a flat grind; I just checked against a perfectly flat block I used in my machining days.
So serial number 1447 is definitely a flat (very flat) grind...I cannot speak for the other ones.
Mine shipped direct from KAI USA.
 
Horizon-D CF for $320 is my choice. Used to be $400. Great piece of milled CF with texture for much better grip than 0804CF.
 
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I handled the 0804cf several different times before I bought it and wasn't impressed. I only bought it at the time because I was able to get it for 223.00 out the door.

I believe the more I carry it the more I love it. I've carried it non-stop for about a month now with it never being replaced with one of my usual other edc knives.

I have only carried my small sebenza with it occasionally because it is fairly large at 3.9 inches but I could not be anymore pleased with it. Definitely glad I bought it.
 
stabman said:
Well, mine is very obviously a flat grind; I just checked against a perfectly flat block I used in my machining days.
So serial number 1447 is definitely a flat (very flat) grind...I cannot speak for the other ones.
Mine shipped direct from KAI USA.
Click to expand...
Also since it's apparently in question. My 0804cf serial number 2443 is also a flat grind.
 
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