Impulse blade purchase!

[Podmonkey]

The price suckered me in. $120.

There dosen't seem to be any scorching on the Elmax blade. Yes, it is a heavy little bastard, too heavy for what it is.

Now that I have my own ZT I think I now have licence to trash talk them at will. You ZT fans have been warned.

Its a nice knife though.

 

[Exonautic]

I saw someone mentinoed it was an assisted opener, how do you like that function on this one particularly?

 

[Podmonkey]

I saw someone mentinoed it was an assisted opener, how do you like that function on this one particularly?

 

[Exonautic]

That's a good response. that stud definitely looks a bit too close to the grip to really get any use out of it. maybe in a year or so if it loosens up.

 

[Podmonkey]

That's a good response. that stud definitely looks a bit too close to the grip to really get any use out of it. maybe in a year or so if it loosens up.

I think that its postition in relation to the pivot combined with the strong detent will always prevent deployment via the thumbstuds. Thats fine, the flipper works well enough. And with a flipper you want a very strong detent so it wont open in your pocket.
It feels great in the hand, the blade shape is excellent with just about all the length as cutting edge. Blade is sturdy but not stupid thick like other ZTs and has a nice strong but suitably needly tip. Its just heavy for its size. I agree with Apostle P on youtube, if the action was manual and had a titanium scale instead of stainless steel this would be a wonderful knife.
But it should be good for heavy use EDC as it is.

 

[Exonautic]

I swear you bought the high end version of this knife.

 

[Podmonkey]

View attachment 20156 View attachment 20157

I swear you bought the high end version of this knife.

Whats that? The Emerson Wave thing is a no go for me.

 

[Exonautic]

Whats that? The Emerson Wave thing is a no go for me.

Kershaw cqc. Tanto with a 3.25 in blade. The wave has been beyond useful for me having to deploy it one handed while working. Its too tight otherwise unless I have the right type of hold on it.

 

[Podmonkey]

Kershaw cqc. Tanto with a 3.25 in blade. The wave has been beyond useful for me having to deploy it one handed while working. Its too tight otherwise unless I have the right type of hold on it.

I stabbed the shit out of myself using a knife with the wave feature. I'd rather the knife not deploy till its in front of me. If I felt a need for instant blade deployment I'd just carry a fixed blade. Which I want to try for a while in an IWB sheath for offhand defensive use.

 

[Exonautic]

I stabbed the shit out of myself using a knife with the wave feature. I'd rather the knife not deploy till its in front of me. If I feltba need for instant blade deployment I'd just carry a fixed blade. Which I want to try for a while in an IWB sheath for offhand defensive use.

I've used it for so long at this point ive gotten down how to pull it out without flipping the blade into myself. Wont say i havent done it though. I've also used a fixed blade shorty that I would consider is my best defensive knife. Keep it in the watch pocket of my jeans though, the sheath is just right that it fits in there and holds when I pull it out. Its the 5.11 dagger looking thingy. Got it free when i ordered my tdk.

 

[Podmonkey]

I've used it for so long at this point ive gotten down how to pull it out without flipping the blade into myself. Wont say i havent done it though. I've also used a fixed blade shorty that I would consider is my best defensive knife. Keep it in the watch pocket of my jeans though, the sheath is just right that it fits in there and holds when I pull it out. Its the 5.11 dagger looking thingy. Got it free when i ordered my tdk.

I guess that when you stab yourself in the groin it colors your opinion somewhat.

 

[FLA45fan]

Pod, good snag on the zt, I think you'll like it!

Exonautic Hey I've been looking at the Kershaw CQC-6 as a everyday knife. How do you like the 7? How long have you had it? I've seen them for under $30 @ Amazon.

 

[Exonautic]

I guess that when you stab yourself in the groin it colors your opinion somewhat.

I can happily say I've only taken it to the thigh and love handle.

 

[Darth]

You're 18!?

I thought you were older than that.

 

[Podmonkey]

I will say that I do like a nice stonewash finish and thus blade has a very nice stonewash finish on it. ZT is very good with that. I think I'm gonna zazz it up with a different scale and standoffs at some point.

 

[Exonautic]

Pod, good snag on the zt, I think you'll like it!

Exonautic Hey I've been looking at the Kershaw CQC-6 as a everyday knife. How do you like the 7? How long have you had it? I've seen them for under $30 @ Amazon.

I think i got it for like 25. The blade is super sturdy. It makes for a good beater, I'm not afraid to put a little torque on it either. The only serious issue ive had with it is the spacers that keep the blade tight to the grip didnt hold up. I ended up doing some work on it with an expired credit card and making new spacers. As far as grip, it is really comfortable. The profile fits my bigger hands nicely but im sure it would be just as good for a normal sized person.

 

[FLA45fan]

I may have to grab one. I've been a Kershaw fan for a while for good quality, inexpensive blades. I have a couple of Vapors in small and large, the latter is one of the original ones made in Japan. It's seen better days so it's time to replace it. I also have one of Emerson's originals, so this would be a good compromise between them that I wouldn't feel bad about beating on.

 

[Exonautic]

I may have to grab one. I've been a Kershaw fan for a while for good quality, inexpensive blades. I have a couple of Vapors in small and large, the latter is one of the original ones made in Japan. It's seen better days so it's time to replace it. I also have one of Emerson's originals, so this would be a good compromise between them that I wouldn't feel bad about beating on.

Definitely hard to go wrong with it for the price.

 

[Podmonkey]

Welp, the ZT drew first blood. That didn't take long. Got careless opening a bubble pack.

I may have to grab one. I've been a Kershaw fan for a while for good quality, inexpensive blades. I have a couple of Vapors in small and large, the latter is one of the original ones made in Japan. It's seen better days so it's time to replace it. I also have one of Emerson's originals, so this would be a good compromise between them that I wouldn't feel bad about beating on.

You want a good, cheap Kershaw? Try one of these:

Kershaw Leek. 3" blade, Sandvik 14c28n steel, bout 3oz total weight. I picked it up a few days ago on a whim (yes, again) for $25 at Menards.

 

[FLA45fan]

Oh now I have two knives to buy!

 

[FLA45fan]

Ah crap. I was in Buffalo today at BGC, spotted the Kershaw CQC6P, ( for$35), spotted a M1A across the room and forgot about that knife. Damn, I'm into instant gratification and I missed out.

 

[Podmonkey]

I hate(d) that place!

 

[FLA45fan]

Last two times I've been in there I think the owner may have waited on me. Everyone else was wearing a green BGC shirt and he wasn't. Low key but very friendly. As I got over to the Minis and M1A area another guy, very eager to answer my questions and researched the gunsmith for an answer, helped me. Some things are a bit pricey but on the other hand full service gun shops are hard to come by.
What didn't you like?

 

[Podmonkey]

Tried to screw me out a fair price on a few milsurp sales. the final staw was When I tried selling a K31. Wouldn't offer more than $150 for it. I belive it the owner that claimed it wasn't worth as much because it had "import markings".
I think it was the owner. He was either being a dumbfuck and confusing it with a Mauser or he was insulting my intelligence and trying to screw me.
And the old guy there is a "1911 is the only handgun" and "M1A is the only rifle" type.
Aside from that I had called before about the availability of certain items and being told they were in stock drove out there from Lockport only to find said items were indeed not in stock. Also their prices on Milsurps especially were waaay out of line. The were charging $600 for a freaking Yugo SKS at a time when one could be had for $200!

 

[Cooolone]

$120 is a deal and nice knife!
: )

Can't go wrong with a ZT...

 

[FLA45fan]

Ouch, ok, now I get it. I would be soured too.

 

[Podmonkey]

$120 is a deal and nice knife!
: )

Can't go wrong with a ZT...

I've been critical of ZT in the past. Mainly for putting style before substance. This knife however seems to be more functional than stylish. I like that. In fact it is growing on me, it has performed well in service so far, slices thin plastic wrap well and held on to all of its edge after I broke down a dozen cardboard boxes. I got one "ooh is that a ZT?!" and it it makes the sheeple flinch, which I enjoy. It would be worth the extra money for the lock side to be titanium to drop the weight and I'd much prefer a manual action. As it is I find it a very useful heavy use EDC blade so far and to be honest despite weighing twice as much as the Para 2 I don't notice the extra heft in the pocket and weight in the hand, while immediately noticable, is irrelevant. I think for actual regular use the entry level is where its at in the ZT lineup. With it I will now be able to bear the absence of my Benchmades and Sypdercos when I send them of to Apostle P for sharpening.

 

[Cooolone]

I've been critical of ZT in the past. Mainly for putting style before substance. This knife however seems to be more functional than stylish. I like that. In fact it is growing on me, it has performed well in service so far, slices thin plastic wrap well and held on to all of its edge after I broke down a dozen cardboard boxes. I got one "ooh is that a ZT?!" and it it makes the sheeple flinch, which I enjoy. It would be worth the extra money for the lock side to be titanium to drop the weight and I'd much prefer a manual action. As it is I find it a very useful heavy use EDC blade so far and to be honest despite weighing twice as much as the Para 2 I don't notice the extra heft in the pocket and weight in the hand, while immediately noticable, is irrelevant. I think for actual regular use the entry level is where its at in the ZT lineup. With it I will now be able to bear the absence of my Benchmades and Sypdercos when I send them of to Apostle P for sharpening.

ZT at least brings quality to mass production! Kershaw has always done the same and I have a few. Most of my blades though are higher end where form meets function in a blended dance that you can't separate either. Function doesn't need to be ugly or cheap... I don't like all ZT's and really, every blade has to weighed in its own merit, just because "ZT" doesn't mean diddly...

I found speed bearing blades much more desirable than assisted opening, there's nothing to break. But you're not getting that in a $100 knife.

 

[Podmonkey]

ZT at least brings quality to mass production! Kershaw has always done the same and I have a few. Most of my blades though are higher end where form meets function in a blended dance that you can't separate either. Function doesn't need to be ugly or cheap... I don't like all ZT's and really, every blade has to weighed in its own merit, just because "ZT" doesn't mean diddly...

I found speed bearing blades much more desirable than assisted opening, there's nothing to break. But you're not getting that in a $100 knife.

I actually prefer phosphor bronze washers. Ball bearing setups can have blade centering issues, particularly after you have reefed on the blade. Both the PM2 and the 940 Osbourne use such washers and I find the action of both to be fast and smooth. Blade centering of this particular 566 is perfect:

 

[Podmonkey]

You know what the worst part of getting a new folding knife is? Torn up finger tips from finger banging it constantly!