Knife Collection Part 3 Zero Tolerance

My ZT collection is rather small at this point.  They are great knives, and if I were still in a law enforcement capacity, I would probably have more.  They are expensive for a non-custom folder, similar to the black box Benchmade knives, but they are over-built hard-use knives. 

This is my Zero Tolerance 0350TSST.

It features a 3.5 inch S-30V steel partially-serrated blade covered with a tiger-stripe tungsten  coating.  Overall length is 7.625 inches.  This is an assisted opening knife featuring the Speedsafe opening system.  It has both a thumb stud and a flipper protruding from the blade which can be used to open it one handed. 

The deep concealment pocket clip is 4-way adjustable.  The scales are G-10.  The knife comes very sharp.  The 0350 knives are a smaller, lighter version of the 0300 series.  The only issue with this knife is that it's a bit wide and on pants with a dedicated knife pocket, it can be a snug fit.  

ZT 0566

The blade is 3.25 inches long, plain edged S-35VN steel.  It features a thumb stud and a protruding flipper with the Speedsafe assisted opening.  This knife is based on a Hinderer design.  It is a smaller version of the 0560/0561 knife.  The front scale is G-10.  The rear is stainless steel.  The deep concealment pocket clip is 4-way adjustable.  

The only issue I've had is a broken pocket clip, which ZT replaced under warranty.

Zero Tolerance is the higher end knives from KAI.  The same company offers the Kershaw brand of knife.  

Knife Collection Part 2, Benchmade

My small Benchmade collection was acquired while I worked in corrections and law enforcement.  They are all from the black box collection.

The first of my Benchmades was the Nitrous Stryker.  It isn't offered anymore.  It is an assisted-opening, reverse tanto style partially serrated blade.  The steel is D2 tool steel.  Handles have G-10 scales and titanium liner.

It has a 3.7 inch blade.  The clip is low profile.  It is tip down, right hand carry only.  The spring assistance is great.  It is almost, but not quiet, Kershaw fast.  The knife is tough, all the Blackbox Benchmades seem to be.  Weight is 3.99 ounces.  This was my edc for over a year and shows little if any wear.

My second Benchmade was my first high quality auto.  I fell for the Adamas Auto.  It's a tank of a knife.  it weighs 7.62 ounces.

The blade is 3.82 inches long, partially serrated,clip-point and made of D2 tool steel.  The handles are stainless steel lined with G-10 scales.  Pocket Clip is tip up and reversible.  It was carried almost every day for over 2 years.  Very little visible wear.  

It uses the famous Benchmade Axis locking system.  It opens fast and very strong.  If you aren't expecting it, it can jump right out of your hand.  

My last Benchmade was kind of a throw back.  It was a Stryker Auto.  

Deep-carry, reversible pocket clip.  Blade is 3.6 inches, partially serrated, reverse tanto style made with black cerakote 154CM steel.  The handles are anodized aluminum.  Weight is 4.41 ounces.  This is a nice tough little knife.  It is slimmer and lighter than the Adamas.  It opens quick and strong.  The handles do show a lot of wear, I carried it about 2 years.  I replaced the clip at least once, as it got caught on something as I was getting out of a car in a hurry.  The blade still looks good.  I have no trouble keeping an edge on it though.  

I carried Benchmade's at a time when I carried a firearm and needed a good knife I could depend on.  I never had to use one as a weapon, but they did cut a lot of stuff and all three of these were excellent tools and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.  I've heard that Benchmade has had a drop in quality and none of these knifes are less than 5 years old.  The blackbox line are overbuilt for military and law enforcement.  I suspect they would suffer less from QC issues.  

Knife Collection Part One. Spyderco

Spyderco is a knife manufacturer I have know of for a long time, but never owned.  I honestly thought the spydie hole and blade shape were weird-looking and didn't make any sense.  I preferred tanto style blades and macho looking high-speed, low-drag knives.  In other words, I was an idiot.
In the last couple of years, I have acquired several Spydies.

My first was an Edura 4.  This is one of their bigger folding knives.  It has a 3.75 inch blade.  The blade is slim and made of VG-10 steel.  It's an excellent cutter.  Overall length is 8.75 inches.  The length, thickness, and shape of the handle feel great in my hand.  The pocket clip is 4 way adjustable.  It, like all the spydies I own, is lightweight.  My scale puts it at 4.06 oz.  Part of this is the reinforced fiberglass handle.  The slimmer blade make these knives great slicers.  Since, most of my knives have been chunky, overbuilt items, I was surprised at how great these skinny bladed, light-weight knives cut.  This is the hardest of my Spyderco's to flick open though.  I've fiddle with the pivot screw and improved it, but it is the hardest.  I've heard this is an issue with the lock back style knives.  The Edura is a long-running and popular model.

With my interest peeked, I checked the internet for info about Spyderco's.  I kept hearing about a model called the Paramilitary 2.  Everybody seemed to think it rivaled sliced bread as the greatest thing.  It featured a newer locking style and other wonderful things.  I ordered one.

 They were mostly right.  The PM2 is shorter than the Edura 4.  3.44 inch blade and an overall length of 828 inches.  The blade is SV30 steel and the handle has G-10 scales.  It's heavier, my scale says 4.34 ounces, and more expensive.  It flicks open like it's pivoting on melted butter.  The compression lock is awesome.  It's the easiest one-handed close knife outside an auto.  Excuse the pictures.  Mine came out of my pocket for the picks and needed cleaning.  The knife features a deep carry pocket clip that is 4 way adjustable.

I didn't initially think I would be happier with the shorter blade length, but kind of forgot about it.  The knife is a slicer and never failed to do what I asked of it.  It's my favorite carry knife,

The next Spydie I picked up was the Manix 2.  Mine featured the translucent blue fiberglass reinforced co-polymer handles.

The blade is 3.37 inches and overall length is 8 inches.  The knife folded is kind of wide.  It won't fit in the knife pocket of some of my pants.  On the other hand, it's an awesome cooking knife.  It also flicks open easily.  It uses a ball-bearing locking system similar to Benchmade's Axis system, making it easy to close too.  This knife and the PM2 are very similar in ease of flicking open.  This knife does offer the option of flipping open with the lock disengaged though.  Weight is 3.49 ounces.  The blade steel is CTS-BD1 if I read it right.  It features a deep carry wire pocket clip adjustable for left or right hand carry.

My last Spyderco, my most recent was a gift.  It's a very popular model, and was the basis for the Edura design I believe.  It's the Delica 4.

I have zero experience with anything from opening and closing it.  It's a little easier to flick open than the Edura, probable because the blade is smaller and the angle a bit different.  My scale says this one is 2.89 ounces.  It has a 2.875 VG-10 blade and the same fiberglass reinforced nylon of the Edura 4.  Same phosphor-bronze washer.  It is just smaller than the Edura 4.  4-way adjustable pocket clip and overall length of  7.125 inches.  It seems like a sweet knife and I look forward the carrying it.

That's my Spyderco collection.  Most of my knives are working knives, I don't do a lot of decorative stuff.  These are awesome knives.  I'm very pleased with them. 

I plan to do a few more of these type posts..  Hopefully a Benchmade, ZT, Kershaw, Cold Steel, Rieke, Smith and Wesson/Shrade posts.