Stiring the pot with the ZT0100

Submitted by akdoug

Time to stir the pot.

The K-Bar is a great knife and has served a very long and distinguished service life and is owed a great deal of respect. I have my Grand Father's USMC Ka-Bar from WWII and love it, although no longer used I take a great deal of pride in it.

Over the years technological advances have allowed for the creation of new steels that are far more superior to that of the K-Bar. If you have not seen it take a look at the new ZT 0100 made by ZT a division of Kershaw knives, designed by Ken Onion and the guys at Strider knives you just can't beat it. Far superior steels, easier to sharpen and stays sharp longer and made in the USA.

My 2 cents

Ok, hit me now :)

ED -- OK Doug, I'm going to hit you now :)  The ZT0100 is, as you say, impressive.  Yet of all it's listed qualities, the one that truly scares me is it's price tag -- $294.99.  That's a lot to drop on a tool.  With my Ka-Bar I wasn't afraid to pound with it, trench with it, or hack wire with it, but for that kind of money I might think twice about doing so.  However, inasmuch as you're a proponent of the ZT0100 how does it hold up to abuse?

Get the ZT0100 here

Comments

[Jeff the Baptist]

(1) At $300 you can't afford to break that knife or lose it. The great thing about the ka-bar is that at $50-60, you can afford to replace it if it gets broken or lost.

(2) You cannot have a knife which is both easier to sharpen and stays sharp longer. The one is the antithesis of the other. If it easier to move the metal around to put an edge on, then it is easier to take the edge off too.

[SQfirstsgt]

If you want a knife in the $50-$60 range get the Cold Steel SRK

[CSM Wells]

I know that there about seven U.S. Army Soldiers that could use an Ontario Marine Combat Knifes that run about $31.95! Yes, a knock-off but works just as good as the Ka-bar. Donate the $300 for a combat tool!

[Loz the Oz]

I agree the k bar is a very useful allround tool.
This knife looks good, and as a knife works well, however at $300 this is to much for a knife, that is expected to be used frequently in all sorts of situations.
As for the sharpens quick and stays sharp longer, i feel that they may mean that the steel mixture the knife is made of stays sharper than "some" other knifes

[CeeBee]

$294? Somewhat reminiscent of the $600 toilet seat, don't you think?

[Bar]

You know, if you are wanting new technology and newer steels, Kabar now makes the USMC combat knife with D2 tool steel as an option. You can still get it with the stacked leather handle or a new fangled thermal plastic job. And with a partial serration if you must have that. (I prefer the stacked leather! The corps is all about traditions... like winning!)

The design of the USMC Kabar is a legend and there is no need to change it.

It's an all purpose general work, utility and fighting knife that can't be beat.

Just get one with the steel upgraded to the D2 and you have a winner in my book!

And it sure isn't $300 either!

[John Crenshaw]

When I was in the Corps in Viet Nam, the one knife I depended on was my K-Bar. It's design was perfect. A fighting knife,trenching tool,hammer(and so on). Why must people try to change what has always been the best. $300.00 for a knife,that's nuts.

[J.D. Will]

Three bills for a knife! That is laughable, and I would laugh at anyone who dropped that much on a standard knife.

As has been stated, spending that much on a tool one wouyld be afraid to use it and heck breakdown crying if it were lost or broken when you took it to the field.

Just think of how much $300 would buy you, that is more than half the cost of a regular laptop, two thirds the cost of a good pistol, a top of the line set of binos.

For a tool a person is going to use, a Ka-Bar, a Gerber or any other well known brands that cost a tenth of what that thing costs so it won't hurt when you scratch, scuff, mar, rust, chip, break and loose it or it is stolen which it would be.

Oh, one other thing, how well does it really work?

Can it be soaked and left in a wet scabard without rusting? What kind of scabard does it come with? Is it shockproof? Is it balanced, is the blade one piece, how big is the tang, how well is it anchored in the handle?

How much feild use can you get before having to resharpen it?

Can it cut, rope? Com wire? Wet Rope?

How well does the scabard retain the knife? Will you loose it wading through a stream, swimming through the surf? Tall grass or jungle that grabs at your gear? Taking a tumble down a hillside will it fall out and be lost?

What is the handle made of? Will it fit the hand, can you use it for long periods without fatigue?

What is the blade designed for? General purpose? Hunting, woodwork, fighting? Fine work?

Cool looking coupled with a high price tag doesn't cut it in the field. What was it designed for and how does it measure up?

[John Stallings]

Was going to make my statement but I see my Brothers have it well covered.Fix something that needs to be fixed.How about the humpability of the issue boots?!

[Doc Wells]

$300.00 bucks, get real! Since when is the Corps into "designer" goodies? The kabar has been handling the load and getting the job of the best damn fighting knife done for a long while. Tech improvements have been made as was noted. If the damned thing ain't broke, don't fix it...use it!!! Do ya want me to cut off your nose and suture the hole closed just cuz ya sneezed?

Doc

[Al]

This must only be what the pentagon (taxpayer)pays for it. I'm sure the price to the public must be $59.95....but wait if you act now we'll send you two for the price of one.

[Jimmy MOntague]

It takes a REAL yuppie to spend $300 for a fancy weapon that doesn't kill people any more efficiently than a foot-long piece of sharpened bamboo.

[Jimmy MOntague]

It takes a REAL yuppie to spend $300 for a fancy weapon that doesn't kill people any more efficiently than a foot-long piece of sharpened bamboo.

[Matt Wheeler]

It's a shame that somebody can come along and try to sell us something that is absolutely unneccessary and under the disguise of "It's newer so its better" and it's gonna make me rich. Piss off. The K-Bar is the only Fighting Kife Marines will carry.

[shoey]

I'm setting here with my K-Bar in one hand and the new marine bayonet in the other (one under 100.00 bucks the other half that)wandering why I need a $300.00 knife. Stir the pot you stuck your head in it.

[charles t. sherwin]

KaBar's are the best--they also make Cutco Kitchen knives which are the best; I received a set for a wedding present over 40 years ago and are still as good as new. I remember as a kid we used to go to the KarBar plant overtown and get the rejected blades out of the foundry sand and put wooden handles on them. You should write or call their plant in Olean, NY, to get a catalog--East State St., Olean, NY 14760.

[Smitty]

amen the humpability of issue boots comment. issue boots are terrible! work on that first!

[DONALD J. HEINKE]

IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THOSE FOOFY, GOTTA HAVE WANNABE KNIFES. I'D BE AFRAID TO USE IT LIKE I WOULD MY K-BAR.
SEMPER FI

[Larry Coyle]

I got out of the Corps in 1968 and promptly put my gear in my Mother's attic as I knew all would be safe there. A few years later I was over at Moms and discovered she had been using my KBAR to cut up chickens, chop up ice, and anything else she needed something like that done. My heart was broken but a few dollars later and I had a new one in hand.
Semper Fi

[Frank Johnson]

Great looking knife, one I'd seriously think about buying. But why would I spend $294 for something I can only use at arms length or maybe throw and hope I hit what I'm throwing at and hit in the right place, when I can spend that for a very good handgun? No knife in the world is worth that much money or even should be worth that much and be useful and your not afraid to lose.

[Rob Grant]

I think it all comes down to one question. Does the $300 knife work as well as the KABAR when you need to hammer something. 20+ years as a civilian and I still take my KABAR out when I have work to do in the yard. I can't count the number of times it has saved me the round trip to the garage to get a hammer, an axe or a saw.

Of the two tools we took to the field as Marines, one was a pleasure to use (the KABAR) and one (the Etool)was not. Some things just don't need improvement.

[Ron Free]

What th hell!!! This arky liked to choke just hearing the price. Jesus!!!

[Belchie]

There was a time when someones idea of a good edged weapon was a stone with an edge chipped onto it...or a bronze head on the end of a stick...and on...and on...

CPM S30V is a purpose designed steel for knife use. Touting history, personal affection, cheapness or any of the other slew of justifications to using a cheaper material is ridiculous.

I have been a grunt for 11 years, and have done 3 tours in Iraq. Honestly, the most use I have had for a knife was to cut open MRE's. On occasion, pry open ammo crates. That type of duty. A $40 dollar Kabar (leather washer handle, epoxy coated blade) did the job just fine. It also got me stuck on the back of a humvee one night while dismounting for a raid. Great knife, but it has it's pluses and minuses. At this point, I can afford to spend more for the tools I choose to carry into harms way. If half of you ridiculing this knife had any recent practical real world experience, you would not be scoffing so loudly.

Anyone that really uses a tool like a knife in combat operations on a regular basis knows that EVERY tool is susceptible to failure.

All that said, Ken Onion and the Strider guys are great American knifemakers that put a lot of thought into the ZT line. Scoff at the price all you want...hell, go to war with sticks and stones so you can feel more in touch with tradition if you want. I suppose there is a time and place for everything...but you are wrong about who this knife is made for...and who actually DOES use it.

[Rob]

Even being in the army, I have found the K-BAR to be one of the best knives I have found. My brothers in the Marines convinced my to get one. I found it to be the best investment that I made. After 18 years I am convinved that it is still the baest and there is NO substitution for it. $300 for a knife, when was your last drug test. To my brothers, be advised that the K-BAR can be ordered for you through your supply. Imagine that time tested, time proven can get it through the system and the unit only pays $45 for a great dependable knife that can be used and abused.

[Brian]

I remember my Dad telling me stories of the K-BAR he carried in Viet Nam... how he stuck it into the sides of trees to stand on, without having to worry about it bending or breaking. How he used to shear barbed-wire, and probe for mines. Why change tradition and reliability when there is nothing wrong, nor better then a K-BAR. BTW: I carried that same K-BAR in Iraq twice, and nothing compares to a Viet Nam K-BAR my friends, nothing.

[rugershooter17]

From reading the posts, none of you seem to own a ZT knife. I have held and use every ZT knife. I only own one, the 0200 model. WONDERFUL knife. Msrp $165 (I think) The very best knife I own. The knife performs better than every fixed i have. I cant imagine having the 0100, but I have held and slightly used one. I would put my life on the ZT first over the Ka-bar if I had the money. I am not saying that I don't like the Ka-bar, don't get me wrong, it is a wonderful knife for the money and the usefulness of it, but if I had the money, I would get the ZT instead. The knife is wonderful. It has great handles, great blade material, full tang. (FULL, not tapered like the Ka-bar) The knife is indestructible. (seriously)

[chris]

Is it made in the U.S.A.
If not, the Marines don't need it.

[Steve]

First off $295.00 is a big chunk of dough. However, that is the “suggested selling price”. I have seen these for a lot less in stores. But still, a lot of money. I do know first hand quite a bit about the ZT line and the 0100 in particular. The 3V steel is not cheep! It is a “tool” steel that is one of the strongest steels used in the knife industry.
The knife was designed to take on pretty much any task that is thrown at it. It can cut through the trunk of a Mercedes or can be used to pry open doors. I have shot one with my Glock and barely left a dent.
Someone posted earlier that you couldn’t have it all as far as strength; corrosion resistance and edge retention is concerned. This is somewhat true. That is why the 0100 has a Melonite coating that adheres deeply into the steel and a DLC (Tungsten) coating over the Melonite. I have had this knife on a five-day bear hunt in Alaska on a boat. Any thing that is metal out there rust’s. Except the 0100. My S&W 19 rusted. My BLR had signs of rust and everyone else with a knife on that trip had rust issues. We took five bear on that trip and the 0100 was used to skin and bone out most of them. It took me maybe 20 minutes to get the edge back to factory condition.
Couple other things that most people don’t know about ZT… The 0100 is one of many knives that has been segregated as a Paralyzed Veterans of America knife. A nice sized portion of the sale of this knife goes directly to the PVA Heritage fund. Kershaw / ZT donate a substantial amount of money and time helping the guys out that come back with injuries. Some of the guys, myself included, have spent countless hours getting these guys out on hunting trips, fishing trips and many other outdoor functions. Things they thought that they could never do again because of their injuries. I am pretty sure the inflated $ toilet seats manufacturers didn’t give a Ratsass about the guys that are fighting for our country. ZT does!!! (If you haven’t figured it out by now, I work for ZT)
So… Sure I have a bias opinion of the ZT line. I do have a dog in the fight. One more thing. All ZT’s carry a full lifetime warranty. You break it you get a new knife. Simple as that. I am not on here to sell knives. I have a K-BAR. I love that knife. The ZT0100 is just in a different category. There are always two sides to a story and I wanted to make a few positive comments about the 0100.
When we design knives for the ZT line we use proven input from several sources, Strider, Onion, field testing in the sandbox…. Tell you what… I have never been on this site before and I don’t know any of you guys.. I would like to send a couple of our 0100 to a few of you for your feed-back. Knock the crap out of them, shoot them, cut up a 55 gal. drum. Since you guys know who can give it the best test, I will let you decide who I send them to. Once you decide who would be the best testers send me an e-mail with shipping instructions. kershawmichels@aim.com. I will send out three knives.
I forgot to mention. Yes. These are 100% made in the USA right here in Oregon.
Thank all of you for your service (I really mean that) and I look forward to the test results.

[Tim]

CPM 3V is %400 tougher than conventional D2 steel.

[Eric Daniel]

Steve,

Thanks for the input on the ZT0100. When I posted the ZT0100 originally, this was exactly what I was looking for. I am not a “knife” guy. I use them as the tools they are, but I cannot quote chapter and verse on them. As a result, my “tool” selection criteria are fairly straight forward – functionality, durability, and finally, price. I can read about what kind of metal a knife is made of, but that doesn’t mean anything to me without a comparative reference (it’s more corrosion resistance than the standard Ka-Bar, and requires a very hard stone to sharpen…) For you to say that you can take it to Alaska and expose it to not only salt spray and the near constant moisture without undue concern, that is a reference I can appreciate.

As for the price, yeah, $300 is a big chunk of change, and yes, I do understand that that’s the MSRP, and I am fairly sure that if I were to actually go shopping I could probably find it cheaper, but before I’d even consider buying one (untested and un seen) I’d want to be damn sure I was getting my money’s worth. I’ve no issue with the price just so long as its performance was equally top drawer. As I’ve said previously, I’m currently using a cheap spring steel kukri for all my knife work. I chop with it, hack with it, bash with it, pry with it, probe with it, and scare the locals with it. It’s pitted, chipped, a rust magnet (the next one I get I’m going to remove the handle from and have the entire blade blued) but at the end of the day it’s only a $40 knife. If I could get all that utility out of the ZT0100 without the associated abuse to the knife, I just might pick one up.

One last question though. How is the ZT0100 as a ad-hoc hammer? I’m not talking about recreating John Henry and the Steam Engine, but how is it for driving tent stakes and general brick breaking work?

Again, thanks for the input!!

[Tim]

Another factor that adds to the cost of the 0100 besides the superior materials in the knife itself, is the rig that carries the knife.

It is built to be configured in multiple carry options (down on the leg, up on the hip, MOLLE)

It has a kydex liner, I have heard of people running the tips through the leather sheath of a Ka-Bar. If you don’t have the snap secured on the Ka-Bar sheath it can fall out, the kydex liner on the 0100 gives the knife a snap fit into the sheath.

There is an accessory pouch for a sharpening stone or a magazine. Lots of time was spent developing this rig, and it works.

[steve]

Eric,

Funny you should ask about tent stakes.... I went on my annual deer hunt with my son and my two brothers in law last month and I brought several of the ZT’s along. I used the 0100 for you guessed it… driving and pulling tent stakes. In addition it was used as a wedge on some pretty tough firewood. We drove it into a tree about an inch and jumped up and down on it. One brother in law is probably in the 200 to 210 range. He dang near broke his neck jumping on the knife trying to break it. (He’d had a few beers) We also threw the crap out of it first into trees and then into rocks just to see how it held up. (we all had a few beers). The knife was still in perfect condition with the exception of some very minor scratches to the G-10 handle.
OK… I just took a break from this writing and went into the back to see what damage I could do to a 3/8 hardened bolt. The bolt was about 3” and I laid it out on a concrete curb. I took the biggest ball-peen hammer we had and started pounding on the back of the 0100. I bet I hit it at least fifty times as hard as I could. The bolt is cut to sh**. The back of the knife where the impact was made from the hammer has just a little scuffing. The finish is still in tact. The cutting edge is a bit rounded but could easily be re-sharpened. While I was in the middle of all this fun one of our designers came out to see what the heck I was up to. (He also has been following this thread today) He said that he had a brand new *-*** (other brand) on his desk and I should try the same thing with that. So I did…. Two hits and it broke in half. (Not the bolt) Honest… I just did this ten minutes ago. I love my job…
So… yes the knife is a bunch of money but if my life depended on the performance and dependability it is worth it. I was thinking about the dollar issue at lunch and came up with a good comparison. It doesn’t seem like it has been that long ago that I would freak if I had to pay more than $20 for a decent flashlight. I now have one in my car that retails for nearly $200. It’s an aluminum tube with batteries and a bulb. But it is the best that money can buy and I know that it will work if my life depends on it.

[Belchie]

Thanks for the input Steve.

Personally, for a fixed, I carry a Strider HT...which is another great knife.

For a folder, I carry a ZT 0300. I have had it for over a year, and have had zero issues with it.

I guess I took some of the comments above a bit personally. I understand the desire to carry traditions forward...but man, I wonder if some of these guys wouldn't have me tromping around in wool uniforms and leggings!

The price may seem high. Again, the most I have ever used a knife for is the typical admin type tasks...but then, if I ever really need to count on my knife as a tool, I am completely confident that I have the best tool available.

You guys...take the man up on his offer. I have been very impressed with both Kershaw and the ZT line. Guys like Onion and the Strider guys are a class act.

They are DEFINITELY not making tools for the Gucci crowd, and they are DEFINITELY not about ripping off troops.

[Eric Daniel]

Steve,

Damn, I think I soiled myself. About the only thing I can say is in the future, you might want to try your bolt cutting experiment under more “realistic” field conditions (i.e. with beer) but good golly goshers, if you can hack up hardened steel bolts with the thing, that’s plenty tough for me. Where do I sign up?

[steve]

Belchi,
Thanks for the support man. Strider HT is a great one!

Eric,
E-mail your address to: kershawmichels@aim.com

I could go on and on about the ZT line but as I said before, I am not on here to sell knives. Just wanted to let people know what they get for their money. One last thing that impressed me about this company is that every knife that comes out of this factory is hand sharpened. The blades are run down the side of a newspaper so the sharpeners can feel any imperfections. It’s very impressive to watch. (A 3/8 bolt and a ball-peen hammer can screw that up in no time flat)
All the knives carry a life-time-sharp if you ever want to get a factory edge back on your knife. Again, I’m not hear to sell kn…… Ok maybe a few.
If any of you guys ever get near Portland Oregon give me a shout. Your welcome to come by and watch some of the best people in the business make sharp things.

[Don]

BLUF: Both the K-Bar and the DZ0100 are great knives, but the K-Bar wins.

I am not a knife guy and have never owned a ZT0100 or a K-Bar. However, there is a concept called "diminishing returns" which I believe applies here.

In purchasing any piece of equipment we all have to make decisions based on quality and price. There is a minimum quality we must have in order for it to be useful to us. If we can get something that provides higher performance for a reasonable increase in price, then we might want to buy it. As you continue to go up in quality, however, the prices get even higher. Eventually, you are paying more and more for only minor improvements in performance.

While a good knife is very important, do you really need a great knife? The knife I use more than any other is the blade on my SOG multitool. If doesn't cost much. When it gets dull I sharpen it and when it gets rusty I clean it. In Iraq I carried a sheathed knife on my body armor, but I almost never used it.

I'm sure the DZ0100 is a great knife. However, if a K-Bar, which has been battle tested and is considered reliable by pretty much anyone who has ever had one, can be had for under $50, then why spend possibly six times that amount for a knife that is only somewhat better?

However, if Steve wants to send me a free DZ0100 to test personally, I might change my mind.

[gorph]

Steve,
I think I'm gonna have to take you up on your offer. The K-Bar is a wonderful tool and it has a wonderful history and Marine tradition, but as a wise man once said, "Just because it's always been done that way, doesn't mean it should always be done that way." Technology progresses and we'd be fools to ignore that.

That being said, Don does have a point in mentioning the law of diminishing returns. However, when your in the middle of it; when your life and the lives of others are on the line, every possible edge counts and money doesn't matter anymore.

I've got a good friend who's a senior NCO (E7) in his Army reserve unit and will be leaving for his second tour in Iraq in the next few months. We'd like to abuse one of your knives and I'll let everyone know how it holds up. If it holds up to what we throw at it (and he made a comment about having tracked vehicles to use), he's gonna take it with him when he goes.

Expect an email from me soon.

[G-Dog]

With knives you tend to get what you pay for. I have worked in sales for two years at a Army Navy chain where we have a huge collection of knives. Customers who have only used cheap knives are blown away when they finally break down and buy something nice. Ka-Bars are good, especially for costing, what, only 60 bucks? For those who want a little more however, the least I could recommend for hard-core use would be the new one with D2 tool steel. The ZT 0100 looks like an awesome, top of the line knife for those who need the very best. Working on the retail level with Kershaw (and handling all the merchandise returns for three stores) is absolutely a pleasure, they are a great company. Their products flat out work and they stand behind their products completely in the case of breakage, unlike some other knife brands I could name with supposed lifetime warranties. While expensive, coming from Kershaw this knife makes me want to look twice and physically check one out and see how it feels, especially since they are using such great steels (the steel and feel/practicality are the two components which make the knife). Look at it this way, a few tanks of gas cost more than this knife (which you will have forever if you don’t lose it); or a couple months skipping the 3 dollar espressos will save enough to buy one.

[Joe T (joejeweler)]

I just picked up a factory blem ZT 0100 for just $175, and this from another individual who made a few ducats on the deal. Those of you near the factory in Oregon might try the annual sales to do even better. I'm not near the factory so i'll never get to see it probably,.....but it's a package that i'm proud to own,....and USE! Foe a blem,......not much i could see that makes it so(other than the factory marking it with descrete "XXXX" on the blade).

I'm not military, but would pick no other to defend myself if facing down a man with a knife. (OK,....maybe if ZT puts out a SWORD, i'll opt for that!)

The D10 grip is outstanding and feels great in hand,...with the lanyard hole an added bonus. I'll still EDC my ZT 0200 folder, concealed in my pant lip with my belt covering 95% of the small clip,.....but the ZT 0100 will be at the ready if needed in my home.
For now i'll keep it nearby for a home defense backup piece.

BTW,....the ZT 0200 IS my favorite folder,......and i've bought lots of them for gifts this year. Some already use them over in Iraq,......others should! Great G10 grip, built like a tank, sharper than i'll ever need, and priced at what seems to me to be TOO good a price for what you get! Look hard and you can pick them up for $120 to $130 each. I know because i purchased 19 of them in the last 2 months. The last 10 i'm keeping for my personal stash! The rest are gone to folks that will appreciate them...........

[Dave C]

I'll sign up for one of those demo/torture test knives if any of the three are still available. I'm fairly excited to hear of a knife that's got a carbonitrided finish. Now, I may not have any tracked vehicles to run over it with, but I'm sure I and my buddies can come up with some torture. I'll even document the whole process with photographs and writeups.

[Jason S.]

Has anyone recieved one of these knives for a demo/torture test?