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.