Zero Tolerance (ZT) Knives was based in 2006. During the last couple of a long time, they’ve earned a popularity for producing laborious use knives. Whereas they had been initially targeted on the legislation enforcement and army markets, civilians shortly bought their grubby mitts on these overbuilt blades and had been suitably impressed.
By 2010 or so, ZT Knives acknowledged that their supposed viewers had expanded enormously, and their choices did in order effectively. At the moment, ZT Knives is named a premium knife firm that produces high-quality, sturdy slicing instruments which can be just about bombproof.
Now the factor is that whenever you use phrases like overbuilt and sturdy when discussing knives, there’s an inclination to think about chunky, even clunky, designs. Handles that appear to be you could possibly use one to smash aside a cinder block, that form of factor. ZT has discovered methods to sidestep that difficulty fully and ship knives which can be powerful as nails, but in addition smooth and good-looking.
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The ZT 0512 is an ideal instance of that mixture. It’s a beast, however one which’s all the time underneath your management.
ZT 0512 Specs
- Total size: 8.0 inches
- Blade size: 3.45 inches
- Closed size: 4.55 inches
- Metal: Cru-Put on
- Weight: 4.4 ounces
- Made within the USA
- MSRP: $320.00
- URL: zt.kaiusa.com
into the thumb.
What’s Within the Field?
The ZT 0512 is a side-opening computerized knife. With the blade absolutely deployed, the knife stretches 8.0 inches even. The blade is 3.45 inches lengthy, giving it a closed size of 4.55 inches. The deal with is 0.53-inch thick. Whereas the ZT web site signifies the burden of the 0512 to be 4.4 ounces, on my scale it’s 4.2 ounces. For perspective, that’s about the identical as two C batteries.
The deal with is an fascinating design, with one facet pure canvas micarta and the opposite titanium. The micarta has been left just a bit tough, slightly than polished. Whereas the scales are flat, the deal with is formed such that it offers a snug and safe grip. A bronze-anodized spacer provides some visible pop alongside the again of the deal with.
Trying on the micarta facet of the deal with, you’ll see a small bronze button. That’s the place the enjoyable begins. Urgent it snaps the blade into place, and it does so with appreciable authority. The button is pretty recessed to scale back the chance of unintentional openings. I’ve been carrying the 0512 on and off for a number of weeks and I’ve had zero worries about it opening in my pocket.
The 0512’s blade is a clip level design. It’s CPM Cru-Put on with a darkish bronze Cerakote coating to supply further safety from corrosion. Cru-Put on is a superb knife metal, recognized for toughness, edge retention, and general hardness. The blade is razor-sharp proper out of the field. Having owned a couple of different ZT knives beforehand, this was no shock.
The deep carry pocket clip is reversible, permitting for right- or left-side carry. Both method, the knife is tip up within the pocket.
How Does the ZT 0512 Carry out?
I’ve lengthy had an affinity for computerized knives, and I’ve loved each different ZT knife I’ve had, so I knew getting into that the 0512 was more likely to be a house run.
The motion on the knife is unimaginable. You need to push the deployment button with slightly power, which I presume is a security characteristic. However when the blade swings out, it does so remarkably quick and laborious. As soon as open, it locks into place. There may be zero wiggle entrance to again or facet to facet. Whereas no knife lock must be thought of excellent, the lockup on the 0512 comes about as shut as I’ve ever seen.
Releasing the blade to shut it makes use of the identical button. Press it and fold the blade closed manually. There’s only a little bit of resistance because the blade closes.
I really like the micarta scale on the obverse or entrance facet of the deal with. Now granted, I’m a sucker for pure canvas micarta to start with. I notably prefer it when it’s left slightly uncooked, so there’s some discernable texture with it. It seems virtually classic, which I believe is absolutely cool. I’ve had one or two knives from Kershaw that related handles. Provided that ZT Knives and Kershaw are each a part of the identical firm, that is smart I suppose. The micarta offers the 0512 some further visible enchantment whereas additionally augmenting the grip safety.
This is a reasonably large pocket knife, although it’s each smaller and lighter than the venerable Buck 110 Folding Hunter. Make no mistake, it fills the hand. However on the similar time, it handles like a dream. The burden lends a way of solidity slightly than feeling like an anchor dragging your hand down. I don’t know that I’d go as far as to say the 0512 fully replaces the necessity for a set blade whenever you’re within the discipline, however it may well positive do an terrible lot of the identical work.
The Cerakote coating is there for corrosion-resistance, however it additionally offers the blade a cool look. It has a matte end, so it serves to offer it a tactical look, should you’re into that form of factor.
During the last a number of weeks, I’ve used the 0512 to course of numerous cardboard packing containers, slice up fruit and greens within the kitchen and on the path, and do some carving and whittling. The blade stays extremely sharp. The jimping on the backbone feels nice underneath the thumb whenever you’re carving, providing you with a little bit of added management. There’s a slight swedge on the backbone however it isn’t wherever close to sharp sufficient to trigger issues should you’re making use of stress there along with your index finger whereas doing element work.
I’ve opened and closed the knife effectively over a thousand instances at this level. The mechanism has by no means even come near failing. The blade deploys simply as reliably now because it did after I first took the knife from the field.
Automated Knives and the Legislation
As soon as upon a time, possessing an computerized knife might result in severe authorized points if it had been found by legislation enforcement. At the moment, many areas of america have loosened these restrictions. There are way more jurisdictions the place carrying an auto knife is authorized than areas the place it’s nonetheless verboten.
Nevertheless, it pays to do your homework. You can begin with the American Knife & Software Institute (www.akti.org/state-laws-regarding-automatics/). They preserve a really correct database on such restrictions.
working within the yard.
Does the ZT 0512 Make the Reduce?
I can’t advocate the ZT 0512 extremely sufficient. It will get 5 stars throughout. This can be a real workhorse, and one which has zero stop in it. That is the kind of knife that from the second you choose it up, you’re on the lookout for one thing to chop or slice. It simply desires to be put to work. This isn’t a protected queen. As an alternative, it’s extra just like the handyman who is aware of easy methods to repair something and gained’t relaxation till the job is completed.
Concerning the Writer
Jim Cobb is a nationally acknowledged authority on catastrophe readiness, in addition to a lifelong knife nut. He has been concerned with preparedness for almost 40 years and has developed a popularity for his commonsense strategy to the topic. Along with his quite a few books and several other hundred journal articles, Jim is among the co-hosts of the Methods to Survive 2025 podcast. He presents a free weekly publication referred to as The Survival Weekly Dispatch (https://jimcobb.substack.com/).
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