For a long time I was using well built and budget friendly knives. But I really wanted to expand my horizons for more premium knives. And looking for something that will serve as a doorway. After hours of research I came across Zero Tolerance ZT 0301.
Zero Tolerance is a brand of Kai USA Ltd. that made its first appearance in 2006. When there was an increase in the market for a Made-in-USA knives that would meet the needs of professionals in the military and law enforcement.
So in this post I’m going to review Zero Tolerance ZT 0301. And i’ll tell you every good and bad aspects of this knife. So that you can decide if it’s really worth a purchase for you or not.
Key features
In this article...
- SpeedSafe, Titanium, Thumb Stud, Frame Lock, Ambidextrous Opening
- Steel: S30V stainless-steel with Tungsten DLC coating with Tiger Stripes
- Handle: 3D machined, G-10 and Titanium
Detail Review
The Zero Tolerance ZT 0301 is a folding knife and has an overall length of 10.50 inches and a closed length of 5-1/4 inches. It weighs around 8.6 ounces.
Blade
The blade of the knife is made up of 4.3mm thick CPM S30V stainless steel. It steel is one of the top quality stainless steel out there.
It is corrosion resistant and wear-resistant, and holds its edge for a longer periods of time. It comes coated with Tungsten DLC Coating with tiger stripes finish on the blade.
The coating enhances the hardness and reduces the friction and drag as well as provides a non reflective camo surface. As it is an ambidextrous knife there are two titanium thumb studs on both sides of the blade for assisted opening. Overall a very premium blade made with a premium quality steel.
Handle
Handles are made up of 3D machined G10 scales. Anodized in olive green in the front and titanium at the back with the frame lock.
There’s also a ⅜ inch hex head pivot shaft nut that allows you to make any field adjustments very easily and with minimum tools. There’s a pretty aggressive jimping on the thumb ramp. Which provides a nice grip and feels secured to hold even with gloves on.
It’s super strong with its construction and you can even hammer things with it. Lever at the back which is used for assisted opening. Becomes a guide or stopper for your finger once the blade is deployed.
It is a very nice design to stop your finger from going forward. And slicing it off when your hands are wet, muddy or sweaty. Pocket clip design is also very versatile. You can quad mount the clip on both sides for left-right hand carry and tip up-tip down position.
Deployment and lock up
The knife is deployed either with thumb studs on the blade or a flipper lever at the back. It comes with the frame lock system. It works really well, it is very tight and there’s no play to the blade. Despite how hard you use the knife there’s no chance that the frame lock coming off.
Field Test Video
Conclusion
In the end it is a good EDC knife. It is a sizable knife, but don’t feel too big in the hand. It is easy to manipulate and the lock up is solid. And it gives you a very confident feeling that it will not fail or close on you under hard use. It is very nicely balanced and opens smooth as silk. So if you’re someone who is looking for a higher quality EDC knife for hard use. And comfortable in paying a little more for it, then it might be one for you.
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