Editors Note: The drawing for this knife is now over. But there are still some great knives coming up. There is a Wilmont, a Hoffner, a Ruana, a WE, an Artisan, a whole bunch of more budget oriented folders, a handful of Condor Kepharts, some more Brownings, and the two “most awesomest” knives in our Giveaway – Custom knives by David Kurt and SR (Steve) Johnson. See the Official 100 Knives in 100 Days Giveaway post for more information. If you want to win these or other knives from our 100 Days Giveaway, you must Register for a free account, and leave a comment on our official contest thread (here) – Your single comment remains good as your entry for the duration of the contest.
Zero Tolerance has several knives that are on the way to reaching iconic status. Perhaps at the top of the list of those is the Ken Onion designed ZT0301, made famous by Mark Harmon’s character Gibbs on TV’s NCIS. That knife has been discontinued, but the distinctive shape and styling lives on in more pocket-friendly ZT035, which is the knife we are giving away for Day 76 – Thursday 8/15/19.
ZT Product Video:
That video was a bit on the quiet side, here is what ZT has to say about the 0350 on their website:
Slightly smaller. Slightly lighter. Just as aggressive. The 0350 is smaller and weighs less than some of our larger ZT models. Yet it packs a lot of features into a size that some users prefer, especially for every day carry.
Like its larger counterpart, the 0350 features the patented SpeedSafe® assisted opening system. Deploy the blade quickly and easily, even in gloves, using the ambidextrous flipper. The ZT 0350’s blade is CPM S30V stainless steel with non-reflective black Tungsten DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating. S30V steel is extremely durable, corrosion resistant, and wear resistant. In addition to providing a non-reflective surface, the black Tungsten DLC coating offers additional blade hardness and reduces friction.
This high-performance S30V blade is paired with textured black G10 scales for a secure grip and excellent mechanical strength even under the roughest conditions. The scales are flat rather than 3D-machined like those of the 0300. A locking liner secures the blade during use. The 0350 also includes ZT’s Quad-mount system for complete versatility. Mount the pocketclip in any of four ways: tip-up, tip-down, on the left side, or the right. There’s a pre-drilled lanyard hole for users who prefer to attach a lanyard.
Specs: (from KAI):
- Made in the USA
- Lanyard hole
- Assisted opening
- Flipper
- Liner lock
- Quad-mount clip (left/right, tip-up/down)
- Steel: CPM S30V, Tungsten DLC coating
- Handle: Textured G10, matte black
- Blade Length: 3.25 in. (8.25 cm)
- Blade Thickness: 0.121 in. (0.307 g)
- Closed Length: 4.6 in. (11.7 cm)
- Overall Length: 7.6 in. (19.3 cm)
- Weight: 6.2 oz. (175.8 g)
Personal Observations:
The first thing I noticed was the heft of the knife. A lot of reviews mention that the 0350 is a bit heavy for its size. I understand their point, but I don’t feel like it is ridiculous. If anything, when I buy a knife from a premium brand like ZT, I want the knife to feel substantial, provided that the knife has good balance, ergonomics, and blade geometry.
The ZT0350 hits each of those 3 points quite well. Despite its heft, it feels nimble in its balance. The contours of the handle fit my hand near perfectly.
The assisted flipper mechanism functions smoothly and intuitively and opens the knife with a satisfying snap. The fit and finish is fantastic, with even plunge lines and near-perfect blade centering.
Outside Review:
This is a super popular knife, and there are a bazillion reviews out there. I have selected two text based reviews by trusted sources, and an interesting video by BladeHQ and Dan from TheDailyPrep using the 0350 in various simulated bug-out scenarios.
I would like to thank the folks at KAI, ZT’s parent company. They provided our 100 Knives in 100 Days Giveaway, 4 Kershaws and this ZT. I have liked them all, and would carry them gladly in my rotation with the half dozen or so, both samples and privately purchased KAI knives I already own
Remember, if you want to win this or other knives from our 100 Days Giveaway, you must Register for a free account, and leave a comment on our official contest thread (here)