I’ve always been fond of ZT knives and that’s especially so with the higher end designs of many world famous knife makers. KAI USA brings these artist knifemakers together to share ideas and design philosophies and turn out gorgeous knives.

I tend to carry larger folders between 3.5 and 4 inches in blade length. The 0850 has a 3.75 inch blade made from very durable CPM 20CV blade steel. Taking about durable the carbon fiber scales are not only very durable and strong but lightweight. The total weight of 4.3 ounces makes for a comfortable all day carry knife with the larger blade I prefer. Unlike most factory knives ZT blades I own will shave arm hair with the edge they come with from the factory. This steel is a bit difficult to put a great edge on when the time comes but once you have the right bevel and polish that edge is very sharp and stays sharp even after a good deal of use.

Specs:

Made in the USA
Round turned-aluminum backspacer
Manual opening system
Thumbstud
Single-position titanium (right, tip-up)
Sub-Frame Lock, hardened steel lockbar insert
Steel: CPM 20CV, stonewashed & machine satin finish
Handle: Carbon fiber composite
Blade Length: 3.75 in. (9.5 cm)
Blade Thickness: 0.156 in. (0.396 cm)
Closed Length: 4.95 in. (12.6 cm)
Overall Length: 8.7 in. (22.1 cm)
Weight: 4.3 oz. (121.9 g)
MSRP: $400.00

The Zero Tolerance 0850 is an exciting Dmitry Sinkevich/Todd Rexford collaboration based on a spectacular custom piece the two knife makers built together last year. Zero Tolerance 0546 review.

New Zero Tolerance with carbon fiber scales

Dmitry and Todd had always admired each other’s work, so perhaps it was inevitable that they would eventually collaborate. That time came early in 2016. They talked and agreed to work on a project together. Dmitry provided a drawing of an initial concept. Todd worked out the design details and décor. Together they went to work in Todd’s Colorado workshop, sawing, milling, sharpening, and polishing. Eventually, they built exactly two completely astounding knives. And sold them almost instantly.

Zero Tolerance decided that two was not enough. We talked with Dmitry and Todd and they agreed to work with us on a production version of their collaboration. The new 0850 is the result.

The blade is CPM 20CV stainless steel with a two-tone, stonewash-and-satin finish. This powdered metallurgy steel offers outstanding edge holding capability and corrosion resistance. The 0850 opens manually using a decorative aluminum thumb stud with a clear anodize. The thumb stud is echoed by the unique aluminum backspacer that has been turned and sculpted, then clear anodized. The handles that surround this unusual backspacer are built from a carbon fiber composite material that maintains the benefits of carbon fiber while enabling it to take color, in this case, a deep blue.

Black and deep blue carbon fiber scales. A very difficult process to make carbon fiber in two colors.

To keep the weight down on this big folder, ZT added our patented Sub-Frame Lock with hardened steel lockbar insert. (The ZT Sub-Frame Lock is covered under US Patent 69.120.234.) A custom machined titanium clip with bead-blasted finish and black Teflon®-coated hardware round out the look of this extraordinary knife.

MSRP: $400.00