ZT company is an award-winning and most popular knife manufacturing brand in the world. If I compare it with other knife makers, I would say that Zero Tolerance makes the best folding knife in the world.
All the ZT knives I have tested and listed here are proudly made in the USA. Most importantly, these best ZT knives for EDC come with a limited lifetime warranty by the manufacturer against defects in workmanship and materials.
So there is no risk for you and don’t need to worry about its quality. Read More: Best Pocket Knife Under $100
What Are the Best ZT Knives?
- Zero Tolerance 0350TS
- Zero Tolerance 0450CF
- Zero Tolerance 0350
- Zero Tolerance 0770CF
- Zero Tolerance 0562CF
- Zero Tolerance 0357BW
- Zero Tolerance 0450
- Zero Tolerance 0350BW
- Zero Tolerance 0609
- Zero Tolerance 0350SW
Best Zero Tolerance Knife
1. Zero Tolerance 0350TS Tiger-Stripe Folding Knife
This ZT Tiger Striped is one of the best folding knives under $200 available in the US market. It is ten percent lighter and smaller than its classic 3000 model. The weight is 6.2 oz, overall length 7.75″ and closed length 4.625″ which makes it easy to carry and use.
They are manufactured for heavy-duty use. It has a non-serrated blade for versatility in cutting. The knife can handle all the requirements of law enforcement officers, armed forces personnel, and first responders who have to be ready for anything requiring a knife.
The 3.25″ hollow grind blade is made of premium quality S30V stainless steel (57-59 HRC). This type of steel gives the blade excellent toughness and longtime edge-holding ability. The coating is Tungsten Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC). The coating is non-reflective; friction drag is reduced and helps to enhance corrosion resistance.
The textured G-10 scales in matte black give you a safe tight grip on the synthetic handle. Using a carry clip for either the right or left-hand knife includes a quad mounting system. You can carry the knife tip-up or tip-down.
This tactical folding knife has assisted one-handed opening using the technology of SpeedSafe. It is even easy to open wearing combat gloves because of the big ambidextrous blade protrusion.
Buy with confidence because this best Zero Tolerance pocket knife has a limited lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship.
Check out its combo edge EDC knife version: Zero Tolerance Tiger Stripe 0350TSST
Pros
- One of the affordable S30V EDC knives for hard use
- Additional carbon and vanadium in the steel
- This blade will stay sharp over the long haul
- SpeedSafe assisted mechanism for fast deployment
- Single-handed opening knife
- A reliable liner lock keeps the blade firmly in place
- A four-position convenient pocket clip
- Forever warranty from Zero Tolerance
- Tiger Stripe is manufactured in the USA
Cons
- 6.2 oz, slightly bulky to me
2. Zero Tolerance 0450CF Sinkevich Folding Knife
If you are a hunter, police officer, survival expert, or business professional and are looking for a multifunctional high-end tactical knife, you should buy this Zero Tolerance 0450CF folder.
The 0450CF is a smaller, lighter, and more compact version of their classic 0454 model. This knife only weighs 2.45 ounces and when closed it is only 4.12″ and overall length of 7.375″.
The upwards-pointed 3.25″ blade is razor-sharp, 0.121″ thick, and made of super-quality S35VN stainless steel. This type of steel gives outstanding resistance to corrosion and longtime edge-holding capability.
The coating, Tungsten Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) makes the blade non-reflective. It also helps to improve the hardness of the blade and reduce friction drag.
The sturdy knife features a durable handle, you will get a secure grip on the handle with black carbon fiber on the front and a titanium scale on the back.
The knife also comes with KVT ball-bearing system, it offers one-handed opening or closing quite fast and smoothes without any help of assisted Opening mechanism. It has a decent size ambidextrous flipper to make opening easier if wearing gloves.
The quad mounting system is for tip-up, tip-down, and left or right clip carry. This best Zero Tolerance folding knife is made in the United States and has a limited lifetime warranty.
Pros
- All-purpose gentleman’s EDC knife
- Ultra-premium stainless steel blade
- S35VN SS is 5x stronger than the regular steel
- Super lightweight EDC knife
- 4-position clip makes it easier to carry
- Secure Titanium frame locking system
- Includes a lanyard hole
Cons
- It is not made for heavy-duty use
- The handle is relatively small compared to the big hand
3. Zero Tolerance 0350 Pocket Knife
The Zero Tolerance 0350 folding knife was made for heavy-duty work. When closed the blade length is 4.6″ with an open blade length of 3.25″ and an overall length of 7.625″. This military-grade knife can be used for camping, hunting, and skinning, outdoors, like a utility knife, and in self-defense.
It weighs 6.2 ounces. The knife has a very sturdy feeling but is light enough to carry for daily use. Although lightweight, it is better if it is carried in a jeans pocket instead of lightweight pants.
The durable drop point blade is made out of high-performance S30V stainless steel (57-59 HRC). The hollow grind blade is also protected with a stealthy black Tungsten DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) finish that enhances its wear and is corrosion-resistant.
Black G-10 scales are used for the handle. G-10 is popular for its nature like being lightweight, strong, and not affected by environmental changes. Its textured and ergonomically designed handle provides a non-slip aggressive grip.
The SpeedSafe assisted opening system helps the knife to open quickly. The ambidextrous flipper and thumb studs help you open the knife with your right or left hand.
It has a secure locking liner system; when you deploy the blade it prevents it from accidentally closing until you allow it. The quad mounting clip enables left, or right pocket carries and tip-down or tip-up.
Pros
- Premium quality S30V stainless steel
- Extra vanadium and carbon in the core alloy
- Good at holding an edge for long
- The product is made in the United States
- Warranty and free sharpening for a lifetime
- SpeedSafe assisted opening mechanism
- One-handed deployment knife
- 4-way pocket clip
- Lanyard hole
Cons
- Weight (6.2oz) a bit heavy as an EDC knife
4. Zero Tolerance 0770CF Folding Knife
This ZT 0770CF has an elegant and versatile design combined with raw efficiency. It is proudly made in the USA and offers a limited lifetime warranty by Zero Tolerance. The knife is a well-crafted and impressive tactical knife. This compact knife only weighs 3 ounces and is easy to carry. The blade is 3.25” long, the full length is 7.5″ and when folded it is 4.25″ long.
This 0.121″ thick blade is made of the best premium stainless steel Crucible S35VN (Rockwall hardness 59-61). This type of high-performance steel is known for its super toughness, outstanding edge retention as well as wear and corrosion resistance. The stonewash finish gives it a non-reflective look and helps hide friction or scratches.
The blade is very durable and built for regular use. It came very sharp right out of the box. With the knife, I have cut a lot of rope, paracord, cardboard boxes, and opened packages as well as even pierced hard plastic with ease. I have easily done various camping tasks like preparing food (fruits, meat, and vegetables), feathering/chapping/shaving sticks, and splitting small logs with this knife.
The blade holds a really good edge as the blade hasn’t lost much sharpness even after months of light use. However, amateur users don’t need to worry about it as S35VN steel sharpens easily.
Fully legit carbon fiber handle scales make it a durable and super lightweight EDC knife. The handle feels comfortable, smooth, and very light in my hand. With the necessary texture on the handle and useful jumping in the thumb placement, the knife offers a decent grip even with wet or sweaty hands, which is essential for a secure feel.
It has a Speedsafe assisted opening system, which opens the knife quickly with one hand. All you need to do is pull back the ambidextrous flipper and instantly the blade will jump out of its chamber with a slight flick. The opening mechanism works smoothly and deploys the blade quickly every time.
The blade locks nicely into place as soon as it is opened with no wiggle even with prying or twisting force. Also very easy to unlock and close with one hand which I really like!
It has a reversible tip-up carry pocket clip. When closed, it’s small and slim enough to carry in your jeans or suit pocket that you’ll forget it’s in your pocket.
Pros
- Perfect gentleman’s type EDC knife
- Premium quality stainless steel blade
- It retains its edge after a couple of months
- Ambidextrous handle fits my hand nicely
- 100% carbon fiber, machined perfectly, no flex
- Speedsafe assisted deployment system
- Firmly locked in with zero play in any direction
- Flipper also works as a finger protector
- Light & slim profile, barely feel it in my pocket
- Adjustable, deep-carry pocket clip
Cons
- Handle is a bit short for overly large hand
- Not a quad-mount pocket clip
- No lanyard hole
5. Zero Tolerance 0562CF Hinderer Slicer Folding Knife
This ZT 0562CF was manufactured to handle the hard use requirements of personnel in the armed forces. The Hinderer Slicer is one of the high-end Zero Tolerance knives that comes with innovative craftsmanship. The knife has an overall length of 8.25″ with 4.8″ of the length in the closed position.
The 3.5″ blade is made of premium quality CPM-20CV stainless steel (59–61 HRC). Its high-performance blade comes superb-sharp and all above retain an edge for long period but is difficult to re-sharpen.
The 0.16″ thick flat-ground blade allows perfect slicing, skinning, and cutting actives. It can cut hard materials such as boxes, thick plastic, set belt, small branches, or electric wires so quickly.
The blade is coated with state-of-the-art stonewashed and satin-finished. It gives the blade the look of a tool that has been battle-tested. The two-tone coatings also give the blade an extra measure of protection. It also helps to reduce friction and helps hide the scratches from hard use.
The handle has a textured black carbon fiber front scale for a secure grip and stonewashed titanium back scale for mechanical strength. It gives you excellent performance even under the roughest conditions.
It features KVT Ball-Bearing technology to open the knife quickly and easily. It is even quick to open wearing gloves. Just use the ambidextrous flipper.
For total versatility, it has a reversible deep-carry pocket clip. This will let you carry the knife in the right or left hand and with the blade tip-up position. This best Zero Tolerance EDC knife is made in the United States.
Pros
- All-purpose hard-use EDC knife
- Ultra-premium CPM-20CV SS blade
- Two-tone finish for durability & corrosion resistance
- Eash to grip sturdy handle design
- Titanium frame lock mechanism
- The large flipper acts as a finger protector when open
- Limited manufacturer’s warranty
Cons
- Weight 5.5 oz, a bit bulky to me
- No lanyard hole
6. Zero Tolerance 0357BW Pocket Knife
The new ZT Knife 0357BW is just as aggressive as its larger counterpart the flagship 0350 model. For a hard-use EDC, this is the knife many want to pick up. The blade length is 3.25″, closed 4.4″, overall it is 7.75″ and the knife weight is only 4.3 oz.
High-end CPM-20CV super stainless steel is used for the fine-edge blade. The steel has excellent hardness and retains an edge for a long but it is hard to re-sharpen. Also, the CPM-20CV blade offers corrosion and wears resistance.
The blade has a non-reflective Blackwash coating. This coating gives the knife additional protection from scratches and friction. A flat grind and 0.12″ thick drop point blade give users a lot of sharp edges for cutting work.
The handle is combined with G-10 scales that are 3D sculpted for a secure grip. The G-10 scale handles are known for being lightweight and durable. Even in the roughest conditions, it has high mechanical strength.
The knife features the SafeSpeed assisted opening system that deploys the knife quickly. It is even easy to open when wearing gloves. This is due to the ambidextrous flipper.
During use, it is secured by a rock-solid locking liner. The knife features a reversible deep carry pocket clip. You can mount the pocket knife on the right or left side, or tip-up. Hooking to a lanyard, it has a large hole.
Pros
- Premium made CPM-20CV stainless steel blade
- Solid and 3D sculpted G-10 handle scales
- Assisted SpeedSafe deployment system
- Design to deploy with one hand
- Rock-solid liner lock, no blade play
- Backed by the Zero Tolerance lifetime warranty
- Knife made in the ZT’s Tualatin, Oregon USA factor
Cons
- Not a 4-position pocket clip
- Difficult to re-sharpen
7. Zero Tolerance 0450 Sinkevich Pocket Knife
This Zero Tolerance 0450 comes with a full metal body and a very lightweight compact design. The blade is 3.25″ long when closed 4.1″ long and the total length of the knife is 7.4″ with a weight of 2.9 ounces.
Its 0.121” thick blade is constructed of premium quality S35VN stainless steel (HRC 59-61). The steel is heat-treated which enhances the hardness and corrosion resistance of the blade.
The blade is also coated with a satin finish. This coating works against stains as well as helps to reduce friction and scratches.
The knife has a drop point tip with a super sharp fine edge blade which is excellent for cutting, piercing, slashing, chopping, slicing, scaling, or digging in any circumstances.
The handle is crafted from lightweight metal alloy aluminum. Titanium is known for its sturdiness and durability and premium-grade material. The handle is shiny and stylish. It also has a jimping, decent curve, and a deep finger choil for a comfortable grip.
For easy one-hand opening, it has a KVT Ball-Bearing mechanism. Even while wearing tactical gloves you can easily open it using the ambidextrous perfect-size flipper.
A reversible tip-up pocket clip gives you the choice of right or left-handed blade carry. The knife is made in the United States. This Zero Tolerance knife for sale comes with a lifetime limited warranty.
Pros
- Ultra-premium heat-treated S35VN SS blade
- The blade comes scary sharp out of the box
- Holds its edge 5x longer than normal stainless steel
- Full metal body but still very lightning (2.9 OZ) EDC knife
- Titanium alloy made durable handle
- KVT Ball-Bearing system for easy and fast opening
- The flipper is suitable for both left and right-handed users
- Titanium frame lock design for safe and sturdy lockup
- There is also a pre-drilled lanyard hole
- Zero Tolerance offers a limited lifetime warranty and life-sharp service
Cons
- Once the blade has dulled it is very hard to sharpen
- Handle size is small, and ergonomics are not good for large size hands
8. Zero Tolerance 0350BW Folding Knife
When looking at the Zero Tolerance 0350BW, it will seem like a battle-tested tool. Even under the roughest conditions, it will still give you great mechanical strength. The blade is 7.75″ opened and 4.6″ closed lengths. The knife weighs 5.6 ounces.
The blade is crafted from super-quality S30V stainless steel (HRC 57-59). The core alloy of the blade contains an additional amount of vanadium and carbon that increases hardness, corrosion resistance, and edge retention capability significantly.
Also, the blade comes with a non-reflective stonewashed finish instead of the DLC coating on the blade. The stonewashed coating will give your knife a well-worn appearance. The finish can help hide the scratches as well as friction is also reduced on the knife with the coating.
The handle has matte-black textured G10 scales to ensure that you have a secure grip on your knife. Whether your hand is muddy or wet or bloody, don’t worry, you will get complete control with a firm pinch grip. Also, the flipper works as a finger protector.
For easy one-handed opening, it features a SpeedSafe assisted opening system. There is no need to remove your gloves to open the knife. Just use the ambidextrous thumb studs or flipper to quickly open it.
For total versatility, there is the quad mount system for the top-down, tip-up knife position. The carry clip is also for the left or right hand. This best Zero Tolerance knife also has a predrilled hole if you want to add a lanyard.
Pros
- Premium category S30V stainless steel
- ZT 0350BW model is the USA made
- Comes with a lifetime limited warranty
- A secure liner locking mechanism
- SpeedSafe assisted deployment system
- 4-way pocket clip
Cons
- Hard to re-sharpen
9. Zero Tolerance 0609 RJ Martin Pocket Knife
The new Zero Tolerance Knife 0609 is a sturdy compact knife that gives you all the piercing and cutting power you could ever want. A multi-functional EDC for wilderness, collection, emergencies, daily chores, personal defense, or any recreational activities.
This knife has a full length of 7.4″, a closed length of 4.25″, a blade length of 3.4″, and weighing only 3.3 ounces you will hardly feel it in your pocket. For added cutting versatility it has a very thick (0.12″) drop point blade.
The blade is made of hard-use premium powdered stainless steel CPM 20CV. The mixture of an additional amount of vanadium carbides enhances the blade’s toughness and longtime edge maintainability, as well as the highest level chromium to core alloy, improving resistance to corrosion and edge chipping.
It has a two-toned finish with satin grinds and stonewashed flats to help reduce friction drag and increase the durability of the blade.
ZT 0609 has an extra-secure grip made possible by the 3D textured titanium handle. The handle also has a bronze anodized finish which makes it very attractive and aesthetic to the collectors.
It features KVT ball-bearing system for one-handed manual opening. Even if you are wearing gloves, you can still easily and quickly open it using the ambidextrous flipper. A titanium frame lock mechanism is also available on this knife for secure and reliable lockup.
This top-rated Zero Tolerance knife features a reversible tip-up pocket clip that allows right or left-handed carry only. It is USA-made and has a lifetime limited warranty.
Pros
- Premium grade CPM 20CV stainless steel
- The razor-sharp blade holds its edge well
- Protective two-toned blade coating
- 3D textured titanium handle with the deep choil for comfortable grip
- KVT ball-bearing mechanism for quick and easy one-handed blade deployment
- Titanium frame lock, solid lockup, no blade play
- Despite being a fully metal body, the knife is very lightweight
- Open frame design for easy maintenance and cleaning
Cons
- Not a 4-way deep carry clip
- There is no lanyard hole
- You need ZT proprietary tool to disassemble the knife
10. Zero Tolerance 0350SW Pocket Knife
This ZT 0350SW knife is ten percent lighter and smaller than the original 0300 model. The 0350 series was designed to stand up to heavy-duty tactical usage.
Its 3.25″ plain edge recurve blade gives you all the slicing and push cutting power you demand. The weight is 5.6 ounces. The blade, when opened, is 7.75″ and when closed is 4.625″.
The blade is manufactured from high-quality S30V stainless steel ( HRC 57-59) and has a stonewashed finish. The finish reduces friction drag and enhances hardness. The steel core also has a significant amount of carbon and vanadium which makes it very resistant to corrosion with improved edge retention.
Textured G-10 scales on the handle give you a secure grip. The handle also has a deep finger choil as well as thumb jimping for more grip and control on the knife. The flipper also protects your finger from sharp edges when the knife is open.
For one-hand opening, it comes with a SpeedSafe assisted opening mechanism. It has a flipper and ambidextrous thumb studs to help you open it quickly when wearing gloves.
It features 4-way pocket clip systems to enable right or left-handed clip carry. This system also gives a tip-down and a tip-up choice. Limited lifetime warranty & free sharpening by Zero Tolerance.
Pros
- ZT 0350SW is the USA-made knife
- Premium quality blade steel
- Stainless steel liner
- SpeedSafe assisted opening system
- Secure and solid liner locking system
- Quad-Mount system pocket clip
- Lanyard hole
Cons
- Difficult to re-sharpen
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Zero Tolerance Knife (FAQ)
Question: Which ZT knife is best?
Answer: The Zero Tolerance 0350TS Tiger-Stripe Folding Knife is the best ZT knife of all time. Due to its ergonomic design, premium parts, and solid build quality, the Tiger Striped 0350TS seemed to be the best of all the ZT knives I have used. Most importantly, its price is much lower than other ZT knives.
Question: Are Zero Tolerance knives worth the money?
Answer: Definitely, ZT knives are worth the money. Because they use top-notch components for their knives. They use premium quality knife steels like S35VN, CTS-204P, or S30V to make blades; and titanium, carbon fiber, and G-10 for handle scales. Nowadays these are the main materials that are being used to make ZT knives.
Question: Do ZT knives have a lifetime warranty?
Answer: All the ZT knives have a limited lifetime warranty that covers all forms of manufacturing defects and materials. So there is no risk for you in buying any of their knives and there is no need to worry about their quality. Zero tolerance always stands behind their product if it is genuine and purchased from an authorized seller.
Question: Why is Zero Tolerance Knives so expensive?
Answer: You will find the price of Zero Tolerance Knife a little higher than other companies. To ensure product quality ZT brand produces all its knives in the USA. High-quality materials, the cost of production in the United States as well as the unique and innovative design of the knives – all these factors increase the retail price.
Question: Where are Zero Tolerance knives made?
Answer: Each Zero Tolerance knife is made by experienced craftsmen in their own manufacturing factory located in Tualatin, Oregon USA.
Question: How to spot a fake Zero Tolerance knife?
Answer: At the present time, the Chinese-made fake ZT knives that have come out on the market look exactly like the real ones, so it is very difficult for a newbie to find out which is real and which is fake.
Here I am giving you some suggestions that will help you to spot a fake ZT knife before and after buying.
- The finish of the blade is not as good as the original
- With regular use, the sharpness of the blade dulls quickly
- The screws are not fastened perfectly to the body of the handle
- The color of the handle is slightly paler or brighter than the original
- The pocket clip is not strong enough
- The finish of the knife edges is not smooth enough
- The copy is a bit lighter than the original model
- They are usually priced a little lower than the original or are available at a much higher discount
To avoid buying fake ZT knives just use the Amazon link provided by me and buy from authorized dealers.
Question: Who makes Zero Tolerance knives?
Answer: Zero Tolerance is one of the major brands of Kai USA Ltd. and it is a partner of the Kai Group. The Kai Group is a high-ranking distributor and manufacturer of personal care products, surgical tools, razors, and housewares in Japan.
The company has some highly skilled people behind designing and manufacturing as well as this kind of success; Ken Onion, Tim Galyean, and Strider are some of them. Actually, Ken Onion invented and patented the Speedsafe assisted opening mechanism for Kershaw Knives.
Question: What is ZT’s SpeedSafe assisted mechanism?
Answer: SpeedSafe is one of the most secure and popular one-handed opening patented mechanisms for tactical assisted opening knives which was invented by Ken Onion.
This function has a torsion bar that helps the blade to come out from the handle. The SpeedSafe is not a switchblade system.
Due to its higher safety feature, the fishermen, hunters, survival experts, and people who need a single-hand opening facility in the work field like it most.
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