Several months ago I received a later addition ZT0551 in the 'black box.' While a limited and harder to find example, it was not as immediately collectible as the original ZT0551 in the 'green box.' Personally owning the earlier model, I noticed a definite improvement in the build quality, the machining, and foremost to my interest, the quality of the bevel. The later model was almost perfect; with a touch of a mild stone to remove practically unseen blemishes, and polishing out to +7K grit, the edge was rendered flawless. I considered it one of the four perfect (individual) knives I had seen in my lifetime.

The ZT0550 was supposed to be the more 'pedestrian' version, or so I surmised. I got two of them today, finally. I had to make repeated calls to my supplier over missed delivery dates--due to production delays. I finally made numerous calls to KAI-Kershaw insiders and just squawked like RK whines when his copy of "Highlights For Kids" arrives late.

Magically, two ZT0550s showed up at my house today. Who says bikers aren't good at finesse?

I planned to spend a few hours polishing out the flaws, re-aligning the bevel to a uniform width front to back and then left to right, and buffing the thing until my fingers bled. It was not necessary.

Without hyperbole, this ZT0550 is perfect! The bevel is uniform, and 'sharp' to my standards. The titanium frame is polished without any flaws, the edges dressed to perfection. The screws are snug, socket heads without witness marks, and the G-10 side is machined to a 60 to 70 LPI pattern. I am not going to waste steel polishing the bevel to a mirror finish until it needs to be resharpened--if that ever happens.

The blade alloy is the newer S35VN, and best of all my example is serial number 0650. A nice touch, probably signifying a first run.

Below is the picture. It appears that the bevel tapers to the front in the picture. It does not, might be faulty perspective. It is uniform the entire span. A strong, beautiful, useful EDC, and I'm looking around for something to make my first virgin slice.

https://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb23 ... 01-132.jpg

No, I put the second pocket clip on. I haven't decided if I'm going to carry the knife 'tip up' or 'tip down.'

From a safety standpoint, I like tip down carry. Numerous people, even knife magazine writers, report reaching into their front pocket and slicing their hand open because the folder opened slightly. My belief is that this might be a condition of a worn or cheap knife. A modern folder in good repair shouldn't do that.

Now, having said that, I checked the 0550 when I first got it. Like most modern knives, there is a ball detent that seems to 'suck' the blade into the handle when it's almost fully folded. The question is whether you want to risk the palm of your hand on a razor sharp blade with only a teenie little ball bearing protecting you.

Tip up does present the knife in a more natural ergo position if you need a blade for 'knife fighting.' In that debate, I'm firmly a 'tool guy.' I don't believe knife fighting is as prevalent as rags like TK profess.

I like folders that place the knife tip down with the spine of the blade resting on the outside edge of your pocket, meaning against the side seam of your leg's blue jeans. I have lots of clips, and I mix and match them to try out differing carry methods, that's my job.

This is not an assisted opening folder, although it rotates open so smoothly I don't see a problem with any position.

I have this tradition with new knives. I do not consider a knife "mine" until I use it, preferably on something messy. I call this first use "mayonnaising." It stems from the first time I cut something mundane with a 400 dollar knife--it was a meaningless sandwich in the breakroom at Harley, and my beautiful new knife got slathered with mayonnaise.

But the sun came out the next day, I didn't die and the expensive Razel washed up just like new. It taught me a valuable lesson. Now all my new persoanl EDCs get dirty, dunked into a sinkful of soap suds, washed and dried, and shoved back into my jeans.

BTW, the ZT0550 is still pristine. No harm came to any folder used in this thread. But now the knife is mine, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

https://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb23 ... 01-133.jpg

I've been monkeying around for a few days with the ZT0550, and I've come to a strange conclusion.

My sharpening techniques with waterstones usually tend to be towards the "mirror" end of the spectrum. But I have always believed that what I've needed was not a some super-dooper futuristic CNC designed samurai folder, but a common jackknife. And the ZT0550 came with a sharp but 'toothy' edge.

I've been doing some rather mundane chores lately. I've prepared food, sliced the loose threads off laundry, and opened the inside liner of a box of cereal. Routine, but a common life for an EDC folder.

The toothy edge seems to 'grab' the things I need to cut, and the bevel angel and quality of the edge give me the slicing superiority I need/want.

I have tools and waterstones to duplicate the factory edge. When it becomes necessary to sharpen the knife, I think I'm going to replicate this finish and polish.

I sold a ZT0550 this week to a client in Tennessee. He carries 'hard use' knives in the field for his job, heard that I had a few and bought one sight unseen over the telephone. He requested a polished edge as a condition for the sale.

This would make the second knife blade of S35VN that I have polished. I like the alloy, a whole bunch.

Not only did the get incredibly sharp, but the cosmetics of the bevel are breath-taking. Some alloys get sharp, but the bevels get 'whisker marks.' That is, faint almost unperceivable micro-scratches that sometimes appear in strong sunlight. It doesn't effect the keenness of the edge, it's just that I think they look like hell.

I finished his edge with a dab of paste and glass and every visual defect went away quite easily. The knife looks as great as it slices.

I'm going to leave my edge 'in the white,' that is, with the factory edge until it goes dull. I want to see how long that takes, and how the knife functions with a toothy edge. I have other EDCs with a mirror finish, in fact, I have converted a Mantis Pit Boss to left-handed carry for just that purpose. I carry both of them. The toothy edge seems to work the best on slippery or fiberous things. Not every edge needs to be a scalpel.

BTW, if you see a Zero Tolerance knife locally, and you like it, buy it from your outlet. It won't be there when you get back, and they are the best knives going.

(It seems that Leroy Jethro Gibbs is quite a salesman. Just like his ZT0302, I saw a very distinctive wrist watch he was wearing for a few seconds last night. After the show I googled 'Gibbs wrist watch.' Sure enough, up popped several links for the Omega Seamaster. Despite its price of about 5K, my guess is that lots of flush NCIS fans will be in the jewelry stores today looking for one...)