My clients have sorted themselves out in the typical dichotomy of a slow economy. That is, the well heeled guys buy like they always did. The Joe Lunchbox types shop for deals. And being a Harley owner, I shop for good economical knives myself. I'll tell you what I'm carrying now.

First, my idea of 'economical' doesn't mean 'cheap.' I have no use for 'cheap.' Cheap stuff breaks easily, needs replacement or service often, and usually winds up costing me. For every singular person I've met who still carries their grandfather's two dollar knife there are scores of clients who chip, snap or sadly wear out junk and then have to re-invest money. The new 'economical knife' is in the 50 to 75 dollar range. And trust me, you can still find one "Made in USA."

I just bought a Zero Tolerance 0350 in black/black finish. Yes, the internet blurbs post the price at 150 bucks, but no one actually pays that. The lowballers can get them all day long for a lot less. Mine cost 75 bucks, and that's in S30V with the 'speed safe' feature. The 3.25 inch blade has the typical ZT recurve shape, but the grip is G-10 on both sides, not the usual titanium frame lock as on most models. The grip liners are fairly thick stainless--you ain't gonna break this knife.

I own one of their fancy-schmancy composite blade models also in 0350, and while my new one is pretty butt-ugly, it took a wicked polished edge and slices everything in sight. It still has the "crisp feel" to the grip when handled, but within a few weeks in my pocket that condition goes away to a comfortable "pocket worn."

Now, what caused this change for me. Well, the bikes are put away, I'm back to wearing cheap Sears jeans and crappy boots for rain and slush. It doesn't seem prudent to carry a 500 dollar knife to cut the usual wet and moldy junk we find here now. As time progresses I'll take some pictures and give you an update. Now, the break-in period...

Ah, that new knife smell. Boy, that should change after a few wet UPS boxes and some string cheese. Poor little knife...

https://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb23 ... 01-125.jpg

Well, it's a nice knife, but...

The liner lock engages perfectly. There is no wobble or end shake. However, most liner and frame locks show 1/2 of the edge of the lock engaging the blade. This is done to maximize wear over time. My lock almost fully engages the blade. Minor, but it is a 'hand fit' issue. It is also their low end knife.

I also had to 'break in' the knife and use some Tuff-Glide on the pivot. The Speed Safe is usually a very strong opening mecanism, and the blade cracks loudly upon opening. Mine didn't without a little love.

It's spooky fast now and louder than a recalcitrant ex-wife, just not out of the box.

While you guys know me only as the delightfully handsome, glib and well chiseled saddle-trap, I sadly admit that I am also a businessman. I try to get good cutlery products to clients in my local area--it's a small business, and 'local' is all I can handle. (We have no B&M stores except for Gander Mountain.) This forces me to make contacts within the cutlery trade.

Not always a bad thing. One of the best contacts is a woman who works for KAI. She answers her own phone. She took Q/C problems with the ZT blade grinds up the chain, and successfully solved the problem. She works with distributors, also solves their problems, and we admire her.

Yesterday I sent her pictures of my edge, and the edge of a collectible knife and pointed out that things were improving for the consumer. I thought about that--and I find the concept rare and enviable.

Imagine the concept. An American made product, designed by Americans and built here--with advances in Q/C and a desire to fix problem issues!

We had a candid conversation a few days back. As you might guess, a production knife will never be a handmade custom--and we discussed continuing errors and sales issues. However, their product is the one I carry for all of the right reasons. One of their knives took top honors at our national blade show (it's the ZT0777) and I'm already B/O on that model. Even Europe gobbles them up.

As Harley riders, I feel their entire business model ought to make sense to you. ZT hasn't made a Harley model yet, but increasingly I personally depend on them more and more--and I have to buy my own! The next time one of your buddies buys one, ask to see it. This brand impresses me. They are going in the right direction.

BTW, if you watch NCIS, then you'll know that Leroy Jethro Gibbs carries one.

So far it's been a very mundane week for this little knife. About the most exciting thing I've sliced open is a bag of flat-bread style crackers.

Still, the EDC knives I carry turn into business cards. Before a potential client will hand you his treasured baby, he wants to see the edge on your knife. I make sure that any flaws or whisker mark blemishes are polished out if I decide to use the knife as a showcase. I wavered on doing that with this knife. Sometimes you just want something for yourself--like I did when buying Spinner. I keep these things simple and functional.

*sigh* But this ZT0350 is a pretty good knife. And while I'll ding it up and use it, it needs a good edge, a superior edge. I was "tickling the dragon" last night and found a small area that didn't meet my standards. Oh, this knife will slash you right to bone very easily, this was just an ego thing. But personally, I dreaded taking out the waterstones and removing even the slightest bit of metal for vanity.

I decided to use a real-deal horsehide strop first. Sometimes this strop creates whisker marks, sometimes it buffs them out. Most times it refines the edge to insane proportions, and being insane myself (with papers to prove that) I figured I'd give it a go.

Good choice! The cosmetic finish gleams and the knife's edge is now spooky to the touch. I did find two or three small areas where the top of the bevel has not yet married up perfectly with the black finish, but they will polish out easily on the next sharpening. There is no doubt in my mind that this future second sharpening will leave the edge "toasty" on the tinkers' scale of maniacal perversion.

The knife has now become an example of "look but do not touch" when being displayed to idiots.