The Best Zero Tolerance CPM20CV Pocket Knives
Zero Tolerance has become a brand famed for producing mid to high-end pocket knives. A product of KAI USA Ltd, Zero Tolerance knives were originally intended for the military, police, firefighters, and other first responders as a tool that offers high resistance to harsh conditions. It has since become a favorite EDC for many who find themselves regularly in extremely harsh conditions.
For the quality of the blade steel, able to retain its sharpness over a long period and despite rugged use, to the sturdy build of the handles, with a variety of choices to pick from regarding the material, Zero Tolerance knives are sure to find its way to your heart once you buy one.
While there are various steel grades used in making Zero Tolerance knives, I’ll be focusing on the CPM 20CV powdered steel. A major characteristic of this grade of steel is its wear resistance, and it is also exceptional in retaining its edge. So below is a list of “The Best Zero Tolerance CPM20CV Pocket Knives.”
This is a popular product of the Zero Tolerance product designed by expert knife maker, Rick Hinderer. 0562 now comes in a Titanium handle which gives it a shiny, classy feel. The blade is a 3.5-inch premium CPM 20CV powdered steel featuring Rick Hinderer’s exclusive “slicer” Grind. CPM 20CV steel is renowned for its high resistance to wear or corrosion and the grind gives it a tough point with a high slicing efficiency.
0562 has a KVT ball-bearing system on its flipper and the “caged” ball bearing design ensures its flipping is nearly frictionless. ZT ensured a secure lock up while in use by adding a frame lock with lock bar inserts of hardened steel coupled with a lock bar stabilization so as not to over-extend the lock.
PROS
- High resistance to corrosion and wear
- Edge does not lose sharpness on time
- Weight relieving pockets in the handle to increase comfort while using.
CONS
- It is quite heavy
Zero Tolerance Sinkevich Pocketknife 0462 is an upgrade of the impressive 0460 designed by knife-maker, Dmitry Sinkevich. Its uniquely curved handle is carbon fiber on one side and titanium on the other and made more alluring by the woven red and gray carbon fiber scale on it. The blade is an upswept CPM 20CV crucible steel, nearly four inches long, and guarantees superior edge retention and durability.
0462’s blade balances superbly because the carbon fiber of the handle’s interior was skeletonized to remove excess weight. It features a KVT ball-bearing ambidextrous flipper system that makes deployment smooth, easy, and fast.
PROS
- Fast and easy deployment due to the KVT flipper system
- Allows right- or left-side carry because of its reversible pocket clip
- Lightweight despite its size.
CONS
- The uneven weight of the handle makes it unsuitable for lefties
Zero Tolerance keeps things simple with this pocket knife, building a 3.25-inch drop point blade. The blade features all the qualities known with CPM 20CV, mainly corrosion and wear resistance. The blade finish is such that scratches blend with it, which is good if you are big on appearance.
0357 was built in Zero Tolerance’s Tualatin factory, Oregon with cost in mind, and this is one of the cheapest pocket knives from the brand. The entire handle is black G10, which is a dent and moisture resistant material that is a composite of fiberglass and epoxy resin. The texture is rough enough to ensure that it does not slip from your hands when damp, but not too rough that it’s uncomfortable to use.
PROS
- It is very cheap
- Features ZT’s SpeedSafe assisted deployment system
- Ambidextrous carriage
CONS
- Edge loses its sharpness relatively quicker than other CPM 20CV knives
Zero Tolerance Emerson CF Pocketknife 0640 is a collaboration between ZT and expert martial artist and knife-maker, Ernest Emerson. This work of art combines eye-catching style with practical design and the result is simply wonderful. The handle is stonewashed titanium with an overlay of green carbon fiber composite on both sides. It has a sturdy frame lock with a lock bar insert of hardened steel, ensuring a secure lockup.
The 3.75-inch clip-point blade is CPM 20CV high-chromium steel, offering a long-lasting blade edge with superb wear resistance. 0640 is a manual deployment knife with a thumb disk at the back, and brass washers around the pivot for smooth action. It’s ambidextrous in its carriage, thanks to its reversible pocket clip.
PROS
- Excellent blade edge retention, corrosion, and wear resistant
- Brass washers provide smooth deployment, totally under the control of the user
- Can be used by both right-handed and left-handed users
CONS
- The pocket clip is tight and may need to be replaced for comfort
Another product of a ZT and Sinkevich partnership, Zero Tolerance Sinkevich KVT Pocketknife 0470 is a sleek, and practical style designed knife. Sinkevich’s signature style will immediately strike knife enthusiasts, as well as the carbon fiber insert featured on the front handle which has a unique “marbled” design. To create this design, ZT dropped the fibers on the manufacturing plate randomly and then added resin to bind the fibers and create a smooth surface.
The marbled fiber combines with the titanium on the back handle to make a handle that is lightweight, yet strong. The blade is premium CPM 20CV high-chromium powdered steel assuring a long-lasting and wear-resistant edge. 0470 blade’s finish has a two-tone satin-and-stonewashed look that very eye-catching. It also features a KVT ball-bearing opening and flipper for a smooth, fast deployment.
PROS
- Striking, eye-catching design, with a unique marbled carbon fiber handle
- KVT ball-bearing opening system for fast and smooth opening
- Lightweight compared to products of similar size
CONS
- Blade deployment can be tricky sometimes
If you are looking for a pocket knife that’s not too big, but not too small, then in Zero Tolerance 0707 Folding Knife, I believe you’ll find satisfaction. It features a sleek profile, comfortable to use, and easily disappears inside the pocket, yet its looks and cutting performance are nothing short of exceptional.
The 3.5-inch blade is CPM 20CV premium steel, which guarantees durability and superb edge retention. 0707 has a carbon fiber handle on the front and titanium on the back, and it also features ZT’s Tuned Detent System (TDSTM) that deploys the knife even with pressure to the lock bar. It also has a reversible pocket clip.
PROS
- Excellent blade edge retention, corrosion, and wear resistant
- TDS allows the detent to be fine-tuned, offering a consistent deployment even when you apply pressure to the lock bar
- It is lightweight, compact, and easy to carry
- Sleek appearance
CONS
- Deployment might be a bit tricky because of the TDS
Zero Tolerance 0308 Folding Knife is a knife with a sturdy build and a beefy 3.75-inch premium CPM 20CV steel blade. This knife offers every benefit of the 20CV steel, namely excellent edge retention and wear resistance. The handle has a titanium back and a coyote tan G10 on the front. It also features a .25 inch solid pivot with a custom nut that makes it adjustable.
0308 deploys with ZT’s KVT ball-bearing system and has a sturdy frame lock. The pocket clip reversible for ambidextrous carriage and the hole pattern is well suited to many aftermarket clips. And the stonewashed finish ensures that it hides scratches well.
PROS
- Excellent blade edge retention, corrosion, and wear resistant
- Hides scratches well because of its stonewashed finish
- KVT ball-bearing opening system for fast and smooth opening
CONS
- It is more expensive than other models
- It’s quite heavy compared to other models
Zero Tolerance ZT Knives 0460TI Folding Pocket Knife is a variant of the 0460, one of the most popular products of the ZT brand. While 0460 had a front handle of carbon fiber scale, and a titanium back, 0460TI has an all titanium handle. 0460TI features a pronounced ergonomic curve on the handle that fits snugly in the hollow of your hand, just like the original 0460.
The handle also has a partial 3D machining, which enhances grip and adds dimensionality. The CPM 20CV blade guarantees toughness and resistance to wear. ZT gave the blade a two-tone finish to enhance its visual appeal, giving the flats a stonewashed look and the grinds a machine satin. 0460TI use a KVT ball-bearing system and a flipper for deployment and a titanium frame lock and a lock bar insert of hardened steel which safely secures the blade when open.
PROS
- It is very lightweight
- It is quite cheap
- Excellent blade edge retention, corrosion, and wear resistant
- Reversible pocket clip
CONS
- Blade deployment can be tricky sometimes
FINAL CUT
Whether you are a knife enthusiast who collects knives as pieces of art, or you work in extreme conditions daily, or you love the outdoors, hiking, camping, and so on. Whichever category you fall in, there’s a Zero Tolerance knife for you. Zero Tolerance products always balance visual appeal with blade effectiveness, a combination that will always leave you purring for more.
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