Name: Zero Tolerance Model 0550 Hinderer New Lockup Folding 3.5" S35VN Stonewash Plain Blade, G10 Handles
Brand: Zero Tolerance Knives
SKU: ZT0550
Price: 174.95 USD
Availability: BackOrder
Rating: 4.88 (25 reviews)

California

May 16, 2013

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

= Excellent =

In my opinion, one of THE quintessential hard use folders on the market. Excellent design paired with flawless execution make this a perfect heavy duty edc. One word of advice: Keep your fingers away from the framelock/pocket clip when opening, as even slight pressure can significantly increase the detent strength.

Bermanator
south jersey

Feb 28, 2012

Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

one of the nicest folders..gotta love the TI

I collect...have many kershaw, cold steel, spyderco, sog, and ZT. Ihave not found a benchmade that turns me on. most are folders 3 to 3.5" blades....this knofe has one of my favorite steels. The only hit on the knife is the lack of a better closed detent. Doesnt matter that much to me anyhow.... Knifecenter has some of the best priceing and great shipping. Talk about variety, oy vey! They have everything!

Zavier
Singapore

Jan 11, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality

Cons: None

Not meant for delicate use

The 0550 is well built, as true of all Zero Tolerance knives. The titanium lockbar is so thick i'm really impressed by it. Clip on the titanium side has good tension, yet easy to extract out from the pocket. Liner under the G-10 scales are stainless steel, which is heavily milled out. Opening the 0550 is a little different from other folders because you have to make sure that there is no pressure on the lockbar. But it opens smooth and fast once you get it right. Blade sharpness is not so impressive but it can be fixed easily.

Johneroyale
Lafayette, La

Jul 27, 2012

Pros: Weight, Blade Material, Overall Quality

Cons: Lock Ease of Use

Wasn't sure at first...

Initial thoughts...a little heavier than what I was used to, G10 was almost too grippy, detent was ridiculous (could not open knife with one hand, referred to forums to see if other people had this issue). Sure enough there were. Firstly, push up on the thumbstud not outwards and a little wrist flick helps too. To break detent in, people recommended opening/closing like a hundred times and storing it half open for a week. But once it loosens up, it's a thing of beauty. It's opening pretty freely now even with less flick. Fit/finish is awesome. Robust knife. Removed clip to put a lanyard since knife is on the heavy side. Still a pleasure to EDC. After break-in knife won't let you down. Good option if you like Strider knives, but doubt want to drop the $$$.

Reppo
Wausau, WI

Apr 21, 2012

Pros: Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Weight

Excellent design

Excellent design and quality. I love it

Ec
Arlington, TX

Feb 24, 2012

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Everyday carry personal protection. Another outstanding blade from ZT.

Jlg
Canada

Jan 30, 2014

Pros: None

Cons: Weight

An indestructible tank!

This is definitely the EDC to own if you're into knives! Solid and robust handle feeling, no loose in the blade, razor sharp and long lasting cut. I used it to go through branches in the yard and it still very sharp. A bit heavy, it also tends to destroy your everyday work pant pocket!

Joshua W
Mableton, Ga

Dec 26, 2011

Pros: Weight, Blade Material, Overall Quality

Cons: None

The best Knife Ever!!!

I got dis knife for Christmas 2011 and when i held it it in my hand the first time i fell in love. Perfect weight , it is now my EDC knife. You have to get one!

Mark C
Wellington, NZ

Mar 01, 2012

Pros: Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Another winner form ZT

This knife has a terrific solid feel in the hand, locks up tight and cuts fantastically. Great grip in bigger hands. Thoroughly recommended to folk looking for a folder that can be relied upon in extreme circumstances

Phil D.
Ireland

Jan 06, 2012

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Wicked ZT!

All I can say is Wow! How do ZT make such a tank of a folder so light and nimble in the hand? Fit and finish are exceptional with solid lock up, zero blade play and perfect centering. If you were in any doubt about the 0550 don't delay, I would pull the trigger on one of these in a heartbeat having handled one. This is my first ZT and it certainly won't be my last (can't wait for my 0560 now) Outstanding ZT! Excellent sales and service from Hal and the team at KnifeCenter BTW

Bill G.
cranston r.i.

Jun 19, 2012

Pros: Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

great knife

over built. great knife for the money. ZT does it again!

Michael M.
Western MD

May 08, 2012

Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality

Cons: Weight

Won't be leaving my pocket anytime soon...

Great knife, comfortable, really well made. You can swap out the handle scales with a variety of colors from Rick Hinderer.

Reinhard "Vowi" V
Vienna, Austria

Feb 12, 2012

Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Perfect EDC Folder!

I prepared 2 Lambs for kitchen-ready use without re-sharpening. The knife shows excellent edge retention, a strong frame lock and a practical clip. It is not a lightweight knife, but it gives the feeling of 100 percent reliability. Compliments to Rick Hinderer and ZT!

Pierre M

Apr 07, 2013

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Thank you KC

This is the first Zero Tolerance blade I purchased but it won't be the last. I can use this blade for just about everything. Great building materials and strong/solid construction makes this folder a winner!

Andy S
Vienna, VA

Jan 08, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality

Cons: None

ZT 0550

Got mine this Saturday. This is my first real knife so I have no comparison, just my impression as an engineer who appreciates quality. I have medium sized hands and it fits very well, and is well balanced. This is definitely a thick, manly knife. I appreciate over-built. There is no movement in the blade at all!!! Extending the blade takes a bit of effort however. I have to grab the top of the blade first then it's easy to flick open. Maybe this will get smoother in time. The G-10 scale is nice and grips well. I also pre-ordered the 0560. Great job ZT/RH!

Chris P.
Worcester, MA

Nov 26, 2013

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality

Cons: Weight

Follow-up

Ok, so I've now had this blade for quite a while now, and I have to say, my remarks in the first of these reviews (concerning the 0551) still stand. Just as a rider though, I thought I'd add this bit. I recently sharpened the 0551 on a carbide sharpener to a 40degree inclusive angle. The sharpener has served me well with other knives, so I figured I'd give it a shot on this one. Even though the edge is thick, the carbide sharpener smoothed out the entire length (but did require 2 changes of blades!), which made it very sharp. However, users of this knife design should know that the thickness does not like to be sharpened to a smooth edge. A smooth edge on this blade (mine is Elmax, the S30V may differ, but I suspect its the thickness, not the steel) does not grab a material to cut it. It seems to just want to slide past the material rather than go through it. I took my prized 0551 and sharpened it on a cheap dual-sided benchstone. It had coarse and "fine" (really more like medium) grits to it, and lo and behold, the 0551 was a cutter again. As a knifemaker, I fought against the growing trend of carbide 'V' sharpeners. However, the latest crop of them has given me pause, and I now own a few. They are handy for certain tasks and certain blades, but NOT all of them, and certainly NOT the 0551/0550. Once I re sharpened the "beast" she was again a joy to behold, and a fearsome destroyer of cardboard boxes for the recycling guy to pick up. If you get this blade, get yourself a decent benchstone (an actual stone one) and learn how to use it from the guy who shaves his beard with an axe. He wrote a fantastic book, so find it, read it and learn about the dual-bevel edge. It will shift your paradigm, if you know what I mean. Two years going and I still love this knife above all my others, and it frequently rides in my pocket when I want a little "something extra" going out. Now, I won't have performance anxiety when cutting stuff. The shiny, smooth edge looked good, but on this knife, it killed the performance.

Chaforce1
PDX

Feb 24, 2012

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality

Cons: Weight

Rock solid.

Great heavy duty folder. Like an Escalade. Incredibly tough, yet super refined. Amazing lock-up. Arguably better than my Strider SMF. Overall, Rick Hinderer design at $200, can't beat that. All that said, it's a bit too big for my EDC tastes. But glad I have it. Worth every penny.

David
Tennessee

Apr 10, 2014

Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Amazing right out of the box

I just got mine today so I can't yet speak to long term use, but after reading a number of other reviews I wanted to address a few key complaints I've heard from others. First off, the G10 side is exactly as grabby as every other G10 handle I've felt (if anything, a little less). I think it's perfect. Second, mine opens very smoothly and with little to no effort. I noticed there's a small ball bearing (or something like that) mounted on the lock bar which rides against the blade. I'm wondering if some simply require more break in than others? At any rate, mine opens great right out of the box. The knife is amazingly well made. After close examination I can't find a single flaw. It fits in my pocket perfectly and came razor sharp. I'm VERY happy with my purchase. Some folks may find this knife a little too heavy, but I honestly don't think those people are going to be looking at a knife like this in the first place. To me it's just right.

Chris P.
Worcester, MA

Sep 26, 2011

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

All "HD" folders need fear the 0551

This review is actually about the 0551 with the El Max steel. The 0550 differs in two respects: the blade steel and the G10 jimping. other than that, they are the same. This thing is a beast. The lockbar is huge, making solid lockup over time no issue. The blade is thick and sharp, made for hard use. The only downside (not too much of an issue) is that the Hinderer Lockbar Stabilizer only functions as an overtravel stop, not a true stabilizer. Not really a big deal, but something you should know. The weight isn't too bad, not noticeably different from the CS Lawman in terms of carry. Great knife for the money.

Tony D.
Evansville, IN

Dec 09, 2014

Pros: Ease of Opening, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Weight

Great ZT knife!

I've owned and carried a 0550 for a couple of years and have no complaints at all. In fact, I like the knife enough to purchase the newer model with upgraded lock-up. I've never experienced lock failure on the old model as some have though. When I saw the lock-up had been redesigned with a hardened and removable insert being added I decided to purchase the new model. The new model is just like the old, very solid with a heavy blade and great steel that holds an edge. The only complaint someone might have with this knife, especially for EDC, is the weight. At just over six ounces it is a little on the heavy side but overall excellent knife!

Brooks P.
Owings Mills MD

Jan 12, 2012

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Hinderer quality, ZT reliability

I have several folders, but this ZT by Hinderer is exceptional - sharp, durable, and not too heavy for its blade width. This is my second ZT and will not be my last. These knives are built like a brick you-know-what house and they are a pleasure to carry, quick to deploy, and always reliably sharp. Can't go wrong with this one for twice the price.

Denny
pa

Jan 22, 2012

Pros: Weight, Blade Material, Overall Quality

Cons: None

Beast of a folder

This thing is a tank of a folder. Good craftsmanship and excellent design. Overall quality. Thanks Knifecenter for a fast delivery.

James J
Greensboro, Pa

May 29, 2012

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Love the knife and want another

I also have the 0560 and find myself edc-ing or carrying this knife more often, it's super smooth right out of the box, no lock stickiness what so ever , extremely sharp also, it's beefie, but not to heavy in the pocket, atleast not to me. Over all a great knife and holds a nice edge. I guess you could say I'm pleased .

Irène C
France

Dec 24, 2014

Pros: Pocket Clip, Blade Material

Cons: Weight

Good knife

This is a good knife: it feels good in hand, it's a good cutter but it's hard to open. The detent ball engages pretty deep in the lock and you have to move your fingers further down so you do not press the frame lock. Otherwise it's pretty smooth. Take into account that you might have taxes at arrival when you order from Europe.

Cat Cla
Amne En Champagne, Other

Dec 09, 2014

Pros: Blade Material, Overall Quality

Cons: Weight, Lock Ease of Use, Pocket Clip

70-75% knife for the price

To be honest I expected nothing less than perfection and I am a little disappointed. Ill start with the PROs (imo): -quality materials, great precision in the grind lines and in the Ti milling on the frame; -elaborate design, ergonomic in hand; -centering is PERFECT; -good traction on the G10 scale (and I even like the not-so-popular pattern); -nice stonewash on the blade; -overall great looks (that's why we buy these things in the first place, am I right?). Now the CONs: -first HUGE con is that the metal insert on the frame lock makes it very sticky. Its annoying for such an expensive knife; I really wanted to believe they got the locking mechanism perfect, especially on a 3rd gen (I thing the first gen was better?); -this knife takes A LOT of breaking-in time; I only now (after weeks of use and playing with) am able to open it one-handed, especially with my right hand. The ball detent was so strong in the beginning that it was impossible to open and it dug a hole in my thumb (blood and everything, no kidding) when I tried. On the left hand it was easier, and still is, because you don't go against the lock bar. Works fine now, after my thumb healed; there is also a technique to be learned. Not an easy knife to use, and again, disappointing for its price; -good luck trying to use the pocket clip on the left side! The G10 scale is just to slippery under the clip for it to stay in place. If they actually wanted to make the knife ambidextrous, why don't they just mill a groove under the pocket clip (and I know they can, since there is already a lot of good quality milling on this knife). Its funny to me that they can make such quality products but are not yet (3rd gen!) able to make the darn pocket clip work. I guess im lucky to be right handed; -the edge was medium-high sharp (Cold Steel can give you a scary sharp edge for 40 bucks); -one of the standoffs that hold the handle together does not fit perfectly on mine; -I whish the pocket clip was stonewashed to match the blade, and I whish the frame on the G10 side was made of titanium, it would be more fair, for the price. This is not really a con (as you should do your research before buying this knife) but just a word of advice: this is not an EDC friendly knife. It is chunky and noticeable in the pocket, although they've made efforts to make it lite. As I said, I am a bit disappointed overall, mostly because of the sticky lockup. I'm sure I could contact KAI and they would fix it for me (this is the easiest company to deal with that I've encountered to date) but I live in Europe and I don't really want to send the knife back and fourth too many times.