ZT 0640 Knife Consult -- Ernest Goes Back to the Store

[@waynewelshans1172]

I think that carbon fiber is gorgeous and I love the different colors carbon fiber ZT has been doing.

[@NickShabazz]

Thanks for the video, Doc. I’m with you here, I don’t get it.

[@AndyMcGehee]

Nick Shabazz It is indeed the Z-Hunter of carbon fiber.

[@Gaston-Monescu]

With the first photo I saw of this knife, that was my response. Who makes such a decision for ZT?

[@kerryrwac]

More like you won't get it lol , at least the 0452 is sexy looking unlike this hot mess .

[@cavedog1279]

Probably a decision made by the same person at ZT who is convinced we need 1/2" thick blade stock on every knife.

[@reekforceone1992]

One of the best looking blades with horrible handle scales, pocket clip and a freakin thumb disc? Come on...this knife could be so badass! Are they trying to sell knives at zt?

[@vodcc4463]

I really like it, and the fact that the community seem to not like it makes me appreciate it even more.

[@rm7097]

You must be the ZT design guy that’s sweating right now lol

[@Aaron-lx3gz]

Beta! Haha. Love your profile pic. Gettin* this one. It’s a beaut.

[@Truffaldino1991]

Okay, I recently came back from the store (House of Blades, TX for those interested) and having had it my hand, I have a much better idea of this knife. This is a lot better feeling than I had expected- not as big or as cumbersome as it was made out to be. EDC Plus size? Sure. Could I carry this every day? Absolutely. I've seen a lot of people dock points to this knife for not being easy to front flip or spydieflick, but in all honesty this was not designed for those. That's more of a commentary on what we expect a knife to be today, rather than a negative on the knife itself. Same thing with the pocket clip- I've carried knives with far worse pocket clips than this one, and while it is shallow, it's not a bad clip. This is a real, honest to God Tactical Knife. But it is not a Modern Tactical Knife. It doesn't have a flipper. It doesn't ride on ball bearings. It doesn't open via a half dozen ways, making it the ultimate fidget (and social media) experience. The pocket clip isn't even deep carry, never mind sculpted. This bears more resemblance to a 1990's Tactical Knife, the kind made famous by Bob Terzuola and Ernie Emerson (go figure), that were far more utilitarian and purposeful. This knife certainly won't appeal to the instagram knife community, but it will appeal itself to the users and abusers, and I already put one down in my name while I was at the store!

[@DoctorFrunkey]

;)

[@kurtgrates4964]

I actually like the green carbon fiber

[@VicariousReality7]

Carbon fiber is black.

[@HikikomoriZone]

Thumb disks are fine with me. I'm neutral on them. ZT has done the best washers I've ever felt in the 0850, like you mentioned (even better than any custom I've owned, though I've never had a Guthrie). As for the carbon fiber, I think it looks perfectly fine. In fact, I think it makes the knife look more interesting than plain black. It could've been better, say with blackwood or unidirectional CF, but I really don't think regular CF would have been any better. That's just my opinion though; I've never really been attracted regular weaved CF anyways. I guess that's good for me since I won't have to buy secondary market scales if I decide to get one, but we'll see if the community agrees when/if it gets discontinued.

[@jakoblohman3031]

I love the color of the carbon fiber, and that is the only reason I want the knife.

[@SHADOW-ke6xz]

Can you just imagine that in a black and white carbon fiber.... great review by the way totally agree.

[@MrGeerbear]

Shadow- I was thinking the same thing. Much more universally acceptable.

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

Good vid Doc thanks for sharing I like the design hate the colour, must add how are you not able to spydie flick I've seen you flick knives that I cant even come close to moving

[@DoctorFrunkey]

Thats what I'm saying. This was impossible! Thanks Kevin!

[@BazonBlades]

Sorry ZT....Ugly CF and terrible pocket clip design/placement make this a no go for me.

[@jailbreakoverlander]

im a fan and owner of many ZTs and my EDC is the 0620cf m390 this knife shown is gross that CF is fugly. emerson is only as good as the WAVE.

[@bill3117]

Wish they had the same color of blue scales on this knife they have on the 0850.

[@SUNDAYHRS]

This knife customized is sooooo much better! I agree out of the box its hideous and needs some upgrades. I just bought one from USAMADEBLADES and they had one with smooth black carbon fiber scales and then the handles were anodized a bronze color. I then ordered a bronze deep carry lynch clip for it and an oversized Bronze thumb disc from gray precision! Can't wait to get it and put it all together! I think it's going to look really good and function better with the deep carry clip and the oversized thumb disc for better deployment!

[@bladecentered2264]

I think it would look cool with some blue micarta scales. The good thing about the clip pattern is that it will take benchmade style clips. Lynch makes a clip for benchmade that would be good on it.

[@rabbivj]

Even tho I tore my thumb on it. I do like the profile and the weight.

[@Below-Average_Joe]

I happen to like the carbon fiber on this new model and the cf on the 0462. Different strokes I guess?

[@AndyMcGehee]

To be clear, it was the 0460 that Doc was commenting on. ZT got it right, imho, with the 0462.

[@Below-Average_Joe]

AndyMcGehee, OK, I never bought a 460 because it was not comfortable in my hands.

[@DoctorFrunkey]

@@AndyMcGehee correct sorry for the slip up

[@AndyMcGehee]

No slip up, Doc. You said 0460 in the video. But I understand BAJ's comment. As much as I love their products, usually, ZT's naming/numbering scheme is more suited for machines than human beings.

[@yamsi12]

ZT got it right with the sprint run 0462blk. Looks so mush better imo than the production 0462

[@lanehoward4466]

Love the blade grind I like the thumb disk to me having it on washers I prefer washers once broken in for a out door EDC I love Green but the green on this one just doesn't do it for me and the clip I don't care for at all So for I'm on the fence about this one I think with some fine tuning it could be a winner as a EDC Good video my friend 👍

[@shadowdemon5730]

I'm another one who likes that CF. In fact , I like the knife as a whole and I think I want one. Good review .

[@willd6515]

Well, the CF.....maybe not so much. But the best Emerson i have seen in years. And washers, thanks for not using bearings ZT. This one is very high on my ''Bucket List''.

[@ReelAZMatt]

Must look different in person because I kinda like it!

[@TheKnifeJunkie]

I love the vomit CF ... I guess there’s no accounting for taste! As always great overview sir.

[@bibari]

I appreciate the collaboration, since this is based on the Viper series, which was pre wave Emerson. If you look up the Viper MV3, this has alot of the same characteristics with updated materials.

[@Danik0211]

Handle looks just like the Spyderco GB2. Actually overall design looks a lot like a Gayle Bradley design. Not feeling this one too much. ZT has died off on me. I feel like the last interesting model they had was the 562. After that, I haven’t seen one I wanted to buy.

[@SuperSteelSteve]

I was thinking the exact same thing.. GB1 and a CRK 21 had a baby... Look at the 21 and this knifes silhouette... very similar

[@txduck]

Agree 110% on the carbon. I’ll be waiting too see what kind of variations they come out with over time. Always wanted the 0630 just couldn’t get past the pivot they used.

[@slidetek]

Color 101: Yellow + black = bile green. This seems to be the dictionary definition of _half-baked._ Perhaps people with smaller hands can spydie-flick it, who knows. Certainly a purpose built knife that will find an audience. But a swing and a miss for me, with the batter standing somewhere in left field. With a golf club. No doubt there are guys already gearing up to manufacture scales, thumb-studs and clips to get this thing respectable.

[@TheHairymango]

ZT. Stop trying to make colored carbon fiber happen.

[@bwallis100]

I think that’s the best looking carbon fiber

[@metal_complex]

Doc, I agree with you, the reverse flick was impossible for me too. I did a vid on this, and for whatever reason, my buddy can reverse flick it no problem! He demonstrates it a couple times. There must be some secret, perfect finger positioning. I can't figure it out!

[@botat34691]

Frunk I would rather save my money for another Gavko. That puke green is barf.

[@MrGeerbear]

Doc- Since when don't you like green:-) I like this knife but not sure on the green CF. I'd have to see it in person, but a probably not. I'm no doctor so I don't know the term vomit, but it sure looks like puke to me. I also don't understand the clip or price.

[@madisonjones2714]

Shit I like the color reminds me of hazard tape on construction jobs this knife is built to work!

[@refinededge399]

A brother to the 0460. That was poop and this...baby poop.

[@bobb.9917]

I love the carbon fiber...looks like lizard skin! Very cool! The knife does seem to be a bit clunky in some of the choices made in the design, such as no skeletonizing, and the back-side of the pivot. I don't mind that it is anchored into the CF...it just looks clunky because it isn't round...unrefined.

[@SliceyDicey]

Definitely a hard pass for me. The green and that it carries so damn high. And it ain't cheap.

[@BParker55]

This one is just begging for micarta scales. And an aftermarket clip.. lol those would be good editions but would put the knife well over $300... and na

[@rabbivj]

Bryce Parker any Emerson aftermarket clip will fit it.

[@marshalllaw123]

I just think this knife is the answer to a question nobody was asking. I don't get it at all.

[@91classicrock]

I wish they made it with g10 or micarta love everything else about the knife except the scales

[@franknowakowski3103]

And overpriced by a hundred dollars.

[@_THUMPR_]

Thanks for uploading in full HD

[@davidaustin1802]

I don't have any problem flicking it open with my middle or pointer finger. You probably have to have enough finger strength as the detent is on the strong side as it should be.

[@gavinreddig3969]

I think custom CF one this will be hella easy tho

[@ReadyAimFire_]

Cool knife, but these colors, bleh.

[@Youtuber14Edelmar]

Awesome video love the channel

[@brianf9619]

I am glad ZT is back using bronze washers on a few models . When I think Emerson , I think hard use tactical and this isn't it , a lot of misses. If you want a bad ass Emerson , the discontinued ZT 0620cf titanium frame lock with CF a satin CTS-204p tanto blade is on sale at BladeHQ and a few other places for $169 , that's a screaming deal, I just got mine, it has bronze washers and the "wave feature", it's an awesome knife .

[@peanutschatzie4129]

Look at the knife without predisposition of the Emerson name

[@az_sun__1787]

I really don't know what all the hype was about... Zero Tolerance really dropped the ball on this build!!! 👎🏼👎🏼

[@bwallis100]

I hate the plain look of carbon fiber I will most likely buy the knife just because of the carbon fiber color

[@cryptomnesiac]

i like the shape of this knife a lot but it resembles the 0470 a little too closely to have both in the rotation. Sucks no milling and the dated pocket clip.

[@chaseperkins5487]

If they did a red or blue weave carbon, removed the non flipper front flipper, slapped a deep carry on, this would be a winner. What is that tab even for? It destroys the looks of the knife in the closed position

[@futurerustanddust5992]

Chase Perkins it serves as the stop pin tab. In this particular design, if the tab were removed, it would not catch the stop pin. Honestly, if they just put a bit of traction on the tab, you could easily front flip it. Half the time I can front flip mine, half the time my thumb slips off the tab. Overall I think it’s a really good knife with a couple of misses on items that don’t affect the function of the actual knife. That being said, I have both replacement scales and clip in the works.

[@Truffaldino1991]

ZT did kinda drop the ball on that green carbon fiber. If they had gone with a darker, forest ranger type green (or just slapped some green canvas micarta on it and called it a day), it would have looked so much better. That, and the pretty shallow clip leave me kinda cold. Maybe they wanted it to be an easy access deployer instead of a stealth carry knife? All that said, I do think this knife will make an interesting platform for customization: The foundation itself is pretty damn solid, with enough areas you can tweak for your own personal style. Custom scales, custom thumb disk, custom clips... Hell, even add some custom standoffs and hardware and this thing could be amazing! I can't wait to see what the aftermarket does with this knife, as well as what ZT themselves do for sprint runs (besides the obligatory "blacked out, DLC all the things" model)

[@Macleod644]

Agreed. I’m gonna get one, it’ll be my first ZT. A buddy of mine has been trying to get me into high quality knives for years, I’ve always been a gun guy myself. I carried cheaper Kershaw’s and Spyderco’s prior to getting my first “nice” knife a year ago - the Benchmade Osborne 943 in all black, with S30V blade. My friend has a few ZT’s including a discontinued Emerson with the wave feature. That’s my favorite knife of his, so I saw this and thought I gotta have it. I also think there will be a great aftermarket for scales, thumb disks, etc. although I was a little upset this one didn’t have the wave.

[@InfamousMS]

Should have named this the Falfa, after Bob Falfa... sort of “a cross between piss yellow and puke green, ain’t it?” American Graffiti, anyone? Well, I like it!

[@nathannalley8470]

Yeah that's a flop.

[@AverageDE]

Ernest P. Worrell :)

[@jasonthompson8824]

I like the non wave emerson design. I like the washers. Piss yellow carbon fiber is a deal breaker and my dissatisfaction with 0470 pivot has ZT on the outs for me

[@91classicrock]

What's wrong with the 0470? I haven't had a chance to handle one yet but like the design materials etc

[@joe_a_photo]

I feel like ZT has created a new knife genre. There are gentleman folders, and tactical folders and etc. Zt has created the tactical gentleman’s knife. For far too long gentleman knife lovers and tactical knife lovers have never had a middle ground. Not any more. Those two opposing sides can finally come together.

[@joe_a_photo]

I do agree that the color isn’t my taste but the overall lines of the knife are very awesome in my opinion.

[@rudolphdrasler2697]

I kind of like it.

[@MetalsForBrunch]

Give me a silver twill carbon fiber scale or marble cf scale then its a keeper.

[@DoctorFrunkey]

they had marble for the 470, please put it on this one!!

[@michaelrogers9029]

If you dont mind the mixing of brands, a Benchmade deep carry clip will work with the Emeson 3 hole pattern. I'm sure someone will come out with a clip for this specific knife, but in the mean time the benchmade could tide you over.

[@madman94]

ZT actually do washers really really well, I like that.... I love this knife's profile & the pocket clip doesn't bother me as I have a bunch of other clips like steel flame I could swap it out for, but at that price I would have to replace that awful carbon fiber & the extra cost there takes me into whole new price realm where I may as well stick to my similarish Sebenza's & Fieldtac etc.... such a shame, I wanted to love this one, may pick up a bargain on the secondary or when its discontinued, but not a must have sadly, ZT have been messing up these sorts of details a lot lately, like the 0609 which would have been a best seller if not for the show scale being ruined by the left hand carry option & the tool having to be bought seperately.......😖

[@frankbutta9344]

That design is straight from Kershaw’s Leek/Chive/etc. Way too ugly to own at any price. Thanks for Sharing!

[@kerryrwac]

Whoever picks ZT's CF must be colour blind or buying the cheapest stuff available . This makes Spyderco's peel ply CF look good . shepardcc will be making money doing scales for this knife and there are lots of custom clips , but for the price , you shouldn't have to . Nice looking blade though .

[@carlstanland5333]

Someone had a bad cold when the carbon fiber was being laid.

[@Mrplacedcookie]

The PM2 was awesome any video about it?

[@DoctorFrunkey]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmi0nX6Pfq2ni9U

[@yamsi12]

The same day they released the 0640 they also released the 0456cf sprint run. Just received mine yesterday and its an amazing knife, what the 0456 should have been originally IMO. Don't really find anything attractive about the 0640 besides maybe the blade shape. Pass for me.

[@Keith_the_knife_freak]

Thanks for sharing.. nice review. !!!

[@natehenneman6766]

we all know that the guy who picks their carbon fiber just got canned after this went live

[@mrmaxx4400]

I always wanted an Emerson Viper and this baby fills the bill. So I'm jazzed with this ZT 640 offering. The disk is too small. I got a beautiful disk from Gray Precision. As for the CF scales which mimics the subdued green color of the its namesake. I also replaced the thin a beefier Emerson clip. Differences aside, your technical explication, as always, is excellent. Thank you.

[@willd6515]

Micarta overlays and an after market deep carry clip would make it awesome. It has a lot of potential but ZT made some weird/bad choices. I agree................ who at ZT chooses the CF for this knife?

[@kimmonshandtools6849]

I feel like this has kind of stayed off my radar for too long at this point. Mostly because I assumed it was on bearings. I’m a big phosphor bronze fan if it’s a knife I’m actually going to use. Usually I turn to ZT for their ball bearing flippers, but those knives never see hard use or even EDC for me. My ZTs basically sit in my collection and I play with them when I feel like it. For my actual every day use, I always go phosphor bronze and either the spyder hole or thumb stud. Being that I’ve done a little research and found scales for this that make the knife look amazing, this may actual be a ZT that i would EDC and use. To me, with a lot of the ZT’s, the entire engineering philosophy of exposed bearings in a potentially gritty environment truly doesn’t scream hard use. A hard use knife should be able to be accidentally dropped in the dirt and used for the rest of the day like normal. Many bearing knives, especially those riding directly on the titanium, do not fit the hard use parameters to me. A piece of silicate being forced against 6al4v titanium by a very hard steel ball will negatively impact the titanium without a doubt. Phosphor bronze, well, debris like that won’t really get in the mating surface of the action in the first place. But no doubt I’m still a ZT fan and love their ball bearing knives and have many of them. I would love to see ZT do more designs like the 0640 and give us some more thumb/middle finger deployment phosphor bronze style actions.

[@brandonshehan699]

Thank you Doc, I have been waiting on a review of this knife. I like it! I like it alot!!!

[@nickkazarian3334]

ZT, covering all the digestive tract colors in CF. Thanks for the video Doc.!

[@casehuh]

I will say I like ZT’s white cf they had on a 0452, but the colored stuff is a no go. I think micarta would be great, or if they wanna keep it interesting, Kevlar carbon fiber would be cool.

[@traviswaldrop3793]

Having the 620cf, 630, a commander, super karambit, 7 flipper and a custom tiger I was stoked when I found out they where doing another collaboration with Emerson. But the second I saw the full reveal my immediate reaction was 'HELL NO'. And now I'm just left crying '"Why ZT why". I would like to further admit that ZT really hasnt impressed me with any new knives in the past 2 years.

[@Watchandcutgearchannel]

Well i think i would have liked it in blue cf better and include a Emerson wave... i do like the blade profile quite a bit. i also found the shape on the front of the scale where it comes to a point is not very aesthetic either. It kind of looks strange. The pocket clip positioned a little on the low side, plus as you said its really shallow... Too bad... i really wanted to like this knife.

[@Pizzaxbandit]

I swore that it was going to be a front flipper

[@mikehinnekamp]

Anybody try to take theirs apart yet? I can't get mine apart. The hex side just turns inside of the scale, doesn't tight enough to hold it in place. I don't like knives I can't take apart to clean, but maybe I got a bad scale. Grind is way off on mine too, maybe made on a Friday afternoon.

[@johobo2038]

Ya zt hasn’t been exciting me lately. Then again I’ve spoiled myself with this nonflipper mako. I’m not sure what can get it out if my pocket at this point. Lol

[@cuttersunion8537]

My carbon fiber concerns come with the frame lock side. When the lock is engaged and your gripping the knife, does the carbon fiber flex on that side? It looks to be very thin.

[@dl6677]

Good review. ZT missed the mark again. It's time for some changes in personnel at the company....

[@63job]

changed out the scales to brown canvas micarta and replaced the clip with a deep carry titanium, and I love it --now my hard-use carry of choice, and i can keep my CRKs in the drawer.

[@BrothersCinco]

As a fan of Emersons, this does nothing for me whatsoever. The blade is nice enough but the handle is nothing like a real Emerson. Now if they did a ZT version of a roadhouse and kept the handle design intact I would be all over that

[@toddstamos89]

I want to like it, but I just hate the disk. Looks like an afterthought. Like someone forgot to include a means of deploying the knife, ran the the garage and did the best they could.

[@alexzavarro9769]

The fixed side of my pivot was spinning within the CF! Brand new right out of the box. Beware!

[@ShadowWhippler]

The lime carbon fiber looks great, now they just need to make a 0452 sprint run out of it, with maybe green ano on the titanium side.

[@joeroy4039]

Thanks for the sebenza reference I could not for the life of me think of which of my knives the blade reminds me of!! The large sebenza

[@captainsewerrat]

I liked the overall shape, but it's a ~350$ here, and I am not paying 350$ for a knife that I am not gonna be happy with it until some changes are made. Kind of a shame, We probably get some all blacked out version at some point, maybe I consider that, although I prefer Satin blades over DLC. Good review like always.

[@messmeister92]

The whole knife looks like Ermerson’s attempt to make a tactical Sebenza. And I like it!

[@mitch8988]

I may be the minority here but I quite like the green. Sadly I think the blade is too long for me to EDC and that pocket clip is just stupid, every knife ever should have a deep carry clip. Great review though.

[@Aaron-lx3gz]

I don't think the title of this video is as appreciated it should be. Know what I mean, Vern?

[@VicariousReality7]

7:07 The lack of a fucking flipper is going to keep me from buying this knife

[@jram1590]

That cf is just hideous... like baby green poop

[@Arcrobes]

I really like this design and ZT, but I cant give into buying anything emerson. They are in complete denial when it comes to admitting they need to improve the quality and price of their own products.

[@wanna_sleep]

Actually, it has really nice blade and handle shape. Maybe zt will made this one with another colored carbon fiber on the scales. maybe black-red or black-orange or bl-yellow

[@celsanluis6852]

Looks like an old Emerson “Viper 3” design. What color is a viper? Scale color sounds fitting to me.

[@MikeJ2319]

Solid review, glad you went over the false front flip tab, it totally looks like it can be one which initially intrigued me, but it’s not. And I agree with the CF color, not appealing on that knife 🤮

[@ReclusiveMountainMan]

I'm all for knives on washers (phosphor bronze or teflon/nylon). The problem with Emersons isn't the design. His designs are great.

[@donaldniblett6323]

I really enjoy your knife videos. I also really like your knife choices and overall style and knife brands you choose. Your taste in knives is very similar to my own. Thanks for sharing..

[@randyf.9188]

I would like it with the blue/grey carbon fiber like the 0850 and a deep carry clip.

[@Peteyrich93]

I got mine today and love it the I personally love the cf. definitely going to replace the clip with a deep carry

[@jesseallen4184]

Emerson clips have the same hole pattern as Benchmade yeah? So a Bugout clip should fit.

[@joshuabriggs7114]

Totally agree on Phosphor bronze washers! Ball bearings are for things that spin! Thrust washers support high axial loads! I really don't get the excessive marketing of bearing pivots, especially in "hard use" knives. Just adds unnecessary and complex expense. Nice review!

[@beardedbassist8347]

I'm a big fan of washers as well. I'm a carpenter and bearings get full of sawdust and crud very quick and gum up

[@mikem4259]

Im indifferent to the carbon fiber color. I would have rather seen the traditional carbon fiber scheme. I haven’t decided if I want it yet. Thanks for the review.