9/28/06 - KAI USA Ltd., the company that manufacturers Kershaw Knives, introduced a new line of knives at the 2006 SHOT show back in January. The new line of "professional-grade duty-ready knives" is called 'ZT', or Zero Tolerance, and is aimed at the tactical/military/LE market. ZT collaborated with well known knife designers and manufacturers Ken Onion and Strider to produce knives that are "Zero Tolerance in design, Zero Tolerance in function and Zero Tolerance in performance", hence the name. The knives are made in the U.S.A.

TAD Gear carries the full ZT line, and featured here is the Ken Onion-designed ZT0200ST (partially serrated model) folder. Here's a summary of the main features/specs:

• Overall length - 5.25" closed, 8.75" open. Width is about .7", not including the pocket clip.
• Blade - 4.25" Recurve Spear point/drop point. (Actually 4" from the point to the rear of the serrations) Thickness: 0.156". Material is 154CM stainless steel. The edge is available plain or partially serrated (shown here). It's finished in a black Tungsten DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating which provides a very hard, durable, low friction finish.
• Blade pivot - 3/8" hex nut (a LaRue locking lever wrench will conveniently fit this in an emergency)
• Handle - 3D machined black G10
• Lock - Liner lock. Liner material: stainless.
• Opening method - Ambi thumb stud or index finger flipper.
• Pocket clip - reversible from either side or end (tip up or down).
• Weight 7.7 oz
  

When I first picked up the ZT0200, I thought "woah, this thing feels solid". At almost half a pound, it felt more like a fixed blade than a folder in my hand. The next thing I noticed was how comfortable it was, compared to my other slab-sided daily carry folders (Benchmade 970, S/B Tarani etc). Most of my other folders have typical flat sided handles, and I've never really given it much thought, as they felt fine in my hand. However, in the ZT0200, I now have a new standard for how ergonomic a folder can feel. A lot of though obviously went into the design of the handle shape.

Looking at the side profile of the knife, the back/top of the knife slopes down towards the back, with a slight hump in the middle. Forward of the hump, there is a subtle dip before the handle flows into the grooved thumb ramp. Look at the photos below and compare the ZT0200 with the two Striders, with their flat backs. Then make a fist with a 'thumbs up' and take a look at the contour of your thumb and palm. It's not straight. On the bottom of the handle, the index finger flipper forms part of the guard in front of the deep recess for the index finger which in conjunction with the bottom finger swell prevents the knife from slipping forward or aft in the hand when using a standard or reverse grip.

Looking at the machined G10 scales from the top, or along the handle, you can see that they're not flat, but contoured in both axes. When looking down at the top view, there is a slight double-hourglass shape to the handle. It's thickest at the ends and in the middle. Looking from either end of the knife, all edges of the scales are rounded or chamfered. All this results in a more ergonomic, natural-feeling handle. The texture machined into the G10 is best described as crocodile or alligator skin. Rows of small raised ridges completely cover the scales - aggressive enough to provide a very secure grip but without sharp or uncomfortable edges. The scales are symmetrical on both sides of the handle, which is good for lefties like me. As much as I like the dead-sexy Strider SMF, it's just not as comfortable in the hand with its scale on one side and exposed liner lock on the other.

The stainless steel liners are about .075" thick, which accounts for the heft of the handle, and ensure that the liner lock is secure with no liner flex or movement. Three pillars with torx screws separate the two sides, besides the blade and pivot. The open design allows for easier cleaning of dust and lint from between the liners. The blade pivot is adjustable via the 3/8" hex nut. The pivot action/tension was smooth straight from the box without adjustment.

As mentioned in the specs, the blade is a recurve spear/drop point, which has more practical use (for me) than a tanto-style. The date of manufacturer and serial number, along with other manufacturer logos and info are on the blade. The serrations are of the reverse type. Instead of taking a round cutter and making serrations in the blade, which creates concave cutting edge alternating with raised 'ripping' points, the ZT0200 serrations are the reverse of that profile. The cutting edges are convex - like little arches. It seems that the ZT serration design is meant to slice more than rip. I tried it out the serrations on some thick cardboard, to compare it with Spyderco and Emerson 'standard' serrations, and while all of them sliced quickly through, the ZT felt slightly less 'bumpy' when starting out the cut. Sharpening the reverse serrations look to be no problem with the triangular Spyderco sharpmaker stones.

Opening the knife is accomplished either with the ambi thumb studs on the back of the blade, or the index finger flipper. The index finger flipper is easier to use, in my opinion. All it takes is a quick flip of the wrist while using the index finger to push down on the flipper and the blade locks out with a positive snap. Very quick; almost like an assisted opening.

Last but not least, there are four pocket clip positions - the knife can be carried tip up or down, and reversed. Again, great since I'm a lefty. Two torx screws go all the way through the scales to the liner to hold the steel clip. It works best for me carried tip up in my pocket, with the flipper forward and blade facing back. Reaching down into my pocket and wrapping my entire hand around the handle, my index finger is already on the flipper as I pull the knife out. The apparent heft of the knife is forgotten when it's in the pocket. I had feared that it was a bit heavy for EDC, but it turned out I don't notice it any more than any other knives I usually carry.

All in all, I think the ZT0200 is a great knife, especially for the price. ZT also partnered with the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) - "A portion of the proceeds from every sale of the knives will be donated to the PVA Heritage Fund, which works on behalf of the veterans who have given so much in service to their country." Not the only reason to buy ZT, but just another good one.

9/6/10 - The ZT0360.SKD is a collaborative effort between SKD Tactical and Zero Tolerance knives. It's based on the popular ZT 0350 but with a blade that's 30% lighter, and is an SKD Tactical exclusive with each blade featuring a unique 3-digit serial number.

Zero Tolerance knives are from the company that manufacturers Kershaw Knives. Introduced at the 2006 SHOT show, the ZT line of "professional-grade duty-ready knives" is aimed at the tactical/military/LE market. ZT knives are "Zero Tolerance in design, Zero Tolerance in function and Zero Tolerance in performance", hence the name. The knives are made in the U.S.A.

Overall Description - The 0360 is based on the ZT0350, which is a very popular model due to it's high quality, utility and very reasonable price. The 0360 is the culmination of 18 months of collaborative effort between Zero Tolerance and SKD Tactical, and features a 30% lighter reprofiled blade than the 0350, making it quicker to open, and lighter in the pocket. The lighter blade combined with the ZT SpeedSafe system results in very fast opening speed. An emergency glass breaker has also been added.

Blade - The 0360 blade is 3.25" long, with a slight recurve and straight spine drop point. The 0.120" thick blade is S30V stainless steel finished in a black Tungsten DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating. The spine of the blade is straight and flat to increase surface area for hammering the blade to cut harder materials. The blade is marked with a unique three-digit serial number. Like the ZT0200 reviewed above, the 0360 blade has the same type of 'flipper' that protrudes from the top when closed, and acts a guard when open.

Handle - The handles are black G10 with a fine non-slip texture. On the top of the handle near the blade are serrations for a secure thumb rest. There are similar serrations at the rear of the handle when a reverse/ice pick grip is used. There are holes at each end and on each side for the clip Quad Mounting System, which allows tip up or tip down carry, left or right clip carry.

SpeedSafe® - SpeedSafe is a patented system that assists the user to smoothly open the blade with a manual pull back on the 'flipper' that protrudes from the blade when closed. At first, when I flipped it open, I was sure that there was a coil spring somewhere, that helped open the blade. Instead, there is an internal torsion bar, that bears against a half-moon track in the pivot of the blade. When the blade is closed, the torsion bar keeps the knife closed under tension, preventing it from opening under gravity or accidentally. To open the knife, the user must apply manual pressure on the flipper or use the thumb stud to overcome the resistance of the torsion bar. After the blade clears the handle, the torsion bar's pressure takes over and helps open the blade smoothly the rest of the way. It is not a switchblade, and is legal where switchblades would not be. It is designed for sporting and work situations where one-handed opening is preferable and safer. It is a very safe system, keeping the blade more securely closed than a detent alone. When locked out, the liner lock keeps the blade secured in position so that it cannot close accidentally.

Emergency glass breaker - A carbine tip at the butt of the handle was added to the 0360 mainly for first responder customers, and for emergencies for the rest of us. It's a sharp, small point at the very rear of the handle, set into the liner. It's short enough that it doesn't poke or hurt the hand.

Here's a summary of the main features/specs of the ZT0360.SKD:

• Overall length - 4-5/8" closed, 7-7/8" open. Width is 0.5", not including the pocket clip.
• Blade - 3-1/4" Recurve straight drop point. Thickness: 0.120". Material is S30V stainless steel finished in a black Tungsten DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating which provides a very hard, durable, low friction finish.
• Handle - textured black G10
• Lock - Liner lock. Liner material: stainless.
• Opening method - Right-hand thumb stud or index finger flipper utilizing SpeedSafe system.
• Pocket clip - Quad mounting system - reversible from either side or end (tip up or down).
• Carbide emergency glass breaker
• Lanyard hole
• Weight 5.6 oz
  

Observations/Notes - The ZT0360.SKD comes neatly packaged in a ZT box, which is marked with the unique serial number of the knife; even the plastic bubble wrap. While a special edition serial numbered knife may have some collector value, along with the associated packaging, it's priced low enough to be a hard-use EDC folder. SKD encourages their customers to use the knives, and not keep them pristine in the safe or pocket.

The one complaint I have about the 0360 stems from being a left-hander. While the 0360 has four possible mounting positions for the clip, it comes from the factory with the clip mounted on the forward right of the knife, for tip down, right pocket carry. For the SpeedSafe to be used most efficiently, the 0360 should be carried tip up. However, for liability purposes, ZT mounts it tip down, with locktite. So, for my use, I wanted to move the clip for tip up, left pocket carry. My first problem was that I didn't have a #6 torx tip bit, which is what the tiny screws that secure the clip to the knife are. So, I went to a hardware store and picked one up. Then, I couldn't get the screws off as they were loctited in. I ended up stripping the heads. I found a hex bit that was slightly larger and pounded it into the screw head, deforming the hole and was able to remove the screws. I contacted SKD and told them about the issues I encountered, and they had ZT send me some replacement screws. However, the replacements they sent were too short, so I had to contact them again for the right ones. Their customer service was great, only they didn't send out the part that was needed until the third try. So, I eventually ended up with a few correct spare screws and some spare clips.

I mentioned to SKD that it'd be great if the correct torx bit or wrench could be included with the knife, and not to have the clip assembled from the factory so the end user can choose where he wants to install the clip. Not sure that's possible from ZT, but they'll ask anyway. So, I was finally able to carry the knife as intended. I sometimes carry more than one knife, or have a knife on my 'weak' side. In doing so, knife set up for left pocket carry isn't in the same position when carried in the right side pocket. It dawned on me that having a clip mounted on both sides would allow the knife to be carried in the same orientation for both pockets. The draw and opening would then be the same with the left and right hand. Since I had a spare clip, I mounted it on the right side of the 0360 for right pocket carry. I thought that it'd be a nice option to offer spare clips, for those who'd like to do the same.

Compared to my other ZT knife, the 0200 reviewed above, the 0360 definitely feels a lot lighter, being more than two ounces lighter. It still has a very high quality 'feel' upon inspection and handling, as do all ZT knives I've handled. The overall machining and fit of individual parts is excellent. The SpeedSafe system keeps the blade securely closed, and I don't worry about it opening accidentally in my pocket (I've had a couple of other folders do that before, that had very shallow detents). The SpeedSafe is much faster to open than any non-assisted knife I have, and it's become my favourite opening mechanism. I think it's even faster and more natural than some automatic knives. Depending on the auto, the button or release mechanism might not be ergonomically placed, even though activation might be quick. The flipper on the ZT knife is in a very natural position for the index finger when drawing the knife out of the pocket, and the blade can be opened instantly with a gratifying 'snap', even with gloves. With the SpeedSafe, you'll never use the thumb stud. The thumb stud is actually not ambidextrous. It can be opened with the right hand, but there is not enough clearance between stud and handle on the right side to open it with the left hand/thumb. There is more clearance on the left side as the handle is cut out more to allow thumb access to the liner lock from closing the blade. The liner lock is thick, so there is no flex or movement in it when the blade is wiggled or an attempt to close it is made.

SKD had told me to better not baby the knife, so I followed their advice. I used the 0360 for some tasks I normally wouldn't, for fear of damaging the blade. I work in the aerospace industry, in a manufacturing environment, so it gave me plenty of opportunity to put the 0360 to use. I used it to cut various materials like plastic shims, tape, plastic tie straps, nylon rope, etc. I also used it to split laminated aluminum shim stock, by hammering on the back of the spine with a mallet. The aluminum scrape marks on the blade were actually aluminum deposited on the blade, not scratching the finish, and that was cleaned off with a bit of rubbing. I did mess up the DLC coating a bit by using a scotch-brite pad, which is an abrasive pad, so bear that in mind. It took quite a while for the edge to dull to where I noticed it, but a few strokes on my Spyderco Sharpmaker fine stone returned it to original sharpness. It's always easier to maintain a sharp blade periodically than let it dull a lot.

While I didn't break any glass with the glass breaker, I did see how hard it was on various materials, and that thing is hard. I scratched glass and steel with ease, and actually used it as a scribe to scratch my initials in some steel tools, instead of using an electric engraver.

The ZT0360.SKD really is the kick-ass little knife they advertise it as, being large enough for many cutting jobs but compact and light enough for every day carry. Even if you don't care about the novelty of a special edition serial numbered run, the utility and quality you get for the very reasonable price alone is good enough reason to get one.

4/29/13 - The Zero Tolerance 0360.SKD.MM is a special MilitaryMorons edition of my favourite EDC folder, the ZT0360.SKD, available exclusively from SKD Tactical. It features the MM Skull laser engraved on the blade, along with the 0360.SKD.MM model designation. Each knife has an individualized serial number starting from serial number 3 to 103. SKD is contributing a small portion from each knife to militarymorons.com to help defray the operating costs of the site. The price for the MM limited edition knife is the same as that of the standard ZT0360.SKD, so you get the added exclusivity/collectibility for free!

The ZT 0360.SKD has been my favourite EDC folding knife since I got it almost three years ago, so when SKD asked if I'd be interested in a MilitaryMorons limited edition, I said 'hell yeah!'. The 0360.SKD is a collaborative effort between SKD Tactical and Zero Tolerance knives. It's based on the popular ZT 0350 but with a blade that's 30% lighter, and is an SKD Tactical exclusive with each blade featuring a unique 3-digit serial number. SKD recently re-introduced the 0360.SKD with a couple of new features, which is also shared with the MilitaryMorons version. The MilitaryMorons version is a limited run with serial numbers running from 0003 to 0103. The first serial numbers were kept by ZT knives.

Zero Tolerance knives are from the company that manufacturers Kershaw Knives. Introduced at the 2006 SHOT show, the ZT line of "professional-grade duty-ready knives" is aimed at the tactical/military/LE market. ZT knives are "Zero Tolerance in design, Zero Tolerance in function and Zero Tolerance in performance", hence the name. The knives are made in the U.S.A.

Overall Description - The 0360.SKD.MM is based on the ZT0350, which is a very popular model due to it's high quality, utility and very reasonable price. The 0360 was the culmination of 18 months of collaborative effort between Zero Tolerance and SKD Tactical, and features a 30% lighter reprofiled blade than the 0350, making it quicker to open, and lighter in the pocket. The lighter blade combined with the ZT SpeedSafe system results in very fast opening speed. An emergency glass breaker has also been added.

Blade - The 0360.SKD.MM blade is 3.25" long, with a slight recurve and straight spine drop point. The 0.120" thick blade is S30V stainless steel finished in a black Tungsten DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating. The spine of the blade is straight and flat to increase surface area for hammering the blade to cut harder materials. The blade is marked with a unique three-digit serial number, the 0360.SKD.MM model designation, as well as the MM Skull logo, tastefully placed and sized. The 0360 blade has the same type of 'flipper' that protrudes from the top when closed, and acts a guard when open.

Handle - The handles are black G10 with a fine non-slip texture. On the top of the handle near the blade are serrations for a secure thumb rest. There are similar serrations at the rear of the handle when a reverse/ice pick grip is used. There are holes at each end and on each side for the clip Quad Mounting System, which allows tip up or tip down carry, left or right clip carry.

SpeedSafe® - SpeedSafe is a patented system that assists the user to smoothly open the blade with a manual pull back on the 'flipper' that protrudes from the blade when closed. At first, when I flipped it open, I was sure that there was a coil spring somewhere, that helped open the blade. Instead, there is an internal torsion bar, that bears against a half-moon track in the pivot of the blade. When the blade is closed, the torsion bar keeps the knife closed under tension, preventing it from opening under gravity or accidentally. To open the knife, the user must apply manual pressure on the flipper or use the thumb stud to overcome the resistance of the torsion bar. After the blade clears the handle, the torsion bar's pressure takes over and helps open the blade smoothly the rest of the way. It is not a switchblade, and is legal where switchblades would not be. It is designed for sporting and work situations where one-handed opening is preferable and safer. It is a very safe system, keeping the blade more securely closed than a detent alone. When locked out, the liner lock keeps the blade secured in position so that it cannot close accidentally.

Emergency glass breaker - A carbine tip at the butt of the handle was added to the 0360 mainly for first responder customers, and for emergencies for the rest of us. It's a sharp, small point at the very rear of the handle, set into the liner. It's short enough that it doesn't poke or hurt the hand.

Here's a summary of the main features/specs of the ZT0360.SKD.MM:

• Overall length - 4-5/8" closed, 7-7/8" open. Width is 0.5", not including the pocket clip.
• Limited to 100 knives, each marked with a unique serial number and 0360.SKD.MM model designation.
• MM Skull designed by Andrew Bawidamann laser engraved on blade.
• Blade - 3-1/4" Recurve straight drop point. Thickness: 0.120". Material is S30V stainless steel finished in a black Tungsten DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating which provides a very hard, durable, low friction finish.
• Handle - textured black G10
• Lock - Liner lock. Liner material: stainless.
• Opening method - Right-hand thumb stud or index finger flipper utilizing SpeedSafe system.
• 2 Pocket clips (a ZT first) - Quad mounting system - reversible from either side or end (tip up or down). The 0360.SKD and 0360.SKD.MM both come with two pocket clips, but only the MM version comes with both clips factory assembled for tip-up carry. The 0360.SKD comes with one clip installed and the 2nd clip loose.
• Carbide emergency glass breaker
• Lanyard hole
• Weight 5.6 oz
• Comes with factory Torx driver (another ZT first) - the hollow tube contains three 1/4" bits for removing the clips and adjusting the pivot screw, plus a small phillips bit.
  

Observations/Notes - SKD recently re-introduced the ZT 0360.SKD after quite a long time in-between. The new version of the ZT0360.SKD is now available in three versions - the standard, a tiger striped blade version, and the MM version.

The one complaint I had about the original 0360 stemmed from being a left-hander. While the original 0360 had four possible mounting positions for the clip, it came from the factory with the clip mounted on the forward right of the knife, for tip down, right pocket carry. For the SpeedSafe to be used most efficiently, the 0360 should be carried tip up. However, for liability purposes, ZT mounted it tip down, with locktite. So, for my use, I wanted to move the clip for tip up, left pocket carry. My first problem was that I didn't have a #6 torx tip bit, which is what the tiny screws that secure the clip to the knife are. So, I went to a hardware store and picked one up. Then, I couldn't get the screws off as they were loctited in. I ended up stripping the heads. I found a hex bit that was slightly larger and pounded it into the screw head, deforming the hole and was able to remove the screws. I contacted SKD and told them about the issues I encountered, and they had ZT send me some replacement screws. However, the replacements they sent were too short, so I had to contact them again for the right ones. Their customer service was great, only they didn't send out the part that was needed until the third try. So, I eventually ended up with a few correct spare screws and some spare clips.

I mentioned to SKD that it'd be great if the correct torx bit or wrench could be included with the knife, and not to have the clip assembled from the factory so the end user can choose where he wants to install the clip. Also, I sometimes carry more than one knife, or have a knife on my 'weak' side. In doing so, knife set up for left pocket carry isn't in the same position when carried in the right side pocket. It dawned on me that having a clip mounted on both sides would allow the knife to be carried in the same orientation for both pockets. The draw and opening would then be the same with the left and right hand. Since I had a spare clip, I mounted it on the right side of the 0360 for right pocket carry. I emailed Joe at SKD, telling him what I had done, and he emailed me back immediately with a picture of his knife, also with dual clips mounted on it.

So, for the re-release of the 0360.SKD, Joe specified that the knives come from the ZT factory with TWO clips, mounted for tip up carry, PLUS the small tool kit with torx tips and phillips. Now, the one thing that I found, which was common to the tiny #6 torx bit, as well as the one I had purchased, was that it was a bit loose in the screw sockets. Before you start wrenching on the tiny screws, check the fit of the tip. If it's too loose, it can deform the splines and strip the screw head. What I did, was grind the front of the tip down a bit, checking the fit until it was tighter. The tip is tapered, and if you take a bit of material off the front, it will shorten it, and make it wider so it fits better. Just do it slowly and check each time so you get a nice, tight fit in the screw socket.

Dual clips for ambi carry

Compared to 0350 (bottom)

0360 blade overlaid on 0350 blade

Compared to the ZT 0350 knife, the 0360 blade is quicker to flip out. The photo on the right, above, shows the 0360 blade overlaid onto the 0350 blade. The 0360 is essentially a modified 0350 blank, with exactly the same belly and cutting edge; it just has material removed from the top to make it lighter.

As I mentioned in my original writeup of the 0360.SKD above, the overall machining and fit of individual parts is excellent. The SpeedSafe system keeps the blade securely closed, and I don't worry about it opening accidentally in my pocket (I've had a couple of other folders do that before, that had very shallow detents). The SpeedSafe is much faster to open than any non-assisted knife I have, and it's been my favourite opening mechanism ever since I've owned a 0360. I feel that it's even faster and more natural than some automatic knives. The flipper on the ZT knife is in a very natural position for the index finger when drawing the knife out of the pocket, and the blade can be opened instantly with a gratifying 'snap', even with gloves. With the SpeedSafe, you'll never use the thumb stud. It's not really a thumb stud, but a more of a blade stop/stud lock. The thumb stud is actually not ambidextrous. It can be opened with the right hand, but there is not enough clearance between stud and handle on the right side to open it with the left hand/thumb. There is more clearance on the left side as the handle is cut out more to allow thumb access to the liner lock from closing the blade. The liner lock is thick, so there is no flex or movement in it when the blade is wiggled or an attempt to close it is made.

The ZT0360.SKD really is the kick-ass little knife they advertise it as; being large enough for many cutting jobs but compact and light enough for every day carry. I've very proud to have a special MM edition of my favourite folder, and hope that it'll add a touch of uniqueness and value to those that follow my site and want a great EDC knife.

9/13/05 - The TCFM 02 shown here is the smallest blade in the line made by Maciej Szczerbiak of Trident Knives (now named Crusader Forge and in Utah) previously in Boulder City, NV. Trident custom tactical knives are designed and hand crafted by Maciej (pronounced 'Magic'). For now, Trident Knives may be an unfamiliar name to many users, but Maciej has been making knives since '96. He produces high quality, hand-made custom blades that will hold their own against the more familiar brands and I predict that it's a name that we'll be hearing more about. The TCFM's name was inspired by a line from the movie Top Gun, in which Maverick says, "I'm too close for missiles - switching to guns". In this case it's 'Too Close For Missiles - switching to knives'.

The TCFM 02 is a compact yet incredibly solid-feeling fixed blade knife. Overall length is 8", and the blade (measured from the start of the cutting edge) is 3.75". The tip of the blade is actually 4.35" from the G10 handle scales. The TCFM 02 is shown below with a .45 for size reference. The TCFM 02 weighs 10oz and the sheath adds another 3.5oz. Each knife also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Maciej, which I thought is a nice touch. Trident Knives also offers a 20% discount to LE and military personnel.

Blade - The first thing I noticed about the TCFM 02 besides the excellent workmanship, impression of quality, and attention to detail is its heft and the thickness of the blade. It's no flyweight, and seems to extend a challenge to the person holding it (if a knife could talk): "Whatever abuse you throw at me, I can take. Bring it on."

Maciej uses 1/4" thick CPM S30V steel for all his knives (at the time of this writing) and hand makes every single one of them. The blades are not CNC cut. CPM S30V is made by Crucible Materials Corp, and the 'CPM®' stands for 'Crucible Particle Metallurgy'. From what I understand (as a layman) from the CMC website, in conventional steelmaking, the refined molten metal is poured into molds where it slowly cools and solidifies into ingots. As the steel cools, the different alloying elements can segregate, resulting in a non-uniform, as-cast structure . In CPM, the molten refined metal is sprayed out of a nozzle and atomized into tiny spherical droplets which rapildy solidify (due to their tiny volume) and form a powder, which is collected. The powder is relatively uniform due to the rapid solidification and small volume. This powder is then compacted and pressed together at high temperature to form a fine-grained, homogeneous structure with uniform distribution of materials.
Basically, to the knife user, this translates into improved edge retention and toughness. For the knife maker, it offers consistent heat treat response, predictable size change on heat treat, and excellent grindability. (info from the CPM site - visit this page for more technical reading or check out the summary on the Trident knives site).
Trident has complete control over their heat treating as it's done in-house in small ovens; a 27-hour process called 'Trident Triple Temper/Trident Forge'. Maciej explains and demonstrates the toughness of his knives on this page.

The TCFM 02 is meant to be a survival/tactical/military knife, hence it's designed with strength and toughness as a priority. It's a balance in size and utility between a larger survival/combat knife, and a large folding knife. Its compact size makes it practical for mounting on a vest or rig where a larger knife might get in the way.
The 1/4" thickness might not be perfectly suited for the finest work, but then it's not designed for that. Leave that for the smaller pocket knives. That being said, it's still easier to use for smaller chores than the larger survival knives, but it's tough enough to handle the larger jobs which might break a smaller/thinner blade like a folder (if used for emergency prying). It has a practical drop point shape with with a bevel/vee grind for more strength than a hollow grind, and depth for strength and stiffness (it's 1.35" from the back of the blade to the cutting edge at its widest). A concern with thick blades is that the thickness makes it more difficult to slice through some materials than a thinner blade, especially a thick blade with a shallow 'vee'. The vee on the TCFM 02 is relatively deep (0.9"), so that gives the material being cut more time to flex or move out of the way, making it easier to slice. There's a transition on the top of the blade in front of the scales that acts as a thumb rest. A guard at the bottom of the blade prevents your hand from slipping forward. IT goes without saying that the TCFM 02 comes shaving sharp.
The finish shown here is the Trident 3D finish, which I find very attractive. Other finishes are also available.

Handle - The handle has sculpted G-10 scales with custom stainless fasteners. It's about 3.5" long and the scales are about .25" thick. It's not a long handle (I've got small hands so my all my fingers are on it), but it's beefy and should still suit people with all but the largest hands well . The scales are deeply scalloped to provide a good amount of grip, and are sized to act as finger grooves. Seen from the side and top, the handle is slightly wasp-waisted, which further prevents the knife from slipping out of your grip (or forward, as it deepens the guard). The back end of the handle has a series of 'waves/ridges', which add to the traction in your grip and is gently curved which feels more natural in a regular or icepick grip. All outer edges are rounded.
The knife came with a braided lanyard of OD and black 550 cord sheath and a cool skull bead. It's easily removed, if need be. I found that the lanyard acts as a grabber and aids in pulling the knife out of the sheath if the pink finger ends up off the back.

Sheath - Each knife is fitted with a sheath made of .125" kydex. It's solid and very nicely made.The knife locks positively into the sheath with a confident 'snap', but is quick to draw. Since the handle is relatively short, and part of it obviously needs to be retained in the sheath, the knife is designed to be drawn by wrapping the last two fingers around the back of the handle. As the knife is drawn out of the sheath, the middle and index finger fall into the groove/wasp waist behind the guard for a full grip. The sheath is symmetrical and ambidextrous. It's supplied with a Tek-Lok (made by Blade-Tech Industries), which allows it to be mounted both vertically or horizontally, on the left or right side, in various positions. The rivet holes on the sheath are spaced as mounting locations for the Tek-Lok. It's possible to mount the sheath to PALS webbing using the Tek-Lok by the middle portion straddling two channels over the bartack, and using the side 'ears' of the Tek-Lok in the channels, but it's not an optimum setup. Blade-Tech Industries is working on a PALS-compatible version of their Tek-Lok.
I've inquired about the possibility of Trident Knives offering sheaths in a desert colour since that's the current need for the military, so hopefully I'll hear something back on that soon.

Worn on the side

Small of back

I carried the TCFM 02 on my belt both vertically (I'm a leftie) at my side and horizontally, in the back. I found it faster to draw in the small of the back, but of course, it's not very comfortable when seated in a vehicle or chair. Either way, it was unnoticed by anyone with the T-shirt untucked covering it. Like anything else, how it prints and conceals will depend on your build, size and the garments you're wearing. Civilians should check stand and local laws about carrying fixed blades before they carry as many states prohibit concealed carry of a fixed blade. Trident Knives also offers a version with a 3" cutting edge (same overall blade length), or one with a shortened overall blade, as some states allow concealed carry of fixed blades under 3".
Even with it's 13.5oz total weight with sheath, I forgot that I was wearing it after a few moments. The confidence in the strength and performance of the blade under extreme circumstances is worth a few added ounces, especially for those whose lives may depend on it. The TCFM 02 is a knife that provides that feeling of confidence the moment you pick it up.

6/11/05 - The Warrior Spirit is a collaboration between Brian (concept and design) of the Blue Wall Project (website still under development), and Chase Axinn (maker) of Chax Knives. Coming from a military and LE background, Bri wanted to design a tactical knife that would serve as a tactical fighting knife as well as a practical tool, hence the unusual design.
But what I found unique about the Warrior Spirit was its namesake. When Brian first mentioned the 'Warrior Spirit', I thought to myself - "um, is the knife going to have a native American design, or is the name meant to instill a sense of 'warrior spirit' into the user?" It was neither. Each one is made to order and carries the name of someone that the customer knew personally, that has fallen in the line of duty. When Bri told me about his idea for the knife, he also asked me to tell him a bit about Elijah Wong, (former owner of assaultvest.com) who was killed in Iraq on 2-9-04 in service to our country. He had seen a note on my site that mentioned Eli. I didn't know Eli very well - only through our email correspondences and meeting him once, but I considered him a friend, and I knew he was a great guy, and good family man who loved his country, who had paid the ultimate sacrifice. Being a civilian, I consider myself fortunate NOT to personally know many people who have given their lives for our freedom and protection. The handful I knew are already too many. When my prototype knife arrived (shown here), it bore an inscription etched on the left side of the blade: "In Memory Of SGT. Elijah Tai Wah Wong". The idea behind the inscription is to keep the fallen warrior's spirit alive in our memory, and that it does. Everyone I show the knife to asks "Who's Elijah Wong?", and I tell them, starting with "He was a person who died for our freedom in service to our country".

The main features of the Warrior Spirit are:

• CM154 stainless steel, 6" double-slash tanto blade (60-61 RC), 3/16" thick, 2 straight edges, 1 serrated edge. Slight hollow grind.
• Weight, 12 oz.
• Overall length 11"
• G10 hand-sculpted scales
• Utility end with glass breaker and hook
• Kydex sheath

Rather than try to explain the knife's features (since I'm no knife expert), I asked Bri and Chase to describe the design philosophy behind the Warrior Spirit. Here is Chase's description paraphrased and edited:

The G10 scales are a very light gray (olive and black are the other current options) and are secured by pins here. The production ones will be secured by bolts. The handle is very comfortable and feels secure with my thumb placed in the depression on the spine of the blade. My prototype 'Elijah' knife was supplied with a 3-colour desert kydex sheath (also available in woodland and black) with a belt loop that can be placed at different angles. However, I could not mount the loop for left hand use, as the sheath is flat only on the left side for right-hand wear. It came with brass rivets which I darkened. Honestly, I prefer a more modular sheath - something MOLLE compatible like a specopsbrand shown below. The WS fits perfectly in the short sheath.

Below, you can get an idea of the size of the knife (I've small hands), and holding the handle up front for more precise work and farther back for chopping (to put more weight up front). The length of the G10 handles is about 5". The utility end hook will not get in the way or catch on your hand/wrist when you're using the knife.

Chopping

Up front

A slight change to the prototype was made in the transition from main edge to the serrations on the blade - it's been made less abrupt (shown below). Every time I handle the knife, I am reminded of Eli's sacrifice, and of his family's. The personal dedication on the blade sets it apart from any other tool or knife I own. Rest In Peace, Brother.