I thought that finding a replacement blade for my beloved Emerson CQC-7 would be difficult. Turns out, it might not be that hard after all. The very first candidate I picked up was pretty near perfect: the Zero Tolerance 0620. This knife has a heck of a lot going for it, but if you want one, I’m afraid I have some bad news…
The Zero Tolerance 0620
The Zero Tolerance 0620 was recommended by a friend, and when you see it, it probably doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why. He understood what I loved about the CQC-7, and recommended a knife that came pretty close in form, but with over-built function. The ZT 0620 and 0630 were made in collaboration with Earnest Emerson. I’ve read a lot of reviews that call them something like “basically an Emerson, but better.”
The ZT 0620 has one of my required features: the Emerson Wave. This makes the transition to this new knife easy. It also has the Emerson thumb-disk for one-handed opening, but the detent on the Zero Tolerance 0620 is very strong. It does an admirable job of keeping the blade closed, and yields easily to the Wave. However, I still find it nearly impossible to open with the thumb disk.
The Zero Tolerance 0620 has quite a few differences than the Emerson. I’ll start with the visible differences. My first impression upon taking it out of the package was “this thing is big!” It’s probably only about 10% bigger than the CQC-7, but it is definitely a full-sized folder. It does feel really good in the hand, but it’s a bit bulky and heavy in the pocket.
The blade shape is less drastically “tanto” than the CQC. It exhibits a certain curvature in the transition between the primary and secondary edges that makes it more…curvy. In fact, it looks closer to the blade on Emerson’s ETAK-B than the CQC-7. Rather than a chisel-grind, the blade on the 0620 has a V grind. Most regard the V-grind as superior to Emerson’s chisel grind and I think I’ll be pretty happy with it.
Next, and even more noticeably, the scales are not the same on each side of the blade. The “show side” has a very nice G-10 scale. The other side is a naked titanium scale. This is because the knife has a frame lock, which I will talk about in a moment. Never having carried a knife lacking matching scales, I was a little put off by this initially, but it came to be something I hardly notice, and certainly don’t mind. The show side G-10 scale is drilled and tapped for the pocket clip, making the 0620 convertible for left-side carry.
The frame lock is one of my favorite features on this knife. I may be so fond of it because of how my Emerson failed. Frame locks are inherently stronger than liner locks, and this one is beefy. It also features ZT’s replaceable “locking bar” which is shown in the image below. This piece of stainless steel will eventually wear out. But unlike an Emerson (or indeed, most knives of any make) the locking bar can be quickly and easily replaced, restoring the knife’s safe function. This is a thoughtful touch, and a welcome change from the planned obsolesence designed into many products.
Two is one, one is none
After a couple of weeks of carry, I am very impressed with the Zero Tolerance 0620. Though I wasn’t initially thrilled by its size (it is quite a bit larger than the CQC-7) it has found its place in my pocket. It’s fit, finish, and function are impeccable. I’m not what you would call a “knife guy” so take that for what it’s worth. However, I’m also not alone in this opinion.
The worst criticism I can level against the Zero Tolerance 0620 – and the bad news to which I alluded – is that it has been discontinued. If you look you can still find them, though. I found mine on Amazon.com for around $150, and you can probably find one there, too. That price isn’t half bad when you consider that it’s $50 under going prices when they were in production. If you don’t mind a used one (Zero Tolerance has an excellent warranty) you may do well to search the electronic Bay.
Since the Zero Tolerance 0620 is my current top contender and isn’t made any longer, I decided to go ahead and get two of them. I can’t stand the thoughts of losing it and being unable to replace it. Reverting back to my military jargon: two is one, and one is none*. If this particular design isn’t to your liking, check out ZT’s other offerings. I don’t get paid by them – I just think they make a heck of a good product.
*If two is one and one is none, does three equal two, or one and a half?
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Justin — at the risk of quoting myself: “If two is one, then if you have two items you really only have one — and as we’ve been told, one is none. Therefore, two is none because one is none and two is only one, which is also none. That means you probably need three. But three is just two plus one, and since two is one, you only have one plus one. Since one is none, one plus one is really none plus none, which is none. So even three is really none.”
Hope this clears it up.
So get four?
Haha, thanks for weighing in, Grant!
I’ll leave that conversation to you and your significant other.
But if I were you, I’d learn to sleep on the couch.
🙂
My head is spinning Grant! I say go with ten.
Ha! I don’t care who you are, you gotta admit that’s some funny stuff, right there!
Brilliant, Grant!
But who’s on first? ; ^ )
Where do you think I stole the idea??
😉
Oh lordy, let’s not start with Abbott & Costello, or we’ll be here all night. LOL
*If two is one and one is none, does three equal two, or one and a half?
I have wondered this very same thing. I noticed that people tended to have none, two, or a huge surplus of things in the Army, so I suspect three is really just an early start on four, five, six, and so on.
That looks like a really good knife. I find it really hard to get excited about tanto blades, but the replaceable locking bar is really cool. Is that a standard feature on Zero Tolerance knives? If it is, I might have to see what they offer with a drop point.
Greyson,
As I understand it the lock-bar stop is a standard feature on most (if not all) ZT knives. If the blade is all that is holding you back, you might also check out the ZT 0630. I’m not sure if it’s still in production or not, but it is for sale directly on ZT’s website.
The 0630 looks like a solid option. The 0450CF and 0804CF also caught my eye (though I would prefer those to have a thumb stud or disc). The pictures for all models definitely show a replaceable lock bar stop. When I showed them to my wife, her response was, “that’s fine; I’m not even going to bother saying ‘no’, because you will stop yourself before I do.” She’s right; I just can’t bring myself to spend that much at the moment. Still, they are cool knives, and I can drool.
I am trying to figure out if the lock bar is similar to a liner lock in usage. Am I seeing this correctly? And do ya gotta catch ’em all?
Rileyguy,
Yes; a liner lock and a frame lock function the same way. The difference is that a liner lock is a thin piece of metal (the liner) that moves over and locks the blade open. With a frame lock, a bigger piece of metal (actually part of the handle/frame) moves over and locks the blade. For the user, though, they function almost identically.
Gotcha, thanks
Have been wondering what you’d replace your old Emerson with, Justin. Congratulations! Zero Tolerance does steel really, really well.
Now to keep it like God intended…
Like putting a bullet where it belongs, I’ve long thought the art of sharpening a knife was one of the more important of the “manly arts.” Indeed, if I could have all those hours back I’ve spent sitting in front of a stone, slowly and carefully wearing away microscopic bits of steel, I could go on a nice vacation somewhere.
Not that I’d trade ’em. Like gently stroking a young woman’s cheek, or holding a newborn infant while it slumbers in your arms, there’s something ineffably magical about laying a blade along a stone _just so_, in exactly the right way. You know you’ve tapped into something special.
So it’s with a tinge of reluctance that I offer this recommendation: https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Pro-Apex-Sharpening-System/dp/B00BFFY8JI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519220794&sr=8-1&keywords=edge+pro+apex&dpID=41fn2iDTcFL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
There’s a bit less art involved, and a little bit more science. But it works a treat.
“But unlike an Emerson (or indeed, most knifes of any make)….”
Two are “knives:, one is “knife.”
Grammar Nazi, Out.