The Zero Tolerance 0220 is the result of a collaboration between ZT and Danish knife maker Jens Anso. At first glance, the 0220 has a look that fits right in with the ZT line. The reality is that there are some significant differences to talk about that set it apart from your typical premium EDC.
I am an unabashed fan of Zero Tolerance’s 0095BW. The combination of materials, handle design, blade design, and finish have endeared it as my favorite EDC folder. The ZT 0220 shares a couple of my favorite characteristics while adding a touch of class and personality through color.
Let’s dive in and take a look at what this premium folding knife has to offer.
Handle
The Zero Tolerance 0220 has a handle made from titanium with a bead blast finish. It’s shaped very similar to the 0095, with a slightly more angular peak coming closer to the midpoint along the back of the handle.
There is a decorative pivot and a blue ZT medallion on the smooth side of the handle. On the reverse side you’ll find the frame lock but no decorative pivot cover.
Impossible to miss is the bright orange back spacer. This is made from anodized aluminum with an integrated lanyard hole cut into it.
Clip
The clip is a deep carry style with plenty of holding strength. It’s reversible to either side of the handle but only in a tip up carry configuration. I personally like the clean look of the smooth side of the handle and prefer the clip on its pre-installed side next to the frame lock.
Blade
The Zero Tolerance 0220 features a modified drop point style blade made from S35VN steel with a stonewashed finish. Up a notch in quality compared to S30V, S35VN features additional niobium and vanadium carbides that offer what every knife user wants – the ability to grind a sharper edge with greater edge retention.
While there is a some recurve curve to offer a belly on the blade, it’s closer to a true drop point than you might see with some of the curvier designs like we expect from Ken Onion. This blade design gives it excellent slicing characteristics with reasonable piercing ability and a strong tip.
Deployment
Deployment is accomplished easily with a combination of finger flipper and ZT’s KVT ball bearing system. The weight of the blade and bearing system really work well together to create a deployment experience that is very smooth. While there will always be people who prefer an assisted or automatic opening, the Zero Tolerance 0220 is so smooth that I don’t think either are warranted.
The Bottom Line
What I haven’t really hit on so far is the size and weight of the Zero Tolerance 0220. This is a thicker, beefier knife that I normally carry. Even though it has a classy look on the smooth side, the size and weight will prevent it from being considered a gentlemen’s pocket knife.
Now that we’ve oversome that hurdle, we can talk about the benefit of this knife’s bulk. The extra thickness in both the handle and the blade make for a knife system that is ridiculously strong. I wouldn’t want to use any of my premium knives for prying or digging around tough stuff. However, of all the knives I own (aside from the Kershaw Barge which actually has a handle designed for prying), the 0220 would be able to handle it better than any other.
The material choice of S35VN steel for the blade and titanium for the handle make the Zero Tolerance 0220 a high quality folding knife that also comes at a premium price. The stonewashed finish of the blade paired with the bead blasted finish of the handle and orange back spacer offers contrast that gives the 0220 a touch of class and personality often missing in many EDC knives, premium or otherwise.
If you’re a knife collector, the differences you’ll find in the 0220 warrant bringing it into your fold. For those who prefer a premium knife as an EDC option, you’ll find that the 0220 offers a different look and feel from other options as long as you don’t mind a little extra weight. The materials ensure that it’s up to any task and will hold a sharp edge for a long time.
At the end of the day, the Zero Tolerance 0220 belongs clipped to a pair of jeans, fatigues, or work pants over a business suit and will inspire some serious knife lust in your colleagues.
Zero Tolerance 0220 Key Features
- KVT ball-bearing opening system
- Flipper
- Reversible deep-carry clip (left/right, tip-up)
- Titanium frame lock, hardened steel lockbar insert
- Custom aluminum backspacer with built-in lanyard attachment
- Made in the USA
Zero Tolerance 0220 Specifications
- Model: ZT 0220
- Steel: S35VN, stonewashed finish
- Handle: Titanium, bead blast finish
- Blade length: 3.5″ (8.9 cm)
- Closed length: 4.9″ (12.4 cm)
- Overall length: 8.4″ (21.3 cm)
- Weight: 6.2 oz. (175.8 g)
- Price:
$285$209.95 on Amazon
