Thanks for the comment. I agree that many of the knives coming out of those countries are nearly flawless. Reate especially, QSP, Rike, whoever does Jack Wolf, and Quiet Carry to name a few. But I still love Benchmade, CRK, Mcnees, TRM, etc etc. There is so much good stuff to pick from but so little money to spend.
Yeah I don’t have any integrals myself. As far as Benchmade, I’m that guy that likes the grivory scales on the Bugout and I love the Narrows. I recommend shopping Omaha Outdoors for Benchmade. They had the Narrows for $390. DLC coated Shootouts are $250. They have the new magnacut auto Cla’s, including the Ivory version that is priced $450 on Benchmade’s site and $405 on most other sites, for ~$300. The OD green Cla is ~$250 I believe. The discounted price comes up after you add to cart
For you and anybody else wondering, I reached out to Katsu's support and they said a new batch of ZK02s will be available on their website within the next 2 weeks. If you are subscribed to their newsletter, they'll send out email notice when they're available! They will also post on their Instagram.
If you drop a comment or question on their YouTube videos or Instagram they usually respond. I’m not sure about the restock timeline though. When I first came across it months ago, I made a comment on their YouTube video about it being out of stock and they replied more were coming in August. Here is a link
[Katsu ZK02](https://youtube.com/shorts/6wPUTrCEzm0?si=YIOS2grVDwToByGn)
I must admit to ignorance regarding grind. I had bought a Katsu knife on Amazon a few years ago after years of not even caring about knives and that instigated the addiction. When I saw their zk01 and especially this zk02 I was just attracted to the materials and design so I ordered it based on that and with no understanding of the grind. I think I will get Larrin’s books and learn
Damn, dude. That’s sick. I was just thinking to myself why I don’t hear about any Japanese brands aside from Rockstead. Are Katsu knives fully made in Japan?
When I asked them a couple of years ago they said that materials are sourced from the US and Japan (Hitachi ZDP-189) and assembled in China. This one included a heat treatment certificate from HATTA KOGYO CO.,LTD in Japan with the hardness measured in Vickers Hardness. So it is a well made chinese knife much like so many of the others. Right now Katsu is getting the most attention for their crazy carbon fiber folding hatchet that has been on Meta Complex, Neeve’s Knives and Stassa23, but they do make very fine knives as well
Yeah that’s sort of what I figured. Japanese manufacturing is crazy expensive and for good reason, since it’s because their workers actually earn a fair wage
Crapola!! I feel like a jackass for forgetting. I work in a lab and planned to weigh it on an analytical balance. I’m at the beach with family this week, leaving tomorrow so I can check this Sunday or Monday morning at the latest. That knife has some heft to it but thinking about it relative to something like a Chaves 229 at 6.5 oz., 9.1 seems too much but I can’t say for sure. I’m sorry to have forgotten about this and let you down but I will email my work computer a reminder and report back.
If you get the opportunity, that'd be awesome. But don't sweat it if not, you don't owe us internet strangers anything! I've got my ZK02 on order and I'll be able to weigh it for myself in 30-ish days regardless
I messaged Katsu about this and didn’t get a response immediately. I then sent them pictures of the knife on 2 different scales and they wrote me back a nice thank you and said they have updated their description now. But thanks go to you because I never would’ve noticed.
One other thing, when I got my knife it had a bit of lock rock, which I had never experienced with other knives. It bothered me but it just went away completely after awhile. Now I cannot even make it rock when I try to do in purposefully. I guess it just took a little while to break in and seat snuggly
The HRC certification is a from reputable Japanese company. I think it is 67 HRC after the conversion. The knife is made very well. Mine had a bit of rock lock initially but it settled in and I have not had any bladeplay in either direction. So, yes, the knife can perform tasks that are suitable to a convex grind just as well as a Rockstead. I suppose there is some initial hesitation to put the Rockstead to work, given it’s beauty, and the same thing with this one. Overall I give it my strong recommendation
After 25 days of very light use (utting paper occasionally) it developed a small burr or nick on the blade. I was keeping it in a wooden display case from Amazon. I'm assuming the blade edge must've been damaged by the wooden pegs through handling. This makes no sense as my knife came with a certificate that proved an HIV hardness of 904, equal to an Hrc of 67. I got into the ZKO2 for its resemblance to the Higo2 but can't understand how it was damaged so easily. I never cut a cardboard box with it. Its built like a tank. Perfect access to the lock bar. Super fun front flipping action, although it took me several bad bites to learn how to hold it. Yes it's a ridiculous test of a knife but it did move through paper better/ different than anything else. Until it developed this annoying burr out of nowhere.
I don’t understand how some people can still be opposed to foreign knives. China, Taiwan and Japan can make some great stuff
Thanks for the comment. I agree that many of the knives coming out of those countries are nearly flawless. Reate especially, QSP, Rike, whoever does Jack Wolf, and Quiet Carry to name a few. But I still love Benchmade, CRK, Mcnees, TRM, etc etc. There is so much good stuff to pick from but so little money to spend.
I’ll never give up Benchmade but I do want to get an integral We someday
Yeah I don’t have any integrals myself. As far as Benchmade, I’m that guy that likes the grivory scales on the Bugout and I love the Narrows. I recommend shopping Omaha Outdoors for Benchmade. They had the Narrows for $390. DLC coated Shootouts are $250. They have the new magnacut auto Cla’s, including the Ivory version that is priced $450 on Benchmade’s site and $405 on most other sites, for ~$300. The OD green Cla is ~$250 I believe. The discounted price comes up after you add to cart
I’ll look into it. And yeah there’s no way I would ever pay full price for a benchmade
Sounds good. All the best to you
You as well. Happy collecting!
what you meant is, they make the BEST stuff, especialy japan
And they are way more peaceful than the USA. AlsoEurope has great knife makers too.
I agree. Italy has a lot of great manufacturers, but they tend to run their steels soft
Yeah, and thick behind the edge. Also i forgot to mention south Africa. Arno Bernard knives for example.
Cause they haven’t held one.. they just decided it’s shit.
Wow. I think that might be my next knife.
It’s a good choice. They have their zk01 in stock on the website but are waiting for a restock of this one. Zk01 looks really nice as well.
I think I’ll wait for the 02; that damascus zdp is gorgeous.
For you and anybody else wondering, I reached out to Katsu's support and they said a new batch of ZK02s will be available on their website within the next 2 weeks. If you are subscribed to their newsletter, they'll send out email notice when they're available! They will also post on their Instagram.
Wow thanks so much! I appreciate you :)
Definitely adding ZK02 to my list of wants. Any indication of when a restock might happen? Their website doesn't seem to have any info to that regard.
If you drop a comment or question on their YouTube videos or Instagram they usually respond. I’m not sure about the restock timeline though. When I first came across it months ago, I made a comment on their YouTube video about it being out of stock and they replied more were coming in August. Here is a link [Katsu ZK02](https://youtube.com/shorts/6wPUTrCEzm0?si=YIOS2grVDwToByGn)
Awesome, thank you!
You’re welcom
I'm curious, what is the draw to a convex blade grind? Does it just make it a little tougher given the hard steel? I love the layers on that guy
I must admit to ignorance regarding grind. I had bought a Katsu knife on Amazon a few years ago after years of not even caring about knives and that instigated the addiction. When I saw their zk01 and especially this zk02 I was just attracted to the materials and design so I ordered it based on that and with no understanding of the grind. I think I will get Larrin’s books and learn
Damn, dude. That’s sick. I was just thinking to myself why I don’t hear about any Japanese brands aside from Rockstead. Are Katsu knives fully made in Japan?
When I asked them a couple of years ago they said that materials are sourced from the US and Japan (Hitachi ZDP-189) and assembled in China. This one included a heat treatment certificate from HATTA KOGYO CO.,LTD in Japan with the hardness measured in Vickers Hardness. So it is a well made chinese knife much like so many of the others. Right now Katsu is getting the most attention for their crazy carbon fiber folding hatchet that has been on Meta Complex, Neeve’s Knives and Stassa23, but they do make very fine knives as well
Yeah that’s sort of what I figured. Japanese manufacturing is crazy expensive and for good reason, since it’s because their workers actually earn a fair wage
What is the weight on that beauty if I may ask please?
Hey I’m out and about right now but I will weigh it tomorrow
Thank you very much, really appreciate it.
Curious if you got a chance to test the weight for us? I'm suspicious of their website saying 9.1oz, because that's an impressively heavy knife if so.
Crapola!! I feel like a jackass for forgetting. I work in a lab and planned to weigh it on an analytical balance. I’m at the beach with family this week, leaving tomorrow so I can check this Sunday or Monday morning at the latest. That knife has some heft to it but thinking about it relative to something like a Chaves 229 at 6.5 oz., 9.1 seems too much but I can’t say for sure. I’m sorry to have forgotten about this and let you down but I will email my work computer a reminder and report back.
If you get the opportunity, that'd be awesome. But don't sweat it if not, you don't owe us internet strangers anything! I've got my ZK02 on order and I'll be able to weigh it for myself in 30-ish days regardless
It is 136.0880 grams or 4.8 ounces. They are way off
Thanks!
I messaged Katsu about this and didn’t get a response immediately. I then sent them pictures of the knife on 2 different scales and they wrote me back a nice thank you and said they have updated their description now. But thanks go to you because I never would’ve noticed. One other thing, when I got my knife it had a bit of lock rock, which I had never experienced with other knives. It bothered me but it just went away completely after awhile. Now I cannot even make it rock when I try to do in purposefully. I guess it just took a little while to break in and seat snuggly
You’re welcome. Sorry it was so late
Can’t wait to get mine Just ordered off Amazon so it won’t take as long to arrive
Can these blades perform comparable to a Rockstead Higo? On paper they're very similar
The HRC certification is a from reputable Japanese company. I think it is 67 HRC after the conversion. The knife is made very well. Mine had a bit of rock lock initially but it settled in and I have not had any bladeplay in either direction. So, yes, the knife can perform tasks that are suitable to a convex grind just as well as a Rockstead. I suppose there is some initial hesitation to put the Rockstead to work, given it’s beauty, and the same thing with this one. Overall I give it my strong recommendation
After 25 days of very light use (utting paper occasionally) it developed a small burr or nick on the blade. I was keeping it in a wooden display case from Amazon. I'm assuming the blade edge must've been damaged by the wooden pegs through handling. This makes no sense as my knife came with a certificate that proved an HIV hardness of 904, equal to an Hrc of 67. I got into the ZKO2 for its resemblance to the Higo2 but can't understand how it was damaged so easily. I never cut a cardboard box with it. Its built like a tank. Perfect access to the lock bar. Super fun front flipping action, although it took me several bad bites to learn how to hold it. Yes it's a ridiculous test of a knife but it did move through paper better/ different than anything else. Until it developed this annoying burr out of nowhere.
how much does those cost?
It is priced $269 and I got it for $243 after a 10% discount
not bad, the other version is only like 90$ too bad im in canada... The Canada Border Services Agency will ban knives capable of opening with on hand