Experts Say Kershaw’s Sister Brand’s Grail-Worthy EDC Knife Is the Best of the Year

Although best known as Kershaw’s sibling brand, Zero Tolerance has a pedigree and prowess all its own. Whereas Kershaw trades in EDC knives (and other tools) that balance capability and budget-friendliness, Zero Tolerance has always been far more focused on pushing the limits of performance and style.

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This year, that bold approach has clearly paid off, as the Zero Tolerance 0020 just took home one of Blade Show’s highest honors, counting it among the best knives of the year.

Zero Tolerance

“American Folding Knife Of The Year”

For those unaware, Blade Show is the single most important event in the knifemaking space. While it has been split into two standalone events, Blade Show and Blade Show West, the former holds the most prestige.

That show took place from June 5 to June 7 at the Cobb Convention Center in Atlanta. And over the course of the event, the show’s most prestigious awards were granted to a select few knives, designers and brands for their sometimes astonishing achievements in the realm of knifemaking (and its related categories).

Zero Tolerance

While the categories sometimes include multiple winners, this particular knife, the ZT 0020, earned the distinction of being the sole bladed tool to win the award for American Folding Knife Of The Year.

Even for a brand as distinguished and long-lasting as Zero Tolerance (which was founded in 2006), this is a significant accolade, as it means the brand outshone every other American folding knife released over the last year.

Of course, if you take a gander at this knife and its specs, it becomes a lot easier to understand why.

Zero Tolerance

Precision masterpiece

From any angle, the ZT 0020 is a stone-cold stunner. And a lot of that is owed to its sleek silhouette. Of course, that wouldn’t be manageable without its materials, so credit goes to those decisions as well.

To start, the slender handle is crafted from PVD-coated, 3D-machined titanium, offering pleasing, minimalist lines that don’t betray its incredible strength-to-weight ratio. While the scales are unmarred by unnecessary flair and branding, it does get a special backspacer denoting Zero Tolerance’s 20th anniversary, the event for which the knife was created.

Zero Tolerance

The handle also houses the knife’s KVT ball-bearing deployment, as well as its strong and reliable DuraLock mechanism (similar in function to an ambidextrous crossbar lock). It’s also home to a pocket clip, which is crafted from the same eye-catching steel as the blade.

That blade, by the way, is built from Vegas Forge Damascus, which “offers premium edge retention, eye-catching appeal, and layered contrast inspired by rippling water,” per the brand. It also features a modified spear-point shape to further distinguish it, as well as dual thumb studs for manual deployment.

With the perfect balance of high-performance elements, sleek design and an understanding that, sometimes, less is more, it’s truly no wonder this knife caught so much positive attention at Blade Show.

Zero Tolerance

Availability and pricing

The Zero Tolerance 0020 is live on the brand’s site, but is not yet available for purchase. However, you can add it to your wishlist to be notified when it goes live. It has an MSRP of $700.

Zero Tolerance

Zero Tolerance 0020

• $700 at Zero Tolerance

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