The ZT 0357BW isn’t a new knife. It’s the cheapest folding knife Zero Tolerance builds in the United States, and it’s been on sale since at least 2020. Six years on, it’s still in the lineup at $188, and buyers still rate it 4.6 stars.
Zero Tolerance 0357BW
Price: $188
Where to Buy: Amazon
For that money you get a stainless steel blade, machined G10 handles, an assisted opening flipper, and a lifetime warranty. Most of what the listing says checks out against Zero Tolerance’s own specs. One line doesn’t, and it’s the one buyers care about most. So it’s worth reading the whole listing instead of trusting the summary at the top.
The Listing as It Stands Today
Amazon sells the 0357BW for $188, and it’s in stock as of August 4, 2026. The listing has 4.6 stars from 231 ratings and sits at #356 in Amazon’s Tactical Knives category. Those numbers point to a steady seller rather than a hit.
Dealers don’t agree on price. KnifeCenter sells the same knife for $196, and its series page shows $245 next to that $196. So Amazon is the cheaper of the two big listings right now. Neither one shows a sale or a deadline, so treat $188 as the normal price.
Kai USA owns both Zero Tolerance and Kershaw, and it builds this knife in Tualatin, Oregon. The knife comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Amazon lists that warranty and Zero Tolerance lists it too, so that part is easy to confirm.
The Blade and Its Finish
The blade is 3.25 inches long, or 8.25 cm. It’s a drop point with a plain edge, and this version doesn’t come with serrations. The steel is 0.121 inch thick, which is thick for a blade this short. That’s part of why the knife feels bigger than it looks.
BW in the name stands for BlackWash, a tumbled finish that lets small scratches blend in. That finish is the only thing that separates this model from the plain 0357. Both knives share the same blade, the same size, and the same edge, so the choice comes down to looks. Zero Tolerance also says you can get the 0357BW engraved.
Handle, Lock, and Carry
The handles are black G10, a hard composite material. They’re machined on both sides, not flat slabs, and they measure 0.47 inch thick. The pivot, the screws, and the clip are all steel, so there’s no titanium or aluminum in the build.
The knife uses a liner lock. It opens with ZT’s SpeedSafe assist, which you trigger with the flipper tab. Assisted knives fall under different laws than plain folding knives in some places, so it’s smart to check your local rules first.
The pocket clip rides deep in the pocket and moves to either side. It’s tip-up only in both spots. There’s a lanyard hole at the end of the handle. Anyone who likes tip-down carry won’t find that option here.
Size and Weight
Closed, the knife is 4.4 inches long, or 11.2 cm. Open, it reaches 7.625 inches, or 19.4 cm. It weighs 4.3 ounces, or 122 g, which is average for a G10 knife with steel liners at this blade length.
That puts it above a thin dress knife and below a heavy duty one. Add the thick blade stock, and it reads as a work knife that still fits in a front pocket.
Where the Listing and ZT’s Page Disagree
One spec doesn’t match. Amazon’s title and bullet points both say CPM 20CV steel. Zero Tolerance’s own 0357BW page says CPM S45VN, at 59 to 61 HRC. KnifeCenter and Blade HQ agree with Amazon and list 60 to 62 HRC, which is where 20CV usually sits.
Buyer reviews point to a real change rather than a typo. A verified review from March 2026 says the knife now ships with S45VN, and a June 2025 review says the same. Reviews from 2020 through 2023 all describe 20CV. Kai hasn’t posted a notice about a switch, so it’s unclear whether the change is official.
Both steels are powder stainless, and both aim at the same buyer. 20CV holds an edge longer because it packs in more hard carbides. S45VN adds nitrogen, so it fights rust better and sharpens more easily.
Zero Tolerance 0357BW
Price: $188
Where to Buy: Amazon
Kai stamps the steel name on the blade near the pivot. That means the knife itself answers the question faster than any web page can. If the steel matters to you, ask the dealer to check that stamp before the knife ships.
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