The Blade HQ Exclusive ZT 0117 Brings Back Old School Cool

In This Article

• Fiberglass: The Material of the Future in the Past
• Carbon Fiber: The Material of the Future in the Present
• Why Fiberglass?
• "They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To"…Or Do They?
• Maybe There’s a Bright Blue Knife in Your Future
• Why Fiberglass is Cool

Once upon a time, there was fiberglass. *jazz hands*

Yeah, alright. Fiberglass is still a thing. But it’s not "a thing" anymore—it’s been decades since fiberglass was exciting.

But when it was, it was all the rage.

And now it lives on our Blade HQ exclusive ZT 0117 (model number 0177GBLU), here and now in 2026, and we think it’s pretty awesome.

Let’s go back in time to understand why.

Fiberglass: The Material of the Future in the Past

In 1953, the Chevrolet Corvette rolled onto the scene, featuring fiberglass, the material of the future.

It was light, it was strong, you could mold it into complex, curvy shapes (such as those adorning the 1953 Corvette).

Never before had anything so perfectly combined strength, corrosion resistance, and moldability while remaining lightweight.

It fundamentally changed what manufacturers could build economically.

It took the world by storm, and before long, fiberglass was turning up in many of the era’s most iconic products:

• Contemporary sports cars
• Surfboards
• High-end boats
• Premium furniture

The Optimism of the Post-War Era

Following World War II, the zeitgeist was all about the coming bright future, unburdened by war.

The appearance of materials like fiberglass, which rewrote what was possible, stoked the fire: the future is at our doorstep, and it’s bright.

Anyway, now we’re here in the "future," and it’s alright.

The main point is that fiberglass was a firework: hot, bright, and then replaced.

Carbon Fiber: The Material of the Future in the Present

Carbon fiber is lighter and stronger for its weight than fiberglass.

In many places fiberglass was, carbon fiber now is.

Carbon Fiber on Pocket Knives

Knifemakers are always trying to make their pocket knives stronger and lighter, like moving from steel to titanium and 1075 to MagnaCut.

So, with carbon fiber as light and strong as it is, it’s no wonder it’s found its way onto everything from custom knives to production powerhouses like the Benchmade Bugout 535-3 and the ZT 0117.

Why Fiberglass?

If fiberglass is inferior to carbon fiber, and the original ZT 0117 already has carbon fiber scales, why’d we go with the former?

Simply put, more "premium" wasn’t our goal.

We’re aiming for a different kind of value, which we’ll explain below (though we hit premium pretty solidly on the head, too—it’s hard not to with ZT).

Besides, these days, many knives are so tough and well-made that a smidge of rigidity or lightness won’t make much of a difference.

We submit that, as a community, we can afford to be a little less technically optimal. It makes so much room for style!

"They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To"…Or Do They?

I’ve heard it, you’ve heard it—heck, I’ve said it! Maybe you have, too.

Of course, the implication is that products from "back in the day" are superior in quality.

But when it comes to knives, there are many brands that don’t go the easy route, that don’t let their quality standards slip, that are dedicated to producing the best.

Zero Tolerance is one such brand.

Old School Quality on New School Knives

Zero Tolerance (ZT) is a USA-based brand known for the unyielding quality of its knives.

It’s literally in the name: zero tolerance for…

• defects
• cheap materials
• bad designs

Whatever it may be.

ZT exemplifies much of what the people of 1953—who made it through the war, who built Corvettes out of fiberglass—were excited about:

• quality
• premium materials
• fantastic designs

The truth is, some things aren’t as good as they used to be.

They’re better.

Companies like ZT (and there are a lot of them) carry on the tradition of building premium products that will last into a brighter future.

Maybe There’s a Bright Blue Knife in Your Future

Seventy-three years ago, fiberglass helped define America’s sports car.

Today, it gives this exclusive pocket knife a little more personality.

We didn’t choose fiberglass for our ZT 0117 because it was the strongest or lightest material.

We chose it for what it represents, what it reminds you of:

• post-war optimism
• cutting-edge innovation
• quality like it used to be

And quality like it still is with many knifemakers today.

It’s easy to be cynical in our 2026 world. There’s a lot going on, and much of it makes many people sad or upset.

The Blade HQ exclusive ZT 0117 is a reminder that some things we long for and miss are still present.

But as nice as all that is, at the end of the day, it won’t reach some people—nostalgia can only get you so far.

But, its history aside, fiberglass is a cool new take on handle scales all its own: It comes in colors carbon fiber doesn’t, and it has its own unique heft and feel.

If any of that resonated with you, we think you’ll love our exclusive 0117.

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Zero Tolerance 0117 0117GBLU

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$240.00 From Blade HQ

The Blade HQ Exclusive ZT 0117 pairs modern MagnaCut steel with nostalgic baby blue fiberglass—a material that once defined the future. Inspired by an era of bold design and built with Zero Tolerance's uncompromising quality, it's old-school cool with modern performance.

• Blade Length: 3.30"
• Blade Material: CPM MagnaCut
• Blade Style: Drop Point
• Handle Material: Other