Zentron_Global Zen Q50 Thermal Imaging Scope

 Zentron_Global Zen Q50 Thermal Imaging Scope

The ZenQ50 is another great infrared thermal imaging stand alone rifle scope from Zentron_Global also known as Zentron Outdoors with a 50mm Objective. 

We previously thoroughly tested the 35mm Q635 imager in Australia and it was/is great!

SOME KEY FEATURES & BENEFITS

The specs of the Zen Q50 are Fantastic with a 50mm f1.0 lens. 

The Zen Q50 is a standalone infrared scope and as such does not require a regular rifle scope since the unit has built in reticles**.

Weight: 423gm (LOL, it basically is very light weight!) . A digital compass; 2600m detection range; IP67 weather resistant. The electronics and optics are housed in a rugged magnesium alloy shell. There is a 6 hour continuous battery operation (with supplied batteries). 

The unit comes with the following: a USB battery charger; 2 sets of batteries; X2 USBC cables; and assorted fixing hardware (including a picatinny rail adapter), 

and an excellent padded carry case (just like the Zen Q635) with shoulder strap! No flimsy boxes here, we are talking a precision cnc high density custom foam lined carry case, which fully compliments such specialist optics.

 There is simply no point is purchasing an IR rifle scope only to make another purchase of a quality carry case to protect your investment. The solution is achieved here by them supplying a quality carrying case to begin with!

The Heart of the Zen Q 50

The imaging system is using a uncooled VOX with a NETD of LESS than 20mK! The FOV is 8.7°(H)x7°(V). Minimum focus is 5m. There is a X2.3 optical magnification* 

  Such a VOX (vanadium Oxide) imaging chip is paramount for superb infrared image capture.

The screen is a 1920x1080 full HD OLED display and this is very easy on the eye during the night.

Diopter -5 to +5 This is great for all those who wear spectacles! This particular diopter range is a MUST for all those who wear spectacles!

Because the Zentron Global Zen Q50 is a standalone model it has a variety of reticles and doubles as a handheld thermal monocular, 

perfect for rapidly spotting game without waving the rifle around (this is actually a really great thing as it's super safe and super rapid). Double this with a precision picatinny rail mounting system, 

you will not lose zero every time you remove or replace the scope on the rifle! Speaking of zero's you can sight the Zen Q50 from 50m minimum out to 300m.

 It doesn't stop there!

The Zen Link app is fantastic! (both for Android and MAC iOS) For a start it tells you the weather and it's very accurate! I've checked it against local weather data. It's extremely easy and fast to navigate either via the phone app or directly within the device through the various menus.

Video and stills can be taken manually or automatically triggered by rifle recoil.

How do I get my priceless hunting pictures and videos off the device?

Android and Mac iOS support!

If you are using an Android type phone, it's completely seamless using the Zenlink app. If you are using an iPhone like me (14 Plus 18.6.2) use the ZSYNC app from Zentron to download all of your hunting photos and videos!

Accessing the menus is super simple and quick either directly via the weatherproof silent buttons on the unit or via your mobile device.

Colour pallets, there are many to choose from but the key ones are there for the various environmental conditions such as white hot, (most regular fair weather night time imaging); Black hot for day time hunting (yes, IR scopes are great for day time hunting) and as I mentioned, various other colour pallets for different weather and terrain IR background conditions (rocky environments etc.).

 (see  videos @BCTPCP regarding optimal settings for thermal rifle scopes, where this guy explains all.

If you want to learn more simple check this link!

Getting ready for the advancing night!

Note:

If 50mm isn't your thing and you prefer 35mm, then please check out the footage on @BushCampingTools or drop me a note in the comments here and I can help you make the choice between 35mm and 50mm objective lenses.




*This is set.
** Zentron, I can speak from experience regularly update the firmware based upon customer requirements/suggestions, this is great as it mean they are a company which actually listens to customer feedback.

An Interesting Knife which might be right up your alley!

WithArmour Model: Expendable* 

 

The Chinese OEM knife making company DAV Gear has it's own product line  under the banner WithArmour. This is the second product I have tested from them. The previous san mai constructed bushcraft knife (Cajo I) from a German designer, was of excellent construction and functionality for it's intended usage in the field of bushcraft. 

Now I focus upon a long standing model which is clearly "combat/survival orientated; The Expendable. This is a design from the CEO of the company Davis Zhang otherwise known as ROARDRAGON.Com The knife went into production about 3 years ago and Ive had my eye on it for a while.

 

There are a lot of high quality outdoor products, in the  way of edged tools that are coming out of China these days. Specifically, Chinese producing their own brands of gear. 

So far, WithArmour appears to be one of them, at least for the very two knives I have had in my hands in the field. As you can see from the above image, the presentation is great, in a well made (but of course fully recyclable) cardboard presentation/storage box. This particular knife comes as a "complete package" for around $144-00 USD! (sale price now as new models are due to be released).

It should be noted that the parent company DAV Gear is OEMing for some very well know USA brands, so making knives is their business.

So what's in the box?

Kydex scabbard (with a kind of ballistic nylon belt carry loop, (removable)

CNC made screwdriver/torx head driver (2 bits supplied)

 (seen here without the combat styled guard installed)

Microfibre cleaning cloth

Separate guard, since this knife can be easily converted to a "no guard version" More on this later.

Publicity material and warranty card

Small nylon pouch (could take a small folding knife or other kit). This pouch attaches to the scabbard.

Desiccant film.

The Construction

The steel

Industry standard D2 tool steel hardened to 59-61 HRC. Personally, I've found D2 to be really able to handle outdoor abuse. All those concerned about non food safe blade coatings then no problems, as this uncoated knife blade will be fine for food preparation.

The Design

The "Expendable" will not be everyone's "cup of tea" especially with the upper spine edge carrying an absolutely lethally sharp set of non alternating concave serrations.

 Reminiscent of the Aitor Survival knives of old and many other combat knives of more modern designs from various manufacturers such as Fox but not limited to. Note: this knife blade is definitely NOT a copy! One either hates serrations or recognises them for a functionality. Personally, I love them and have plenty of outdoor uses for them.

The stonewashed blade is almost a drop point/spear point, with a deep double fuller. It is 5mm in thickness to a full tang and bashing pommel. The tip narrows to a unsharpened spine swedge.

There is a lanyard hole and the pommel partially protrudes past the CNC machined G10 scales.

The tolerances for the fitting of the interchangeable guard/s is/are very good (see below). Interesting for me is that a knife guard can be fitted in the following traditional ways: A bolster/guard is physically pinned (generally irreversible) into the knife tang; the guard can be press fit (very common method) whereby friction alone holds the guard in place. If done properly then the guard will remain in place forever. Finally, a less common method is to simply slide on the guard and it is held in place by the handle construction/material. This latter method's success is totally dependent upon the handle construction and for such a guard, it has the possibility of movement. Usually this technique is done in order to easily disassembly the knife for cleaning.

Now we have a newer take on guard attachment, whereby the guard is precisely machined in order to fit a precisely machined part of the tang where it is held in place with two small screws. Any forces upon the guard do not impact the screws as the guard itself fits tightly to the notch in the tang. Since this tang is of adequate thickness (5mm) then more than adequate strength is achieved by this manner of fitting. This technique could only be achieved via machine construction to be able to produce tight tolerances of both guard and tang and CNCed G10 handle scales. This technique then allows for simply exchanging one part in order to replace the combat style guard with essentially a "bolster".

The actual guard is attached via two torx head screws into a tapped tang. Whilst these said parts appear to look like titanium, I believe they have been titanium coated and of stainless steel construction.  

I'd like to see a full titanium guard/bolster but this of course would only increase the cost and add no mechanical benefit to the overall knife's functionality.

Their site erroneously says this knife has a scandi grind, however this is incorrect and the edge is a typical beveled knife edge. That's probably just a result of a translation from Chinese to English?

Functionality

These types of blades (literally doubled edged) I would argue are for those very comfortable with handling edge tools/weapons as there can be no room for error in the handling of such items.

The WithArmour Expendable generated feathers ok on some random piece of wood lying on the ground.

Bashes fire tinder fungi ok! and cuts birch bark well too! Note: No gloves were worn at any time using this knife in the field!

The serrations on the spine enable this knife to rapidly cut such materials as reeds. Reeds of course are excellent for the bushcrafter as they can be sat upon, build floatation platforms, survive the sub zero temperatures with a makeshift shelter, bedding materials, fire torches etc. etc.

The knife comes fitted with the full guard however you can easily exchange it for a more "Bushcraft" appearance by replacing half of the guard with what's in the above plastic bag and thus produce a knife with a "bolster".

Dead easy to interchange the full guard for the no guard!

These serrations, IMHO are excellent for rapid cutting of reeds and other fibrous materials.

The knife is certainly strong and I gave it some abusive tests (see videos) and I threw it several times into a tree and dropped it onto some very solid wood. No tip damage!

My only gripe!

                        Summary

I'm going to give this knife, the Expendable, from WithArmour a 9/10 for construction, fit and finish. I'm going to give the sheath however a 7/10 as the tolerances are way over the top as in TOO tight and there have been other comments from other influencers regarding the tight fit of the scabbard. 

The kydex does NOT need to press into both side of the fullers, as this simply delivers way too much friction. This is so far the ONLY gripe I have about this knife as a whole. When I received the knife, I naturally inserted it into the scabbard to check the fit and then found it was almost impossible to remove it! This problem was however rectified with a hot air gun by my local gun and knife shop.

It stayed sharp and so it should, as D2 is a no brainer for achieving a high hardness and good temper as there is so much metallurgical data on the optimal heat treatment/s of this tool steel.

Looking at the construction, it appears to have been made mostly by machine, so that's no surprise about the tolerances of the final product. Some may say the screws are a weak point in the tang, it's very thick and I doubt it could be broken at this point unless severe abuse applied (like for any knife-get a crow bar!).

Naturally, the videos will be flowing so stick around on the channel

@bushcampingtools and don't forget the facebook and Instagram posts!

HOT OFF THE PRESS CHECK IT OUT!

Note:

Since this is a model which is now 3 years old. WithArmour have now released several other versions which are now made with their WASTEEL (san mai constructed laminated steel).

* No this is NOT a movie knife!

No sharpening for 6 months? Is this possible?

 No sharpening for 6 months? Is this possible?

Is it possible to use a knife for approximately a little over 6 months without sharpening or honing it? 

The answer is YES , if that knife is made from Böhler's S600 tool steel!

Check out that video here (if you haven't already seen it.)

Why the Kizlyar Supreme Bastardo is a Great Knife.

 Why the Kizlyar Supreme Bastardo is a Great Knife.

In short 420HC ranks extremely high for toughness. What this translates to is total confidence that one is never going to break their precious wilderness knife, a knife which your life and those of others may well depend upon!

420HC does not loose it's corrosion resistance at maximum hardness. 420HC is also easy to sharpen. These features are great for a real working knife. Kizlyar Supreme are heat treating their 420HC to a maximum of HRC 58. Yes this is totally possible.

Here we can see (data provided by the manufacturer, Böhler) that the maximum HRC is around HRC 57.5, ie HRC58 can be obtained with little to no tempering. The toughness is achieved intrinsically from the alloy itself.

This data for Böhler N540 which is the same as AISI 420.

(note: probably not a very good idea to stick a N540/420HC blade in the fire.

YES, this isn't a high end steel but then again this is the steel of choice for a corrosion resistant blade that will be used everyday and must be easily sharpened without diamond tools.

To be honest when i first received this blade I was very sceptical of it's outdoor performance, especially at being able to stay sharp, even over a period of ONE day in the wilds cutting through solid oak logs and solid beech timber. I was super confident it would have a dull edge after a few minutes workout on this dirty (bark on) timber.  I had to swallow my ridiculous and scientifically unfounded prejudices about 420HC.  The thing about 420HC is it is crucial what is in the mix in terms of maximum limits of each batch. By this I mean the top of the bell curve for maximum allowable alloying elements because it has been also shown that the presence of Nitrogen in some variants lends itself to higher quality end products. I don't know what % of N is present in the alloy that Kizlyar Supreme is using but all I can say is that in real life catting tasks, this blade is making my very much more expensive knives look crap! (yes is is 420HC, I haven't made a mistake, as they also produce this blade with Sleipner tool steel).