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Can't open my ZT 550!

I always love the "you're not using the right technique" responses. It's not a musical instrument. There shouldn't need to be a learning curve for a folding knife.
If you're not happy with it send it to ZT or sell it.
 
Knives with a strong detent take a while to get used to. Once mastered it's a non issue. Striders & Sebenzas are two examples of knives that won't fall open with gravity and I appreciate that.
 
Moxy said:
I always love the "you're not using the right technique" responses. It's not a musical instrument. There shouldn't need to be a learning curve for a folding knife.
If you're not happy with it send it to ZT or sell it.
Click to expand...
What would you call it then if I can flip open a flipper and I hand it to a friend to do it and he can't?
 
I had an 0551 for a while, and the only way I could open was to flick out with the thumb stud. It just wouldn't open if I tried pushing on the stud slowly.
 
KnottyEagle said:
What would you call it then if I can flip open a flipper and I hand it to a friend to do it and he can't?
Click to expand...

I'm sure your friend would have it mastered in 20 seconds. I'd hardly call that a "learning curve". If not, it's a bad design.
Just my $.02 man.
 
Moxy said:
I'm sure your friend would have it mastered in 20 seconds. I'd hardly call that a "learning curve". If not, it's a bad design.
Just my $.02 man.
Click to expand...
I can guarantee you if I handed 10 friends a 0777 that 8 wouldn't be able to open it in 20 seconds.
 
My point is a folding knife should be as simple and easy to use as possible. Sometimes a knife is stiff out of box and it takes a while for it to break in, my small Seb was the same as this guy's 550 when I first got it. It has since smoothed out considerably. But a pocket knife, to me, is a tool more than anything else. The purpose of a tool is to allow the user to accomplish a task with ease, where otherwise it would have been difficult or impossible to accomplish without the tool. So following that logic, a good design for a knife is one that is easy to use. There is a difference between playing with your favorite flipper over and over while watching TV and actually needing your knife spontaneously to serve a purpose. When you're playing or fondling with your favorite knife your mind is actively focused on the knife itself. The motion is repeated over and over and muscle memory kicks in and makes the exercise repetitive and effortless. Now consider this scenario. Say you get a package in the mail you've been expecting for a while. You're really executed. Your mind is focused on the box full of goodies sitting in front of you. You absentmindedly grab your knife from your pocket and go to flick or draw it open for the first time that day.... did it open the way you expected it, without even thinking about it? If it did, as most do, it's a good design. I've owned a 550 with a strong detent and I hated how my first instinct was the wrong way of opening it. Every time I went to use it, "wtf?.. oh yeah... this knife has that unnecessarily strong detent... let me re-adjust my grip... there we go". I had a similar and bloody experience with my Spyderco dragonfly. My usual reflex closing procedure resulted in a nice slice in my thumb. All in all the knife was just too small for me and that made it awkward and therefor dangerous to close. Everyone is different, however. Something that I find difficult and annoying to use spontaneously you may find to be a piece of cake. Not everyone is going to love your favorite knife or brand. There is noting wrong with that. If the OP isn't happy with his knife to the point of needing to make a thread about it, well then send it in or get something else. There are many more options out there.
Thats just the way I think about it.
 
While I liked the feel and design of the knife, it was the hardest knife to open I have ever own. I sold mine.
 
Todd21969 said:
Make sure you are holding it in a way that you are putting no pressure at all on the lockbar. It is a little tricky at first, but once you get the hang of your finger placement it will fly open.
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Exactly why I like frame locks as a lefty. I can easily hold the knife securely and not touch the lock bar. Just resting my fingers on the hope opening makes the opening significantly harder.

My 550 came back the same way with the new blade. Best I can say is open the knife a little (just to overcome the detent) and close it back a lot while you are watching TV or something. 15-30 minutes should break it in real well. Make sure to use both hands so you don't obliterate your thumb. If that doesn't break it in, call up Kershaw and see if they have any tips, and if they suggest it send it in.
 
Moxy said:
I always love the "you're not using the right technique" responses. It's not a musical instrument. There shouldn't need to be a learning curve for a folding knife.
If you're not happy with it send it to ZT or sell it.
Click to expand...

You are right, it's not a guitar, or a sax, or even a clarinet, but to someone that has never owned a integral lock it can be a learning experience. It doesn't make it any less puzzling for a newbie, unfortunately there is a a learning curve. Don't tell me you were jamming fresh out of the shell...
 
RevDevil said:
You are right, it's not a guitar, or a sax, or even a clarinet, but to someone that has never owned a integral lock it can be a learning experience. It doesn't make it any less puzzling for a newbie, unfortunately there is a a learning curve. Don't tell me you were jamming fresh out of the shell...
Click to expand...

No sir, you are 100% correct. Guitar certainly has a never ending learning curve, 11 years and counting for me. Still have lots to learn and master.
But say one guitar is easier to learn on for a beginner compared with another. I'd argue that guitar is a superior design for that person. Same goes with anything else, even pocket knives.
For me anyway, ease of use has always been the #1 thing I look for above anything else. I really like Benchmade's Axis lock for that reason.
 
I was a bit pissed off when I received my long awaited 0550, because I just couldn't open it. I tried and tried until my thumb hurt. Then I watched some YouTube videos and learned how to do it properly (pushing forwards). Now I can open it fast or slow, very comfortably. I still think it's kind of a design flaw.
 
I'd call it more of a design quirk. If every knife opened and functioned exactly the same this hobby would get boring mighty quick.
 
I open mine by nesting my thumb nail on the back bottom of the stud (knife closed sitting on the spine it would be about 5 o'clock) and give it a hard diagonally forward. Actually I do all thumb studs like this. Aside from stubborn locks sometimes putting a rut into my nail, it is pretty much foolproof.
 
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