Early ZT 0551 Question

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Biginboca

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Mar 17, 1999
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For those who had/have one of the early ones which had some rust on the liner, did it continue to get worse from carry and use? Also, if you sanded it off did the rust return from carry and use?

I have been offered an early sample which had the rust issue sanded off by the prior owner and I am wondering what the downside is. Also, will Kershaw replace the liner under warranty?
 
Biginboca said:
For those who had/have one of the early ones which had some rust on the liner, did it continue to get worse from carry and use? Also, if you sanded it off did the rust return from carry and use?

I have been offered an early sample which had the rust issue sanded off by the prior owner and I am wondering what the downside is. Also, will Kershaw replace the liner under warranty?
Click to expand...

If it's been sanded off, you should be just fine. If you ever have any issue with any of your knives, Kershaw will back their products 110%. :thumbup:
 
Thus far, after a sand/polish/clean/oil job, I have yet to see any of the rust come back on mine. It wouldn't be IMPOSSIBLE for the liner to rust again, but it shouldn't be any more likely than with any other knife.

As far as the warranty goes, I don't see any reason you'd have an issue with them fixing/replacing the liner. You won't likely need to, but the option is there.
 
At least one of the two I have right now went back to Kershaw when this was discovered but neither of them have any sign of rust perpetuation. They just look like the best $200 knife value going today. I have a third one due as soon as they arrive from ZT at my dealer.
 
You have two choices:

-- You could keep it and wonder when or if it will rust.

-- You could return it for Kershaw's free warranty service.

Unfortunately, not everyone who received one of the first batch returned their 551s. Some of those knives have been sold on the forums.

I wouldn't trust any of the early batch that hasn't gone through the recommended warranty service -- no matter what anyone says about how they have removed the rust or didn't see any.

Others may tell you differently. Here's my question: what do you have to lose by returning your knife to make sure that it is ok and will stay that way?

A side benefit: if you ever decide to sell it, the buyer won't have to guess whether your knife is free of rust.
 
flash900 said:
You have two choices:

-- You could keep it and wonder when or if it will rust.

-- You could return it for Kershaw's free warranty service.

Unfortunately, not everyone who received one of the first batch returned their 551s. Some of those knives have been sold on the forums.

I wouldn't trust any of the early batch that hasn't gone through the recommended warranty service -- no matter what anyone says about how they have removed the rust or didn't see any.

Others may tell you differently. Here's my question: what do you have to lose by returning your knife to make sure that it is ok and will stay that way?

A side benefit: if you ever decide to sell it, the buyer won't have to guess whether your knife is free of rust.
Click to expand...

All they do to rid the rust is blast it themselves, you can do the same thing with a little elbow grease.
 
flash900 said:
Here's my question: what do you have to lose by returning your knife to make sure that it is ok and will stay that way?
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2 Weeks of not having a knife.

Its a very basic and simple procedure. Personally I would rather do it my self so I know its done correctly.
 
flash900 said:
You have two choices:

-- You could keep it and wonder when or if it will rust.

-- You could return it for Kershaw's free warranty service.

Unfortunately, not everyone who received one of the first batch returned their 551s. Some of those knives have been sold on the forums.

I wouldn't trust any of the early batch that hasn't gone through the recommended warranty service -- no matter what anyone says about how they have removed the rust or didn't see any.

Others may tell you differently. Here's my question: what do you have to lose by returning your knife to make sure that it is ok and will stay that way?

A side benefit: if you ever decide to sell it, the buyer won't have to guess whether your knife is free of rust.
Click to expand...
There is another choice. I sent mine to Jeff Forbush and had all the metal parts except the blade ceracoated. The knife came out really nice.

Forbush0551.jpg
 
mystro said:
Your not comparing sanding down 2 pieces of metal to designing, forging, heat treating, grinding, sharpening, and building a knife are you??:rolleyes:
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You're not comparing a company with decades of knife building and designing experience, and years of excellent warranty services to your extensive skills with a torx wrench and sand paper are you??
 
knivesandguns said:
All they do to rid the rust is blast it themselves, you can do the same thing with a little elbow grease.
Click to expand...

This is exactly why collectors should be careful about buying any of these early 551s on the forums.

I got one of the first batch and sent it back for servicing. And I'm glad I did.

Anyone who has any questions should call Kershaw's warranty service and speak with a manager.
 
Can anyone tell me why there were rust issues on the early ones to begin with ?
 
brboru7 said:
Can anyone tell me why there were rust issues on the early ones to begin with ?
Click to expand...

If you look in the Photos - New ZT0550 Thread !!! that was closed, specifically page 30. Seek with thy Search button and and ye syhall find a vast wealth of knowledge ;)
 
brboru7 said:
Can anyone tell me why there were rust issues on the early ones to begin with ?
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Kershaw says it shipped some of the first batch of 551s with untreated liners and fired one of its production workers.

The company said it could not determine which knives were untreated and said owners of that first batch should return them. Kershaw paid all costs to have that done.

Even then, some people decided against returning 551s from that first batch. Some said they couldn't see any rust and concluded that that must mean there wasn't any and wouldn't be in the future.

Others insisted that they could sandpaper off the rust or cover it up with magic sauce or whatever.

They also got their backs up if anyone suggested that maybe, just maybe, they didn't have the same ability as Kershaw to treat their liner to prevent future rust.

Their privilege, I guess. But those are the knives you want to watch out for when they are resold on the forums.
 
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brboru7 said:
Can anyone tell me why there were rust issues on the early ones to begin with ?
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Hi brboru7 -

Some of the knives were sent out with the G10-side stainless steel liner having not been tumbled to polish them, and as a result some of the liners had minor discoloration / rust on the surface of the liner.

To put the problem into perspective, here is a picture of the rust on my example:
DSC_6400.JPG


And here is what the same liner looked like after 2 minutes of polishing with #1000 sandpaper:
DSC_6406.JPG


DSC_6415.JPG


best regards -

mqqn
 
mggn,

Thanks for the very informative photos.

I suspect that most people, upon discovering those spots on their new, $200 knife would not consider it a minor discoloration.

My reaction would be more like, "Yikes!"

Nor would I want to take the chance that elbow grease and sandpaper might be able to keep that rust at bay for the life of the knife.

Sending those early 551s back for warranty service benefits not only the present owners but anyone who might later buy those knives on the forums here or elsewhere.

I just got out my own 551 to admire it. These are really wonderful folders.
I hope everyone here understands that we all have a vested interest in keeping any rusty 551s off the market.
 
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