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first impressions on the zt 0560- am I crazy or does this emperor have no clothes

P

Pawliukas

Joined
Jan 3, 2014
Messages
53
What's up guys/gals,

Ive been hanging around for a few months, first post...been collecting for less than a year but have already acquired representatives from kershaw, BM, Spyderco...basically an excited noob.

Lately been getting more interested in heavy folders. I dont much care for the weight, but the quality, value and made in USA/veteran connection of zt is appealing. have read they have great customer service and warranty.

I started with the 0350, which was a little small and heavy, if that makes sense. will probably unload that and a blur soon...picked up a 0200 next. Seems lik a very solid knife, maybe a little impracticable except in extreme circumstances...thought the 0560 would be the best of both worlds. lighter than the 0200 but just as tough, cool looking, maybe a little less scary, and more ergonomic and useful than the 0350. Btw I am collector and I camp/backpack but I dont hunt...fish sometimes...basically just really dig knives and find them really useful and cool.


Anyway the 0560 arrived the other day I got it for about 200 delivered, "like new." what a letdown.

I tried to post my thoughts in the KIA/ZT sub forum which led to a lot of reading about knife/moderator drama, Elmax controversy, which was more entertaining than Parks and Recreation.

while reading I kept handling the knife, trying to get a feel for the lock, break it in etc. I found it difficult to open, difficult to close, painful to operate the flipper, and the gimping literally cut my hand. I have a cut on my middle finger just from gripping, handling, playing with the kife, opening and closing it, etc.

I know this knife has been both well reviewed and criticized, but I can't believe this is the same knife...I feel like it is painful to hold and operate...am I crazy??? are you guys sanding these handles?

also what other knives should I buy? I want a combination of stout and ergonomics. are there any other knives out there like the manix 2 xl I should know about? I've read about the Adamas. I would like to get a non lockback and maybe not a frame lock after this. open to any suggestions on favorite well built hardy folders. I think I'm going to step back from zt for now after reading about all this controversy...thanks very much.
 
I have a 560 in my rotation. Not a problem.

But my favorite zt is the 300 series. Think 350's big brother.

There are a bunch of zt like heavy folders out there. But in general u will probably run into similar issues.

U might have a look at the Spyderco Manix2 XL. A nice big knife but arguably easier to open.
 
I'm kinda in the same boat. I kept my 550 for maybe a week before reselling it. The 5xx series is... well, it's overbuilt to the point of being clunky, IMO.

Granted, I'm used to Benchmades, so my EDC is buttery smooth and lightweight... But still.
 
Ironically, I bought a 0560 this morning on impulse. I've read all about them, pros and cons. Probably just like you.

I had gotten a 0566 last month, but liking larger knives a little more, usually in the 4" range, I decided to go for it. I was concerned about a sticky lock, as indeed at the same shop last month, a new 0560 there could not be closed. Was brand-new, but neither I nor the owner could budge it.

This was actually not a surprise, as I've read about folks having the same problem, or cannot open one with the thumbstuds, "has to break in," etc. Sounds scary and hard on the fingers. Just like yours, actually.

I've also read glowing reviews about the thing, just like you, and came to the conclusion that it is a good knife, some just have an issue with the lock interface.

And that is the deal with mine. I called the only local shop I thought might have one, so I could hold it and try it before buying. He had just gotten a new one in, having sent back the the other one we could not close the previous month.

I saw them this morning for $211 on Amazon, and he wanted $275.99. I have seen them for $260.00 typically online, so I asked him if he could do it for that. It was worth more to A) Get it TODAY! and B) See if it could be opened and closed like my 0566 can.

He agreed, so I drove the 40 miles to his shop. And it was definitely worth the drive!

My unit flips open very easily, either with the flipper or the thumbstuds, either side. It feels lighter in weight than my 0566, but probably because the weight is spread out over a larger area. Sure feels great, however. And it's beautiful to look at to boot, I've always liked the 0560-0566 look the best of all the ZTs. More like a Hinderer, of course. Sleek.

So my recommendation is to buy either locally if you can, so you know what you are getting, like I did, or of course buy from a BladeForums-associated dealer. They are particular like we are, and if they would not own it, they would not sell it to you. Or they would be chased outta here! Tough crowd sometimes :)

It's a great knife. Sounds like the fix is carburizing the lock bar more on the unit you have, it's galling on the blade interface it sounds like.

Saw a Youtube of a guy fixing his 0560 with a carburizer at home a bit ago today, but they are pricey to purchase, over $200. Pretty simple process; the area where the Ti frame lock contacts and locks with the blade itself needs to be hardened is all that is wrong.

Mine has about 15% lockup too, it's perfect. So I highly recommend one, you need to return that one or send it back to KAI and they'll fix it or swap it out for you with no hassle.

If it were me, skip the dealer unless it's local and he has another to exchange, and go straight to the manufacturer every time. They fix things right, and have tons of them to swap it out if necessary. Why wait on him to do it, you'll get it there quicker.

If you do so, have them send you a spare clip and the bearings. That way you'll have them later if you need them, like catching the clip on something, and you'll feel like you got something free for all the hassle. They will gladly send those to you for free.

Don't sign off on ZT yet. They are pretty tough items, and I really like my two, and they have some great new items coming out. It's a good company.
 
Maybe you got a bad one?
Mine is smooth to open and close.
Other than send it back to the dealer or Kai I have no other advise.
 
kniferbro said:
need tougher hands
Click to expand...

Agreed. Don't think I've ever heard of jimping cutting someone's hand. There are instances of a knife needing to get 'broken in', but in this case, it may be your hand that needs to break in.

Of all the ZT's to have gone through my hands, my only complaint is that on SOME of them, I thought the detent was on the weak side. But I've always preferred a strong detent.

And there is nothing wrong with ZT's Elmax.
 
My 0560 has been my go-to EDC for a couple of years, zero problems. I do open flippers with the side of my index finger, never understood those who do it with the tip.

I did have some initial trouble with one.. I think it was the 0301. Ti is VERY sticky stuff, that's why it's lousy for cams and screw threads and such, and I was having a lot of trouble closing it, the lock would jam open on me. I put a little molybdenum disulfide powder on it until it broke in, after that it was fine and has been ever since.
 
My 0560 has nearly a year of pocket time. When I got it my two benchmades got benched rather indefinitely, my 560 is smooth as butter and takes a razor sharp edge. I find the handle very ergonomic and comfortable. But everyone likes different things in a blade.
 
Speaking of lockup, I just got a new 0560BW. About 55% of the lockbar contacts the blade tang when opened, is that a lot?
 
I first found the jimping to be a little bit sharp. I thought about sanding it down but didn't. After carrying and using it for a couple of weeks I didn't even notice the sharpness any more.
 
If you decide to sell the 560, I suggest you look at the Spyderco Gayle Bradley, Lionsteel SR-1A, Hogue EX-0x knives, Benchmade Adamas. If you want seriously heavy duty without the weight of the ZT 0200 and 0300, save up and buy a Strider SnG.
 
I have been EDCing mine for a couple months or so and I have experienced nothing of what the OP describes. I absolutely love this knife! Super smooth and easy to flip. Doesn't bother my hands in the least. I wouldn't describe my hands overly tough. I also don't have a problem with the Contego so maybe the hands are tougher than I think (OP don't try that knife as the jimping is maxed out). Only way to combat the hand issue is toughen up. As for the other things you describe I don't know. Might have gotten a bad one? Maybe send it in? Or give it some more time to see if it settles in. And if you keep using it, your hands will have no choice but to toughen up!
 
I have an 0560 that has a relatively tight lock (and when you hold it you usually press the lockbar in so it makes it tighter), but the flipper works well.

I also have an 0561 that has a perfect lock - it's a rare example of one with a dialed in detent. It never is hard to open, just a world of difference.

Here is something that really aggravated me about ZT and how they portray their brand and handle complaints. I posted some pictures and a description of how I liked my 0561 that had a good detent because I have seen so many 0550s and 0560s that have too tight a detent. A bunch of people told me "those aren't thumbstuds on the 0561". I thought they didn't know that Hinderer had developed the knife so the thumbstuds were also the external blade stop, but seriously; in response to all the tight detents ZT's marketing guy had replied to that particular group publicly that the studs were not meant to be used as thumbstuds, and he wished they would have took them off and made an internal blade stop so people would know for sure it was a flipper.

I can't look at those knifes and think that the thumbstuds are not thumbstuds. They may have a dual purpose, but they're thumbstuds put on a knife that has too tight of a detent... and what about the 0550? The studs are identical on both knives, so if they aren't thumbstuds then that model doesn't even have an opening mechanism. Marketing people can say what they want, it's damage control; the detents are a real problem for lots of the folders they put out, and being dodgy with semantics, double speak and such just turns me off to what they're doing. I was completely satisfied with the dialed in 0561 (I actually am starting to like the detent on the 0560 too because the flipper works like a button - the detent is strong enough that when it does release, the blade opens without any flick no matter how you hold it), but I don't think they addressed the problem with the others right. I also tend to go with Hinderer's original concept on the XM-18, which was dual use thumbstuds, since the 0560's studs find their genesis in that design.

You will get used to the knife more OP no matter how tight the detent is - but if you expect it to loosen up to where the thumbstuds work consistently, don't hold your breath. Only 2 of the 20 or so ZT 0560s and 0550s that I have handled had dialed in detents.
 
Not sure I understand what you mean by hard to open? It has a flipper and bearings -- it basically glides open. The only type of knife that'd be easier to open would have to be an automatic, I think.
 
OP, what type work do you do? Do you have tender hands? Get a Sebenza, nice and smooth.;)
 
0200 has almost a dangerously weak detent, prob need to tighten it up some, not the problem with the 0560
 
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