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

[B.F.U]

I don't mean to criticize, but I think it may be your hands. I didn't think the 0560 was that rough.

Maybe try a spyderco tuff

 

[mmarkh]

Smooth, yes. Fast, no. It's hard to beat a flipper in that regard. I'd probably like a 0560 if I could get a good one.

If you want fast get an Emerson.

 

[cutter17]

sorry-lost 3/4 of my post-too lazy to rewrite it.

 

[Silvanus]

My 0560 was my edc for about a year and a half solid. I loved it but it developed a crack in the blade due to the thumb studs being improperly press fit. ZT fixed it but since I got it back it hasn't been the same. The lockup has vertical play, the blade can't be centered without creating side to side play, and the action has become gritty as if there are indentations in the pivot area where the bearings are. When it was new it was great, but mine didn't age well.

 

[jmclfrsh]

Man, I feel lucky. My 0560 has a perfectly fine detent, opens with the flipper or either thumbstud very easily, and is perfectly centered.

Sure am glad, wanted one for some time now. My 0566's bigger brother.

Check out an Emerson, Benchmade Adamas or Benchmade Contego as others have suggested.

 

[cEdge]

Ive been carrying my 0560 all day. I do find the jimping a little sharp, or at least I did until I took some sand paper to it. Much better now. I have to agree on the whole thumb stud not being a thumb stud issue, its kind of crazy. I like the option of both flipper or thumb stud. I did have a bit of an issue in the beginning with the flipper but I had to wear my finger in . Remember to keep your fingers off the lock bar too! Try it with your left hand, if you can open it then its your fingers on the lock bar. For me its perfect. As far as hard to close, if your fingers are sore from opening, then you'll have a hard time closing

 

[Pawliukas]

Detent is very loose on the o2 hundred I may have to tighten it up problem is not that with your 560

 

[Pawliukas]

OP, what type work do you do? Do you have tender hands? Get a Sebenza, nice and smooth.

prob have to sell some things first...but thanks!

I work with the mentally ill. I don't work on my hands but I do lift weights and do martial arts so my hands aren't exactly made out of cotton balls... I think what cut my finger was trying to rip the blade out with the thumb stud repeatedly...trying to break it in...its not like I was bleeding it just went through a few layers. ..

 

[Pawliukas]

thanks for all the feedback guys much appreciated sounds like this knife is defective or needs some tinkering

 

[Franciscomv]

When I first got my 0561 I was pissed off and was very close to returning it. It flipped beautifully, but the lock was VERY hard to disengage (and I'm big and strong), thumbstuds were useless to open the knife.

I read a bit, used the pencil trick and cycled the knife like a mad man for a while. Now it's perfectly smooth. I'm not thrilled with the whole break in process, I like things to work right out of the box (especially expensive knives!), but I've got to admit it's a great knife.

Jimping is a personal preference, I'm not crazy about it since I think the handle shape and the flipper acting as a guard are enough to keep my hand in place. It hasn't bothered me except in one situation so far, though (my hands were wet and I had to use the knife a lot with a strong grip).

I like the 0550 better, mine was perfect out of the box, super smooth and the handle feels better in my hands.

 

[mmarkh]

prob have to sell some things first...but thanks!

I work with the mentally ill. I don't work on my hands but I do lift weights and do martial arts so my hands aren't exactly made out of cotton balls... I think what cut my finger was trying to rip the blade out with the thumb stud repeatedly...trying to break it in...its not like I was bleeding it just went through a few layers. ..

My Spyderco Manix has sharp jimping. I was just kidding about the soft hands. Sorry, i forgot to put the. I never owned a ZT yet but will soon. Maybe go to you local Pep Boys and get some fine emery cloth and smooth it out. I have done things like that in the past rather than send it away for who knows how long.

 

[bodog]

My 0560 was my edc for about a year and a half solid. I loved it but it developed a crack in the blade due to the thumb studs being improperly press fit. ZT fixed it but since I got it back it hasn't been the same. The lockup has vertical play, the blade can't be centered without creating side to side play, and the action has become gritty as if there are indentations in the pivot area where the bearings are. When it was new it was great, but mine didn't age well.

Almost the same problem here. Had a cbcf, blade cracked behind the thumbstud. Sent it in, they returned the knife with a new blade. The problem is that they ground the the heel of the blade almost up to where the S110V meets the 14C steel. Looks terrible. The lock face was also terribly ground. There is only about 1 or 2 millimeters of the lock bar touching the lock face. The new blade also came back with scratches and a discoloration on it. Now I guess some could call that nit picking, but I call that shoddy work on a 350 dollar knife. So I called them and they asked me to provide pictures. I did. They said that the problems didn't interfere with the usability of the knife so they weren't going to correct it and that I should accept those problems when dealing with a custom handmade knife. First, it's bullcrap that they won't fix the problems they created on such an expensive knife, I wish I'd just kept the cracked blade or even more,wish I'd not bought the knife to begin with. Second, this isn't a custom handmade knife and even if it was that's no reason to produce crappy work. I don't see a custom handmade knife maker putting out something like that and not fixing it. This knife made me a fan of ZT, the problems associated with it have now turned me off.

I didn't pay that much money for just a knife with good materials. I paid that much because I believed the company produced products and then stood behind them. I could deal with the cracked blade because they said they could fix it, every good company can sometimes mess up. I can't stand idly by and accept a terrible grind on the edge and lockface and them telling me to eat it. It's not like it was one of their 20 dollar made in China knives.

 

[Adrenaline_6]

Another problem I noticed when my buddies try and open my 0550 or 0560 is that they just are out right doing it wrong. For me, they open smoothly and easily, but for them, they have a hard time budging them. It's the angle that they are pushing the thumbstud out with....it's wrong. It's more of an up angle than a out angle. Just open your blade with two hands slowly and watch the angle that the thumb studs leave the handle at. This is the angle your thumb needs to push up and away from the handle. This solves a lot of problems believe it or not.

 

[mrdabble]

Another problem I noticed when my buddies try and open my 0550 or 0560 is that they just are out right doing it wrong. For me, they open smoothly and easily, but for them, they have a hard time budging them. It's the angle that they are pushing the thumbstud out with....it's wrong. It's more of an up angle than a out angle. Just open your blade with two hands slowly and watch the angle that the thumb studs leave the handle at. This is the angle your thumb needs to push up and away from the handle. This solves a lot of problems believe it or not.

Same here, I show my buddies my new blade and they pass it back and forth and can't figure out how I open it so smooth. The direction you flick can be everything.

If ergonomics are your issue maybe try the 0550, I had that before the 560 and I really like the ergonomics much much better. Shorter jumping, less hanfke, better grip. It feels much more solid in my hand than the 0560.

Both have strong detents, but to put the detents strength to reference, it takes little to no effort to use the flipper on my 0560, yet requires a lot more effort to use the thumbstud.
Try adjusting your flipping action....I started to flick straight up and it works like a charm.

 

[bodog]

Man, I've heard the same thing several times. My 0560 feels like it melts into my hand like someone actually took personalized measurements and built the knife to those specs. The finger groove, the placement and sharpness of the jimping, the 3d milling, the length, the curve of the finger guard, the handle curvature, and even the placement of the pocket clip while in the tip up position(falls right into the crease between my fingers and palm) all match my hand beautifully. If the 0550 is better, it must be something truly special. I'm going to have to get my hands on one to try out. If it's a good reference, an XM18 just didn't feel right. Feels like it was made for smaller hands, but i feel that's weird because I don't have extra large hands or anything, I wear large gloves but even then they're usually just a tad big.

As far as the detent, it couldn't be better. Does not easily shake out yet it's still easy to flip with the thumbstuds and gives just enough resistance to fully deploy the blade with a natural flipping action without having to use my wrist to assist.

 

[Jastab]

need tougher hands

Haha my thought exactly!

 

[Kowan]

I lightly sanded the scale edges and it's much nicer to hold in a firm grip now.

 

[Flygunz]

I ordered a ZT 560 on Amazon for under $200 + tax, and prime shipping. I've had several decent knives over the years but none you'd call high end. My example is a great knife! I've had it for two weeks now and I think it's one of the best folders one can buy for the money. True, it's a bit bulkier than my previous EDC (Benchmade 710) but I'm getting used to it. Slick operation - I don't need the studs or the flipper to open it reliably. Similar move to what I use with the 710 (though my thumb is still searching for the axis pin). Lockup is firm, with no play whatsoever. The blade is perfectly centered when closed as well. The aggressive grips will make for a bit more pocket wear and tear though.

 

[Will Batayte]

I'm the opposite side of the fence. I love the 560. It pops open perfectly every time, fits my hand like a glove, feels super secure, holds a great edge and came with excellent fit and finish. Maybe look at the zt 0562 when it comes out

 

[stog75]

I love my 0560BW so much I've EDC'd it everyday since i got it. Its got a firm detent that lets you preload the flipper until it gives at deploys with authority. I understand what you mean about your finger getting a bit sore - I had that at first until I realized it was operator error. Well, maybe not error, rather required operator deploy adjustment. Rather than flip your finger thru the flipper and have your finger slam into the jimping, flick more parallel with the long axis of the knife. Your finger will engage the flipper, deploy the blade, and not strike anything else. Promise you, it works and will make you a happy customer for sure. In case youre wondering, it was a sebenza25 that got bumped by the ZT. No knocks on CRK as it still is my favorite (one of), but the ZT is just so damned awesome with that flipper deploy.