Got my new ZT 560BW in.

3

308shooter147

Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Messages
40
Thank you everyone for your help in choosing this knife. I really do like it. It is already very smooth and I'm sure it will only get better with time. Kershaw guy had very quick shipping and good service.

I do have to level a couple criticisms against the knife though and you guys will have to tell me if they are normal or not. I will be posting pictures very shortly after I post this thread.

The blade is not perfectly centered, but the blade isn't close at all to either liner.

The swedge grind is longer on one side than the other, this makes the blade centering appear worse, even though it isn't.


The thumb studs are completely useless as of now. I'm sure with time it will become easier, but as of now I can not use the thumb studs to deploy the knife even if I wanted to. I don't play on opening it that way, but I was still under the impression that they would be useable.



It did come very sharp out of box. I plan on touching it up with my EPA later though.


I am eager to hear all of your thoughts.
 
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They truly are not thumbstuds, they are blade stops. Right handed users have their fingers on the lockbar and that's why they can't open it with the bladestops.
 
I would send it back and request a better specimen, i have several and none of your issues.
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
They truly are not thumbstuds, they are blade stops. Right handed users have their fingers on the lockbar and that's why they can't open it with the bladestops.
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I thought it would probably be the case about my fingers on the lockbar, but I tried it left handed and I can't break the detent as of now.
bigmark408 said:
I would send it back and request a better specimen, i have several and none of your issues.
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Noted. I am considering it. You think they would have a problem replacing it?

And sorry I didn't realize I had to pay just to post pictures.
 
My 0566 came nearly impossible to use the thumbstuds. I had to de-assist it for thumbstud use to become even remotely possible without destroying my thumb.

You don't have to pay to post pics either! Just use an uploading service like imgur and click the picture icon while writing a reply and input the URL and bam you should be good.
 
Send the dealer an email, if he wont replace it ZT will....uneven grinds and off center is unacceptable IMO.
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
They truly are not thumbstuds, they are blade stops. Right handed users have their fingers on the lockbar and that's why they can't open it with the bladestops.
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bigmark408 said:
Not correct, all of mine function perfectly with the thumbstuds as well as the flipper. :)
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Hmmm. I have to agree with Chris on this. I have two 0560BWs and neither will budge trying to flip with the thumbstuds yet open effortlessly with the flipper. It is visually obvious that one function of the thumbstuds is as a stop. The handle is cut to receive them. So that function is a given from my perspective. Perhaps I'm incorrect but the leverage just appears wrong for using the thumbstud to open the blade. If I grab the blade further down towards the tip, the blade opens easier than if I grab the thumbstuds - so blade size and position of the thumbstuds makes it seem to me that it was not intended as a means to open the knife one handed.

But just my opinion and I've been wrong before. :)

bigmark408 said:
Send the dealer an email, if he wont replace it ZT will....uneven grinds and off center is unacceptable IMO.
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And this, I absolutely agree with. :thumbup:
 
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My blackwash has a very strong detent; I recently received a stonewash with a very light detent. I have read that, as stated above, the thumbstuds on the 0560 are not thumbstuds but are blade stops. I have also read that the detent is supposed to be a little stronger because this facilitates the flipping action - you store up more energy so that when the detent breaks the blade flies open. I don't know if any of this is in fact correct, but my experience is that my blackwash with the stronger detent is easier to actually flip without any wrist action. I push on the flipper, and when the detent breaks the blade snaps out every time. My stonewash with the weaker detent does not snap out the same way. You have to use more of what I have seen described as a Hinderer method of flipping open - pre-loading and then flipping. The blade comes out fully most of the time, sometimes with a snap and sometimes it just makes it out. Some times it does not fully open and lock. However, with a little wrist action - which I do not think I should have to use with a flipper - it will snap open every time. I can also use the "thumbstuds" on the stonewash, which I cannot use of the blackwash. I also cannot really flip it if my fingers are on the lock bar, just will not let it release. I can see the difference in the two - the blackwash detent ball seats deeper in the detent hole than does the one on the stonewash. I would actually prefer a little tighter detent on the stonewash, truth be told.

The blade on my blackwash is, like yours, a little off-center, but does not rub the scale. However, the swedge grind on mine appears to be pretty even. I may send mine in to have the blade centered, as the "loosen everything and stick the paper in" unfortunately did not work. In the long run, if it bothers you to the point that you do not enjoy the knife, then perhaps you should either shoot for another or send it in to ZT for warranty work. These are great knives, and you should be fully satisfied, and I'm sure either kershawguy or ZT will see to this. Good luck.
 
KAI has stated many times they are blade stops not thumb studs dont know how that doesnt get thru to people
 
Had to comment here...

I purchased my 0560 locally; factory sealed box and it is perfect. In every way. Flawless. Including subjective areas like detent and "feel" in all functions.

I have noticed over time a lot of comments here about the detent being either too little or too much and I have noticed differences in 0560 detents among those I've handled. I almost didn't buy mine because the store samples were noodles and I made sure I got a boxed one.

A 0560 has a break in period. They are tight at first. The company has verified the studs are solely blade stops and were never intended to open the knife. However,

not only is the detent on mine exactly as I like it, I can thumb it open as well as any of my other stud openers. As far as I can tell I'm not riding the lockbar to do it either. And the flipper is great. So I guess I have a double action knife. Both ways work perfectly.
​

One thing I've never seen mentioned about the 0560 is the advantageous factory positioning of the clip. It may even be what allows me to be able to open it so easily with the stud. The leverage that can be obtained by the third and little fingers is great for opening and closing. Never had a clip so comfortable in hand and actually provide functional grip improvement. Anyone else notice that?

Whether it works in the pants or not I don't know.
 
Echoil,

I use the clip as leverage on mine as well. Just hope I don't loosen it up using it that way. I think these 0560's are now my favorites in my collection.:)
 
Splitt65 said:
Echoil,

I use the clip as leverage on mine as well. Just hope I don't loosen it up using it that way. I think these 0560's are now my favorites in my collection.:)
Click to expand...

I don't think the clip will even notice. It seems as strong as the rest of the knife. I wish all my clips were positioned like that.

I like mine a lot too. Still trying to find a single thing wrong. Perfect is scary.
 
bigmark408 said:
Not correct, all of mine function perfectly with the thumbstuds as well as the flipper. :)
Click to expand...

All 3 of mine do lefthanded, but righthanded I have to use the flipper, trying to use the blade stop as a thumbstud righthanded, the blade won't budge as long as my fingers are resting on the lockbar.
 
Make sure you are pushing parallel to the handle on the thumbstuds, not an outward sweeping motion. That is how my 0560 and 0566 open using the "bladestops." An outward sweep on the bladestop results in frustration, but a parallel push quickly results in an open blade. Might be hard on tender thumbs, but my thumbs are way past that point in life.

So I use them as thumbstuds also, and my stonewash needs no wrist action to open fully using the flipper either.

You have to modify your riding technique a little (or a lot) between different motorcycles, as even though they are still a motorcycle (and even with the same model) if you ride them hard enough (i.e., fast) they tend to ride a little or a lot differently. Racers on a team often have an "A" bike and a "B" bike and the "A" bike handles a little more to their liking due to manufacturing tolerance variations among the different components and how bearings are adjusted. The "B" bike is the spare for when you crash the "A" bike, or for quick parts swapping, or set up for racing in the rain, in which all settings are "softer."

Probably the same with knives the way I see it, so I've always just figured out what is best for each one and acted accordingly. If a certain knife needs a little wrist action, so be it. They are all unique and for me it gives them individuality.

I've always correlated knife pivot tension with steering head bearing tightness on a motorcycle, as results can vary even if torqued to the same spec due to manufacturing tolerence variations.

Same with guns. Chamber dimensions will vary slightly between units of the same gun model. Due to drill bit wear during production, if you long-range precision shoot (I used to) you accurately measure that when hand loading rounds and adjust your powder load to get the best and most consistent round/group performance. That's the difference between driving there and competing, and driving there and winning the match. It was fun.

Long story short, one cannot expect each detent hole to be perfectly consistent among a couple of thousand knives, but varying the detent hole diameter and depth slightly to begin with would offer different performance.

It could very well be KAI is adjusting between production lots on the 0560 (stonewash vs blackwash) in an effort to offer what their customers indicate they desire in the model, i.e., better flipping performance vs. easier earlier "thumbstud" opening. I know I would, and use trade shows as a focus group to see what consumers preferred in order to provide a better experience to the herd and reduce overall complaints to management. If you cannot make everyone happy, please as many as you can.

Could it be that sometimes the knife gods shine upon you when you get a unit that drilling wear on a bit in service, before being replaced, means the holes drilled (like a detent) in your liner enable both good flipping and thumbstud-like performance out of an intended blade-stop-only device? Absolutely. And it's a good day.

Nothing is perfect, and while everybody tries, some try harder than others... KAI tries hard with their ZT line, and obviously CRK and Hinderer take it VERY seriously, hence their reputations.

When I can take the pivot completely out of a Sebenza 25 (on both of mine) and it still has no blade play, held only by the female sides of the blade stop and rear standoff even with the male fasteners removed as well, that means tolerances are very, very consistent.

Which is why CRK (I don't own any Hinderers as of yet) wins the manufacturing award so often, he swaps production components frequently enough to retain very high production tolerances, and thus deserves the prices his products command. Lionsteel is another company moving quickly in that direction, look at their latest products.
 
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I had a regular 0560 that I could flick open with the thumb stud, but the blade wouldn't really fly out using the flipper.

About a week ago I got my 0560bw and the blade comes out like an auto when using the flipper but I cannot use the thumb stud to open the blade. It's not my hand pushing on the lock because I have tried it with my left hand and also holding it In a way that I don't make contact with it.

The stronger detent builds up more pressure so the blade comes out very fast using the flipper, whereas the weaker detent made it easy to flick out using the thumb stud but the flipper wasn't as effective.
Even though this is my first flipper, this is what I believe is going on. :suspicion:
 
I would send it back for the uneven grind alone. That should've made it a blem model IMO.
 
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