got my new ZT0551 today

G

Gary007

Joined
May 17, 2002
Messages
1,452
My first Kershaw / Zero Tolerance :thumbup:

*Flawless.

*Sharp all the way to the tip.

*Blade perfectly centered.

*No blade play.

*Impossible for me to open using the thumb stud. Weak thumb?? I've seen other folks in Youtube vids open it with no problem.

*Makes my other knives feel like toys.

*Arrived with a light coating of oil on the blade. Nice touch, shows some thought and care went into the product.

*has whetted my appetite for the 0561. Bring it on.

*SN 1253. How many were made? Thought it was limited to 1,000.

*USA made, a bit plus to me.



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American Built. This gives me the warm fuzzies.:)

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they are limited to 1000. i was kinda upset when i got my so i called zt and they said it was because there was a problem with the first knives.
 
^Thanks for the clarification; I was confused when I got mine with a #1385 serial.

Also, re: "American Built" I'm of two minds. One part thinks: "What difference does it make? We live in a globalizing world and economic trade barriers do not coincide with geographic boundaries. Asian-built knives can equal and even exceed the quality of American-built knives at lower cost and yadda yadda yadda..." Then the other part of me looks at the 0551 and thinks: "Outsource this!"
 
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I got 1358! She is a beauty! But like Gary mine is like really hard to open just using the thumb stud! Maybe it ll loosen up? Hope so! Otherwise I would prefer a flipper model. Well I would prefer a flipper anyway! Maybe a little more cut out to disengage the liner lock also? But all in all one badass knife!! If you dont own one, get one! They are tanks! One of the most comfortable grips! Fits my hand perfectly! Like it was custom made for my hand! Props to Rick and ZT! Job well done!! Cheers!!!
 
Gary007 said:
*No blade play.

*Impossible for me to open using the thumb stud. Weak thumb?? I've seen other folks in Youtube vids open it with no problem.
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I have a feeling that the lock bars on newer 0551's are being bent further in so they prevent the blade play that I and many others had on earlier ones. That would make it more difficult to open compared to earlier models.

Just add a drop of oil to the detent and in the pivot and that should make it easier to open, if that doesn't fix it then loosen up the pivot slightly.
 
Yep, got #1265 delivered yesterday to keep #'s 0568 and 0685 company...I love these knives :)
 
I'm guessing it will break in. I got one last week and opens well with stud. Can also flip it open w/o using stud
 
AKnife said:
if that doesn't fix it then loosen up the pivot slightly.
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Exactly, too tight and it won't open for anything, too loose and you can flip it open without the stud. In this state being able to flip it open with a flick of the wrist would move it into the classification of "gravity knife", and it would be illegal.
 
#1397 here.

Mine was so stiff that it took great effort to get it to open with one hand. I needed to install my Hinderer scale so I also took a moment to adjust the pivot since I had to remove the screw anyway. It's still a little tight, but at least I can open it with minimal effort now. It seems to be breaking in better the more I use it.
 
I for one much prefer knives made in the USA vs Chinese made knives...
Global economy is in my opinion the worst thing for western countries in the long run.
 
My #891 flicks open easily, and is just about perfect in all other respects. I was going to pass on this one to wait for the 0561, but you know how that goes. Couldn't say no.
 
Just received mine a few minutes ago... Ser. 1267. She's going back though. There's a deep scratch on the titanium side. All that waiting for her. Sigh...
 
Congrats, enjoy that sucker!!:thumbup:

By the way.......why did all you guys wait around so long. Serial numbers in the 1300 range??? My serial #33 is a beauty!:D:D
 
You may need to change your technique for opening the knife. Most knives you push the stud straight out perpendicular to the handle to open, on a 0551 you need to push the stud straight ahead parallel to the handle. I cant budge mine trying to open it like any other blade stud knife, the geometry is different somehow. On mine pivot tightness makes no difference in this, I actually have my pivot quite tight and it opens very easy using the technique i mentioned.

Bill
 
Yup, I agree. I've done the Spydie drop, or open it left handed, my latest technique is to use my thumb and middle finger and push out the blade slightly and use the stud to push it out from there.

brightb said:
You may need to change your technique for opening the knife. Most knives you push the stud straight out perpendicular to the handle to open, on a 0551 you need to push the stud straight ahead parallel to the handle. I cant budge mine trying to open it like any other blade stud knife, the geometry is different somehow. On mine pivot tightness makes no difference in this, I actually have my pivot quite tight and it opens very easy using the technique i mentioned.

Bill
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jonnymac44 said:
Congrats, enjoy that sucker!!:thumbup:

By the way.......why did all you guys wait around so long. Serial numbers in the 1300 range??? My serial #33 is a beauty!:D:D
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By the time I even knew they existed, they had already come and gone. I pre-ordered a 0550 since it is the next best thing...then I happened upon a thread where someone had posted that one of the online dealers had got some (0551) in stock. I was at the right place at the right time and was able to score one.

It's a great knife. I'm definitely glad I got one.

Now we just need the FLIPPER!!!
 
Amen to that!!:thumbup:

Johnny Numbers said:
By the time I even knew they existed, they had already come and gone. I pre-ordered a 0550 since it is the next best thing...then I happened upon a thread where someone had posted that one of the online dealers had got some (0551) in stock. I was at the right place at the right time and was able to score one.

It's a great knife. I'm definitely glad I got one.

Now we just need the FLIPPER!!!
Click to expand...
 
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