Has anyone Hard Used/Abused their ZT 0560 yet?

knife2Agunfight

knife2Agunfight

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Jan 11, 2012
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I haven't been able to find any videos or reports on people really putting the 056X series to the test. Everyone seems to use the 030X series as the hard use knives.

Is it that the 056X knives aren't as heavy duty as the 030Xs? If anyone has used their 056X hard, how did it perform?
 
I asked this ? a few months ago and didn't get any responses. I don't abuse mine, heck I don't even carry it everyday, but I abuse my 350 and its happy with that.
 
I don't abuse it but my 0561 is in my pocket at work and I work with stallions so between heavy things constantly resting on it when I use that leg to help lift them or getting slammed into walls it has taken some pretty hard knocks in that pocket without any trouble.
 
Don't have a 560 yet, but I did put my 550 to work after I got it.

Here it is after some warehouse/storeroom clean-up at work (a LOT of boxes to break down, various packing material, etc.):
ZT0550BLK_800x264.jpg


Here it is after giving a tin can a spiral cut (gave it a wipe-down with a damp paper towel - actually had a lot more tin residue, which made most of the DLC look more silver-grey):
ZT0550_Blade_20121202_800x622.jpg
 
I've only owned mine for a couple of weeks but it hasn't left my pocket yet. I wouldn't define my use as "abuse" but many might. I use it for a fair amount of light work (boxes/packaging etc) but it gets a rough job maybe once a day. I've cut steel banding with it used it as a screw drive to open electrical panels cuts and stripped plenty of wire a lot of it heavy gauge (1/0+) solid copper. I've popped open a few beers open with it. Ive even cleaned a few squirrels with it but due to the size of the blade there are better knives for this. It hasn't failed me yet. The steel is some of my favorite that I've gotten my hand on. Through all that heavy use I've experienced no chipping whatsoever. When I got it I touched the edge up with an 800 grit congress stone to get it shaving sharp. Since then I've hit it on my lunch break with a hard Arkansas stone and it is still shaving sharp. And surprisingly there really isn't any scratches on it. I'm extremely happy with this knife and the steel. I'm even waiting on a few quotes from my steel vendor at work to get me some thin plate so I can make a few of my own knives from this steel as I believe it to be superior to the d2 I've used in the past.
 
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I've carried my 0561 several times, but hardly used it. i think the only two things I've cut with it were duct tape and a piece of paper. LOL. Mostly it's in my pocket for pulling it out just to look at it and flip it open. :p
 
I don't know what you mean by "hard use" but I sent one of mine on a pass around. You can see the thread on our forum >>here<<

The knife was used and carried by around a dozen people and it received mixed reviews. Personally I love it.
 
prelude92 said:
I've carried my 0561 several times, but hardly used it. i think the only two things I've cut with it were duct tape and a piece of paper. LOL. Mostly it's in my pocket for pulling it out just to look at it and flip it open. :p
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ROFL thats what I do to.
 
I'm surprised that one of ZT's largest folders hasn't seen much hard use by anyone. Whenever I see videos or pics of the 0301, it's of people batoning with it, chopping with it, or doing something a fixed blade should be doing.

I'll have to try mine out when I get mine then.
 
My 0300 has been used and abused. I used it to open coconuts in Fiji, cut firewood kindling in the blue ridge, camo netting in Afghanistan and more 550 cord than I can count.
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Haven't had a real chance to use mine apart from simple office tasks since I shipped it to KAI for warranty purposes.

When I get it back I will do some testing on the blade for you guys.
 
No. I don't abuse my knives. Use them yes, but for me knives are cutting tools, not chopping, "batoning" or other uses. That's why I have a saw and an axe. The only time I would abuse a knife is if I was in a survival situation, and that is all I had, and even then I'd be careful not to break it, and not have anything.
 
Longtrang said:
My 0300 has been used and abused. I used it to open coconuts in Fiji, cut firewood kindling in the blue ridge, camo netting in Afghanistan and more 550 cord than I can count.
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Someone please get this man a 560 to test! I've gone back and forth a dozen times about whether to order the 301 or the 561 with plenty of good arguments for both sides, but seeing this over and over again from the 301 is hard to ignore as someone who wants a hard use folder. Of course the cost in turn is the 301 is so beastly and aggressive, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd feel using it in more EDC situations. Hopefully someone will put the 560 through the wringer and let us know how it goes.
 
Yes I EDC one of my 0560s and I have also EDCed a ZT0300. They are both tanks and will withstand just about anything you can throw at em. I touch em up every now and then on my lansky and they are good to go. Get them both!
 
Jensen81 said:
Yes I EDC one of my 0560s and I have also EDCed a ZT0300. They are both tanks and will withstand just about anything you can throw at em. I touch em up every now and th.en on my lansky and they are good to go. Get them both!
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If you don't mind my asking, which lansky? And do you have trouble with the recurve? I've always used bench stones and I'm only half decent with them, so naturally I'm pretty cautious about recurves. I won't be looking to reprofile and if anything I over maintain to prevent dullness, but I'm not certain what type of system to invest in (and sadly cost is pretty relevant- if I can do a decent job with a $30 system and a little extra work, I'd prefer that to $75 system)
 
Nj,
I use a lansky w/diamond stones.
The kit can be found for around $50.

The stones are fairly narrow and so far I've had great results with recurves.

Best
 
cncpro11 said:
Nj,
I use a lansky w/diamond stones.
The kit can be found for around $50.

The stones are fairly narrow and so far I've had great results with recurves.

Best
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How good of an edge can you get? Shaving? Hair-splitting?

I've contemplated getting the Edge Pro, but I'd rather have a good alternative for a lot cheaper.
 
ive used mine alot ive chopped with it and stuff and it still looks brand new thats why i love stone wash
 
NjHart said:
If you don't mind my asking, which lansky? And do you have trouble with the recurve? I've always used bench stones and I'm only half decent with them, so naturally I'm pretty cautious about recurves. I won't be looking to reprofile and if anything I over maintain to prevent dullness, but I'm not certain what type of system to invest in (and sadly cost is pretty relevant- if I can do a decent job with a $30 system and a little extra work, I'd prefer that to $75 system)
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I use the Lanskey kit with diamond stones. It works well. For my spear points and tantos I do the flat part first then move the holder closer to the curve or point on the tanto and do that second. Then blend the two edges and it looks great. You can get a mirror edge. I haven't tried a recurve on it.
 
I've carried mine on duty a couple of times.

The first night was just to show it off but then I had to pry open a door.
Thought for a second it might've broke but no.

A few scratches but still working fine.

My ZT301 has been through hell.

I even opened up a drain cover on the side of the street once. I used the blade to get the 80lb plus grate up.
Scratched the blade but it still works.
 
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