"Inside a ZT Limited Run" from Thomas

mountainbound · May 23, 2013

salmonkiller said:
I have enjoyed every Kershaw knife that I have ever owned. The ZT line to me is the pinnacle of Kai's USA production.I would really love a set of Shun kitchen knives some day.I miss Thomas's posts and insider knowledge along with pictures of production.I have not seen that kind of transparency since he left this board.

Best regards,
salmonkiller

+1 thats a great idea, id love to see a zt collecters club. you know, its such a great resource to have the folks from kai posting here. i mean where else can you chat with reps from a company about a product your passionate about? for every person that takes away from that service, they have 100 folks that really appreciate it. lol...i agree with this post too but i meant to qote the post that said they would like to see a kai collecters club. i really should have my coffee before i get on here...

freewheeling · May 23, 2013

RevDevil said:
It seems that when most folks come to the forums to complain, they tell half the story. The perceived or actual flaw in a knife. Yet there is no conclusion, every story needs a conclusion. So someone will feverently write one of many of the following:
My knife doesn't flip right
It's too big, heavy, bulky, jimping is too sharp
The detent is too hard/nonexistant
The blade is dull/unevenly ground
My blade is off centered
I can't put it back together after I thought to "clean it"
All the screws stripped
The lock failed after I smashed it on a 2x4
Whatever else you can think of.

Not saying some of these issues aren't real for some people, but damn it gets old, very old very fast. Some knives are not for everyone, and no amount of complaining is going to make that knife fit the person's criteria any better.

Here is a thought, before starting a thread... Contact customer service and find out if they consider the percieved defect an actual defect, then when you send the knife off, and get it back, then report your commentary. Don't give us half the story. You don't have to be a fanboy to wnt a complete story. Do you? I mean, at the very least it would make for a much more entertaining read.

I had a red sw Skyline that wasn't symmetrically ground and wouldn't center. When I sent it back I specified that I didn't want it replaced, but would have appreciated at least a note saying that they couldn't fix it instead of just returning it in the same condition. They could have at least indicated what they tried. They did a great job on my ZT561 but nothing much on the Skyline as far as I can tell. Again, it's not a big complaint and I'm sure they would have replaced it had I said that was OK, but a note would have been nice.

I gather that Thomas left mostly because of complaints about the Forum Skyline. That, indeed, is sad. I think I'm still going to phutz around with some different spacers and washers to see if I can get the Skyline to center. I may get a regular Skyline for EDC and not worry about the centering issue on the LE too. It's a great little knife with a great blade.

mr_anderson · May 23, 2013

I love Thomas <3

RevDevil · May 23, 2013

freewheeling said:
I had a red sw Skyline that wasn't symmetrically ground and wouldn't center. When I sent it back I specified that I didn't want it replaced, but would have appreciated at least a note saying that they couldn't fix it instead of just returning it in the same condition. They could have at least indicated what they tried. They did a great job on my ZT561 but nothing much on the Skyline as far as I can tell. Again, it's not a big complaint and I'm sure they would have replaced it had I said that was OK, but a note would have been nice.

I gather that Thomas left mostly because of complaints about the Forum Skyline. That, indeed, is sad. I think I'm still going to phutz around with some different spacers and washers to see if I can get the Skyline to center. I may get a regular Skyline for EDC and not worry about the centering issue on the LE too. It's a great little knife with a great blade.

They could have replaced it, but you chose not to? I'm pretty sure that they don't provide comprehensive lists on what specifically was attempted to customers on each knife as they would most likely be busy doing the work. They must take and make notes, but that isn't something that is normally shared with the customer. An example, call your cable tv or dish provider and ask them to audit your account and compile the transcribed notes from your calls for help, increasing/decreasing service, tech support, etc. chances are you won't get what you might expect.
Should have just had them replace the blade and been done with it, no?

freewheeling · May 24, 2013

RevDevil said:
They could have replaced it, but you chose not to? I'm pretty sure that they don't provide comprehensive lists on what specifically was attempted to customers on each knife as they would most likely be busy doing the work. They must take and make notes, but that isn't something that is normally shared with the customer. An example, call your cable tv or dish provider and ask them to audit your account and compile the transcribed notes from your calls for help, increasing/decreasing service, tech support, etc. chances are you won't get what you might expect.
Should have just had them replace the blade and been done with it, no?

As far as replacement, I just didn't want to replace a limited edition with a regular production knife which I explained to them, so...I was told to note that the knife had sentimental value and that they'd contact me after determining what could or couldn't be done. As far as I can tell they didn't do anything, so what was the point of sending it to them?

RevDevil · May 24, 2013

Ah, that is what I was unclear about. You can center the blade with a little tweaking. The only way it can't center is if the blade is warped.

freewheeling · May 25, 2013

RevDevil said:
Ah, that is what I was unclear about. You can center the blade with a little tweaking. The only way it can't center is if the blade is warped.

I said the blade was warped, or rather ground asymmetrically, before I sent it in and they asked me to send it anyway... so it was pretty much a waste of time and postage. In fact, I had tightened the pivot as tight as it could go just to get the blade close to centered before I sent it back, so tight that you couldn't open the knife at all. And I got it back in *exactly* the same state, which again leads to to believe they just didn't bother to even inspect it.

Guzman · Jul 18, 2013

netidolweb said:
Maybe KAI USA can form a Collectors Club

First rule of Collectors Club is don't talk about Collectors Club.

freewheeling · Jul 19, 2013

I have a theory about negative emotion. The problem is that women think I'm over-simplifying, and it's too complex for most males to grasp. Women think everyone should have an exact address when most of the time north, south, east, and west is good enough to get you where you want to go. Emotion works the same way except the directions are envy/resentment and gratitude/love . Like I said, too simple for women and too complicated for men.

o4tg · Jul 19, 2013

I joined after the guy left, but a few paragraphs of that statement were exactly what KAI said in my thread asking about the company direction, and my fears that they were no longer developing utilitarian ZT's.

NeverMore1701 · Jul 19, 2013

freewheeling said:
I have a theory about negative emotion. The problem is that women think I'm over-simplifying, and it's too complex for most males to grasp. Women think everyone should have an exact address when most of the time north, south, east, and west is good enough to get you where you want to go. Emotion works the same way except the directions are envy/resentment and gratitude/love . Like I said, too simple for women and too complicated for men.

Dude, what?

PURPLEDC · Jul 19, 2013

freewheeling said:
I have a theory about negative emotion. The problem is that women think I'm over-simplifying, and it's too complex for most males to grasp. Women think everyone should have an exact address when most of the time north, south, east, and west is good enough to get you where you want to go. Emotion works the same way except the directions are envy/resentment and gratitude/love . Like I said, too simple for women and too complicated for men.

Well man, i like to think i can read deep into stuff and Ive tried for awhile and have not a clue what your saying.

freewheeling · Jul 19, 2013

NeverMore1701 said:
Dude, what?

You've really got an interest or is this another put? We're sort of programmed to think of envy as just another negative emotion rather than the prime cause of all negative emotion, leading to the bigger and more proximate ones like conflict, anger and rage. The great authors knew what was going on and built their plots on the transference of envy (imitative desire) so that their plots would seem more realistic (because they were closer to the way humans actually behave). There's a lot of very insightful literature on this if you're interested. Back to the topic though, if people were a bit more aware of the counter to envy (gratitude) then they wouldn't be such cretins when they complain or criticize, and Thomas might still be around. It's never too late.

EldoEsq · Jul 20, 2013

I guess I am too new around here to know Thomas, very informative post though!

Prologik · Aug 11, 2013

freewheeling said:
You've really got an interest or is this another put? We're sort of programmed to think of envy as just another negative emotion rather than the prime cause of all negative emotion, leading to the bigger and more proximate ones like conflict, anger and rage. The great authors knew what was going on and built their plots on the transference of envy (imitative desire) so that their plots would seem more realistic (because they were closer to the way humans actually behave). There's a lot of very insightful literature on this if you're interested. Back to the topic though, if people were a bit more aware of the counter to envy (gratitude) then they wouldn't be such cretins when they complain or criticize, and Thomas might still be around. It's never too late.

You must be Bogarting. It's puff, puff, and PASS. Your post is so beyond my comprehension that Shakespeare reads like Dr. Seuss. I'm still 'lost' on your compass metaphor. Need a Thomas Thomas for direction.

Just poking fun. Bygones.