Just got a NIB ZT 0551 in BUT a strange issue? IS It Broken?

Billthesheepdog

Billthesheepdog

Joined
Feb 23, 2012
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119
Hi all. I just got a NIB 0551 in today in the mail. It looks every bit as stable and strong as the Strider GB and AR I had. Good knife.

But the issue is on opening it! The dumb post to open is flat impossible to move with your thumb! No way Jose!

If you pull the blade out a tad it will thumb just fine. It is smooth and locks good. Any ideas of what I can do here?

I was thinking maybe loosen the torx (I think) screw a little bit but don't have a torn to fit it. I don;t even know if that would help.

I've never had a knife do this and don't expect it from a 200+ dollar knife. It should be perfect.


Is there a ZT rep on the board who knows what I should do? Thanks all.
 
Tried that. still very hard to move. Tried with the other hand meaning the lock bar wouldn't be involved. Still hard. Could it be rough because it's new?

This my first ZT and first Kershaw and so far I'm bummed~!
 
The detent on my 0551 is tricky to overcome as well. Once you get past it, it's very smooth.

I kinda like the firm detent. It makes you think twice about it, before opening. :D
 
OK so maybe it's normal. Thanks. It do take some intent to open thats for sure. It is also the sharpest knife I have had out of the box. shaving sharp plus! I guess I need to change the way I open the knife. It's either choke up towards the top or hold the knife very lightly.

Just not used to that I guess.
 
There is a bit of technique to opening this one.What direction are you pushing the stud?Up towards the top of the knife or outwards in line with the handle?
 
If I keep my fingers completely off the lock bar it opens stiff by pushing up on the thumb stud. still a pretty stiff detent. If my fingers even think about sitting on the lock bar it's no go! I guess I just need to stay off the lock bar!
 
Thanks to Gundude and Clich. If I can keep my fingers off the lock bar it works fine now. it was a bit stiff from new. It is getting better after 50 opens. It just needs a few more to train my hand also. Thanks again!
 
My 0551 is the same way very stiff and if you even touch the bar it won't open.

The 0550 is smoooth and easy to open even when holding the lock bar firmly.
 
My 551 came stiff to open and not as sharp as I would like so you issue is normal. Some break in time and some TLC on the wet stone will fix things right up.
 
As far as the blade edge this is the sharpest blade I have ever seen. It pops my arm hair! I know little about the steel Elmax but right now I'm a believer! I will get used to the difficult open. This is just like my striders only lighter!

PS bet thanks Bishop. I do hope the opening gets easier. it really is a pain right now. It's almost enough to talk with the company about it if it doesn't get better.
 
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I'm having the hardest time opening my zt 0550 I just got today haha. I can open it quickly ( with a flick) but I have no chance slowly opening it lol. The d-tent is super strong hopefully it will get weaker with use O.o
 
It was difficult for me when I first got 551 last summer but it has since smoothed out after edc using it. Right now, its stiffer to open than my other knives, but its better than when I got it.
 
My 0550 is pretty tough to open as well... my first framelock so I'm having to get used to not pushing on the lockbar, which I was definitely doing when I first pulled it out of the box.. I can't even open it right now because the skin on the end of my thumb is pretty much raw now from opening it, oh well.. it'll callous over and then hopefully be good. It does seem to have gotten easier now that I've gotten a little better at the technique and opened it more though.
 
My 551 was tough to open for around a month. Now it has broken in a bit, and I wouldn't call it tough, but it is still firm. The first few days/week, I thought I was doing something wrong. Now it can open whether or not my fingers are resting on the lockbar (not pressing, obv.).

It's not completely true, but I like what the other poster said about the detent 'making you think twice' about opening it. Had a good chuckle!

It is a fantastic knife, looking to get a couple 550s this year.
 
Yeah, mine is definitely getting easier, but it's still a bitch to open sometimes.. my one complaint about the knife.. I don't know how some people open it with their middle finger doing a sort of 'spydie flick' ... I've tried and there's just no chance, it's hard enough with just my thumb, lol.
 
My thumb is going to toughen up soon I am sure. If I put my 5th, and 4th fingers on the clip and the 3rd on the circle stop device with the index finger just under the front end I can flick the blade all the way open in one quick flick now. Thats after about 100 opens. I agree that it will most likely be very smooth and slick after a few hundred opens.

This is a very solid stout well built knife! Lest anyone wonder I am very glad I have it!
 
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