Just ordered a ZT 0561

freewheeling

freewheeling

Joined
Dec 30, 2012
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First I bought a Kershaw Blur with partially serrated blade, then I got one with S30V blade, then I figured I had to have a smaller knife so I got the Leek 1660G10.

Then I made the mistake of talking to a friend of mine who is a knife collector baring my soul about the switchblade I always wanted have and we got to talking about premium knives. So after looking them over the one I liked the most from pictures and descriptions was the ZT 0561, although I suppose it's identical to the 0560 except for the color. I haven't received the order yet but I'm anxious. This is the first premium knife I've ever owned. I really like the Blurs with the thumb stud opening although that stud is a little sharp. The stud on the Leek is kind of tricky and I suppose it's not really meant to be used, but I really like the feel of the flipper anyway so I guess that bodes well for the Hinderer Collaboration. Hope I don't get one of the lemons that's hard to open.

One thought that occurred to me is that several people have said the 561 doesn't feel as nice in the hand as some other ZTs, and that the aggressive notching on top of the handle has to do with the fact that a lot of people use this knife with gloves on. I have pretty small hands, and was wondering if people have any thoughts about bare-handed usage for someone with tennis ball as apposed to basketball hands?
 
You are over thinking it man! It must be new knife fever! It will be fine and you'll love it, Just think about what you are going to cut first, that should keep you occupied!
 
The 056x knives are (in my opinion) the nicest things that ZT makes. You are going to love it, the kvt makes it the smoothest opening knife out there. I recently got a sebenza and although it is very smooth it cant hold a candle to the 0561 in that department. It carries unbelievably well in the pocket considering it's size, and will be plenty comfortable in your hand.
 
BE glad if you get one with strong detent. It will smooth out and be a tank! One of the nicest production knives out there. I have small hands and it works great for me without gloves.
 
freewheeling said:
Thanks guys. Now I'm rubbing my tiny little hands together.
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All I can picture is this guy:

6296203802_a1fefbef85.jpg
 
I just got a 0560 and let me tell you that you won't be disappointed! There's no mistaking it this is a pretty big knife but it feels great in the hand and balances nice but could use a little more weight on the back end. I've got bear paw hands and the thing looks big in my hand! The jumping is certainly large and aggressive but isn't sharp. My gripe is the way the scale meets the liner and how it effects easy lock operation. Also i wish my detent was a bit tighter. Other then that I LOVE this knife. The KVT really shines.
 
Well, my hands aren't that small. I generally wear S size men's gloves though. I can get away with medium but the fingers are always too long.
Just got word that the knife has been shipped. Looks like it'll take 5 days to get here, so I'll get to experience same anticipation. The Blur is definitely not too big for me and it's only a half-inch shorter. Can't be *that* huge.
 
Mine will be here Saturday. I can't wait!! You know what they say about guys
With small hands?













They wear small gloves!
 
BigMatt1978 said:
Mine will be here Saturday. I can't wait!! You know what they say about guys
With small hands?


They wear small gloves!
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I watched a comparison of the XM18 and XM-24 with the ZT-560 and it was clear that the guy was just blindly in love with the Hinderer, but even being negatively disposed toward the ZT he had to acknowledge several things that were superior. (He couldn't keep his hands off the Hinderer, like an infatuated lover.) First he said that he preferred the Hinderer washer system, but then said that the ZT "opened more smoothly" and you could tell he didn't want to say it. He also said that he preferred the "non-lowrider" pocket clip. Not sure why, exactly, but probably because the knife can be grabbed and drawn more quickly and easily. I sort of like the lowrider, but perhaps I'm biased because that's what I'm getting. I was also sort of surprised that the XM-18 3.5" was so small. It's actually only slightly larger than the blur (about a quarter inch longer closed). And the ZT-560 is between the XM-18 and the XM-24. Wish I was in Homeland or something so that I could order a Hinderer at a decent price, but although I think it's a better knife than the ZT-560 it's not $1,000 better. The craze over the Hinderer XM series reminds me a bit of the Dutch Tulip craze a few centuries ago. Can't wait to get my ZT-561. I gather that Hinderer will make custom scales for the 561 and 560 which is pretty cool if I get really tired of Dark Earth or whatever it is.

I also saw a cardboard cutting test of the ELMAX blade where the guy expected the S30V to outperform it. But it held it's egde through innumerable box cuts and appeared to even be getting a little sharper toward the latter part of the test. Amazing.
 
BrentD86 said:
The 056x knives are (in my opinion) the nicest things that ZT makes. You are going to love it
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I agree with this. I have a good number of Kershaws and my Blur is in my EDC rotation. My 0561 is my first ZT and I think it is the best one to get as your first one. Yes it is big but with the handle shape it is very comfortable. I don't find anything even remotely uncomfortable about the gimping.
 
Just watched several youtube videos testing edge retention for Elmax steel that weren't very encouraging. There's also an article that says that Elmax isn't nearly as good at holding an edge as S30V. Here's one. . I've also seen several videos that attribute very good edge retention to Elmax. Both were "foreign" (one Russian and another British). The Russian guy used a strangely shaped knife with a convex grind, and the British guy used a convex "microgrind." I wonder if the difference is simply that the convex grind utilizes the characteristics of the metal better?
 
I dunno what the real answer is, but I haven't had to sharpen my 0560 yet and it still takes hair off my arm.
 
Probably thinking too much.... But I do the same thing so I feel your pain. Haha. I tend to research stuff until I've got myself into a stew of indecision that keeps me up at night. But I will say this - I just got my 0561 yesterday and it's very, very nice. It's big, but very comfortable to use. I'm getting used to it in-pocket even though it felt enormous at first. The thing is that it's a nice shape so even considering its size, it is very reasonable, and I don't have big hands by any means. And really, the steel on these knives these days is so good that I really don't think you have much to worry about.
 
stratlanta said:
Probably thinking too much.... But I do the same thing so I feel your pain. Haha. I tend to research stuff until I've got myself into a stew of indecision that keeps me up at night. But I will say this - I just got my 0561 yesterday and it's very, very nice. It's big, but very comfortable to use. I'm getting used to it in-pocket even though it felt enormous at first. The thing is that it's a nice shape so even considering its size, it is very reasonable, and I don't have big hands by any means. And really, the steel on these knives these days is so good that I really don't think you have much to worry about.
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Yeah, I stayed up last night watching Youtube videos of guys cutting cardboard boxes and ropes. The Brit guy's theory is that some of the new Bohler powdered steels contain "pixie dust," LOL. Apparently there are two grades of Elmax, one with an edge retention score of 931 and the other with a score of 762. So I'm thinking that it's the heat treat that creates the disparity in results. They're not the same crystalline structure, just the same ingredients. Not sure which one ZT uses. Looks like the primary advantage of Elmax is its corrosion resistance. That would explain its use in tactical knives because people are in all kinds of corrosive climates. I know they make some tactical knives out of Titanium, which isn't very hard but is extremely corrosion resistant and light. When I was into bikes I lusted after one with a Titanium frame. They were very expensive because Titanium is extremely hard to work with and weld.
 
Yep, I had a Lightspeed Mt Bike many, many, many years ago. Very light and strong but kind of flexy.... I think you will like the 0561 though, it's really nice.
 
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