Kershaw Zing First Impressions

We're going on a Carnival cruise. It was pretty easy to find what is allowed on the web site. I just used the search box on their site for "knives", and found a link to restricted items.


Yeah on norwegian's website it said no weapons.. And I just wanted to bring a Vic or a smaller knife.. But I was'nt considering the knife I was bringing a weapons.. So I just brought the money clip, which has a buit in knife, file, ect..
 
I went through the same thing last year when I cruised Carnival. I bought a Benchmade Vex for the trip. I didn't end up taking the Vex because I was nervous about loosing my new toy (I thought they would think it looked like a "weapon").

I did take a Leatherman Wave, a Sog Mini Tool, and a Small Case Lockback folder (blade under two inches) all packed into my checked luggage. You can't carry a knife of any kind through the customs port when you're getting on the ship and I would be careful about taking a knife into port (metal detectors).

I think as long as nothing too "knife like" shows up when they scan your luggage, and you didn't brandish it around on the ship, you wouldn't have anything to worry about. :thumbup:

Good Luck,

Brandon

PS Isn't it ridiculous that we even have to talk about this stuff? :barf:
 
Hiya Steely,

Thanks for the good info on the Zing. :thumbup:

I got my first Kershaw, a JYDII 1725ST earlier this week not having seen one in the metal, and it is a far bigger knife than I thought it was ...like getting a 20"CAK then realising a 17"Foxy Folly really suits me much better.

I was looking at either a Shallot or Leek but now will consider the Zing as well.
 
Bonkers, those JYD2's sure are nice folders...but man, are they massive:eek: I generally EDC one at work to handle all the rough cutting jobs. However, I keep meaning to take the Zing out of pocket and slip the JYD2 back in....however, I just keep forgetting. The Zing sure is handy.

Oh, and you are looking for a very sleek AO, the Shallot is fantastic. Classy and fast to open. Very nice framelock folder. I'd like to get one of the upgraded ones soon:)

Brandon, thanks for the info regarding the ports. I hate having to skirt things because of silly rules. I'm thinking I'll just keep the little Zing on board for my daily knife needs. For shore leave, I'll just pack my dummy keys with an Artifact on it. Heck, i might even color in the xacto blade with a sharpie so that it totally blends in:p For 9 bucks a pop, I can pack 3. If I lose one or two, no big deal. If they all make it back home, they make great gifts.
 
What I'm thinking is that the guy that you talked to on the phone just does not know official policy. Most of the people that take these trips are the same people that rip packaging open with their teeth and call to ask about what kind of khaki shorts to wear to dinner. It's official black and white policy on paper, and if it comes down to it I'll take it up with the captain:)

The carnival phone guys don't know much. I am going on a cruise this fall and had some similar questions. The guy said no knives....... then I asked him what flag the ship sails under........ he didn't know :confused:..... then he asked me why I wanted to know :eek:.... I quickly got off the phone and went back to doing my own research on the website.

On the Zing front.......what great knives for that kinda money. I do have to note that the thing that shocked me is that the knife opens much faster with the thumb studs than the flipper. :thumbup::)
 
On the Zing front.......what great knives for that kinda money. I do have to note that the thing that shocked me is that the knife opens much faster with the thumb studs than the flipper. :thumbup::)

I know what you mean. Now that I have broken the little guy in, my co-worker who carries a scallion as his EDC opened it up with the thumbstuds and exclaimed, "Holy $h|7! I thought you said it wasn't assisted!" :D
 
You can't carry a knife of any kind through the customs port when you're getting on the ship and I would be careful about taking a knife into port (metal detectors).



The money clip went through the detector easily, welll I had to put it in a holder thing, but they just thought it was a money clip.. hehe!
 
good choice on the zing. Odd though, my zing i have a hard time with it not opening all the way and doing it fast. The speed of such a small folder was what actually sold me. I had tanto groove and hated it as i couldnt get it to open all the way no matter how hard i used the flipper. Let us know how the cruise goes.
 
purple, how logn have you had your zing? i had problems wiht mine not opening fully when i first got it, but i adjusted the pivot screw and played with it while i watched tv, now its lightning fast.
 
purple, how logn have you had your zing? i had problems wiht mine not opening fully when i first got it, but i adjusted the pivot screw and played with it while i watched tv, now its lightning fast.

i think i wrote that a little poor. Ive had one for a total of a about a week. I had to return the first one since the blade didn't sit centered when closed. But right from the first time i had it, it was very fast. The only other knives ive seen that will open like this are ones with a bearing system. Ive checked out the grooves and jyd knives even the od-1. Out of all the kershaw flipper knives the zing is the only one that i think really operated the way a flipper is designed to. My original post when i read it over again seems to point to the opposite.
 
The Zing is truly an excellent and versatile EDC. It does not make people uncomfortable in the slightest. It really is a cute little knife. I think especially with the orange handle it should not make anyone uncomfortable in 90% of places. As for the cruise I do not know, but it seems like the Zing would not be percieved as a weapon.
 
i think i wrote that a little poor. Ive had one for a total of a about a week. I had to return the first one since the blade didn't sit centered when closed. But right from the first time i had it, it was very fast. The only other knives ive seen that will open like this are ones with a bearing system. Ive checked out the grooves and jyd knives even the od-1. Out of all the kershaw flipper knives the zing is the only one that i think really operated the way a flipper is designed to. My original post when i read it over again seems to point to the opposite.

yeah it did lol. i get what your sayign though, i like the flipper on my zing a lot, although i dont really consider the od-1 a true flipper either. i liek em both a lot.
 
Steely Gunz and Knivesandguns:
Thanks for the info about the groove design and its purpose. I had never realized that the grooves actually aided performance. Oh, and good luck on your cruise, Steely Gunz.
 
I just went on a Carnival cruise and had 3 knives in my carry on bag. No problems on the trip and I even took one with me on land excursions. I asked the security people ahead of time that as long as the blade was under 4" it was ok and they said it would be fine.

Didn't have a problem.
 
I just went on a Carnival cruise and had 3 knives in my carry on bag. No problems on the trip and I even took one with me on land excursions. I asked the security people ahead of time that as long as the blade was under 4" it was ok and they said it would be fine.

Didn't have a problem.

Thanks for the info:) It is much appreciated. Where all did you visit, if I may ask. The wife and I are visiting Jamaica, the Grand Caymans, and Mexico. I really, really, really want to take a full sized Salt knife with me on land excursions. I figure that I am going to be hot and sweaty and in the ocean. Nothing short of a SAK is going to handle that very well...besides H-1 steel, of course:o I might still go with the H-1 ladybug on a lanyard just so that i'm not packing around a bunch of junk in my pockets. I know one thing for sure. H-1 DOES NOT rust in the ocean. Sal and the Spyderco team got that one right:thumbup:

Heh, does it count as thread drift if the original poster starts the drift?:foot:

Back on topic, the Zing has proven to be a very nice little EDC. I have carried it at work a few times, but I believe that it is going to get regulated to "gent's" carry. I like a little more heft in a work knife and have begun to rotate my JYD2 and my Endura again. I'm starting to dislike the thick grind on the knife. I have slowly begun to work the edge to a more acute angle. The grooves, while not in the way, do make this a little more difficult. This isn't really the knife's fault as much as it is my OCD when it goes to getting my knives "just right";) So far, a week or so in, the Zing is a very solid little EDC.
 
The Zing is not a fast opener. Its low blade weight and short pull make it kinda slow out of the blocks. Not a turtle by any means, but not as fast as the OD-1. Also, it sticks a bit, but I'm sure that can be fixed after a little break in period.
Sounds like I am not the only one who has experienced this problem with the Zing, then, although it sounds like yours is not as bad as mine. :grumpy:

The more you flip that knife, the smoother it will get.
Well, I have flipped my Zing between 200-300 (I lost count around 200)times now, in an atempt to break it in and it still does not open more than half-way with any regularity and even when it does open fully it often fails to completly lock without an additional nudge on the thumb stud. At this point I have pretty much given up on the knife (my finger is raw from all that useless flipping) and tossed it into the drawer as I just can't be bothered with it any more.

I suppose I should just return it as defective. :thumbdn:
 
Sounds like I am not the only one who has experienced this problem with the Zing, then, although it sounds like yours is not as bad as mine. :grumpy:
Well, I have flipped my Zing between 200-300 (I lost count around 200)times now, in an atempt to break it in and it still does not open more than half-way with any regularity and even when it does open fully it often fails to completly lock without an additional nudge on the thumb stud.

In Review - Kershaw Zing - both my samples were like that (this certainly was not the case with the samples I so impressed with at the Blade Show 2008) - I found the pivot tension screw on both were way too tight.

I merely backed off the pivot screw (Torx T-9) - to the point where the blade would fall freely under gravity when unlocked - but without any play when opened and locked. Then the blades would fly open quite astoundingly.

Hope that helps.

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Thanks for the info:) It is much appreciated. Where all did you visit, if I may ask.


Sorry I forgot I posted in this forum as I don't come here much. I went to the Bahamas on a short 3 day bachelor party. I forget which island but can look it up if you want.

The only place you have to go through a metal detector is when you are coming back on the ship. This is where I asked about the knife and got the OK before going on land.

Coming back into port you go through customs but as long as you are in compliance with the ship's rules you should be fine as you just claim what you bought on the trip and are hurried through.

Have fun!

Edit: I also printed out a copy of the ship's rules and kept it in my pocket in case there was any question but had no problems. I also took my Salt 1 and an OD-1 as well as my BM Rift though only took one on land so I wouldn't seem too ninja like.
 
Hi Guys: I have enjoyed reading this thread. A properly adjusted/broken in ZING should open like a rocket. Unknown VT has the right approach-Just a tweak of the pivot screw can make a surprising difference.

Rather than taking the whole knife apart, you can always just loosen the pivot and blast the whole pivot area with WD-40. I have examined several knives as they come from the factory and all have been very clean, with only 1 or 2 needing a slight pivot adjustment to bring them to near custom standards.

If you do take the knife apart, a little blast of WD after re-assembly is a good thing-It will make the knife even faster.

ENJOY!

RJ Martin
ZING designer
 
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