My Thumb is DESTROYED!

HughesTMH

HughesTMH

Joined
Mar 20, 2012
Messages
172
Just getting into ZT knives. I recently have been on this kershaw/zt room while waiting for my BFC Skyline.

After reading many reviews I contacted Dave the Kershaw Guy and purchased a 0560 and a 0550BLK within a week. The 0560 was stiff but worked in with a day or too. The 0550BLK I got saturday and has been opened no less than 400 times. It is killing my thumb and the detent is so strong I can't open it sometimes with the thumb stud.

Any suggestions to speeding up the break in period?

Also, I am not a rookie to knives, own lots and aware they all open slightly differently. So the motion of opening isn't too new to me. I however just can't get past the detent. I like the knife and want to use it as a keeper, but if it doesn't smooth out I am not sure what to do.

So any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
For me, the key to opening the 0550 was to move my index finger off the lockbar (assuming you're right-handed). I shifted my grip a bit so my index finger rested against the flat space by the pivot (off the lockbar), and my other fingers were braced against the pocket clip (mounted for tip-up carry). Now I have no problem overcoming the detent, and the blade flies out almost effortlessly.
 
Thanks flarp,

I am used to the ti frame locks, and own CRK's, DPX Hest 2.0 Triple Black and Striders, So I am used to keeping my fingers away from the lock bar. But thanks for the thought. It is a wonderful knife!
 
Is the 0550 a gen1 or gen2? The gen1s are kind of notorious for having very strong detents (sorry if I am telling you something you already know).
 
Gen 2 with the black blade. After opening it with my fingers another 500 times it is starting to smooth out a little
 
I have no further ideas. I haven't handled very many Gen 2 and have never held one with an unwieldly detent. It sounds like it is getting better with use so I'd continue to let it break in and not worry about it so much.
 
HughesTMH said:
The 0560 was stiff but worked in with a day or too. The 0550BLK I got saturday and has been opened no less than 400 times. It is killing my thumb and the detent is so strong I can't open it sometimes with the thumb stud.

Any suggestions to speeding up the break in period?
Click to expand...

Sounds like a nice problem to have.:)
 
It will break in very nicely and open really smooth, what you are doing is about the fastest way to break it in. I bruised my thumb breaking my first one in too.
 
My gen2 is easy to open, smooth as butter. Maybe you need to send it in for warranty work.
 
I had the same problem with my Gen 1 ZT 0550. It was killing my thumb and I could not flick it open. I almost gave up I had printed out the warranty form and was looking at it when I was
suddenly able to flick the knife open. I kept opening repeatedly until it broke in! This is one great knife and worth the effort to break it in. I think because of the strong detent when the knife is
opened it is lightning fast.
 
Are you suuuuuuure you're not putting pressure on the lock bar? You try opening it with your left hand?
 
Positive no pressure is being applied to the lock bar. Even removed the pocket clip to make sure it was not pressing against the lock bar.

After close to 1000 openings and closings it is smoothing out and can now be opened without hurting anymore. Guess it needed just a little break in time than I am used to.

Thanks for suggestions!
 
To be honest with you I could hardly get my 0550BLK opened with my thumb when I first got it. Even after playing with the pivot screw it still didn't fly open "consistently". I took the clip off and changed it to the tip down like I carry all my knives and it now flies open without a problem. :confused:
 
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