New ZT0350. Spine whack failure?

Why worry about it? The "Spine Whack Test" is B.S..
In over 60 years of using friction folders, and slipjoints (remember, no blade lock on those) I've never had a blade close on my fingers.
The cutting action when you're using the knife forces the blade open - not closed.

If you're that worried about the blade closing on you, forget folding knives, and just use a fixed blade.
 
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Vis07 said:
I don't want the knife they put through those weighted super hard spine whacks then those super hard over strikes. Lol There you go there's your knife! Have a good day lol Oh we also hung 300 lbs off the handle. Don't mind those bulges in the handle, it will be fine.
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Bulges on the handle or bulges where your fingers used to be? Which is better? That is the question...
 
unwisefool said:
You are obviously not doing it hard enough. For true spine whacking, get in your car and drive at least 32mph, then smack the spine against something like a signpost, light pole or some such item and see how it holds up.
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Nonsense. My calculations dictate a speed of at least 50 mph while going down a road inclined at 45 degrees. Then you stick your knife out and smack that sucker on a signpost.

Seriously though, got a good chuckle out of that LOL.
 
I've had multiple ZTs "fail" the spine whack test. I don't mean that I put any real weight to a knife passing or failing said test, but to be fair, a bunch of my ZTs would slip their locks and "fail" where others would not.

I think spine whack tests are generally silly. Most folding knives are not going to suffer any trauma to the spine that is enough to cause the blade to close under normal circumstances.

Now, my two dead horse caveats: The worst offender was my 0630 model. Emerson collaboration with a wave feature and probably at least design around SD at least a little bit. Light downward pressure 1/2" back from the tip on the spine would cause it to slip. My 350 does slip if I give it a light rap, but I see it as a non-issue. Not only is it rare that I would subject the back of my knife to that kind of shock, but as it is assisted, the chances of it overcoming the spring to close on my fingers is next to nonexistent.

My question that could never quite be answered was why does my $300 knife slip its lock when a $50 does not? Once again, spine whacks are silly and not empirical. I think ZTs are fine and robust users that one could stake their life on. I've moved on from them just because they started to get more pretty and less beefy, but it has nothing to do with them potentially slipping their locks. I still think the 0909 is a criminally underrated woods walking HD folder. I hated to see that capable brute get the axe the first year out of the gates.
 
afishhunter said:
Why worry about it? The "Spine Whack Test" is B.S..
In over 60 years of using friction folders, and slipjoints (remember, no blade lock on those) I've never had a blade close on my fingers.
The cutting action when you're using the knife forces the blade open - not closed.

If you're that worried about the blade closing on you, forget folding knives, and just use a fixed blade.
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This. Spine whacking is absurd, I have yet to have anyone give me any realistic reason why this is a legitimate concern for any folder. I would love to hear a real world scenario where this could happen.
 
Love these posts.

Somebody posts some sort of concern about spine whacking a folder.

A voice of reason (many such, usually) chimes in stating that the test is unnecessary, and questions why the worry.

The voices of reason are called dumbasses, and we're off to the races. Oh well... to the meat of your question:

Why do some Chevy Silverados fail to start up in the morning all of a sudden? Made in the same factory... sold at the same dealership... WTF?

I guess at some point some mechanical devices fail and some don't. Nature of the beast I suppose. All I can say.
 
Velitrius said:
Love these posts.

Somebody posts some sort of concern about spine whacking a folder.

A voice of reason (many such, usually) chimes in stating that the test is unnecessary, and questions why the worry.

The voices of reason are called dumbasses, and we're off to the races. Oh well... to the meat of your question:

Why do some Chevy Silverados fail to start up in the morning all of a sudden? Made in the same factory... sold at the same dealership... WTF?

I guess at some point some mechanical devices fail and some don't. Nature of the beast I suppose. All I can say.
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Because its a Chevy. (Ford sales manager in Texas ) lol;)
 
I’ve got a Kershaw Whirlwind that will close if I am cutting and apply side pressure to the handle making scooping cuts. Kinda spooky. Since there is no spring tension like a slipjoint it just slams shut.

I can also see the concern of lock failure if the spine is hit.

Personally, I have had to use knives when in tight quarters. An recent example was cutting wiring harness under the chassis of a work truck while laying on my back. Made the cut, and then accidentally banged the knife pretty hard on its spine.

At any rate...just gotta be careful and sometimes your tools will bite back.

Also...nice choice in a knife! ZT0350 is on my want list.
 
Vis07 said:
Yeah, I mean that's true. I dont know how many of this model is out there but it's a large large number. There seems to be a lot of people who own and love them.
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Well, since yours is sn 49xxx, I'd guess that there's at least 49,000 out in the wild of your particular 0350 variant. How many videos are there with that model specifically? Small percentage.

Incidentally, my 0350 is sn 6xxx. Was my first of over 20 subsequent ZT purchases (including a few given to kids).
 
The vast vast vast majority of ZT knives will survive any kind of weird spine wack test. There is a very very very small vocal portion of this community that hates ZT as a whole for one reason or another and likes to pretend like the knives are some kind of absolute failure overall. Which is false.
 
My two dont seem to have the problem. Light hand pressure doesn't do anything. Feels crazy solid. In the videos I saw, that light(grabbing the blade and a firm movement) would pop the lock. Mine definitely doesn't do that. So I guess I'll use them and not worry about it. Since this is a knife forum I thought someone might have some very good information about serial numbers that might be affected or something of that nature But there seems really no solid information about the problem. I guess I'll go with the small percentage are lemons idea. I really like this 0350 so im going to carry/use the hell out of it. I got it for 50.00 because of free cabelas/bass pro shop points, so it's a win.
 
I would bet serious money that every ZT owner that has seen the several videos about the locks slipping has went to their personal knifes and checked it. Even the people that say well that's redicoulous/absurd. Yeah. They checked theirs too.
 
Wanna trade your 0350 for some tp??

Jk, congrats on a great knife. Treat her like a knife and you'll be just peachy.
 
Haha. Yeah right toilet paper. Well I have plenty of knives and toilet paper. I went back and read a huge thread on this lock situation. I see some people bashing the brand and many saying theirs are all fine. My two are good to go. Light hand pressure/light taps on the palm-they are both rock solid. I was just curious. I have carried and used my 0551 for along time and I like it. I like this 0350 even more. If anything i guess the takeaway is... My two ZT knives are great. I read a ton of people saying several of theirs are great. Seems like a very small amount have issues which is the same with any product that is mass produced as others have stated.
 
anthonycastorena2014 said:
Because its a Chevy. (Ford sales manager in Texas ) lol;)
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I've owned 2 Fords over the years - both died by fire...only one was intentional (not my intent, mind you).
I spine whacked a knife once - 5 or 6 years ago, when it was a thing. Decided it was not a smart thing to do, despite the lock not failing, and haven't bothered doing it since
 
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