New ZT0550 Thread !!!

I believe the stop pin on the 0551 is to prevent over closing and the thumb studs are the stop pins for opening

Noctis3880 said:
Nope, though I could hear my stop pin rattling around the handles after I polished the liners clean. Doesn't affect blade play though.
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Reeek said:
So you like the knife overall? I am falling more and more in love with mine each day I carry it. Mine started performing like a $600 custom after a couple weeks of break in.
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Absolutely!! Even though the ZT is not as smooth as the XM-18, overall, it comes close in smoothness, ergonomics, and weight. Like the XM-18, it is built like a tank, plus it has some extra screw holes on the other side of the folder, giving the option to switch the clip to the left side.
 
Reeek said:
So you like the knife overall? I am falling more and more in love with mine each day I carry it. Mine started performing like a $600 custom after a couple weeks of break in.
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I feel the same way. After a couple of weeks, I took it apart, cleaned it up, polished the washers, lubed it ever so lightly.....and wow. Just wow.
I am impressed every time I pull the knife out to use it. A wonder of design mated with fantastic execution.
 
I'm in...

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Totally

iacchus said:
I feel the same way. After a couple of weeks, I took it apart, cleaned it up, polished the washers, lubed it ever so lightly.....and wow. Just wow.
I am impressed every time I pull the knife out to use it. A wonder of design mated with fantastic execution.
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Reeek said:
I am falling more and more in love with mine each day I carry it. Mine started performing like a $600 custom after a couple weeks of break in.
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I was late to the show on this knife. Because I have never owned a ZT, I didn't pay any attention to posts about them.

However, at the very end of November this knife caught my attention when I was told about it by a friend. I really liked this knife from when I first saw a picture of it and luckily had one in my possession 5 days later.. bought off the Exchange here on BF.

I liked it even better when I held it and saw the excellent fit & finish. Due to an illness and other things I did not have time to use it much though until around he first of the year.

I started to read how people were saying they were as "smooth as butter" after breaking in, etc. etc., and such as the quote above also.

Just to be honest, I though those posters were "full of it". :D

So I started opening and closing mine while watching TV.. after a few days of this I realized that every word was true. :eek:
This thing became one of the smoothest operating knives I own... bar none.

I thought it might be a fluke so I broke out another one I had acquired since getting the first one. The same results..... :thumbup:

This ZT/H O551 is one heck of a knife IMO!!
Hats off to a job well done ZT. :thumbup:
 
After reaching knives on the net. Plus after I joined here. I knew it would be a matter of time. Until I found the knife I wanted to replace my old 110. After seeing the pics here of the ZT0550. I decided this was the knife I wanted.
 
I know I can be dramatic sometimes and I'm not 100% faithful to any knife but the more I carry and use the 0551 the more I am starting to feel like this might be the best knife I own right now, purpose or build style notwithstanding. The ZT 0551 is more knife than I could have ever hoped for. It has easily surpassed all my expectations. This is a damn good knife. Period.
 
Reeek said:
I know I can be dramatic sometimes and I'm not 100% faithful to any knife but the more I carry and use the 0551 the more I am starting to feel like this might be the best knife I own right now, purpose or build style notwithstanding. The ZT 0551 is more knife than I could have ever hoped for. It has easily surpassed all my expectations. This is a damn good knife. Period.
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Reeek,

I feel the same way. It's weird, despite owning some knives that many would give their left nut to own I still find myself reaching for this one first.

I just got back from some training in San Diego - guess which knife I took with me. There is something very special about the "feel" of the 0551 that I really like.

Many compare it to the XM 18 even calling it the poor man's version of that knife. I can see where they're coming from with that and even agree to a certain point; but the truth is it really doesn't feel like an XM 18. The ergonomics are different. The 0551 was designed after Rick's version of his camp knife from what I understand.

It does have that distinctive Hinderer feel for sure though; and while it obviously can't equal a Hinderer in F/F and overall quality, it is still better than good enough. You get a heck of a lot of knife for the price.

Now if I could only get my hands on one of those Hinderer camp knives. . .
 
I just received mine this morning. While I feel this is a nice knife, I cant help but feel slightly underwhelmed. Now before you start calling for my head on a platter, just hear me out. Most of my issues with this knife are cosmetic. First, my blade was way off center, which I quickly took care of. Second, anyone who gripes about Cold Steel G10 handles needs to handle this knife. Not only is the lego pattern not my favorite, the G10 could be used to grate cheese. Too grippy IMO. I also thought that these were to be stonewash finished. If mine is stonewashed, it needed some more time in the tumbler. It almost looks to have a stain more than a wash. They should have tumbled the lock side insted of bead blasting it also. And finally, I am no sharpening guru, but the way people have talked about the factory edge, I was expecting it to cut like a laser. It is sharp, but nothing I cant do better with a Sharpmaker and 30 minutes.
The plus side? I probably have a knife that is as tough if not tougher than a Strider for $200+ less. I may do a litte refinishing work on the metal surfaces, and try to find some new handle material. Bottom Line .... I do like this knife, but would have liked it better with a few small changes.
Now if you feel the need to bash me...go ahead.
 
I don't know about anybody else but I'm not going to bash you for posting your opinion.

I would hate to think that the only opinions allowed around here are the ones that conform to the general consensus.

That would make this place worthless for product information IMHO. . .
 
BP Green said:
I don't know about anybody else but I'm not going to bash you for posting your opinion.

I would hate to think that the only opinions allowed around here are the ones that conform to the general consensus.

That would make this place worthless for product information IMHO. . .
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+1... Well said. :thumbup:
"Opinions" are like rear ends, everybody has one and one is not necessarily better or worse than another. :D
 
If I'm not happy with any knife and I have a good reason to speak of it in the forums, I will to.

I'm just sorry he isn't happy like I am.
 
I too am glad to hear your thoughts red1965. There's always going to be something about a knife that someone doesn't like. If been on two waiting lists for over a month for this knife and the wait is getting a little annoying. I hope it meets my expectations.
 
Ok... A little update. Other than adjusting the centering of the balde, I really had not done anything else besides giving it a once over. I went out to my shop and dissasembled it just a little while ago. Just in case anyone is curious, there was no rust. I took some 1000 grit paper to the scale and fixed that problem. It is still grippy without being grabby, if that makes sense. As for the blade, it was a stain. Could have been dried lube, or something from the factory, but a little Flitz cleaned it off. I can actually tell more of a stonewashing effect. I also greased the pivot with some fluorinated grease. The action is really smooth and should only improve with use. I didnt do any sharpening as I would like to see how long this holds an edge before needing a touch up. I am pretty happy at the moment.
 
If you ask me, the stonewashing appears to me to be stonewashing OVER a bead blast finish but I can't tell for sure
 
prime77 said:
I too am glad to hear your thoughts red1965. There's always going to be something about a knife that someone doesn't like. If been on two waiting lists for over a month for this knife and the wait is getting a little annoying. I hope it meets my expectations.
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I to was getting annoyed with the wait and canceled my pre-orders. Except one place I forgot I pre-ordered at. A couple of weeks ago they called and said it was in stock now if I wanted it. Needless to say I said, why yes please send it. I'm very glad I forgot about the NW pre-order list. I am now a proud owner of a top notch ZT 551. ;) When the 550 comes out I will own one of those too.
 
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