New ZT0550 Thread !!!

The finger groove was axed from the beginning, along with the glass breaker.

The only difference between the 551 and 550 is blade steel and G-10 style.
 
It was covered in the first thread ;)


The 0551 was a sprint run like how spyderco does with the military. Same knife, different features.

The 0551 used ELMAX for the blade and a brick pattern for the G-10. The producton 0550 was to use Vanax 35 but there were delays with the steel company and the blade steel has been switched to S35VN. G-10 pattern is unknown at this time.

Both good steels, no need to worry.
 
ok thanks :) i was reading the initial post saw the black fingergrooved knife and was sold! too bad but hey.... i was thinking about ordering a 0551 as well but that won't be the case since they're parctically identical....
 
Well after being on a pre-order list since Dec. 23 I finally got my 0551 yesterday. I know the hype for this knife would make it hard to live up to. But I have to say I not completely blown away with it like I was hoping. Don't get me wrong I really like it and all. It's just don't love it like I thought I would. Maybe after some more time in the pocket will It really grow on me.

The things I am having trouble liking about it? I really am having trouble opening it with the thumb stud placement. I know it's been covered in this thread the ways to open it good. It's just the way I open it. I think I am just pressing the lock arm just two hard with the back of my hand thus pressing the detent in making it hard to get passed that point. The knife is really smooth and all and once I get passed the detent it's really easy to open. I will have to try to grip the knife differently to open it. The blade grinds on my sample were not very even. I fixed them with sharpening though. But would have liked better grinds on such a expensive knife. Don't get me wrong it was very sharp with it's factory edge. One of the sharpest factory edges I have gotten in a while. Also I just don't like how thing the lock bar cut out is. Again I know this as been covered in this thread and what do I know about making knives right. But in the back of my mind it just is there how thin it looks. Reassure me guys. Make that lingering thought in the back of my mind go away.

Things I do really like about.

It has wonderful ergonomics. When using it, it becomes an extension of your hand. I really like the G10 brick pattern. It's really grippy and looks cool as well. The really think lock bar is awesome too and lock up is lock solid. That with the fact that it feels so good in your hand makes it a wonderful knife to use to cut with.

I'm sure guys that with more time in the pocket I will really come to love my 0551. I hope so. Anyway thanks for taking the time to read my wanderings of the mind. Here is my new 0551 after about 4 hours sharpening last night.

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Nice edge work! :thumbup:

And to test if you are pressing the lockbar, open the knife left handed - that should be an accurate indicator of the true detent resistance without added pressure.
 
Reeek said:
Nice edge work! :thumbup:

And to test if you are pressing the lockbar, open the knife left handed - that should be an accurate indicator of the true detent resistance without added pressure.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the idea. It's a simple but effective test. But I have no problem opening it with my left hand so I have been pressing on the lock bar and making it more difficult to open. I used it allot today and it's growing on me.

I agree. What did you use?
Click to expand...

I used DMT stones and pastes on leather strops.
 
Seeing that edge just made waiting for the 550 seem sooo much longer now!

Nice job on the edge.:thumbup:
 
Thanks guys for the comments. Whether he realizes or not knifenut1013 has been my mentor when it comes to sharpening. He has been really helpful with answering questions in threads and if you guys haven't checked it out his thread on sharpening a Umnumzaan it is the best. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=732635 I followed the same process on my 0551 with the same stones. DMT continuous stones Coarse through EEF then leather strops with 6, 3 ,1 micron paste for polishing. It was a long process and took over four hours to get finished.

On another note after another day of carrying my 0551 I'm liking it much more. I was never a fan of the short ZT pocket clip but it's placement on the 0551 is good and it carries well in the pocket and is easy to pull out and use. I'm getting much more used to opening it without prussing down on the lockbar with the front of my hand.
 
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