Question about ZT 0550 with super strong detent strength

W

WillieD

Joined
Jan 22, 2004
Messages
267
Just got a new gen 3 ZT 550 from Kershawguy. Absolutely love everything about this knife, but the detent is so strong, I can't even use the thumbstud to fire open the blade. I was trying to break it in last night and now have a hellish blister on my thumb...lol! In the mean time, I just pinch the blade between my thumb and middle finger to pull it past the detent and push the blade open with my thumb. Its actully not that bad, but frustrating that I can't really fire it open with a thumb flick like some. I realize this is a somewhat common problem. So, will this sort itself out with use or should it get sent in for work? I saw the vids on YouTube with a fix, but don't want to overdo it and not have the blade stay closed. Any input?
 
I had the same issue with a gen 1. It felt unbreakable. I stuck with it, learned to fire from 6 o'clock on the thumbstud to 11 o'clock, and broke it in.

That is the only knife I actually fire for fun. I don't typically care about that stuff, but... WOW. So perfect!
 
Honestly i would check to see if you are accidentaly putting pressure on the lockbar as you try to open it. Doing so will make it all but impossible to open. Also try adjusting your technique. Instead of trying to push the blade to the side try pushing at the bottom of the stud towards where the tip of where the blade would be. Sometimes it can just be a matter of changing your grip and the way you fire the blade.
 
PURPLEDC said:
Honestly i would check to see if you are accidentaly putting pressure on the lockbar as you try to open it. Doing so will make it all but impossible to open. Also try adjusting your technique. Instead of trying to push the blade to the side try pushing at the bottom of the stud towards where the tip of where the blade would be. Sometimes it can just be a matter of changing your grip and the way you fire the blade.
Click to expand...

^^This! Once it gets broken in and you get the technique down, it's super smooth.
 
WillieD said:
In the mean time, I just pinch the blade between my thumb and middle finger to pull it past the detent and push the blade open with my thumb.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I did with mine... for over seven hours :D. It WILL loosen up and then you can do what some other posters have suggested, which is to open the blade while avoiding pressure on the lock. If you don't loosen up that detent with manual opening, unless your the hulk, no amount of technique is going to open the blade. It MUST be loosened up first.
 
There's been a good thread here in 'General' on this subject within the last three or four days. It's headed something like "Am I doing it right?" You should be able to find it easily still. I think it may help you.

What you describe can be a very thin line between just getting used to that particular knife and a true mechanical problem.

Sometimes it takes several days and many of us have ended up with thumb disablement at first but then recovered, found the secret and love the knife, glad we stuck with it. Then there's the TRULY too-strong detent which in most cases should be returned to the manufacturer or dealer. Usually it's the former and it's not uncommon.

I'd keep trying. Sometimes you DO get the wrecked thumb the first week or so on a knife that you eventually grow to love. Best of luck with it.

EDIT: The thread I referred to above is titled "Framelocks: Am I doing it wrong?" and at this moment is on page 1 here again. A lot of us posted there too.
 
Last edited:
PURPLEDC said:
Honestly i would check to see if you are accidentaly putting pressure on the lockbar as you try to open it. Doing so will make it all but impossible to open. Also try adjusting your technique. Instead of trying to push the blade to the side try pushing at the bottom of the stud towards where the tip of where the blade would be. Sometimes it can just be a matter of changing your grip and the way you fire the blade.
Click to expand...

Yep this.

Mine is the same way. I have to hold the knife differently than any other with zero pressure on the lock bar and push from a lower angle. Its annoying but solved my issue. Strongest detent I've ever encountered and not an easy to open quickly knife that requires a different grip than what is natural to me. It is what it is........
 
This is what I posted up in another thread. Still one of my favourite flippers.
I ordered and received a gen 3 0550 some weeks ago. When I tried to open the knife with my right thumb it was impossible without tearing my thumb up. I researched the 0550 on you tube

and found videos describing the problem as very common. Two of the solutions were over the top. First whack the detent ball with a hammer and hope you did it just right or take a drill slightly oversize and attack the detent hole

at the edge to allow the detent ball easier tracking. Neither of those solutions seemed very good to me so I plodded on opening and closing the knife hundreds of times.


I realized the knife was way easier to open left handed and seemed the perfect thumb stud action. I also recognized the pocket clip was a player in this as was the placement of the fingers on

the knife. I changed the clip to tip down and the blade was way easier to deploy. I really didn't like this option so I moved the clip back but bent it so it was barely touching the lock bar. This seemed to work very well and I kept

up the reps on opening and closing the blade. I now have it where the blade flies out perfectly and I consider this to be a fantastic EDC. At this point I am very happy with the knife and recognize it takes a long break in period to

make it super smooth. I don't know if this will help anyone, I am just relating my own experience. I put a micarta scale on it and it just rocks at this point.
 
My 550 was a little stiff when it was new. I didn't worry much about flipping it open, but instead concentrated od slowly opening with the thumb stud. This gave me the motion of thumb/blade I didn't know existed. Got used to opening the blade effortlessly and by that time it was broke in enough to flip it open.
The other thing that helped me on a right handed knife was to use my left hand to open to see if I was indeed putting undue pressure on the lock bar. I realized I do in fact apply pressure on the lock bar using my right hand. I've learned to control the amount of pressure using my right hand. Also learned to push out then up on the thumb stud to flip smoothly.
I am left handed, it's easier for me to deploy a RH knife with my right hand.
 
Same thing happened to me. Another thing I did that helps is I left it partly open all night long for several nights. I hated it at first but after it smoothed out I ended up loving it.
 
My 0562 was crazy stiff!! And I can wave, flip, flick, thumb flick all kinds no problem. But this was crazy stiff. I flipped it for 4 days straight. Did get easier but it's stiff stiffer than any other knife I got. I do like it now though.
 
I bought a gen 2 used, so when i recieved it and had issues opening it i was quite embarassed when i realized it was all technique. I too could open it amazingly well left handed, but could not operate it right handed. If your index finger gets on the lock at all it will impede the opening. I put my index finger up on the top of the frame, where the spine of the blade comes to rest when opened. Didnt take long to learn the muscle memory.
 
I admit my technique isn't the best. This is my 1st frame lock and I am noticing I have to try to keep off the lock, but I have a hard time breaking the detent left handed too and even holding the knife with 2 hands and just trying to flip it open using the studs is difficult. I will break it in for a few weeks and work on technique before I worry about it anymore. I can believe how much nicer this carries over my ZT0350. Really am hoping I master this one as it WILL be a main EDC for me. Love everything else about it!!! Thanks for the input.
 
Try giving the thumb stud a slight push and see if you can flick your wrist slightly.
 
Just spenta few hours working the blade open and closed just short of engaging the framelock while applying a little pressure to the lock. Figured that would hit the detent coming and going and wear in a little faster that way. After awhile the knife made a creaking sound like it needed oiled. Hosed it out with some Dupont teflon/dry wax lubricant spray and I have to say the results were amazing. I can now pull it fom my pocket and fire it open... with just my thumbnail, almost without thinking. Very happy now. Thanks for all the tips and info!
 
WillieD said:
Just spenta few hours working the blade open and closed just short of engaging the framelock while applying a little pressure to the lock. Figured that would hit the detent coming and going and wear in a little faster that way. After awhile the knife made a creaking sound like it needed oiled. Hosed it out with some Dupont teflon/dry wax lubricant spray and I have to say the results were amazing. I can now pull it fom my pocket and fire it open... with just my thumbnail, almost without thinking. Very happy now. Thanks for all the tips and info!
Click to expand...

:thumbup: :thumbup:
 
I'm glad I found this thread! I just added a 3rd generation 0550 to my collection, and immediately thought 'if my 0200 had half of this detent...'
I'm working mine in now, and have actually developed a squeak, seemingly from the detent ball- oil quiets it. All in all, a great knife. Very stout!

This forum answers so many questions. Thanks to all!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top