Received Two New ZT 0630 Knives.. Detent Changes? Also Arrived with Some Chips/Nicks

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kurikobun

Joined
Oct 14, 2012
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Hi everyone, this is my first post.

I just received two 0630s that I purchased off Amazon, and one of them has a lower serial number with a black screw for the lockbar insert. The other is a recently produced knife with a silver screw. The two detents are significantly different, whereas the black screw model has a large detent hole and is much easier to open. The smaller detent hole on the more recently produced 0630 is a lot harder to open (my thumb hurts). Did ZT change the detent recently? What do the detents on your 0630s look like?
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I am also not sure if the 0630 with the black screw is a knife that someone returned. It arrived with some chips on the thumb disk screw and also on the spine of the blade. Is it normal for a ZT knife to sometimes have these cosmetic imperfections? This is my first ZT knife so I am not too sure what to expect.
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I have decided to keep only one of these knives, but not sure which one yet. I really prefer the easier opening of the black screw model, but I am not too happy with the chips on it. Am I being too picky about that? The silver screw model is flawless with no chips, but it is just pretty difficult to open.

Thanks for the help guys!
 
I can't speak to the 0630's detent, but I will say that my 0450 doesn't have any imperfections as shown in the pics. The detent is fairly easy to overcome as well.
 
I can't speak specifically to the 630 either, but my experience with other models has been just the opposite. My older ZT's (my 561 in particular was the worst) have a smaller detent hole with a concave bottom. This made it almost impossible for the ball to align properly and sink all the way in, resulting in little to no detent strength. I mention the older 561 because the blade on mine would literally fall out if held wrong, or knife even tapped lightly.

However all my newer releases (450, 452, 808, 562, etc) have a larger hole that is more like a squared off cylinder. Which allows the ball to drop all the way into the hole, lock seating almost flush with blade when closed....and an almost perfect amount of pressure build up to release. I'm very happy with the change they made to the samples I received.

If the pressure to overcome the detent is too great, it's pretty easy to lesson with a simple small file, or just by having fun flipping a few thousand times. But increasing the detent strength is not an easy job for the average bubba smith.

ZT does not have it easy trying to accommodate all the variable visions of all customers. Pressure to overcome detent on any one particular knife can vary by person just by how they hold the frame, the angle applied to the tang/flipper, any pressure being applied to the lock, and even the strength of the finger used. But if you ask me, they've sure gone in the right direction with the latest releases.
 
I love a stiff detent so take what I say knowing that. Send the one back with the damage. On the screw? Fine, I could live with that. But on the spine of the blade like that? Now freaking way for a new knife. I would send that back no matter what you choose to do here. Unacceptable. I've bought used knives with that kind of damage and was fine with it because I knew about it and the prices reflected the condition. I've also put damage like that on some ZTs that came new from a dealer to me and I was fine with it because I did the damage using the knife. Damage you didn't do in use to a new from dealer knife? No thank you.

Don't know about the detent change thing but I can say it should get better with time and also your finger will get stronger!
 
I would not mind such a stiff detent on a flipper, but the 0630 does not have a flipper so it does get difficult to use the thumb disk. When you mean filing the detent, do you mean filing on the detent ball? Is it also ok to put pressure on the lockbar and then forcing the blade open? I did do this once and it has seemed to help, but before I try it again I want to make sure that I won't damage anything by doing so.
 
craytab said:
I love a stiff detent so take what I say knowing that. Send the one back with the damage. On the screw? Fine, I could live with that. But on the spine of the blade like that? Now freaking way for a new knife. I would send that back no matter what you choose to do here. Unacceptable. I've bought used knives with that kind of damage and was fine with it because I knew about it and the prices reflected the condition. I've also put damage like that on some ZTs that came new from a dealer to me and I was fine with it because I did the damage using the knife. Damage you didn't do in use to a new from dealer knife? No thank you.

Don't know about the detent change thing but I can say it should get better with time and also your finger will get stronger!
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Thanks, you convinced me to keep the knife with the silver screw. I also do find it a bit unacceptable for a new knife to have a chip on the spine. I was a bit shocked to see this at first because I hear so many great things about ZT's fit and finish. None of my Emerson knives have ever come with blade imperfections even though they aren't known for the best fit/finish.

You are also right about the detent. I probably have flipped it a few hundred times now and it seems to be breaking in and getting easier.
 
As for the smaller than a gnat's arse imperfections remember these are production knives.

There are variabilties as to the detent strength in ZT knives. Even the stronger detent do break-in given some open/close cycles.
 
kurikobun said:
I would not mind such a stiff detent on a flipper, but the 0630 does not have a flipper so it does get difficult to use the thumb disk. When you mean filing the detent, do you mean filing on the detent ball? Is it also ok to put pressure on the lockbar and then forcing the blade open? I did do this once and it has seemed to help, but before I try it again I want to make sure that I won't damage anything by doing so.
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When I said to file the detent to lighten the force required, I would probably attack the edge of the detent hole on the blade. Put a little dark grease in the area, work the blade a bit, and it will give you the exact path that the ball drops over the edge. Then you can use a tiny jewelers round file to take a tiny bit off the sharp edge. And when I say tiny, I mean TINY! Very slight amount of rounding at a time, then give it some time to work the action. If not enough, go back and do a little more. If it's not enough, you can always go back. But if you take off too much, you're toast with a too light of a detent.

If it were me, I would not file on the ball. Let it give you as much life as possible. But more likely than not, just working the blade a bunch to break it in faster than normal can give you desired results.

I usually just sit and work a tight blade while watching tv or something. Then if I don't get the desired results, I might try something more drastic.
 
The detents did change on the ZT's so that does not concern me. Both style detents work great, I think ZT just went with a more universal platform.

If these were advertised and bought as used, then I would say no worries on the rest of the stuff. If these were bought as new, then I would send them both back. While I know ZT's are production knives, I can tell you each one that we take out of the box has that total new knife look. I have never seen one with nicks and scratches as those you show in your pictures. It is obvious to me someone has used these knives and tinkered with them. Selling them as new is false advertising and certainly should not be acceptable to anybody who is going to pay $200 for what should be a brand new knife. If you buy a brand new Jeep and plan to take it off roading and beat the heck out of it, I bet you still would not sign the paper work if there were mud splatter already in the engine and scratches on the sides. If you are paying for new you should get new! Just my .02 cents.
 
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First mistake was buying off Amazon, especially a high end knife.

Buy from a real dealer who actually gives a crap about making you happy.

I bought a knife ONCE from that site and had the exact same issue. It came in looking used.

You don't know what happened to those knives from the time they left KAI until the time they made it to your door but ZT has failed knives in QC for marks and such that were a lot more insignificant. When ZT sold blems, a lot of times, people would have to really search for what the cosmetic issue was. That leads me to believe is was manhandled by amazon or whoever did the 'fulfillment' for them.
 
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Scurvy092 said:
First mistake was buying off Amazon, especially a high end knife.

Buy from a real dealer who actually gives a crap about making you happy.

I bought a knife ONCE from that site and had the exact same issue. It came in looking used.

You don't know what happened to those knives from the time they left KAI until the time they made it to your door but ZT has failed knives in QC for marks and such that were a lot more insignificant. When ZT sold blems, a lot of times, people would have to really search for what the cosmetic issue was. That leads me to believe is was manhandled by amazon or whoever did the 'fulfillment' for them.
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YUP!!!^^^^^
Send them back, get a refund and get the blades from Scott, usamadeblade right above.
Don't buy from Amazon.....you don't know where the knife is coming from. Heard this stuff many times.
I just received a 450 from Scott today and it is absolutely perfect. If it wasn't, he would not send it out.
Joe
 
whitty said:
The detents did change on the ZT's so that does not concern me. Both style detents work great, I think ZT just went with a more universal platform.

If these were advertised and bought as used, then I would say no worries on the rest of the stuff. If these were bought as new, then I would send them both back. While I know ZT's are production knives, I can tell you each one that we take out of the box has that total new knife look. I have never seen one with nicks and scratches as those you show in your pictures. It is obvious to me someone has used these knives and tinkered with them. Selling them as new is false advertising and certainly should not be acceptable to anybody who is going to pay $200 for what should be a brand new knife. If you buy a brand new Jeep and plan to take it off roading and beat the heck out of it, I bet you still would not sign the paper work if there were mud splatter already in the engine and scratches on the sides. If you are paying for new you should get new! Just my .02 cents.
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Agreed, and perhaps you might consider one of the fine dealers on Bladeforums for you next purchase, we will take care of you.
 
I have a 0630 with the silver screw. Very strong detent. A little technique goes a long way.
 
My recently acquired 0630 also came with a herculean detent and I too thought my thumb was going to fall off... In time though the detent has relaxed to the point where I LOVE the action now. It whips out fast and hard without hurt but with enough retention to keep the blade closed no matter how you shake it. I prefer the painfull 'breaking in period' than that of a knife that comes loosish from the factory. Just stick with it!
 
Thanks everyone for the kind help and advice. I normally do not order knives off of Amazon, but I had a few gift cards so that is the only reason why.

The break in is pretty painful, but I think it is getting there slowly. My thumb literally started to bleed last night so I am going to have to give it a rest for now. It is good to hear that some of you guys also had a very strong detent but has gotten better over time.
 
kurikobun. I like to use a piece of office tape to create a "pull tab" off the spine of the blade by the tip. Pull on the tab vs pushing the thumbdisc to break in the detent. No need to bleed like I did with my 0620CF.
 
kurikobun said:
Thanks everyone for the kind help and advice. I normally do not order knives off of Amazon, but I had a few gift cards so that is the only reason why.

The break in is pretty painful, but I think it is getting there slowly. My thumb literally started to bleed last night so I am going to have to give it a rest for now. It is good to hear that some of you guys also had a very strong detent but has gotten better over time.
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My 2 cents on the subject:
I would always go for reputable retailer as it was suggested in the thread but sometimes retailers as Amazon and Sleazbay offer better price and this could be a factor.
If you ask here or have little experience how to buy from such places you can get a really good deal for less. I snatched my Caly 3 for almost $60 cheaper form A-zon, compared to the cheapest prices everywhere else and the knife came in impeccable condition...
I'm curious if you paid $20-$30 less with A-zon than the average price those ZT goes ? Sometimes they sell knives with damaged boxes or small imperfections, usually on the packaging, from handling those in the warehouses and it's listed in the descriptions,
but it is buried in some other verbiage so if you complain later they can always point to it... One have to be really careful if goes for such deals, the other option is to pay the average price and have the sort off "insurance" that the retailer will sell you a product in good condition or will make it right if for some reason the knife have something that you don't think should be there.

In regard of the detent, my 620cf which is essentially the same knife but with different blade style, have 3600+ serial number, black screw and small hole. Right out of the box it was one of the smoothest opening folders I ever had.
This applys to when you flip the blade with your thumb ( and I don't usually do wrist action). If you ride the thumbdisk, as I'm used to, and if you are used to holding a liner lock, you basically applying pressure over the lock bar, making really hard for the ball to un-lock. The more you are pushing on the thumbdisk, the stiffer the lock becomes. I'm wondering if this is the case, I just can't imagine a new ZT knife came with such a stiff detent that you'll hurt your finger.
I learned to ride the thumbdisk on the 620 by supporting the other site with my index finger placed over the area where the hex head of the pivot is recessed, it opens just as a liner lock.
The blade should ride on a washers that are not really polished and this could make it little bit tighter, I seriously doubt this is the case but maybe worth mentioning it. I usually run those few times on a piece of used 2000 grit sanding paper, only to clean the micro burrs they have, that's it. It's a production knife after all, I usually don't pay attention to such things but some people do, nothing wrong with this.
Honestly I'm surprised to hear so many users mentioning the stiff detent on those, everyone I know praises ZT for buttery smooth opening. I also like little bit stiffer detent and opening, actually I had to slightly tight the nut on my ZT after few days of opening it, seemed too lose to my taste... :D
 
amazon will take back used diapers so no worries there.

my 0561 detent is just exactly like the solver scree photo. mine was impossibly hard to open because the detent hole on the blade was now concave enough and even after hundreds of opening with compound it was still unnaceptable.

i finnally grinded the detent down and created more tension on the closed blade from the lockbar. it now is almost exactly like a benchmade axis, except it only can be shake open upside down.

id love for benchmade and zt knives to have detents like my spydercos, which seem tuned perfect for each knife.
 
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