Weak detent ZT 0560

sixate

sixate

Joined
Jan 25, 2014
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532
I recently bought my first two ZT knives and I really like them. I bought an 0566 and an 0770CF. I walked through the local gun/outdoor store and they had an 0560 sitting there. I've really been wanting to get my hands on one so I immediatley asked to see it. The knife felt great in my hand so I spent the next few minutes closely inspecting it, and it was visually perfect in every way you can imagine. The knife really looked amazing. So I close it for the first time and when I tried to flip it open it literally opened a quarter of the way. There was zero resistance at all. I did it at least 15 more times and the only way to get it to open was to flick the wrist when I tried to flip it. I was so disappointed because when I saw it I was already thinking it was going to take time away from my main EDC. I like bigger blades and almost always carry one of my Benchmade Contego's, but that weak detent made me put the knife back down. So my question is are all ZT 0560's and such the same or was this one just a dud??? All was not lost because I did bring home an all black 0350.
 
Mine actually started out with a detent that was too strong, but it wore in after several hundred cycles and a couple cleaning/lube steps. I think that one was just a dud, or the pivot may have been poorly adjusted. The detent on mine seems to get weaker if I haven't re-tightened the pivot in a while.
 
I've got three 560's, the detent on one is so strong that I cannot open it with the thumb studs, but it flies open and I love that. One has good detent that can be opened either way and the last one has ok detent. I'm not real fond of that one. They do vary some, it sounds like you just picked up a dud.
 
They seem to vary some on the 0560's, early ones if I remember right were super strong. The one you ran into seems extra weak. It's possible the detent ball fell off completely, rare but it happens. I have noticed over the years that manufacturers on average seem to have traded blade retention for weaker detents and lock bars, many novice wrist flippers like them that way, experienced flippers seem to prefer a heavy detent to preload. Most of my older knives say pre-2000 have very good blade retention, but several I've bought recently had worthless blade retention, all upper end production knives, prior to that time I never had to return a knife for a weak detent.

BM 801 (returned and the one they sent back was better, probably had a bad spring)
MT Socom Delta (safe queen currently because the detent and lock bar tension are pathetic)
0561 (returned and was better) my 0560CBCF is great
BM 960 (returned and what they sent back was just as bad, fixed it myself)
Strider SMF (poor detent engagement/weak lockbar, fixed it myself)


Keep in mind that the lock bar tension has a big impact on blade retention as well, and there's a lot of variation in what companies feel is enough even across the same model. Most seem to error on the weak side (it also helps hide lower tolerances). You need really tight tolerances to have a strong lock bar like Reeve and George and keep a glass smooth pivot and near perfect blade centering. I've seen many that have so little lock bar tension that if the blade was removed the lock bar would not go to 100% engagement. I prefer with the blade removed they just miss the opposite side. Having almost no tension on the lock bar when the blade is open is asking for a lock failure, but I see it all the time now.

I personally won't carry a knife that does not have good blade retention I've had a couple open up in a pocket when active in the field, never again. Even a knife with a very solid detent engagement can be flipped open if you want to.
 
The tension on the lock bar may vary and also every user may vary.

The best thing to do (IMO) is to disassemble the knife and adjust the tension to individual preferences, it may take 2 or 3 tries but the end results are worth it.

The 560 series is one of my all time favorites.

I have adjusted tons of Reeve's and most framelocks I have ever owned....just thought I would throw that out there before someone says you shouldn't have to adjust a two hundred dollar knife.
 
The 0560 series is pretty solid as far as I can tell. I have one version with a perfect detent, cannot be flicked open at all. Another has an soft detent, thumbstuds work as does the flipper. If you aren't happy take it back and get another one or send it to KAI.
 
bigmark408 said:
The tension on the lock bar may vary and also every user may vary.

The best thing to do (IMO) is to disassemble the knife and adjust the tension to individual preferences, it may take 2 or 3 tries but the end results are worth it.

The 560 series is one of my all time favorites.

I have adjusted tons of Reeve's and most framelocks I have ever owned....just thought I would throw that out there before someone says you shouldn't have to adjust a two hundred dollar knife.
Click to expand...

This. I have my 0801 exactly how I want it from taking the time to tune the lock bar. Like you said it takes a few tries but you just have to take your time and be careful/patient. I use the gap of light between the unrestricted lock bar and the handle as a reference to mark my progress (you can even snap a quick pic of the gap each time if you really want accuracy and precision). Start with light bending pressure and increase until a noticeable difference.
 
All good info. I have no issue taking a knife apart, but when you drop that much on a new blade I don't want to have to disassemble it the minute I take it home. I'll be adding an 0560 to the mix at some point, but I think I'll wait until I find one that doesn't need adjusted right out of the box.
 
I have three 0560 that I adjusted the detent to perfection (to me at least). I took apart all 3 knives and meddled with the lock bar and centering. Some say you can fully tighten the pivot screw without affecting the detent. I found this to be untrue during the tweaking process. Here's what I gathered:

1. Poor flicking (stuck midway/require wrist action) can be due to pivot screw being too lose and, surprise surprise, pivot screw too tight!
2. The screws for the frame and scale can be tightened fully without affecting the detent, but do affect centering.
3. Bottomline, by simply adjusting the pivot screw, you can get the desired detent. I start with the pivot screw being loose then tighten it until there's no side to side play on the blade. From there, you can tweak it to your required strength.

just to share, I took apart the 3 blades to mix & match their frame/liners/scales. They were perfectly centered to begin with, 2 having perfect detents. So I was expecting to screw up their centering and all. Amazingly, I found their dimensions to be so precise that the mix & match had little issues and produced 3 blades with perfect detent, and only 1 being slightly off-centered. Talk about tight tolerances, I'm really impressed! I only tweaked the lockbar for 1 blade though.

Hope this helps!
 
After seven years on this forum, here's my first post:

I work just up the street from Blade HQ's retail location in Utah. This can be very detrimental to the health of my credit card balance, I'll tell you guys!! :rolleyes:

Yesterday, I took off work a few minutes early and stopped by right before BHQ's closing time. I picked up a ZT 0560 just as they were locking the doors.

I hurried home, opened the package, and discovered the blade detent was entirely too weak; I knew this was not right!! This just would not do!! :grumpy:

I could hold the knife up, with the blade towards the floor, give it the slightest shake of my hand, and the blade would swing out with the force of gravity alone. I was afraid to slide this knife in my pocket for fear it would open on its own and slice my pants.....or my leg!! :eek:

As soon as BHQ opened this morning, I brought the knife in and told them of the issue. I must say, they were very understanding, and in total agreement that the blade retention force was dangerously low. The fellow behind the counter immediately fetched two more knives out of inventory to check their detent force. ;)

The first one we pulled out of the box acted exactly like the one I'd taken home; it also had dangerously low blade retention. The next, however, was perfect. Absolutely perfect!! :D

Here's what we discovered:
The first two knives with the insufficient retention force were serial numbers 8133 and 8134. Obviously, these two came off the assembly line one after the other.
The third 0560 we tested, the one with the perfect detent, has a serial number in the 6900 range, and must be from an older manufacturing run.

Needless to say, I walked out of BHQ with the 6900 knife, completely pleased with both the lower serial numbered knife and how BHQ handled whole the issue. The BHQ manager took the two knives in the 8100 range back to his desk and said he'd ship them right back to KAI USA for replacement. :thumbup:

Based on my experience, and what I've since read here on BladeForums, picking the right manufacturing run on this knife is absolutely critical. :cool:

Although I have to pay local sales tax on my BHQ purchases, this incident reinforces the importance of testing knives personally before purchase....especially when laying down this kind of cash!!
 
As I just posted in another thread...

I purchased my 0560 locally; factory sealed box and it is perfect. In every way. Flawless. Including subjective areas like detent and "feel" in all functions.

I have noticed over time a lot of comments here about the detent being either too little or too much and I have noticed differences in 0560 detents among those I've handled. I almost didn't buy mine because the store samples were noodles and I made sure I got a boxed one.

As for the above post my serial number is in the 6600's.

A 0560 has a break in period. Mine was tight at first. The company has verified the studs are solely blade stops and were never intended to open the knife. However,

not only is the detent on mine exactly as I like it, I can thumb it open as well as any of my other stud openers. As far as I can tell I'm not riding the lockbar to do it either. And the flipper is great. So I guess I have a double action knife. Both ways work perfectly.​

When free of lock, mine WILL gravity open/close with the blade weight if I hold the knife at the right pitch and roll. But the detent itself holds the knife closed well enough.

One thing I've never seen mentioned about the 0560 is the advantageous factory positioning of the clip. It may even be what allows me to be able to open it so easily with the stud. The leverage that can be obtained by the third and little fingers is great for opening and closing. Never had a clip so comfortable in hand and actually provide functional grip improvement. Anyone else notice that?
 
IMAG0213.jpg

I purchased an 0560BW from a member and it's detent is absolutely perfect. It really is a fantastic knife. My M390 Contego is still my favorite, but this 0560 is a close second for me.
 
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