Zt 0301 extremely stiff lock up

L

linguini3

Joined
Feb 21, 2011
Messages
28
Hi everyone, first post here although i have been lurking for a while :)

I'm posting this because i recently received my first zero tolerance knife, a 0301, and i absolutely love it. The materials and fit and finish are wonderful, however i'm having problems with the lock up. The lock up is very solid, in fact, a little too solid. Straight out of the box the knife is locking up with the lock bar 100% in. In addition, when i open the knife with the flipper/ assisted opening method i simply cannot close it with a simple push of the thumb. It has gotten so extreme that i have had to either pry the lock bar open from the side with my index and middle fingers, or insert a screwdriver just to pry out the lock. I've found that the only way to open and close efficiently is if i open the knife two handed and slowly allow it to lock, and it still goes in 100%.

Is this normal or should i contact zt/kershaw cs? I've noticed that other peoples 0301's have arrived only locking about 1/4 of the way initially, could mine have been previously used or tampered with?

I'd post pics however i'm about to leave for the florida keys and i will be out for the weekend so any help is appreciated for now until i can get some pictures up. :D

Also, please tell me if i'm posting this in the wrong area and i'll move it

Thanks all,
Ricky R.
 
Until you get a better answer, something you can try is to rub that interface with pencil lead, which serves as an impromptu lube and may help that mating surface smooth out.

If its a true mechanical issue where you are getting too much lockup, a trip back to ZT may be in order.

My ZT300 closes with ease, so your issue is something that deserves resolution.
 
what do you mean 100% lockup ? like the frame is almost touching the other side of the handle ? right out of the box ?
 
Ok quick update, by 100% I mean that the entire lock bar is behind the contact surface, but not all the way across.

also, I tried the pencil lead trick but to no resolve. Looks like an email to zt is the next step when I get back home

Thanks for the help guys
 
Linguini3, can you take some pictures of that lock up? I'm curious to see what it looks like.
 
My 303 locked up just as tight when I first got it. I just kept at it, using a screwdriver to pop the lockbar when necessary, and after a week or two it broke in and was just fine.

If things don't work out for you, here's where you need to go:
http://www.kershawknives.com/warranty.php
 
linguini3 said:
Ok quick update, by 100% I mean that the entire lock bar is behind the contact surface, but not all the way across.

also, I tried the pencil lead trick but to no resolve. Looks like an email to zt is the next step when I get back home

Thanks for the help guys
Click to expand...

ok, so this is fine, actually when people say that the lockup is, for exemple 50% they mean that the inside of the lockbar is at the middle of the tang and 100% means that the lockbar has travelled all the way to the other side and the knife is pretty much good for retirement or reconditioning.

if the lockup is 50% measured like i explained and the lock sticks, don't worry, just let the knife break in. a pic could help to be sure but don't worry too much.
 
Agreed. You'll be surprised - 50% lockup sticks every time, but 48% lockup works perfectly. It's a very slight difference.

Just give it time to break in.
 
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