ZT 0301: Is it OK to flip it open?

B

Bennett Richards

Joined
May 22, 2000
Messages
185
I have found that I can snap my ZT 0301 open just by flippping my wrist... I don't need to touch the flipper. Is this bad for the knife?:confused:
 
That topic is widely debated. I'd say just enjoy your knife. If by chance you do break something because of flipping it, ZT will fix it no questions asked.
 
It's a liner lock knife, right? It's going to wear the liner faster, that's for sure.
 
why would it wear the liner faster? what is the real difference between flicking it and opening it with the thumb trigger?...i do notice that when i flick my emersons, sometimes they lock up further then when i flick them softly. does it open with more force?

-Alex
 
bigbre said:
why would it wear the liner faster? what is the real difference between flicking it and opening it with the thumb trigger?...i do notice that when i flick my emersons, sometimes they lock up further then when i flick them softly. does it open with more force?

-Alex
Click to expand...

You're imparting a lot more momentum when you use the wrist flick, which causes the lock bar to seat further. This doesn't happen on all frame/linerlocks.
 
bigbre said:
why would it wear the liner faster? what is the real difference between flicking it and opening it with the thumb trigger?...i do notice that when i flick my emersons, sometimes they lock up further then when i flick them softly. does it open with more force?

-Alex
Click to expand...

It's possible that by wrist flicking it you could add more inertial energy than with the assisted open alone. This MIGHT lead to slightly faster wear.
I've noticed faster liner wear in the past when I still inertially opened my knives sometimes. Now I don't, and they don't get worn out for no good reason.:thumbup:
 
I'd say you need to tighten that pivot, seems dangerous for an AO knife to be able to open that easy.
 
If it were another knife with a less substantial stop pin I might be worried. Given that the 0300 uses its thick, burly thumbstuds as the stop pin, I don't see it being a problem.
 
Joshua J. said:
If it were another knife with a less substantial stop pin I might be worried. Given that the 0300 uses its thick, burly thumbstuds as the stop pin, I don't see it being a problem.
Click to expand...

Bingo. The same can be said for all of the other ZTs except the 0200 and 500 Mud (those don't use the thumbstud as the stop pin).
 
Bennett Richards said:
I have found that I can snap my ZT 0301 open just by flippping my wrist... I don't need to touch the flipper. Is this bad for the knife?:confused:
Click to expand...

Not bad for the knife, but, not really normal either. You need to replace the torsion bar. In a Speed-Safe knife the torsion bar acts as the detent.... if that detent is getting weak then so is the spring. Also, note that the 030x series does not have a physical detent hole, just a detent ball.
 
You can also drill a detent hole. I don't like AO so I drilled a detent and waved mine.
 
bigbre said:
why would it wear the liner faster? what is the real difference between flicking it and opening it with the thumb trigger?...i do notice that when i flick my emersons, sometimes they lock up further then when i flick them softly. does it open with more force?

-Alex
Click to expand...

Yes, it opens with more force. It's pure physics:

1. Momentum = m * v. The more velocity, the more "unstoppability" the moving object has (it's going to take more resistance, i.e. "grinding" against the tang, to stop the lock bar)

2. Force = m * a. Since the lock bar gets more speed, the tang is going to stop that greater speed in about the same amount of time (higher deceleration = higher force)

3. Energy = 0.5 * m * sq(v). The kinetic energy released by the lock bar is equal to half the product of the mass and the squared velocity. As you can see here, velocity has a huge impact on the energy in the system, meaning that the tang is going to have to absorb more through friction (which causes wear).

Of course that doesn't mean that your knife is going to wear out in a day or two if you flick it. But by looking at the basics of the physics involved (not plugging in any actual numbers), a knife that is always flicked open is going to theoretically wear out its liner lock sooner than one that is opened more gently.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on any of the above.
 
lol use it like its suppose to be and then some. if it breaks send it back with their no questions asked warranty
 
I usually use the flipper/AO but it's nice to know it will flip open if ever needed. I never saw any extra wear on my Emerson Commander when I flipped it and the ZT is a LOT stronger than the Commander.:thumbup:
 
if you want to pass the knife down to your grand children then dont flick it, but otherwise go right ahead.
 
[youtube]m_R1r8NP8Ok[/youtube]
 
THG said:
Yes, it opens with more force. It's pure physics:

1. Momentum = m * v. The more velocity, the more "unstoppability" the moving object has (it's going to take more resistance, i.e. "grinding" against the tang, to stop the lock bar)

2. Force = m * a. Since the lock bar gets more speed, the tang is going to stop that greater speed in about the same amount of time (higher deceleration = higher force)

3. Energy = 0.5 * m * sq(v). The kinetic energy released by the lock bar is equal to half the product of the mass and the squared velocity. As you can see here, velocity has a huge impact on the energy in the system, meaning that the tang is going to have to absorb more through friction (which causes wear).

Of course that doesn't mean that your knife is going to wear out in a day or two if you flick it. But by looking at the basics of the physics involved (not plugging in any actual numbers), a knife that is always flicked open is going to theoretically wear out its liner lock sooner than one that is opened more gently.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on any of the above.
Click to expand...

The 301 is assisted opening and opens pretty hard already. I don't see wrist flicking it adding much in the way of velocity.

That said I don't know why you would try or want to wrist flick a 301, it opens easier enough with just a push of a flipper.
 
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