ZT 0350 series de-assist. Yay or nay?

A

Armen

Joined
Apr 20, 2018
Messages
163
Youtube is saying "de-assist it! it works great as a manual flipper!"
ZT customer service said "no, don't do that..you wont like it"

what say you forum? Who has done this and what is the outcome? For what it's worth I've owned a ZT 0450 which flips great and a kershaw chill which took some ummph to flip decently.
 
Nay ! There are tons of excellent manual flippers available . Make no sense to mod a knife not designed to be manual . :confused::thumbsdown:
 
DocJD said:
Nay ! There are tons of excellent manual flippers available . Make no sense to mod a knife not designed to be manual . :confused::thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

I'm looking for something overbuilt like a ZT. I just can't find a model I like in their KVT bearing manual flipper line up.
 
KVT said:
How is that possible? Tons of great beefy manual ZTs available...
what don’t you like about them?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say tons. It's a small handful that are still in production or available on Amazon.

I don't like all titanium scales or coated finishes because Im OCD about scratches (usually look for CF or G10 because of this)
I live in California so the blade has to be under 4" (even 3.5" is questionable in some jurisdictions).

If you have any models you can recommend I'd appreciate it.

I owned a 0450CF but wasn't too crazy about it because of the narrow handle and slick CF scales. I dropped it a few times
I currently have a 0562CF in my possession which I love but it may be too much for the sheeple around the office.
 
<shrugs>
Different strokes...
I couldn't wait to get rid of my 0350, and I never had any interest in the 0562 (I had the 0560).
For an office environment, I'm not a fan of assisted openers or flippers...controlled opening is the way to go. No need to announce to everybody that you've got your knife out (again).
 
hhmoore said:
<shrugs>
Different strokes...
I couldn't wait to get rid of my 0350, and I never had any interest in the 0562 (I had the 0560).
For an office environment, I'm not a fan of assisted openers or flippers...controlled opening is the way to go. No need to announce to everybody that you've got your knife out (again).
Click to expand...

My current office carry is a Benchmade Bigout and a SpyderCo Para 3 S110V. I wanted something else from another company and ZT was the only one that came to mind.
 
nwmetalbug said:
Takes about 10 minutes to take the spring out. Give it a try.Use good tools though
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be so against assisted opening but:

  • I heard the torsion bar can rattle which would drive me nuts
  • I don't like the resistance when closing an assisted blade
  • I don't like the fact that one day (10,000 opens) the bar will fail and I have to have ZT send me one.
Do you own one and have you de-assisted it?
 
What about the Hogue/Ritter (Ritter RSK MK1-G2)?
Southern Grind Spider Monkey?
Giant Mouse GM3?

(Okay, that wasn't exactly fair - the first one has a wait of at least a few months, and the last is discontinued...so go for the Spider Monkey :thumbsup:)
 
Last edited:
De-assisted sucks. The detent isn’t made for it. It’ll feel and operate like a broken POS de-assisted IMO.
Stick with assisted or find a factory manual.

Sounds like a Gen6 XM-18 is in order if none of ZTs check the box.
 
OP: It's your knife, your choice, your preference.

I have a two ZT0350's and like them the way they are.
However, I also have a ZT0566CF that had a loose spring (it rattled) that I took out. It works just fine w/o the spring as a manual like its siblings, the ZT0560 and 0562.

If you're curious, just take the spring out and, if you like it, leave it out. Otherwise, just put it back the spring back to restore it to the way it was. It's no one's business but your own.
 
Last edited:
Whereas I’ve de-assisted probably 6 different 0566 variants and all were crap. Returned them all to stock.

Different strokes apparently..
 
I’ve de-assisted my 0350 and my 0770 just for the hell of it, and because I like manual open better but if they’re designed for A/O then they’re not gonna be too good as a manual. I put the torsion bars back in both of mine but if you don’t mind giving the knife a wrist-flick to open it then de-assist.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top