ZT 0350CBZDP - Doesn't flip out as fast as an S30V 0350?

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prng

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Jan 6, 2011
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My wife's EDC is a ZT 0350, standard black blade, S30V steel. I bought a 0350CBZDP a month or so ago because I love hers, I love ZDP-189, and I wanted something smaller than my ZT 0303. I only had one problem... it seemed like the blade doesn't fly out as fast or as much strength as I would have expected it to as compared to my wife's. Pretty minor but it really bugged me.

I tried backing out the pivot screw a little bit, and once it gets to the point where it's close to the S30V 0350, there's a decent amount of blade play and it was enough for me to be irritated with it. I couldn't get it to the point where there wasn't blade play but it would fly out fast enough.

I called Kershaw, they sent me some torsion bars which was really awesome but none of them really helped that much.

I sent it in, got it back two weeks after I sent it. Blade is now locked up tight and the blade was even sharper than when I got it which is awesome but it's still slow to "present" when opening using a flipper compared to the S30V, even with a decent amount of pressure. You don't have to try to make my wife's S30V version fly out with such strength that it moves your whole arm.

I only found one video on YouTube with the 0350CBZDP, his looks to be a little slow too.

Could it just be this model is a little slower than the S30V version? Maybe the only S30V I have access to is super-charged in some way? :) Am I nitpicking too much? Any one else have a similar problem?

Thanks guys!
 
when I get my other one, I'll let you know if they feel any different to me. Although my 350CB opens pretty quick.
 
I have both and they open about exactly the same 'speed'.

I guess if you are going to use the knife, I wouldn't worry about it. As long as it opens, it'll work.;)

If you want it to be a collector or just something you play around with, maybe someone here can help you out and get it to 'present' faster.

Or maybe you are right and your s30v version is super-charged. :D

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. They are both awesome knives though aren't they?
 
Prolly nitpicking a bit to be honest:D If ZT checked it and it's still not to your liking than there's not much you can do. There will be variances with all speedsafe knives and assisted knives in general. Maybe your wife's 0350 is broken in a bit and that's the reason for the faster deployment, just a thought though. I say don't think twice about it and enjoy your sweet blade.
 
I hope that mine just isn't broke in enough. It's an otherwise awesome knife. I'm carrying it today in fact... :)
 
That all black ZDP 350 is a sold chunk of zdp right, not a composite blade, right?

I have a few Kershaws and it does seem a little slower than I thought it would be.

I remember the offset is a double pumper, maybe the 350 S30V was and now it only a single torsion arm??
 
This is a composite blade, the bottom is ZDP-189, I forget what the top is. It isn't a black coated blade.

The torsion bar is one piece but it's bent oddly at the knife end. It's not like my 0300 that has just the standard curve.

I can upload a pic of the extra torsion bars Kershaw sent back with the knife if you want to see it.
 
Take apart. Go to Walmart and buy a Dremel. Buy some polishing wheels. Go home. POLISH EVERYTHING in the pivot area. Includes the washers, female pivot, blade where it touches the liners, and then the liners themselves. Polish until you see reflection. Lube. Put back together. Open like lightning.
 
I have both composite versions of the 0350(ELMAX & ZDP) I find that they both open with similar force, if anything the ZDP version is slighly more agresive.
 
cutter17 said:
Take apart. Go to Walmart and buy a Dremel. Buy some polishing wheels. Go home. POLISH EVERYTHING in the pivot area. Includes the washers, female pivot, blade where it touches the liners, and then the liners themselves. Polish until you see reflection. Lube. Put back together. Open like lightning.
Click to expand...

The only thing I worry about with this approach is that it could ruin the components and I'd be left with a $172 paperweight :)

Also I don't have a dremel. Would you get polishing compound or paste? If so which would you recommend? What dremel bit would you use if there are multiple polishing wheels?
 
Mike Grasso said:
I misplaced my ZT350 Composite, where did you find one?

Mike
Click to expand...

I purchased my 0350CBZDP from kershawguy, it's ZDP-189 instead of ELMAX though. I like ZDP-189, I have two blades in that, pretty awesome steel.
 
Mike Grasso said:
Great Thanks, Is he the only distributor of this knife?
Beats searching for it.

Mike
Click to expand...

There was plenty of them available. I think kershawguy had a few last time I asked. It's on his site right now: http://www.kershawguy.com/products-page/zt-new/zt-0350cbzdp-composite-zdp189/

I believe there were only 500 made? I'm not 100% sure though.

These guys have it too http://www.knifecenter.com/item/ZT0350CBZDP/ I've never purchased through knifecenter.com. I have purchased via kershawguy though.
 
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