So many opinions not to mention which one. I'm going to go blem I trust KershawGuy's rep!!!, but the Gen1, Gen 2 or Gen 2 Blk. I love the A/O on my 350 and Blurs, so was thinking 560. But seems from what I'm reading a lot of complaints. But the 550 appears to be much more respected. I see the different lockbar cutout and carry clip. Which Gen has the best rep and least complaints? I don't know if anyone at Kershaw has stats on that.
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ZT 0550 can't decide!
- Thread starter PCL
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Pilot1
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I have two 0551's and two 0560's. That's how much I like these knives. Any of the 0550 gens are fine, as are the 0560. I don't know where you are hearing the 0550 is "more respected" than the 0560, as I think they are very comparable in quality, and use just different types of knives. Both are overbuilt tanks, capable of hard use and carry. The 0550/0551 may be slightly more tank like, but marginally so. They are both good to go.
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I'd go 0550BLK because black blades are cool :thumbup:!
I have a gen 2 550. I like it alot. The 560 flips so easy that I was concerned that it had spoiled me and I wouldn't like the 550 because it doesn't have the KVT bearing system. But the concern was needless. The 550 thumbs open great. It has become my #1 edc. Grippy G10, nice titanium and a deep pocket clip. I like deep pocket carry, and that is why I went with the Gen 2. I think that is probably your deciding factor.
The 0550 is closer in size to the 0350. The 0560 is indeed longer, but it is also narrower and a bit thinner than the 0550. I find the 0550 does feel like it fills my hand better when gripped tightly. I prefer deep pocket carry, so I went gen 2 on the 0550. The lockbar cutout on the gen 1 0550 is also on the inside, if you would rather have an all-flat surface for the Ti scale. I actually like the 0550 a bit better than the 0560, mainly due to its size. The feel of the 3D machined G10 and Ti scale, though, is really awesome (just like on the 0200 and 0300 models).
Some side-by-sides:
Some side-by-sides:
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Imo the 0560 is the most amazing knife zt makes. The complaints are 99% BS created by whiners that are actually working to find things to complain about. "My detent is too strong" "my detent is too soft" "omg a titanium framelock develops stick until broken in and I am too stubborn to do the sharpie trick and fix it"... The nicer knife you make the more bs complaints appear to arise. I have both a 560, and a 561 and they are my most loved knives. One is always in my pocket.
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I bought a 550BLK and 560 within two days about two weeks ago. The 550 BLK took a bit longer to break in, but is as smooth as can be right now.
When I leave the home and am taking a ZT with me I prefer the 560. Reasons being that it feels a bit lighter and is a bit thiner. The textured titanium and G10 also feel a bit nicer in my hand.
Both are great knives and you will be happy with either.
However, if you are deciding on which version of the 550 to get, I would say the blk as it is Gen 2 and less were made. So the value should hold up nicely, if you have to part with it later.
good luck
When I leave the home and am taking a ZT with me I prefer the 560. Reasons being that it feels a bit lighter and is a bit thiner. The textured titanium and G10 also feel a bit nicer in my hand.
Both are great knives and you will be happy with either.
However, if you are deciding on which version of the 550 to get, I would say the blk as it is Gen 2 and less were made. So the value should hold up nicely, if you have to part with it later.
good luck
kagato82
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I purchased a 0561 blem from Dave not too long ago. From the first flip, I loved it! The feel of the G10, the smoothness of the KVT and the amazing ELMAX steel are just flawless IMHO.
That being said, I passed up buying a 0550 for quite a while basically because I was spoiled by my 0561 and my 0350sw, but I decided to pull the trigger on the 0550 but I couldn't decide between the gen 1 or gen 2. I think it all came down to whether I cared about a deep carry clip or not. In the end I figured I could do without the deep carry clip. I don't care too much about deep carry plus the original clip seems to hold tighter to the lip of my pockets better no matter which pair of pants I wear. As far as the lockbar cutout...I couldn't care less.
Now that I got all of that out of the way, I'll just say that I've had my 0550 gen 1 for almost a solid week and it has never left my pocket! It is a beautiful, amazing, dare I say it SEXY tank of a knife! The S35VN blade deploys exceptionally smooth via the thumbstuds, the G10 is grippy, but gentle on the pants pockets and the steel cuts better than almost anything I've got. As far as complaints go, it's a grab bag of personal preferences and people being a little too picky (which they have every right to be), but it all boils down to taking a shot and seeing for yourself. Believe the hype and get one...you won't regret it!
That being said, I passed up buying a 0550 for quite a while basically because I was spoiled by my 0561 and my 0350sw, but I decided to pull the trigger on the 0550 but I couldn't decide between the gen 1 or gen 2. I think it all came down to whether I cared about a deep carry clip or not. In the end I figured I could do without the deep carry clip. I don't care too much about deep carry plus the original clip seems to hold tighter to the lip of my pockets better no matter which pair of pants I wear. As far as the lockbar cutout...I couldn't care less.
Now that I got all of that out of the way, I'll just say that I've had my 0550 gen 1 for almost a solid week and it has never left my pocket! It is a beautiful, amazing, dare I say it SEXY tank of a knife! The S35VN blade deploys exceptionally smooth via the thumbstuds, the G10 is grippy, but gentle on the pants pockets and the steel cuts better than almost anything I've got. As far as complaints go, it's a grab bag of personal preferences and people being a little too picky (which they have every right to be), but it all boils down to taking a shot and seeing for yourself. Believe the hype and get one...you won't regret it!
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I traded my 560 AND 350 to get my 551. I recently picked up a 561 to try it out again. I love it, but its no 551.
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^ +1 here. Have both 56x and 550, and one of them is ALWAYS in my pocket. I like being able to reach for my knife for any task. The days that I decide to carry something smaller or cheaper are the days in which I fully regret not carrying one of my ZT/Hinderer's.
Sorry for not being able to compare the two series of knives or come up with a pro's and con's list, but if I did I could easily turn it in to a 10 page paper!
Thanks for the input, deep carry or not I personally don't care. So that complete's one part of my issue. The lock bar cutout, was it changed for looks or function. When that's answered I'll be satisfied. I don't want to confuse my choice with looks. Collecting is a whole other issue.
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I believe the lockbar cutout was changed more for looks. I remember reading something about that in an older thread.
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This is perhaps my first post in this forum. I'm usually over in the CRK discussions commenting on my all time favorite knives, but I've got to say that if the Sebenza didn't exist, the big dent in my wallet would be a result of products coming from Tualatin.
I agree with flarp on most points. I've been very impressed with these knives -- so much so, that I've acquired four of the 0550s (two gen 1s, two gen 2s), and three of the 0560s. I like both knives, for different reasons.
0560: Kai invests an incredible amount of materials and processing into these knives. The raw piece of Ti they start with is a substantial piece (imagine a box enveloping the lock-side scale -- that's a huge, expensive piece of Ti). All of that machining that they do to sculpt the lock side and mill out the inside pockets comes at a high cost. Of course, the El Max is expensive. Lots of little parts to contend with during manufacturing. I don't know how they do it for the price that they do, and here in the USA, no less. I'm impressed. The knife works well, and it carries easier than any other comparable folder this size because of all the weight reduction tactics employed. Of course, I like how the knife looks, feels, and works, but half of the reason I carry it is to show my engineering buddies, "Look! American ingenuity and manufacturing prowess is alive and well!"
0550: It doesn't have all of the investment into it like the 0560 has, but it's a nice piece of engineering none-the-less. The 0550 feels better in my hand than the 0560 due to the 0550's particular ergonomics and smoother surfaces (the 0560 is a bit abrasive for prolonged non-gloved use). The 0550 is more efficient with blade-length than the 0560. You can see it in flarp's photos. Folded, the 0550 is significantly shorter than the 0560, yet the 0550's actual blade length is just a couple mm shorter than the 0560's. As a result, I don't give up much blade carrying the noticeably shorter 0550. That's a big plus, IMHO. Today, I prefer the 0550's traditional washer bearings because they are so tried and true (and the 0550's implementation is very smooth). When I experience KVT after a lot of use, all gunked up like I'm sure mine will get some day, I'll have a more informed opinion of KVT. The 0550 is more dense than the 0560 due to the fact that it lacks the internal pocket milling that Kai puts into the 0560. I wish they would apply that weight-reduction tactic to the 0550. If they did, for me there would be no contest between the two.
0550 Gen 1 vs. Gen 2: Because the DPC clip has a slot in it for screw access, it is not as stiff as the Gen 1 clip. This makes the Gen 2 clip a bit more fragile (easier to get bent out of adjustment) and not seem as secure as the very substantial Gen 1 clip. I don't care much about DPC, so I use the Gen 1.
I find that the 0550 gen 1 is in my pocket about 50% more days than the 0560. (On those days, however, the 0560 is in my briefcase, because a knife discussion invariably comes up in the office, and out come both knives for show 'n' tell.)
I agree with flarp on most points. I've been very impressed with these knives -- so much so, that I've acquired four of the 0550s (two gen 1s, two gen 2s), and three of the 0560s. I like both knives, for different reasons.
0560: Kai invests an incredible amount of materials and processing into these knives. The raw piece of Ti they start with is a substantial piece (imagine a box enveloping the lock-side scale -- that's a huge, expensive piece of Ti). All of that machining that they do to sculpt the lock side and mill out the inside pockets comes at a high cost. Of course, the El Max is expensive. Lots of little parts to contend with during manufacturing. I don't know how they do it for the price that they do, and here in the USA, no less. I'm impressed. The knife works well, and it carries easier than any other comparable folder this size because of all the weight reduction tactics employed. Of course, I like how the knife looks, feels, and works, but half of the reason I carry it is to show my engineering buddies, "Look! American ingenuity and manufacturing prowess is alive and well!"
0550: It doesn't have all of the investment into it like the 0560 has, but it's a nice piece of engineering none-the-less. The 0550 feels better in my hand than the 0560 due to the 0550's particular ergonomics and smoother surfaces (the 0560 is a bit abrasive for prolonged non-gloved use). The 0550 is more efficient with blade-length than the 0560. You can see it in flarp's photos. Folded, the 0550 is significantly shorter than the 0560, yet the 0550's actual blade length is just a couple mm shorter than the 0560's. As a result, I don't give up much blade carrying the noticeably shorter 0550. That's a big plus, IMHO. Today, I prefer the 0550's traditional washer bearings because they are so tried and true (and the 0550's implementation is very smooth). When I experience KVT after a lot of use, all gunked up like I'm sure mine will get some day, I'll have a more informed opinion of KVT. The 0550 is more dense than the 0560 due to the fact that it lacks the internal pocket milling that Kai puts into the 0560. I wish they would apply that weight-reduction tactic to the 0550. If they did, for me there would be no contest between the two.
0550 Gen 1 vs. Gen 2: Because the DPC clip has a slot in it for screw access, it is not as stiff as the Gen 1 clip. This makes the Gen 2 clip a bit more fragile (easier to get bent out of adjustment) and not seem as secure as the very substantial Gen 1 clip. I don't care much about DPC, so I use the Gen 1.
I find that the 0550 gen 1 is in my pocket about 50% more days than the 0560. (On those days, however, the 0560 is in my briefcase, because a knife discussion invariably comes up in the office, and out come both knives for show 'n' tell.)
The 0560 is indeed longer, but it is also narrower and a bit thinner than the 0550. I find the 0550 does feel like it fills my hand better when gripped tightly. I prefer deep pocket carry, so I went gen 2 on the 0550. The lockbar cutout on the gen 1 0550 is also on the inside, if you would rather have an all-flat surface for the Ti scale. I actually like the 0550 a bit better than the 0560, mainly due to its size. The feel of the 3D machined G10 and Ti scale, though, is really awesome (just like on the 0200 and 0300 models).
Some side-by-sides:
Last edited:
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I wondered if it was done to create more resistance for the clip function. One would need a gen 1 scale with a gen 2 clip to do the actual comparison . . .
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One other thing to mention between the Gen 1 and the Gen 2, if it hasn't been mentioned already, is the blade steel. My Gen 1 is Elmax, while the Gen 2 is S35VN. I can't tell a lot of difference between the two in actual useage, but I can say the Elmax is a lot easier to touch up, and I've found it will take a finer edge.
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Only the 0551 and a select few 0550 factory screw ups are elmax. The rest of the gen 1s are all s35vn.