ZT 0550 detent?

W

Waldamir

Joined
Jun 30, 2012
Messages
287
I'm thinking about picking up one of these but I hear the detent is really hard to overcome. Is this just factory stiffness and will it get easier over time? Or is it something that needs to be modified? I'm looking into both the 550 and the manix 2 and if the detent is a problem I'm just going to go with the manix but I wanted to hear what you guys thought first

Thanks in advanced
 
Sometimes rummors get started that Aren't True. This is 1 of them. You can't always believe everything you read on BF.

I've had/have 2 0550's and a 551. All of them are/were easy to flick almost right away. In the first day, all mine are/were very smooth...butta smooth.
 
There is a little bit of wearing-in on my 0550 before it got super smooth. Once worn-in, it is now one of the smoothest folding knives I have. Another seemingly common issue is pressing down on the lockbar while trying to open the blade (essentially, you're holding the detent in place). I was doing this too. A slight shift in your grip (specifically to keep your finger from pressing down on the lockbar) will fix that. If you're a lefty, then that shouldn't be an issue at all.
 
flarp said:
Another seemingly common issue is pressing down on the lockbar while trying to open the blade (essentially, you're holding the detent in place). I was doing this too. A slight shift in your grip (specifically to keep your finger from pressing down on the lockbar) will fix that.
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This ^^^^

Once you manage your grip the 550 flies open, great knife. I love mine.
 
Another user error issue besides pressing on the lock bar was pushing on the thumb stud in a direction it wasn't designed to open in.
 
I think I've sold most of my great folders. The 550 was one of them. Very smooth; excellent detent. I've seldom experienced a problem with detent (weak), until I paid $725 for a well-known folder. And from what I've read, it's not unfamiliar on that model. Selling the 550 was a mistake. Selling the expensive knife was...a good thing.
 
I really am not sure what to do. I like the 0550 and the manix and I'm stuck between them now. and I don't have the money to get both
 
Zt0550 for sure. I have owned both amd the zt0550 is the best bang for your buck for $150 IMO. You can get some nice scales from kryptoglow and switch out the lock bar stop to customize it...

My blue beauty:

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A5EC8C24-68CF-4EF4-9D73-3A9B2B595EAC-284-000001F9DD93C5A3_zpsef373507.jpg
 
Waldamir said:
I really am not sure what to do. I like the 0550 and the manix and I'm stuck between them now. and I don't have the money to get both
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Do you want a big beefy frame lock knife or a thin (but still very capable) ball bearing lock knife? Both will handle any cutting task you should use a knife for. The manix has a thinner blade and profile and can easily be had $50 + cheaper than the ZT. The ZT is a tank and I agree with the poster before me. The 0550 is a great value and it is a little customizable. Both are a good value. In my opinion is the manix is a very good knife for $90, the 0550 is a GREAT hefty folder for $150.
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Rival on bladeforums made this scale.
 
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I have both and I carry the Manix 2 more. The ZT is just a little too beefy for me to EDC. Great knife though, big solid frame lock, very hard to touch for the money but it depends on your situation in terms of what you want to carry. The scales on the ZT are nasty though JMO, you might want to factor that into you decision. I wish they would have just put plain G10 scales on it, pain in the ass to have to change out the scales on a new knife makes it a $300 knife instead of a $200 knife.
 
The detent on mine is very difficult to overcome. So much in fact (not a rumor) that I can not slowly deploy the blade. This is very frustrating for me.

If you are into fast deployment, then a 0550 is ideal, but if you are like me and prefer slow and easy, then maybe not so much.
 
I've never carried anything larger then a cold steel ak47. So I'm not sure how I feel about beefy folders. I'm used to carrying my PM2. but I have carried my leatherman supertool for a couple of months and the weight wasn't terribly annoying but the darn thing kept opening in my pocket
 
Waldamir said:
I'm starting to get excited about the 550. unless someone could talk me out of it
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Maybe my FULL experience will help you decide. Last year, I had a gen 1 0550. At that point in time it was the largest (heaviest and thickest) knife I had owned. Mine was a little stiff and not very easy to deploy. I ended up getting rid of it because it was a tank of a knife and just not something I needed. Since I got rid of that 0550 last year, I have owned a Hinderer XM-18. Through experience, my eyes have been opened a bit. In my opinion, in order to know a great knife (or anything) you need to know what the "standard" is. For a hard use knife, many say the "standard" is the XM-18. Mine was great too, it was a beast that could seemingly take on anything. The fit and finish were superb, and it was smooth as could be.

Flash forward to a couple weeks ago... I traded a fixed blade that I wasn't going to use. I really wanted a Spyderco Military but nobody was offering one of those. I was offered a fair deal with a gen 2 0550 (above) with an aftermarket scale. Side note, I really dislike the stock G10 on the 0550-you may not. When I received it, I was immediately reminded of the Hinderer (as I should have been since it was designed by Rick and the same size as the XM-18). But beyond the visual queues and other similarities, I was pleased to discover that my current 0550 is a perfect example of fit and finish and incredibly smooth to operate, as smooth as the XM-18 actually. The detent is perfect, the centering is perfect. What really changed my mind was USING it for cutting up a bunch of cardboard boxes. I wouldn't call it my favorite knife... my Sebenza 25 holds that spot. However, for around $150-200, as I said before, it is a GREAT value. Especially when compared to an XM-18. Don't get me wrong, the XM is the better knife, just not $500 better (aftermarket prices) IMO. I thing the 0550 will be my go to knife for when I need to use it really hard. Not that my Sebenza couldn't handle anything that the 0550 could, I just feel more comfortable using the very capable (and much less costly) 0550 for the dirty work.
 
MRaymond said:
Maybe my FULL experience will help you decide. Last year, I had a gen 1 0550. At that point in time it was the largest (heaviest and thickest) knife I had owned. Mine was a little stiff and not very easy to deploy. I ended up getting rid of it because it was a tank of a knife and just not something I needed. Since I got rid of that 0550 last year, I have owned a Hinderer XM-18. Through experience, my eyes have been opened a bit. In my opinion, in order to know a great knife (or anything) you need to know what the "standard" is. For a hard use knife, many say the "standard" is the XM-18. Mine was great too, it was a beast that could seemingly take on anything. The fit and finish were superb, and it was smooth as could be.

Flash forward to a couple weeks ago... I traded a fixed blade that I wasn't going to use. I really wanted a Spyderco Military but nobody was offering one of those. I was offered a fair deal with a gen 2 0550 (above) with an aftermarket scale. Side note, I really dislike the stock G10 on the 0550-you may not. When I received it, I was immediately reminded of the Hinderer (as I should have been since it was designed by Rick and the same size as the XM-18). But beyond the visual queues and other similarities, I was pleased to discover that my current 0550 is a perfect example of fit and finish and incredibly smooth to operate, as smooth as the XM-18 actually. The detent is perfect, the centering is perfect. What really changed my mind was USING it for cutting up a bunch of cardboard boxes. I wouldn't call it my favorite knife... my Sebenza 25 holds that spot. However, for around $150-200, as I said before, it is a GREAT value. Especially when compared to an XM-18. Don't get me wrong, the XM is the better knife, just not $500 better (aftermarket prices) IMO. I thing the 0550 will be my go to knife for when I need to use it really hard. Not that my Sebenza couldn't handle anything that the 0550 could, I just feel more comfortable using the very capable (and much less costly) 0550 for the dirty work.
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Hardest work I do with my is cutting up boxes at work so I'm not really wailing on it. I carry a PM2 right now and it probably is my favorite knife but I've never seen anything better.
 
The Manix 2 and PM2 are definitely more similar that the PM2 and ZT0550. Get the 0550, if you don't like it, sell it and get the manix 2. (or vice versa)
 
IMO the ZT 0550 is priced right, right now.

I've sat on the fence before and then kicked myself for letting good deals pass me by.
I'd get the ZT.
 
I already have a Para2 and Manix 2, My 0550 (I don't know if gen 1 or 2) is inbound shortly, as I'm looking forward for the comparison between the Manix and ZT.
 
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