zt 0550 gen 2 vs gen 3

rodriguez7

rodriguez7

Gila wilderness knife works
Joined
Feb 1, 2009
Messages
1,428
Hi guys, I have a question, im looking into buying another zt0550, before they're all gone for good. My question is, which would be the better buy? I know the gen 3 has a steel insert, is it a big upgrade? I watched the russian hard use test, and it looked like a gen 2 was tested. It stood up to heavy battoning with no lock deformation. And I know how a steel insert has a tendency to slip off the blade, when used hard, my 0560 will, and so does my spyderco tough. The only one that doesnt slip is my gen1 0550. Im talking some simple spine whacks. I know all about how some people feel about that test, but its valid to me. Just looking for suggestions, probably going to order today. Thanks.
 
Seeing as they are disco'ed and I would say the insert will outlast the Ti interface (even with the carbidized lock), I would opt for the gen3. Once the Gen2's lock wears out, ZT may not be able to replace the locking side since they don't make them anymore. This is coming from someone who likes to play with his knives though. If you only ever opened the knife to use it a gen2 would probably outlast you.

As for steel on steel interfaces being slippery, have you used your knives 'hard' yet? Not an attack on you or anything but i have noticed with my steel insert ZTs that when new or used lightly, they can be a little finicky. I always, for lack of a better word "wail" on my new ZTs to get all the components to seat correctly. I'm not talking about abuse just hard cutting and some light chopping (ex:taking the branches off a straight limb to make a walking stick). I know I'll catch some flame for this but I don't care :). This will almost certainly increase your lock up but I don't like super early lock up. My 0562 came new with 15-20% after getting out and using the knife as designed it's now at about 55% with no slippage. This breaking in ritual has worked on all the steel insert ZTs I have. Try at your own risk, just my 2 cents.

Edit: my 0562 went to 55% lockup but I have flipped the knife thousands of times and used her hard since and still at 55. That's what I meant by "seating the components". Seems like it wore really fast to 55% but I imagine it changing very little for a very long time.
 
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I have a gen2, it's perfectly fine and lockup hasn't moved in over 2 years of use.
 
Thanks for the replies, I figured I would get a few more. Still undecided
 
And knifer, yes I have a tendency to use everything i have pretty hard, that's why I went to zt from spyderco. My gen1 had lock rock, till I did some light battoning, now it locks up solid. I'm thinking I may send it in for a gen 2 frame, and buy a gen 3. That way I have both.
 
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