ZT 0550 owners - tell me about ease of opening!

Inazone

Inazone

Joined
Aug 27, 2012
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After buying a ZT 0801 a couple years back and loving it, I decided to try some other ZT models, not really caring one way or the other about assisted opening as long as they were flippers. Well, my relationships with my 0770 and 0566 have been more love/hate; the 0770 flipper just doesn't work comfortably for me, and I need to use the thumb stud (just stop bar, really) in conjunction with the flipper to open the 0566 consistently.

I like the look of the 0550 and am not too hung up on which generation is best, but I gather that it's not really meant to be a flipper. Am I correct in thinking that?
 
Correct. The 0550 is not a flipper at all. It's a thumb stud "flick" or a pinch on the blade to open sort of like a traditional. :)
 
I have to keep the pivot on mine fairly tight, as anything less, and the pivot starts to back out and I get blade play. Makes for a hard opening. Really, it's just an issue of buying some loc-tight to hold it in that sweet spot, where it opens easily, and locks up tight.

It's definitely not a flipper.

That said, I find the knife to be an excellent work-horse of a knife, and it's one of my favorites for rough work.
 
The 550 doesn't have a flipper, just the thumb studs. All of the ones I have owned have had super smooth action but they do take some getting used to when it comes to opening them. They also tend to have a break in period as well. It is definitely one of my top two favorite ZT blades, the second being the 562. I highly recommend the 550 to anyone.

 
0550's all have strong detents so once broken in they will fly out with ease. My Gen 1 has the stiffest detent initially, but now has the best action. Gen 2/3 feel more "broken in" out of the box. These are some of the smoothest thumb stud knives out there on washers. You will not be disappointed. You can pick up a Gen 1 for about $135 brand new from kershawguy which is an absolute steal. The 0550 remains my favorite ZT and my favorite Hinderer collab.
 
My experiences with the 0550 models have been all positive, with each model I've held having its own unique characteristics.

Gen 1 (lockbar cutout indent facing inside): Crazy smooth pivot action, later lockup than all other 0550s I've owned. Easily middle-finger-flicked open.
Gen 2 (Lockbar cutout indent on the outside) : Slightly stiffer pivot action, sharpest knife I've ever had out of the box.
0550BLK (Gen 2 W/ DLC blade): Dullest ZT I've ever gotten out of the box. Wouldn't even shave hair. Otherwise just like the gen 2.
Gen 3 (Steel lockbar insert): Really stiff detent. Not middle-finger-flickable.

All 0550s I have owned have had incredibly smooth pivot action. The Gen 3 was a bit of a downer for me as the super stiff detent ruined the smoothness for me.

I never ended up keeping any of them, though, as they are pocket bricks and are too small for the heft.
 
My 0550 3rd generation is my favorite ZT of the 4 I own. I put a Ripp's scale on it and made it mine. It's hard to open at first, with a great detent, but once I figured out the angle to push at (along the length of the scale, toward the pivot bolt, not perpendicular to it), and my thumb healed, it broke in nicely and has never been left at home since. Also, there are lots of custom scales out there, so customizing it is easy and affordable. Mine, with the FDE G-10 scale, is the closest I have to a custom knife.
I've never had an issue with blade play or anything else to be considered an issue.
You won't regret buying one.
 
I recently got one, gen 3, and it flicks really well as long as you're not touching the lock bar while holding the knife.

I'm amazed by this knife and it's too bad they discontinued it. I have owned Striders and Hinderers but the 0550 seems to have better fit and finish than both.
Now I wonder why people pay 400-500 for similar knives when this one can be had for 150-200.
 
Inazone said:
the 0770 flipper just doesn't work comfortably for me, and I need to use the thumb stud (just stop bar, really) in conjunction with the flipper to open the 0566 consistently.
Click to expand...

I've had three or four 0550's...every one has opened just fine with no problem
I've had a 0770/M390 and a 0566 that deployed just perfectly.
Recently, I ran into a 0450, though, that had a very heavy detent...and KAI eased it up for me a bit. Thanks, KAI.
 
My ZT 550 is my hard working knife and also my daily go-to knife. Chose it over most of my kershaw collection as well as ZT 0560, 0300, 0200, etc. In my humble opinion, it's the best of the lot, second generation or newer.
 
My 0550 Flys out with a simple flick on the thumb stud. Silky smooth to open and close as well. I adore my knife. It's absolutely wonderful. If you're looking to buy one you can feel confident. It's also super easy to find aftermarket scales for it too if you're into that.
 
I've got a 2nd gen 0550. Mine took a minor grip adjustment (specifically getting my finger off the lockbar), and then after a little wearing-in period, it's been smooth as glass. It flicks open as smooth as my bearing knives, and the blade will even swing freely with the lockbar disengaged.

If the 0566 assisted-opening isn't fully deploying the blade without your having to push it on with the thumb studs, it may be the torsion bar itself is broken. You can ask for a replacement from ZT's warranty service, or if you'd rather not disassemble it yourself, you can send it in for them to fix.

Which 0770 do you have? Aluminum or carbon fiber? ZT added a bit of jimping to the flipper on the CF ones, which does make them much easier to get some traction on the flipper. If you have the aluminum one and like the design other than that, you might give the CF one a try.
 
I have a Gen 3. It's really too big and heavy for me to carry very much but it's a knife I'll keep forever. The reason being how smoothly it glides open with just a flick of the thumb. It wasn't always that way. When new it was stiff and, when the stiffness was combined with the clip placement over the lockbar, I had all kinds of issues getting the thing to open one-handed. I kept putting pressure on the clip for leverage and thus putting pressure on the lockbar. With normal wearing-in, moving the position of the clip ever so slightly and adjusting my grip to avoid touching the clip, I discovered how easy this knife really opens.
 
Everyone's different and every knife even different examples of the same model can be different. I have a 550 3rd Gen and the blade literally flys out of the knife. Third finger, no problem. Lock up solid as a bank vault. Then again I would consider it a medium sized EDC not even large. It carries very easy for me. I love the knife!

Mike
 
I have the 550 and the 551 models (the 551 is just a special limited edition of the 550). They are a big strong knife similar to my CRK Umnumzaan in hand feel and cutting ability.

Here is a great video about the 550 that may be of interest. Watch how easily the guy opens the knife with the thumb studs. It sort of reminds me in shape of a Spyderco Rubicon with the wide blade and lots of belly for a good length of cutting edge. The Spydie Ruby is a flipper, but the blade shape of the 550 reminds me a little of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhIheKZWQyU
 
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My 550 gen 3 is extremely smooth. I would dare say the smoothest knife I own. Even smoother than my 21. This is not an anomaly either. The gen 2 I owned was also exceedingly smooth. On top of all that it is a beast of a knife that really fills my size large hands well. It is a tool meant to endure abuse with great refinement. One of my all time faves for sure.
 
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