ZT 0551 Origin Question

I

Infinite Zero

Joined
Nov 22, 2010
Messages
134
I picked up a ZT 0551 yesterday (#715) and I absolutely love it. I had been eyeing Zero Tolerance for quite some time, but most of their models were just too big for my use.

I know the 551 is a sprint run version of the 550, with a different steel and g10 pattern, but the genesis of the 551 model isn't exactly clear to me. From the lack of mention of the 551 on the ZT website, to the fact that my local knife store owner knew about it before his Kershaw rep did, it's a bit of a mystery.

I guess I am just wondering how the ZT 0551 came to be. Was it always planned to supplement the 0550? Was it rushed into production to fill the demand for the 550 while KAI procured the Vanax 35 that was holding the 550 back?

Just asking to satisfy my curiosity.
 
Is the sole difference between the 550 and 551 the blade steel and G10 pattern? Thanks.
 
You should ready the original zt0550 thread it tells the whole story about the 0551. It was created because of the demand for the 0550, and because Kershaw likes to keep its customers happy. They couldnt get the steel they wanted to use in the 0550 production it the time frame they wanted, so they made a limited run of the 0551 to keep the kershaw fans happy. I think it worked...
 
The ZT 0550/0551 are also based on one of Rick Hinderer's early knives that he did. Not sure if you were aware of that.
 
I thought they said since they couldnt get vanax 35 now there gonna use s35vn for the 0550 and then use vanax in the future on the flipper or something. Am I wrong?
 
freq18hz said:
will the 551 be obsoleted by the 550?

-Freq
Click to expand...

From the many threads on the boards regarding this, the 0551 will be "obsoleted" on its own. It's a limited run, 1,000 pieces and that is all she wrote. The 0550 is said to be the regular production run.
 
xmtgx said:
I thought they said since they couldnt get vanax 35 now there gonna use s35vn for the 0550 and then use vanax in the future on the flipper or something. Am I wrong?
Click to expand...
I believe you are correct on the first point, but not the second because AFAIK the steel for the flipper has not been determined/announced yet. However, that has not stopped speculation about that point here. ;)
 
RevDevil said:
From the many threads on the boards regarding this, the 0551 will be "obsoleted" on its own. It's a limited run, 1,000 pieces and that is all she wrote. The 0550 is said to be the regular production run.
Click to expand...


I think they're pretty close to being "obsolete" (i.e. unavailable) now. A lot of the web knife dealers who had them, are out of stock. I didn't think this lot of 1000 would last too long.
 
by obsolete, I don't mean unavailable. I mean, not desirable anymore, due to the 0550 being a better knife.

-Freq
 
freq18hz said:
by obsolete, I don't mean unavailable. I mean, not desirable anymore, due to the 0550 being a better knife.

-Freq
Click to expand...

In no way is the 0550 a better knife than the 0551. The 0551 has a better steel, and people seem to like the G-10 pattern better. The real question is, will the release of the 0550 satisfy the market and cause the 0551 to depreciate?
 
Wolfjohn said:
I think they're pretty close to being "obsolete" (i.e. unavailable) now. A lot of the web knife dealers who had them, are out of stock. I didn't think this lot of 1000 would last too long.
Click to expand...

I'm kind of glad theat they went out in multiple bursts. It seems better for the average buyer when it comes to LE or Sprint Runs to release them in smaller batches since it increases the chances of getting one. That leads me to wonder if that is the solution to the hoarders out there that end up buying 10 at a time and flipping them for a hefty profit. Seems that it's a possible remedy to atleast slow it down.

Tsujigiri said:
In no way is the 0550 a better knife than the 0551. The 0551 has a better steel, and people seem to like the G-10 pattern better. The real question is, will the release of the 0550 satisfy the market and cause the 0551 to depreciate?
Click to expand...

What does better mean exactly? Qualify the word "better". No one has even held, used, or even knows what the final 0550 will look like. Sure, there is speculation about G10 pattern, blade finish, etc. Keep in mind that all of that can change at any time for any reason ZT & Rick Hinderer deem reasonable. If the steel were ELMAX on the 0550, then I could see the 0551 normalizing in price, maybe.
 
RevDevil said:
What does better mean exactly? Qualify the word "better". No one has even held, used, or even knows what the final 0550 will look like. Sure, there is speculation about G10 pattern, blade finish, etc. Keep in mind that all of that can change at any time for any reason ZT & Rick Hinderer deem reasonable. If the steel were ELMAX on the 0550, then I could see the 0551 normalizing in price, maybe.
Click to expand...
I'm new to knives, but I think we do know what the 0550 will look like and what steel it will use.
One - Thomas posted pictures and told us.
Two - It is now on Kershaw/ZT's website and looks exactly like Thomas posted.
http://www.kershawknives.com/search..._value=0brand=zt&current_page=2&current_set=1

I'm thinking/hoping that that means the 0550 availability is getting a lot closer?

EDIT: Oops! My bad. The website lists the 0550 steel as Vanax 35, which I believe we know is not right. I'll shut up and go sit in the corner now. :(
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top