ZT 0551 with up & down blade play?

Old Today, 12:03 AM
40Degrees 40Degrees is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 43
There seems to be much inconsistency with this knife. I can only assume by looking at the F&F KAI doesn't really care much about it as long as it sells...it's OK.

Similar to how many car manufacturers were back in the day. Sell it NOW...fix it later attitude.

I think it could just be a matter of doing a final fine tuning on the blades before sending it out that they skip on. Something their machining process leaves behind. Sanding them a little bit here, making an adjustment there is really all it would take to deliver a product you can say is worth every penny of that $200 you spent on the blade and then some.

I hate to say it must be a lack of training or poor management within the company?

BTW, I had two 0551 and sold both of them. Mostly for a small profit and partly cause I didn't want to keep a blade in my collection that cost $200 and I didn't think it was really worth that much.

I know an American Company can do better than this...

-Josh
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<<<<<<Stop feeding the troll>>>>>>.....
 
40Degrees said:
do you own one? if so look at it...closely. if not, then you don't know what I'm talking about do you?
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Really, this is too funny, next he is going to ask Rick Hinderer if he has ever handled an XM-18 and follow it with his stupid jerkit icon.

Regards,

Rich
 
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mcsrno said:
There are real problems with this knife, and we shouldn't have to bend the lock on a new freaking knife that cost two hundred bucks.
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How about ones which cost $475 (SmF)?
How about ones which cost $400 (Umnumzaan)?
Things happen, and you either deal with it or complain.
I chose to deal with it.:)

And think of this; when makers put more bend in the lock-bar, then people whine about their poor poor thumbs!:rolleyes:
 
stabman said:
How about ones which cost $475 (SmF)?
How about ones which cost $400 (Umnumzaan)?
Things happen, and you either deal with it or complain.
I chose to deal with it.:)

And think of this; when makers put more bend in the lock-bar, then people whine about their poor poor thumbs!:rolleyes:
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So. True. :thumbup:
 
40Degrees said:
do you own one? if so look at it...closely. if not, then you don't know what I'm talking about do you? :jerkit:
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Holy cow!! I've seen some pretty stupid crap thrown around this place, but this one just might take "Best in Show"!

Dude, you are hilarious. Please keep it up. . . .:p :D:thumbup:
 
40Degrees said:
Found this in another 0551 thread. I think this is the main problem with the knife if getting better machines to do the cutting is out of the question.
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how about you post the whole quote so people understand the context within which that statement was made?

Thomas W said:
I’m unsure if it’s really fair to compare a custom to a production folder, but I guess we’re doing something right just to be in the conversation. :)

A benefit with a high end production folder is that you get volume, at least limited. The factory knives are produced/handle/assembled by a multitude of production peeps. Is it going to be perfect? Of course not. Most manufacturers, even the specialty manufacturers, don’t employ the skilled labor necessary to meet (I’ll compare the XM to the 551 here) Rick’s talent level. Never will.

ZT can’t do what Rick does, and Rick can’t do what ZT does.

Not everyone can afford or even find Rick’s knives, and to some, they want more than a ZT offering.

In the end we both just hope there is a knife that satisfies. :)
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face it, you just don't know what you are talking about.
 
40Degrees, it sounds like now you're comparing the 0551 to knives that cost twice or three times as much. Are there any production knives comparable to the 0551 that you think are perfect in every respect? I just wonder what your basis for comparison is.
 
I looked at all four examples at my local enabler - ranged from ~#570-625. They all were identical, save the blade centering - which ranged from 40-50% from the G10 side. Even blade open/close, no play, 30% lockbar engagement, even bevels, and all would raise arm hairs. I ultimately got the 50% centered blade. In all seriousness, they were more uniform than most production knives. Okay, a Buck 110, whether a $27 WallyWorld version, whose MSRP is a real $66, or a Buck Custom Shop goodie with teardrop Damascus, etc, is pretty darn uniform, too. So, production knives can be made pretty consistently good - but Kershaw has proven that repeatedly. I am happy with my 0551!

Stainz
 
I've had three (traded one away) and each one was centered and no blade play whatsoever. In fact, I'd venture to say the two I have might be the most solid knives when locked up that I have owned so far. And after a few months of carry and use, with some Rem-Oil treatments, the one in my rotation also flies open with nary a nudge.

I've carried one for months now nearly 99% of the time (my other fine knives hate the ZT 0551) and it doesn't demonstrate anything bad. It just keeps getting better.

I also might add that I didn't get to choose the ones I have from a selection. They're what I received in the mail
 
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Functionally the 2 I had were fine. Aesthetically the machining was lacking just a bit.

Still a nice knife and I already purchased the 0550 for $162. :)
 
mcsrno said:
There are real problems with this knife, and we shouldn't have to bend the lock on a new freaking knife that cost two hundred bucks. Hell I have users that are under $100. w/o this problem. Here is a short vid I did on mine which I'm sending to ZT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RlRiiTRHZk
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Mine does/did the exact same thing as in this video. It started out amazing but after about two weeks of carry it started to rattle just like in the video. I mailed mine in on this monday, 3/21. I really hope they can fix it bu putting a new lock side slab on. My lock face was galled up pretty bad and wasn't making even contact. If I would push the lock bar all the way over it would tighten up, but return to its original position after I removed pressure. This is my first ZT, i hope that it can be made right.
 
2k3gti18t said:
Mine does/did the exact same thing as in this video. It started out amazing but after about two weeks of carry it started to rattle just like in the video. I mailed mine in on this monday, 3/21. I really hope they can fix it bu putting a new lock side slab on. My lock face was galled up pretty bad and wasn't making even contact. If I would push the lock bar all the way over it would tighten up, but return to its original position after I removed pressure. This is my first ZT, i hope that it can be made right.
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Same thing here. Sent it in, got it back within the week and it's been fine. They did polish where the tang meets the lock bar. I believe they also took it apart as the blade is now nice and centered.
 
Stainz said:
I looked at all four examples at my local enabler - ranged from ~#570-625. They all were identical, save the blade centering - which ranged from 40-50% from the G10 side. Even blade open/close, no play, 30% lockbar engagement, even bevels, and all would raise arm hairs. I ultimately got the 50% centered blade. In all seriousness, they were more uniform than most production knives. Okay, a Buck 110, whether a $27 WallyWorld version, whose MSRP is a real $66, or a Buck Custom Shop goodie with teardrop Damascus, etc, is pretty darn uniform, too. So, production knives can be made pretty consistently good - but Kershaw has proven that repeatedly. I am happy with my 0551!

Stainz
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Mind emailing me telling me where you got yours? I bought two at my local enabler, and I'm guessing we go to the same place.
 
hatchetjack said:
Same thing here. Sent it in, got it back within the week and it's been fine. They did polish where the tang meets the lock bar. I believe they also took it apart as the blade is now nice and centered.
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Did you guys who have this problem have the first batch or the second batch? I got a second batch one, and the tang is already polished. No problems so far...
 
MCrsno- apparently zt has seen your video. They got my 0551 today and one of their staff called to see if I was the poster. Apparently they fixed it already. I will post pictures of what they did to correct the problem. So far I an pretty damn imprrssed.
 
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