ZT 0560/0561 - Experiences?

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
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I just got a substantial raise at work, and am lustfully eyeing the ZT 0560/0561 as a sort of celebratory purchase, but I have some questions:

-Ti framelock: How much and how quickly have yours worn? I know CRK hardens the ends, but I haven't heard of ZT doing so.
-Flipper speed: I have a Enlan EL-01A that opens pretty smoothly, but it's just on a Phosphor Bronze / Nylon washer sandwich. How much smoother is an 0560?
-Edge retention: Elmax is entirely new to me. Charts and graphs are cool, but I'd rather have more subjective user experience on its wear resistance and toughness. (Edit: I should add that I've used S30V, AUS8A, VG-10, and 8Cr13MoV.)

Please, flood me with any and all relevant experiences you have had with these knives. Inundate me with knowledge. Thank you for your time :)
 
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My response to all three of your points would be that this knife performs amazingly. have had my 561 since they first came out. I've got SN 360 something and they've absolutely nailed it. I've EDC'd mine since I've had it in hand without s a single gripe. It is my trusty companion for every situation. Have no fear on this one.
 
Titanium framlock, where it interfaces with the blade's tang, is carbidized (hardened) by Kai per quoted email from Kai to Luis G., a member here. Link to that thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Got-my-ZT561-from-repair?highlight=carbidized

Flipper speed, ball bearings remove most friction, is dependent on detent/hole being overcome by the strength and skill of your index finger. Once overcome the bearings allow pivot to move in a near floating manner.

Luis G., a terrific member here, has a video test of Elmax/561 and it's performance passed to my expectations. Link to that thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Zero-Tolerance-561-Hard-use-and-Abuse-testing

My 561 is my EDC and I have found no issues since acquiring it just after Thanksgiving last yeat. I use a blem (serial #2710) to carry and have a NIB 561 (serial #4112) on the ready-line. These are both dream come to life folding knives IMHO.

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I had the 0560 and EDC'd it for around 5 months or so. It never failed. The lock up was solid as a rock, held up under everything. Ti frame locks are actually very reliable locks and will last for years and years. They wear in over time and lock up becomes a little later as the lock settles in, but I've never had one wear out(and have no fear of this).

The flipper action is smooth as butter. The knife has a strong detent but once you flip it open the blade just glides open in one smooth fluid action.

Elmax I've realized is pretty resistant to everything. and holds its edge longer than s30v and all of the above mentioned steels. It's also a tough steel but still fairly easy to sharpen.

You can't go wrong with an 0560/1 I just realized I was into different types of knives.
 
I honestly think you can't go wrong with this knife. Mine has been a joy to own and use and is rock-solid. The flipper-bearing pivot makes for as quick an opening as you want; the pivot is the best I've used on any knife, smooth as glass. The Elmax is great for edge-holding and I've noticed zero issues with the lock bar. Just buy it.
 
I'd love to hear some negatives, if anyone has them. Comfort in hand? Weight? Pocket clip? Finish wear? Cutting performance? Edge shape? Someone, surely, has had a negative experience with some aspect of this knife.

Also, I'm seeing these for about 220 (lowest average price) on the 'bay. Is that about average? Is there a better outlet for one of these?
 
See the first link in post #3 of this thread for negatives.

Turn on your email or ping me and I'll talk price.
 
Sweet Jesus. I'm considering dropping $200+ on a pocket knife. A year ago I would have laughed in your face and continued to fawn over my CS Large Clip Point Voyager...

...This really is a slippery slope. Damn you, Spyderco, for making me realize how much I appreciate using well-designed knives. First a Manix2 XL, then a PM2, now this. Ffffffff.
 
Nothing on my end - try emailing me directly? (Edit: email address removed)
 
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How about now? Email sent again, Mailer demon returns x 2. This is third, the charm, attempt.
 
one negative thing about mine was the lockbar is very hard to disengage. I would have to actually wedge something in there to pop it loose so I could fold the blade back. I sent it back to ZT though so they can fix it, no worries there. I just want it back soon as it was a knife I had been lusting after for a long time and had to send it back withing a couple of weeks of receiving it
 
kf4pwb said:
one negative thing about mine was the lockbar is very hard to disengage. I would have to actually wedge something in there to pop it loose so I could fold the blade back. I sent it back to ZT though so they can fix it, no worries there. I just want it back soon as it was a knife I had been lusting after for a long time and had to send it back withing a couple of weeks of receiving it
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They will recarbidize the lockbar, and youll be taken care of.

My ZT561's lockbar is still as smooth as the day I got it back from repair.
 
I really like my 0560, even though I don't especially like frame locks or thick blades. My frame lock released on me accidentally while I was trimming excess foam spray insulation. I'd cut through the excess insulation and then twist the knife counterclockwise to pop off the over spray. That action caused by lead finger to open the lock bar and free the blade.

The blade is overly thick to my tastes. Thickness makes the blade stronger, but also less of a cutter.

Elmax is wonderful steel. I reprofiled the blade to 15 dps (degrees per side) to improve cutting performance and take advantage of the Elmax steel. The edge bevel is a wide 2 mm or a touch more. And the edge shoulders are .045 inches (compared to .018 inches on my Sebenza). An the tip of the blade is also thick.

The flipper is as much a gimmick as a nice feature. It doesn't work any better then an axis lock and it leaves you with a chuck of metal sticking out from the handle. Still, it's kind of fun.

So it's not a great detail cutter, the flipper is a little gimmicky, I don't especially like or trust the frame lock and it's on the big and heavy side for an EDC. But I still carry it for my EDC. It's a great knife.
 
I just got a 0560 the other day, and all my other knives have been kicked to the curb for EDC; this thing is amazing. The lockbar is a little stiff to disengage, but I realized my habit is I let my fingers ride a little high on the frame for leverage, and I wind up pushing against the framelock from the other side when trying to disengage. Other than that, I love everything about it. $200+ is a lot for a knife, but I guess I rationalize it like all my other tools - Get the quality you want, because when the cheap ones fail, they sometimes hurt you in the process.
 
Twindog said:
The flipper is as much a gimmick as a nice feature. It doesn't work any better then an axis lock and it leaves you with a chuck of metal sticking out from the handle. Still, it's kind of fun.

So it's not a great detail cutter, the flipper is a little gimmicky, I don't especially like or trust the frame lock and it's on the big and heavy side for an EDC. But I still carry it for my EDC. It's a great knife.
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Just two points.
Flipper is gimmicky? That's a first. Don't get me wrong the axis lock is awesome but you are talking about two very different things.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Zero-Tolerance-561-Hard-use-and-Abuse-testing

You should have experimented with your grip, may have prevented you form opening the knife. I did just what you said on a slab of white oak hard wood, sink the knife in and twist it to snap off material. No issues. Grip is everything. Even a bad grip will open an Axis lock (pinching where the axis lock can pop it off, it's happened to me).


Agreed not a great detail cutter.
 
0560 S# 1014
Not a complaint in sight and it has been smacked around for about half a year now.
Smoothest action of any flipper I've handled...custom or production.
Lock is rock solid with no play.
And it's sharp sharp sharp.
 
been using my 561 since they were released, great knife, I don't think it's heavy, or bulky, and the elmax holds an edge way better than any of my S30, Aus8 or 8CR blades. S30 is the closest performer on your list from what i've seen. Elmax is also suprisingly easy to sharpen.
 
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