Good to know. I have confidence in that and the company has an outstanding reputation
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ZT 0560/0561 - Experiences?
- Thread starter Comeuppance
- Start date
Good to know. I have confidence in that and the company has an outstanding reputation
Comeuppance
Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
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- Jan 12, 2013
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See, this is one of my concerns. I thought the blade had a hollow grind to make up for the thickness of the knife, but it's just a high flat grind. I'm in the habit of carrying two knives anyway (one FFG or hollow ground for fine cutting, one chunky one for beefier cutting tasks), so I'm not too beat up about this, but I was hoping to combine the two with this knife. The steel seems tough enough to be both hollow/full flat ground but still be usable in very hard use situations.
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I hands down love the 560, I have 2 of them. My 2 minor little gripes are that the pivot is a t8 while the body is t10, why is the pivot smaller on a hard use knife? and the second thing is that grit gets into the bearing, they are still super super smooth but you can hear the gritty-ness. I'm a diesel truck mechanic so everything on me gets filthy. I swapped the clip to tip down and that seems to help keep dirt out of the bearings.
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I have a 0561 and it is a AWESOME knife. Seriously just buy one.
I truly believe that you will love the knife.The only problem I can possibly forsee is the size of the 0561.It is a larger knife.
Congratulations on your raise.
There is no comparison!The 0560/1 is butter smooth and rock solid,So much so this question made me laugh.
I wouldn't even worry about this one.It has been 6-8 months and my lock up has not moved. If it ever develops a problem Kershaw/ZT will take care of it.
The only one of those steels that even comes close to ELMAX is s30v.I have not had to sharpen my 0561 in the 6-8 months of use,just a quik stropping and it is back to shaving sharp.
I truly believe that you will love the knife.The only problem I can possibly forsee is the size of the 0561.It is a larger knife.
Congratulations on your raise.
sechip
Gold Member
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- Feb 27, 2013
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- 2,125
i just picked up a 0560 this weekend and the framelock moves in to far when if i flip it open too hard. i literally have to pry it back into position so i can push it out with my thumb to close it. i've seen videos where you take it apart, sharpie up the contact points and that supposedly takes care or the problem of over travel. does any one have this problem and does the sharpie work?
Congrats on your raise! The 0560 would be a great celebratory purchase.
I believe ZT carbidizes the lockface on their knives as well. I haven't had the 0560 for very long, but I have had a 0301 for a bit longer (also a Ti framelock). I don't know if that one is carbidized or not, but I've never had any issues with it.
The KVT on the 0560 is really smooth. It has a firm detent, so it does require a little more force to overcome. It's calibrated well such that once you overcome the detent, the blade should swing out with enough momentum to carry it to the fully opened and locked position (very little resistance/friction from the KVT bearings). The EL01 (at least mine) has a very weak detent (you can shake the blade open with a quick snap of the wrist). Translating that to the flipper, you need less force to overcome the detent, but you need to exert more energy to get the blade moving faster (or supplement it with something, like a wrist flick). Overall, I find the 0560 much easier and consistent to open.
I haven't put the Elmax steel through much significant use yet. I'm actually looking forward to putting my 0560 through some more paces. I've also got some experience with the four steels you mentioned. Retention-wise, I've found AUS-8 and 8Cr13MoV to be comparable. VG-10 holds an edge noticeably longer, and S30V even more so. From all I've read, Elmax should hold up even better than S30V, which would be very impressive.
The 0560 is noticeably bigger than the EL01. They both have roughly the same blade length, but the 0560 has a thicker and wider blade, as well more of a belly. Both knives have the same handle thickness, but the 0560 is longer and wider. Weight-wise, they're pretty close (the 0560 is about half an ounce heavier).
Here's a 0560 and EL01 for comparison...
Sharpie or just going over it with a pencil are both reported to be a interim workaround while the lock wears in. You can also just open and close it a bunch to accelerate the wear-in period.
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- Jan 27, 2006
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- 497
Older thread I know,...but just got to the party a few days ago when I received a Like New ZT 560 off of Ebay. There's a lot to like here, and some things I've decided to make some changes with shortly. Such things as rounding off the sharp corners of most of the superfluous jimping on this model! I actually bought this model after watching the Nick Shabazz review I've linked below.
Nick nailed that the ZT 0560 IS way "over textured" in his review. At one point he describes a fictitious (but somehow entirely plausible considering the end result
,... meeting between Rick Hinderer and an ZT Executive. Funny sh*t too! "The Full Nick Shabazz Review" is below, and WELL worth viewing:One of the things I was hoping for was a really solid looking Pivot bolt on the ZT 0560. However, that was not the case and I am not entirely thrilled with the rather thin walled hollow steel pivot I found lurking inside ! WOW,...what a disappointment here!
In any situation where your life might depend on using a folder in ways you wouldn't ordinarily do, such as having to prep firewood if stranded in a remote area in winter to keep alive,...I'd want a hardened steel SOLID pivot BOLT of at least the ZT 0200 dimensions.
I've owned several of the original (if not THE Original "ZT" Knife), the ZT 0200 (aka "Built Like A Tank!" Model!
This one has, in my humble opinion,...what EVERY ZT should have carried forward with,.... a SOLID Steel Pivot with a captive hex bolt head on one end,...and a low profile NUT on the other end!Someday I'd love to find an aftermarket maker of at least a solid hardened steel bolt and nut conversion, ...possibly going as far as including a solid Titanium side to replace the two piece G10/Ti Liner setup in place currently. This would allow a solid base of a substantial low profile nut to be somewhat recessed, so that the nut could be cranked on to tighten up the pivot really solid. But even this is not ideal, because in the process of recessing a drop into the blade to fit the KVT bearing, about HALF of the steel that could be used to bear up against a solid pivot has been removed!
If anyone HAS had an issue with a premature Pivot failure on a ZT 0560 or ZT 0562CF,...ar any ZT that uses the KVT bearings,...pass along how it happened and what you were doing with the knife.
Someday, if I am able to locate a solid pivot bolt for an upgrade in strength, I would forgo using the KVT bearing system, and replace them with simpler bronze bearings that will seal better against dirt with a tight drop in fit into the recesses currently used to fit the ball bearing components.
More important than better dust sealing (less "open" spaces"), these solid bronze bushings WILL support the pivot MUCH better than the polymer material used in the KVT bearing system. Currently all the load from actual cutting and side stresses are being handled by the relatively thin hollow steel pivot, (about which HALF the wall thickness is made up of screw threads!),.. and the thickness of the blade at the pivot point. The polymer bearing "holders" add little to the pivot support. Someone will make them someday, or I will get a machinist to work some up.
I'd estimate this is not 1/3 the overall strength and support at the pivot as in the ZT 0200 , and I think the design was tilted to give Knife owners who like to play with their knives by repeatedly flipping them open really fast the nod in design priorities. But for serious users, this was not the best choice. :-(
I say this because tonight I took some measurements with my Starrett Dial Calipers once I disassembled both knives. The ZT 0200 has a SOLID hardened Pivot Bolt of .2485" OD, while the ZT 0560 has a HOLLOW Pivot bolt of just .1865" OD, with an inner hole diameter of .120".
Considering the thickness of the internal threads, I suspect a reasonable estimate for the actual wall thickness for the ZT 0560 and similar Pivot bolts to be just .10" THIN! This is not something I would care to stake my life on if I ever needed to use the knife in a serious encounter.
Also, the Pivot hole contact area in the ZT 0560 blade is reduced by about HALF from it's original .1565" thickness, because of machining in the bearing recess. The remaining half actually rides OVER the hollow portion of the pivot bolt. Only about half of the pivot bolt is actually hollow, but the hollow section is carrying the load. Certainly not the best it could be. :-(
For most of us another "fraction" of a second to open a folder won't matter in the least, but marketing execs want to sell knives in serious numbers,..... so flipping speed "fun" aspects won out over durability and ultimate strength.
So there you have it,...the venerable ZT 0200 is truly "Built Like A Tank!",.....the ZT 0560 not so much,...more like a Ford Pinto when you examine the very important Pivot component. Urgh.......
YMMV,
Joe T
Ti Rod Tactical
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Hey Ti
You’re really over thinking this pivot issue. Go on YouTube and you will see cretins trying to destroy the 560 by using it as a crowbar, bolt cutter, wood splitter, ax-hatchet and other crap you shouldn’t even do to a fixed blade. The 560-561’s are work horses, use them with gloves, cold fingers, antifreeze- lubricants etc. You can abuse and scratch the shit out of them and they will still look good because of their course scale texture.
It’s a folder of necessity when you have XL hands, they rarely rotate in the palm. It carries great too. I wouldn’t think the 560 would be a good edc for a lawyer or dentist though.
I say buy one, if you snap the blade because of the bearing cut out, ZT will install a brand new blade for thirty dollars or give you a new knife. I really don’t think you’ll be using the warranty.
You’re really over thinking this pivot issue. Go on YouTube and you will see cretins trying to destroy the 560 by using it as a crowbar, bolt cutter, wood splitter, ax-hatchet and other crap you shouldn’t even do to a fixed blade. The 560-561’s are work horses, use them with gloves, cold fingers, antifreeze- lubricants etc. You can abuse and scratch the shit out of them and they will still look good because of their course scale texture.
It’s a folder of necessity when you have XL hands, they rarely rotate in the palm. It carries great too. I wouldn’t think the 560 would be a good edc for a lawyer or dentist though.
I say buy one, if you snap the blade because of the bearing cut out, ZT will install a brand new blade for thirty dollars or give you a new knife. I really don’t think you’ll be using the warranty.
Pilot1
Gold Member
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Negatives? Personally, I have none, but I like big folders. I have both the 0560, and 0561. Why? I like the design that much. Some people say they are too large for EDC, but I have never found that. I also have a 0562, which has a 1/4 inch shorter blade, but very similar. It does have the adjustable, steel insert lockbar which takes all worry about "wear" away, although I don't think that's a big issue with the 0560/1. Still the 0562 should be considered as well, and it is still in production in the standard G10/Elmax, and CF/20CV.
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This thread is so old, the knife in question has been discontinued...
I’ve been using a 560BW with ss lockbar insert for over a year and it’s great all purpose knife.
I did what you’ve done, I purchased two more 560’s at a gun shop where they discounted all their knife inventory by 25% for Black Friday.
yamsi12
Gold Member
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- Feb 16, 2013
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I specifically bought the 0560BW because of the ss lockbar insert, love the knife.
I’m new to Blade Forums and began looking up conversations on some of my favorite knives.
I know this thread is old but it is still relevant because there are a few retailers who still have the 560 lineup in their inventory and it would be wise (my humble opinion) to buy one while you can.
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I wasn't referring to you man. Your 2017. Welcome to BF by the way
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Sometimes you can't win around here. You bring up an old topic in a new thread and the first reply is someone passive aggressively linking an old thread.
Or you search and add on to an old thread and somebody's inevitably going to call you out for necro bumping.
I think my first ZT back in the day was an 0560 and the detent was the strongest on any knife I've had before or since. Couple that with the really sharp jimping mentioned above, it just didn't feel very practical at all to me so I quickly sold it.
Now years later I'd love to handle that exact knife again because I've come to love the strength of other ZT detents after experiencing some very weak flipper/detent action on Hinderers or Lionsteel knives. The 0450 and 0562 are amazing. Maybe my technique was just off with that 0560 back in the day and I just didn't realize it?
Or you search and add on to an old thread and somebody's inevitably going to call you out for necro bumping.
I think my first ZT back in the day was an 0560 and the detent was the strongest on any knife I've had before or since. Couple that with the really sharp jimping mentioned above, it just didn't feel very practical at all to me so I quickly sold it.
Now years later I'd love to handle that exact knife again because I've come to love the strength of other ZT detents after experiencing some very weak flipper/detent action on Hinderers or Lionsteel knives. The 0450 and 0562 are amazing. Maybe my technique was just off with that 0560 back in the day and I just didn't realize it?