ZT 0560BW detent?

R

RedLynx

Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
11,445
Hi guys,

I;ve been using my ZT0560BW for a couple of months now (a super generous gift from a fellow member, complete with extra scale.)

It's great, but one thing I have noticed is the lack of obvious detent, at least for me. The blade can pretty much just fall right into the scales if I want it to, when closing. This is not a technical problem because no matter how hard I wave, flick or otherwise try to open it when closed, gravity does not affect it. If it's closed it will stay that way. But, I do like feeling a bit of resistance when closing... can I change this on my own, or is it something that I'd need to send in if I really wanted? Or is this normal for ZTs? I've never owned one or even handled one before now, can't make a comparison.

The knife is perfect, the gift is perfect, just wondering about the detent/resistance.

Edit: I've incorrectly referred to this as "detent," when what I am referring to is the resistance a knife gives as it is closing. I am not sure if we have a term for this in the business.
 
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That isnt a lack of detent. The detent only refers to how hard it is to get the blade to break free from the closed position. Having the blade fall under its own weight once unlocked many actually consider a sign of a well set up flipper. Its that smoothness and lack of resistance that so many people admire this type of knife for. Now the only way to increase the resistance when closing is to tighten the pivot or increase the tension of the lockbar. Both have disadvantages. If you tighten the pivot enough to wear you actually have resistance you may notice a decreased performance with the speed and smoothness of the flipping action. Also by cranking the pivot you would increase the likelihood of premature wear on the bearing races. Now if you decided to increase the lockbar pressure you will increase the resistance on the blade but you will also increase the strength of the detent when closed which can either make the knife impossible to open or could actually run the risk of ripping the ball right out of the lockbar. Its not likely but again possible. Either way you are talking a large heavy blade on that folder so even if the lockbar pressure was increased or the pivot torqued down it may still not provide the amount of resistance you desire as that weight is going to counter that pressure.
 
PURPLEDC said:
That isnt a lack of detent. The detent only refers to how hard it is to get the blade to break free from the closed position. Having the blade fall under its own weight once unlocked many actually consider a sign of a well set up flipper. Its that smoothness and lack of resistance that so many people admire this type of knife for. Now the only way to increase the resistance when closing is to tighten the pivot or increase the tension of the lockbar. Both have disadvantages. If you tighten the pivot enough to wear you actually have resistance you may notice a decreased performance with the speed and smoothness of the flipping action. Also by cranking the pivot you would increase the likelihood of premature wear on the bearing races. Now if you decided to increase the lockbar pressure you will increase the resistance on the blade but you will also increase the strength of the detent when closed which can either make the knife impossible to open or could actually run the risk of ripping the ball right out of the lockbar. Its not likely but again possible. Either way you are talking a large heavy blade on that folder so even if the lockbar pressure was increased or the pivot torqued down it may still not provide the amount of resistance you desire as that weight is going to counter that pressure.
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Interesting, and thanks. I've never had a knife of this quality, so I was unaware it is a mark of said quality. I'll leave it be. Thanks.
 
I agree with Purpledc. Sounds like you have a really smooth knife! BTW, both my 0560s are the same way and my 550.
 
craytab said:
I agree with Purpledc. Sounds like you have a really smooth knife! BTW, both my 0560s are the same way and my 550.
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It is indeed very smooth, Cray! It's great. I'm just not used to one so smooth I guess, the ease of closing (and opening!) has really surprised me!
 
I've got a 560 that closes like that. You just have to pay attention closing it to be sure it doesn't get you. I did tighten down ever so gently on the pivot screw, not even a quarter turn to slow it down a tad, didn't like it so I went back to the original position. What do you think of the Elmax steel?
 
My 0561 is like that as well. Love it, though when I haz the monies a custom scale will be in order. Gonna go black C-Tek with eye shaped cutouts with moonglow below.
 
Ajack60 said:
I've got a 560 that closes like that. You just have to pay attention closing it to be sure it doesn't get you. I did tighten down ever so gently on the pivot screw, not even a quarter turn to slow it down a tad, didn't like it so I went back to the original position. What do you think of the Elmax steel?
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Hi Anthony,

The steel is great so far. I haven't sharpened it since receiving it. I guess to be fair, I haven't really put the steel through its paces, as a super steel. I haven't used it for any long, tough jobs that are more likely to dull it quickly. I've been looking for an excuse to really test it out. But every cut is sharp, precise and seamless.
 
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