ZT 0777 - did I get a dud?

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gylman

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UPDATE 11 AM Friday:

I went to my dealer (AS SUGGESTED BY KAI)
Knife was replaced on the spot.
New knife is perfect:
-detente just right, no click
-smooth as silk opening
-centred

Very happy and relieved at this point.

So, please, let's not bash the manufacturer. Stuff happens, and it got fixed the right way, and I will start looking out for the next ZT/KAI to add to the collection.

I've also learned something about what to post and not to post (or how to post) with this type of issue in the future.

PEACE.
Now let's close this.



Just got my new ZT 0777

Detente is awfully strong, and there's an audible click before the blade deploys.
The action is not nearly as smooth as my 0600 or 560CBCF

Knife is significantly off centre


Can any of this be fixed by me?
Loosening / tightening the pivot had no effect.

:-(
All this waiting...
 
Last edited:
Yup.

when I was at the fine cutlery, many of their ZT were like this.

Im not sure why a good brand has issues with this.

I want one, but only if its nice.
 
Yikes. I haven't heard of any problems with the 777. Now I'm worried mine will be here tomorrow. I'm sure you just need to get an adjustment on yours
 
Are you sure your fingers aren't riding the lock bar? There is no LBS on this knife to rest your finger on so the first few times I flipped it I had the same issue.

Are you sure you loosened/tightened the pivot and didn't just spin it around? There is a torx hole on both sides so I would imagine you need to hold one side steady while adjusting the other.

Barring that, send it in for warranty work asap.
 
I'd consider that one a blem. Sorry that happened to you. I'm sure ZT will take care of you, but still it's a downer when it's your first time handling that model.
 
For the money they charge for these they should all be darn near perfect..that blade centering is terrible. I would send that one back to the dealer ASAP...
 
Scurvy092 said:
Are you sure your fingers aren't riding the lock bar? There is no LBS on this knife to rest your finger on so the first few times I flipped it I had the same issue.

Are you sure you loosened/tightened the pivot and didn't just spin it around? There is a torx hole on both sides so I would imagine you need to hold one side steady while adjusting the other.

Barring that, send it in for warranty work asap.
Click to expand...

Thanks. It's quite easy to loosen the pivot screw - no effect. Not riding the lock bar.
I hope shipping back back to ZT and forth from Canada doesn't cause a problem.
 
ToxicBot11 said:
For the money they charge for these they should all be darn near perfect..that blade centering is terrible. I would send that one back to the dealer ASAP...
Click to expand...

Problem is dealer doesn't have any more.... after 2 year of waiting, I can't give up on this knife so easily.
 
coli said:
Yikes. I haven't heard of any problems with the 777. Now I'm worried mine will be here tomorrow. I'm sure you just need to get an adjustment on yours
Click to expand...

ToxicBot11 said:
For the money they charge for these they should all be darn near perfect..that blade centering is terrible. I would send that one back to the dealer ASAP...
Click to expand...

Oh-noes-everybody-panic.gif
 
gylman said:
LOL. Not trying to start a riot or anything. I imagine this can be sorted out in time.
Click to expand...

I know you're not which is why I picked out the two people who are eager to start the overreaction. There will always be duds and unfortunately it looks like you got one. I'm sure Kai will set you straight.
 
gylman said:
Just got my new ZT 0777

Detente is awfully strong, and there's an audible click before the blade deploys.
The action is not nearly as smooth as my 0600 or 560CBCF

Knife is significantly off centre
pic2_zps1e9149a8.jpg


Can any of this be fixed by me?
Loosening / tightening the pivot had no effect.

:-(
All this waiting...
Click to expand...

Well the detent should be very strong. The audible click is probably the lock bar hitting the blade once it is past the detent but before it connects the tang.
It may not be smooth because it needs to wear in a little or it may be super tight or it may need cleaning.
Does the blade rub the scale? If it doesn't then there isn't really any issue with the blade not being perfectly centered. It is likely caused by there being a little play between the pivot and the blade and the strong lock bar is pushing the blade over or it could be that when the knife was assembled the scales are not completely parallel and thus the pivot may have a slight cant to it. This can sometimes be remadied by putting the knife back together and being conscientious to make sure that you put it together in a way that avoids that tendency.

Is this your first remotely high end knife?
 
Kai Corp. said:
Sorry your having issues, why don't you send it back to your dealer?
Click to expand...

:rolleyes: Nice answer.

Guy spends a couple hundred dollars on a knife that most people obviously aren't buying as a utility knife, waits two years for it, and you tell him to return it to the dealer?

Is KAI sure they still want this guy being the face of their corporation on a knife enthusiast board? The correct answer was mentioned above your post. Contact someone at KAI that actually cares about customer service, and they should get you fixed up. This isn't like a Leek or something where you can just send it in to the dealer for a quick replacement.
 
GMAHN said:
Well the detent should be very strong. The audible click is probably the lock bar hitting the blade once it is past the detent but before it connects the tang.
It may not be smooth because it needs to wear in a little or it may be super tight or it may need cleaning.
Does the blade rub the scale? If it doesn't then there isn't really any issue with the blade not being perfectly centered. It is likely caused by there being a little play between the pivot and the blade and the strong lock bar is pushing the blade over or it could be that when the knife was assembled the scales are not completely parallel and thus the pivot may have a slight cant to it. This can sometimes be remadied by putting the knife back together and being conscientious to make sure that you put it together in a way that avoids that tendency.

Is this your first remotely high end knife?
Click to expand...

Thanks - one by one..
I have the other members of its generation, the 0600 and the 560CBCF, which I suppose are high end knives with a similar ballbearing system. They feel totally different as they open.
I've loosened the pivot to the point where it's visibly not flush with the scales, and I can turn it with the friction of a finger. No effect.
The detente is so strong that it's painful to use the flipper more than a few times. The 560 and 0600 by comparison just slide open, with no click.

I'm not confident in my ability to take this apart, that's for sure.

Not trying to bash KAI or ZT. I have about 25 of their knives going back a decade or more.
 
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