ZT Assisted Opening Questions

S

skippyW

Joined
Jul 1, 2013
Messages
321
I am starting from total ignorance. I really like the blade on the Zero Tolerance 0300BW.

1. If it turns out that I don't like AO, can it easily be removed or disabled and use as a manual opener?

2. If the AO fails, what are the failure modes? Can the blade still be opened and closed or does it jam up?

I am sure these are elementary questions, please understand that I have never examined any AO knife (I live in the middle of nowhere, New Mexico).
 
1) Very easy to remove, just unscrew the scale and remove the torsion bar.

2) In the very few instances where torsion springs have failed on ZT/Kershaws the knives have kept functioning fine. I had one snap in a leek while ice fishing with some friends and the knife was still completely operational as a manual folder. I've had probably two dozen assisted Kershaws and ZTs (all used as tools should be), so one failing out of that many having seen my kind of use isn't too shabby in my opinion.
 
They shouldn't fail as long as you keep the spring oiled. If you take the spring out I think the knife will have trouble staying closed in your pocket
 
The torsion bar on the 0300 can be removed, but those blades aren't drilled with a detent hole. The torsion bar actually holds the blade closed as well.

The knife will still open and lock open with a broken torsion bar. Depending on how it breaks, though, the assisted opening mechanism might not propel the blade fully open, or if it is snapped completely in two, may not hold the blade closed.
 
I dislike Assisted Opening as well.... so many great ZT's that I wont buy because of the torison bar. I've had a couple snap on me before and its a major turn off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top