ZT0300 - Manual Conversion?

J

jimmer_5

Joined
Jan 25, 2007
Messages
1,275
So I am considering buying a ZT0300, but I was wondering if I can remove the torsion bar and convert it to a manual action knife?

I asked a similar question about the Tyrade and discovered that it did not have a hole for the detent ball - the speedsafe mechanism keeps the blade closed.

Is this the case with the ZT0300 series? I really want one, but I would like to convert it to manual action (just my personal preference).

If someone could look at their 0300 and let me know I would appreciate it!

Thanks - Jim
 
It has a detent ball, but, it also has a very heavy blade so your guess is as good as mine. Anybody else....?
 
Thanks for your help Spiralarchitect! Does anyone else have any wisdom on this matter? Thomas?

I have nothing against speedsafe, I just prefer manual action flippers at this stage in my knife addiction. I think I'll probably just buy the knife anyway, but it's always nice to know before you spend $300 on something.....
 
You could drill a hole for the detent ball into the bladespine.Dissassemble the knife and color the spine with a textmarker.Put the full knife together and open it a few times .The detent ball should leave a visible track on the bladespin.Disassemble the knife again and drill a small hole at the end of the track about 0.5mm deep and 0.5 mm away from the end .Use a carbide drill from matching size of the dedent ball.Most used are those 1.56mm balls.It works good with a extra small piece of metal used as a jigg to drill right on the track.I have done this a dozen times.Maybe look at my linerlock tutorial to understand this method easier.Good luck.
(the kershaw chive also has a dent ball but there is also no hole for it on the bladespine.I do also don't know why )
http://custombladeworks.wordpress.com/tutorial/
 
Have you done this on hardened blades? I have enlarged a few detent holes with a Dremel, but I thought you would ruin a drill bit trying to cut the hardened S30V.
 
The carbide drill bit Bump mentioned is about the only thing that will drill hardened steel. The hardened spring steel clip I drilled a hole in, "ZT 0500 clip issues", ate up the tip of a normal bit and I was not able to find a carbide bit and had to use the only thing they had which was a cobalt drill bit. It drilled through the clip in the span of two seconds.
 
DONT use a dremel for this job.Try it only with a drillpress and carbide drill.If your wrong with the drilling you can still use your knife with the speedsafe.Drilling a new hole near the first is also possible and sometimes easier because you can drlll through the spring into the blade .This also gives the possbility to use a small piece of metal as jigg for correct drilling.Also drill at slow speed and tip up the drill often to cool down .
 
Thanks for the info Bump - now I need to see if I am brave enough to experiment with a $300 knife!
 
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