ZT0780 Love; Issues, Fixes, Experience, Photos

sticktodrum

sticktodrum

Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
3,544
Considering the atmosphere around here as of late, I'll start by saying this is not a complaint thread. This is not a "I got it, I sent it back" thread. I don't want people to get the wrong impression; I just want to consolidate the information into one place and possibly help someone.

I ordered two of these, and have had the first one for a short time. The second is on its way (hopefully) and I can't wait to have another one. I LOVE this blade. I really really do. I feel I need to hammer that point home so that I don't come across like John Milton. That being said, it's no secret that some folks here have had an issue or hiccup or two with the 0780. Alignment/centering issues, blade play, unfinished pommel serrations, etc. I figured this would be a good area to discuss the issues you may or may not have, as well as fixes you've come across, success/failure stories, etc.

My 0780 arrived slightly off-center, with a noticeable amount of vertical play. I figured it was the lock bar engagement not being firm enough, so during a take-apart and cleaning, I carefully bent it in a bit more and put it back together. The simple act of reassembly caused me to fix any alignment and centering issues, so that's all fine. The usual tricks apply here as they do on most other blades.

The blade play was still there, and I see it's likely more to do with the lock bar engaging the tang at a very small area; almost like the tip/corner of the bar is touching, and the wiggle is caused by it rocking fore and back on that small area as opposed to a full engagement. After some use, it seems that this is wearing in, and the tip/corner is flattening a bit and coming into more contact with the tang. The wiggle/play is less than when I first got it, and I think in some time with some use, it'll just work itself out. That's the only issue that remains for me with this particular blade. I hope that alone can/does settle some nerves. Of course, one could always send it in, but if my assumption is correct, I won't need to.

And of course, I'll try to qualify this post with some craptastic photos (until I bother to take the DSLR out for proper ones):

zt0780-para2.jpg



Hey...are we related? :p

zt0780-LMChargeAL.jpg
 
Second 780 sent back....ok you people who think these knives are your kids and they can't do no wrong..please STOP reading this..ok the rest of you normal people read on..well after sending back my first 780 b/c it was missing a tip...my second 780 needed to be taken apart and adjusted to get it to line up...after that it did, and all was great until i tried to set it up for right hand tip up carry....the two holes drilled out to for right hand carry have no threads for the to screws to attach to..every other postion works except for right hand tip up of course..welll i sent it back now waiting for a third to arrive...again love the knife my first one was perfect depsite missing a tip...lets see will third time be the charm....btw you guys better make sure your clip works in the postions...
 
Mine arrived with right-hand side G-10 scale out of alignment so the pocket clip holes for tip up carry in the scale and the liner didn't line up. That was easily fixed though, just loosened the bolts and aligned the parts. The real surprise was the machining crap in the pommel serrations, looked like the steel liner with the crap hadn't been finished properly. Well I snapped the bits off with a little screwdriver tip. The detent is weak, at least for my tastes. And there is slight vertical blade play. But I do love the design...it's a bittersweet thing ;)
 
Flexing the lock bar inward further will strengthen the detent dramatically. Mine is perfect now, and it'll help wear in the lock surface a bit quicker. I recommend that.
 
We have had 3 and 2 are fine, (other than the clip screws being not lined up, which really isn't fine, but OK, not a huge big deal) One is back now and there is no way it should have went out. The blade was so off centered it rubbed the liner when you opened it, the butt had those hooks on the cut out points so badly, it looked shoddy, the lock-up just plain sucked. I think they'll fix it and then I'll post about what a great job they did! But, no I don't think for some reason this model was anything but rushed out and dropped. Sorry if anyone finds that offending just my opinion.
 
Sorry, TW we have had a lot of Kershaws and a number of ZT's and we just don't see the standard excellent workmanship in this model the rest have reflected. Like I said, JMO. (in fact Kershaw is a brand my entire family uses daily)
 
It's cool if you have your opinion on the knives you purchased Jill, the generalities about the rush job is what I was referring to.
 
That's how it looks from this end, sorry if it's not so. I know we have never bought a Kershaw, or a ZT before with poor lock-up.
 
Hmmm, that kind of dings the positivity I was trying to get going, but I'll take this time for some gloating. The vertical wiggle/play on my 0780? Gone! I Loctited the pivot last night, left it to cure, and got home today and used it a bit outside, and inside to clear out the last of the boxes my wife and I had going out from unpacking gifts. Then, some recreational flicking as I wrote my paper, and I just realized...the flex is gone. Winning.
 
sticktodrum said:
Flexing the lock bar inward further will strengthen the detent dramatically. Mine is perfect now, and it'll help wear in the lock surface a bit quicker. I recommend that.
Click to expand...

Do you have to take the knife apart to flex the lock bar to increase the detent? Thanks
 
It is a very nice looking knife, but I hate black blades. Hoping they'll release a satin or stonewashed version.
 
Vanguard41xx said:
It is a very nice looking knife, but I hate black blades. Hoping they'll release a satin or stonewashed version.
Click to expand...

It is discontinued so black blade or nothing. The coating can always be removed and the blade stonewashed.
 
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