Zt350 vs ZT566 opinions ?

The second one I bought on the exchange for my daughter, had been deassisted and I put the torsion bar back in it first thing. I like it much better with the assist. Its smooth easy to open holds a great edge and takes up much less space in the pocket than a 350 does. Whats not to like.
 
HappyDaddy said:
And sometimes it's the knife. It seems to me that a knife that has a fair percentage of users who have difficulty deploying it might need a re-look at the design or construction. I've never had any trouble with a flipper, before or since the 0566. That's certainly not to say that everyone will - clearly they don't.
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That is precisely why I said sometimes. I've read enough threads and own enough ZTs and handled enough ZTs to know that technique has a lot to do with it. Some are tougher than a $2 steak, but it's rare.
 
Love my 0566, mine had had no issues right out of the box.

I can use the flipper or the studs, opening is no issue. Just push on the studs parallel to the handle, or "up," not out.

My 0560 is the same way. Push up, not out.
 
Both are awesome knives and both are in my collection. IMO the 0350 is one of the best production folders out there and worth every penny. I recommend it to everyone looking for a good EDC knife. I've carried mine through the Blue Ridge mountains and the high peaks of the Adirondacks; I've hacked bamboo to build a makeshift lean-to and used it to cut up apples for my dinner. And of course I've used it to shred a crap load of cardboard boxes. It's an awesome knife and the one I grab for first.
 
We check all our knives before we send them out. On the 566's we have had 2 out of 51 that have had what I would consider to be opening issues. Both were sent back to ZT and returned to us with no issue. They both had low serial numbers so I have to believe from what we have seen, the problem has been resolved.
 
RevDevil said:
That is precisely why I said sometimes. I've read enough threads and own enough ZTs and handled enough ZTs to know that technique has a lot to do with it. Some are tougher than a $2 steak, but it's rare.
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I've been very frustrated with the whole issue. I do understand that most folks (even a huge majority) have no difficulty deploying the 0566. I can't really explain exactly what my trouble was. I have several flippers, AO and manual. I have Kershaws, an 0350, and a Hogue EX-02. I've never had any trouble with any of them except the 0566. In fact, my favorite of all of them is the 0350. It is the furthest thing from persnickety when it comes to deployment. I could deploy the 0566 about half the time without difficulty. The other half it seemed like the pressure on the flipper, or the angle of pressure, was just not exactly right and it wouldn't budge. I'm not suggesting that there isn't an element of "user error' involved. I suppose my ultimate point is that I don't understand why the 0350 deploys so easily and consistently and the 0566 just doesn't. I love everything about the 0566 - except the fact that I couldn't get it open!
 
I don't think its the pressure on the flipper that is giving you problems. Its the placement of your other fingers on the lockbar. Your middle finger may be putting pressure on the lockbar right where the detent is against the closed blade. Thus making it a lot harder to open.

The scale on the linerlock(0350) is taking all the pressure so none of it is going to the detent. The framelock(0566), your hand is right on the lock that is pressing on the detent.
 
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jkwithawave said:
I don't think its the pressure on the flipper that is giving you problems. Its the placement of your other fingers on the lockbar. Your middle finger may be putting pressure on the lockbar right where the detent is against the closed blade. Thus making it a lot harder to open.

The scale on the linerlock(0350) is taking all the pressure so none of it is going to the detent. The framelock(0566), your hand is right on the lock that is pressing on the detent.
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That is entirely possible. Having returned the knife, i don't have a way to verify it. I'm not foreclosing the idea of giving it another chance. I do have to question whether there is a design flaw if a fairly natural grip while flipping results in inability to open, or difficulty opening the knife. I'd like to get ahold of one again and see whether you're right. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
Take a look at the vid I posted Happydaddy, I wasn't holding my hand in an odd way or avoiding touching the lock bar. Is that how yours opened? Because both of the ones I've bought were just the same.
 
cricketdave - don't know what to tell you. I assume that I was holding it the same way I hold all of my flippers. Since I don't have the knife any longer, I can't be sure. I hate to spend another $125 on one just to find out - but now I'm almost curious enough to do it! I really don't think that my grip was the problem, but who the hell knows. The whole thing confounds me.
 
HappyDaddy said:
cricketdave - don't know what to tell you. I assume that I was holding it the same way I hold all of my flippers. Since I don't have the knife any longer, I can't be sure. I hate to spend another $125 on one just to find out - but now I'm almost curious enough to do it! I really don't think that my grip was the problem, but who the hell knows. The whole thing confounds me.
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Are all your other flippers linerlocks or is there another framelock mixed in?
 
HappyDaddy said:
cricketdave - don't know what to tell you. I assume that I was holding it the same way I hold all of my flippers. Since I don't have the knife any longer, I can't be sure. I hate to spend another $125 on one just to find out - but now I'm almost curious enough to do it! I really don't think that my grip was the problem, but who the hell knows. The whole thing confounds me.
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Like I said earlier, it's likely it is not user error, and was the knife. People can say user error all they want, but it's not rocket science, especially for a knife enthusiasts with experience with a flipper design. I passed on the first one I handled. Me nor the salesman could open the knife comfortably. It was like night and day between the 2 knives I handled. Granted, the one I bought was stiff, but nothing even close to the first one. Had it not been for the store having a different one to try, i would have never bought the 0566. Most of my knives have broken in beautifully over time, but I cant spend that much money on a knife that will break me in instead of the knife.
 
jkwithawave said:
Are all your other flippers linerlocks or is there another framelock mixed in?
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I believe that all of the Kershaws are frame locks (Leek, Cryo, and Zing). I think the only liner lock flipper I own is the Hogue EX-02. I may try an 0801, even though it's also a frame lock.
 
Thanks everyone for your opinions on these two knives. I decided to go with the 350 since i liked how this knife originally felt and I could not get my hands on the 566 to try before I bought it. However I plan on buying the 566 within the next month(hurray tax season). So I decided I might as well show it off and give my first impressions of this knife. I love it! It was very sharp right out of the box, I opened several bales of hay with no effort whatsoever. Deploys smoothly, no flick of the wrist needed. Very cool look about it, the guys at the shop can't keep their filthy hands off of it, haha. I also think it personally fits in my pockets comfortably (and my pants have very shallow tight fitting pockets) I know some people complained about it being too chunky or something when they sit etc but I can't see that at all, I actually forget I have it several times a day, I guess that may come from wearing a big fixed blade for the last two years. I've attached pictures to demonstrate. I havnt gotten around to changing the pocket clip so I can wear it tip up yet but I need to. The only con I can even sort of have is that the clip is extremely tight it's difficult to get on and off sometimes. Time will tell how the blade wears, but so far I couldn't be more pleased. Ordered from kershawguy.com btw, fastest shipping I've ever experienced in my life and got it for a great price.
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HappyDaddy said:
cricketdave - don't know what to tell you. I assume that I was holding it the same way I hold all of my flippers. Since I don't have the knife any longer, I can't be sure. I hate to spend another $125 on one just to find out - but now I'm almost curious enough to do it! I really don't think that my grip was the problem, but who the hell knows. The whole thing confounds me.
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Don't be confounded :confused: Your answers are all right here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...proved-pivot-amp-more?p=13329899#post13329899 :)

See? KAI/ZT decided to use a teen-tiny washer on the left side (not so smooth), and then add a spring tension to the mess to add some more off-center twisting and binding forces. I guess they were hoping that the flat-out force of the spring, would overcome the binding and drag caused by the miniature washer, and the spring itself. You can fill the cavity on the left, use big washers, and make this knife like butta, but it takes a little love. Maybe their second version will put things right... ? just sayin.................
 
Jfglockgrl said:
Thank you everyone for your wonderful feedback. I really wasn't expecting so many people to give me a response, so I highly appreciate it. I do have small hands, and I have handled the 350 and really liked it, it flipped out very smoothly. With that being said I havn't handled the 566 because no one around here carries it. I feel if the 566 is hard to deploy that would irritate me. Is this a common issue with every 566?
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Just some FYI Jill, because you're a cool knifegirl :) .... Yeah.... binding and stickiness seem to be a problem on some. You've got a 50/50 shot. The problem is caused by the miniature blade guide washer on the left, compounded by the drag and non-planar forces of the assist spring. If you're willing to de-assist, and go with big washers, it can be made as smooth as a Sebenza. Otherwise, you can probably see that the tiny washer will wear relatively fast (compared to a full-size washer) and leave room for blade play. (..... sorry, KAI/ZT.... I personally (IMHO) think the pivot/washer design should have been made as perfectly and as stout as the rest of this knife... since I'd modded MINE, ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT). Anyway, here's a lot of info if you're interested....
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...proved-pivot-amp-more?p=13329899#post13329899
 
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