New ZT0550 Thread !!!

Followthehollow · Mar 3, 2011

thanks for the help on the numbers folks.

The wait continues!

Burdan · Mar 3, 2011

atony said:
A little porn for those who are still waiting.

Okay Atony, i wouldn't mind hearing how you get a mirror polish.

Alphahunter · Mar 3, 2011

Ok I guess Ill post some of my porn:

Thingus995 · Mar 3, 2011

If my knife doesnt show up, today will have been a total waste... Does anyone know if the .45 lock bar stabilizer button Rick makes for the Xm will fit the 551??

hatchetjack · Mar 3, 2011

Thingus995 said:
If my knife doesnt show up, today will have been a total waste... Does anyone know if the .45 lock bar stabilizer button Rick makes for the Xm will fit the 551??

You can make your own using 9mm or .38 Super. They are pretty much drop in. I replaced mine on the Striders then used the Hinderer on my 0551.

atony · Mar 3, 2011

Burdan said:
Okay Atony, i wouldn't mind hearing how you get a mirror polish.

Wicked Edge and some good'ol elbow grease.

Thingus995 · Mar 3, 2011

hatchetjack said:
You can make your own using 9mm or .38 Super. They are pretty much drop in. I replaced mine on the Striders then used the Hinderer on my 0551.

Fantastic!! Now to scare up some empty 9mm or .38 Super casings...

pizza · Mar 3, 2011

eloreno said:
I just got mine two days ago. #768
I gotta say the lockbar on this thing sticks very badly. I have been working it for the last two days and it's not getting any better. If anything it's getting worse. Sometimes I almost can't get it unlocked.
I've had many framelocks, none of them acted up like this. :thumbdn:

Yeah, I'm trying to figure it out and it seems there is a little ball bearing or something sticking up on the face of the locking bar. The ball fits into a recess on the blade when in the closed position because it clicks when you close the blade all the way. Lube does no good. I tried a little oil on the ball and it didn't help at all. It's impossible to open the blade using the thumbstuds on mine. I can't even open it if I use both my thumb and index finger together using the studs on both sides of the blade it's that hard to break the ball loose from the recess. As much force as the lock bar has it almost seems as though the ball really isn't necessary to keep the blade closed. It's not like the blade would fly open in your pocket without the ball. I'd be curious to know what KAI's fix is for this problem.

eloreno · Mar 3, 2011

pizza said:
Yeah, I'm trying to figure it out and it seems there is a little ball bearing or something sticking up on the face of the locking bar. The ball fits into a recess on the blade when in the closed position because it clicks when you close the blade all the way. Lube does no good. I tried a little oil on the ball and it didn't help at all. It's impossible to open the blade using the thumbstuds on mine. I can't even open it if I use both my thumb and index finger together using the studs on both sides of the blade it's that hard to break the ball loose from the recess. As much force as the lock bar has it almost seems as though the ball really isn't necessary to keep the blade closed. It's not like the blade would fly open in your pocket without the ball. I'd be curious to know what KAI's fix is for this problem.

I'm having trouble getting mine closed not open!

Reeek · Mar 3, 2011

If a Sharpie doesn't do it then it would have to go back. But a Sharpie can be the diffeeences between two handed closing and smooth as glass release.

eloreno said:
I'm having trouble getting mine closed not open!

eloreno · Mar 3, 2011

Reeek said:
If a Sharpie doesn't do it then it would have to go back. But a Sharpie can be the diffeeences between two handed closing and smooth as glass release.

This has been working for me so far. I put the sharpie on when you posted it earlier, and it has been much better since. :thumbup: This technique seems much longer lasting then the lead trick. Lets hope it stays this way!

Reeek · Mar 3, 2011

Eventually it will burnish up nicely and the Sharpie will be history

eloreno said:
This has been working for me so far. I put the sharpie on when you posted it earlier, and it has been much better since. :thumbup: This technique seems much longer lasting then the lead trick. Lets hope it stays this way!

Thingus995 · Mar 4, 2011

Well, she's here!! #548 showed up today!!!! One Ti framelock missing... The girlfriend has it currently, my reward for being a good boy and paying off some bills... (she doesnt know I picked this little number up... oops :/ )

Initial impressions:

BEEFY. This thing is built to take a pounding, I love it. Handle ergos are exceptional. Fit and finish are great, lockup is rock solid, deployment is SMOOTH, I have a feeling this thing will break in to be as quick as my Speedform, which I can deploy faster than any knife I own (including A/O's)... The blade tang on mine came nearly mirror polished, but there still seems to be a little bit of lock binding, I'll Sharpie the tang in the AM... Definitely glad to score this puppy...

IMG_0011

IMG_0013

pizza · Mar 4, 2011

Reeek said:
If a Sharpie doesn't do it then it would have to go back. But a Sharpie can be the diffeeences between two handed closing and smooth as glass release.

How do you do this? Assuming you have to disassemble the knife? Are you just writing on the surface of the blade with a Sharpie that contacts the lock bar?

Pilot1 · Mar 4, 2011

What dealers have the 0551 0r 0550? I just picked up an 0301 and love it. I am sold on ZT.

Reeek · Mar 4, 2011

Just dab some Sharpie on the tang where the lockbar makes contact while the knife is closed. That's it. It's a little bit of a tight fit but it's doable very easily. It comes off anytime you wipe it or if you use a Q-Tip on it. But once you get the Sharpie on the spot, and you don't wipe it off, it lasts a LONG time and takes on a pencil lead sort of hue. It doesn't look like an "in your face" black spot for more than a day.

Works great. I haven't reapplied mine for weeks now and it's still SMOOTH

pizza said:
How do
you do this? Assuming you have to disassemble the knife? Are you just writing on the surface of the blade with a Sharpie that contacts the lock bar?

rororo64 · Mar 4, 2011

I've just ordered mine from Howes... The wait is KILLING me!!!

Stainz · Mar 11, 2011

My local 'pusher/enabler' has them (0551) on the shelf. I've had a miserable week - my previous contractor apparently did something wrong - his french drain leaders were dry until after both sides of my basement flooded after the monsoon of earlier this week. Thus far, I have vacuumed up >400 gallons of water - and it finally slowed. I've removed ruined books, furniture, carpeting, etc - my back is really hurting - didn't plan on doing such this week. Didn't plan on being this far into my sixties and doing this at all! Looks like $10k will fix it right - and that 0551 - at $250 - is what, 2.5% of what I need? Insignificant? After watching the Japan disaster, I feel ashamed to complain about my minor disaster!

ZT-0300 & 0551 owners - is the 551 as nice as your 0300 series? Seriously - I love my 0301 - but I don't need two real similar knives. Please compare & contrast the pair - thanks!

In need of a 'feel good' knife fix...

Stainz

Gnarly · Mar 11, 2011

Stainz,

After all that: you DESERVE a ZT/H 0551!
Can't compare 'em; don't have a 301.
Absolutely LOVE mine!
I believe the collab with Rick Hinderer is producing the finest ZT knives-ever!
JMO
But I'll back up my beliefs with this:
I've asked kershawguy to put me on his pre-order list for both the ZT/H 0550 + the ZT/H Flipper.... and whatever ZT/H knife comes next.
I am convinced they have created new standards for knives.

~Gnarly

Thrill · Mar 11, 2011

Stainz said:
ZT-0300 & 0551 owners - is the 551 as nice as your 0300 series? Seriously - I love my 0301 - but I don't need two real similar knives. Please compare & contrast the pair - thanks!

In need of a 'feel good' knife fix...

Stainz

Sorry to hear about your mess! I can only compare to the ZT 350 and I like the 0551 much more. To me, it just looks better and feels better in the hand.