List of ZTs that Don't Have Lock Failure Issues

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Horizon7

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Since the list of Zero Tolerance models having lock failure issues is so long, it may be easier to list the models that have NOT had issues.

After reading several threads, I haven't seen reports of the Les George or Ken Onion collabs being affected. I also heard the 0470 is good to go.

Any others?
 
Here a list of models I haven't had this issue with...
4 x ZT 0301, 3 X ZT 0560BW, ZT 0566BW x6, ZT 0350TS x4, 2x ZT 0350BW, 1 x ZT 0450, 1x ZT 0450CF, 2x ZT 0562BLK, 1x ZT 0630.
Knives I had issues with...
1x ZT 0620, 1x ZT 0630ORBLK.

Frankly, this issue in my opinion is way overblown.
 
The failure seems to be on several ZT models, as well as several other brands models. It's just a fact that you have to acknowledge and treat every folder with a little bit of suspicion. Some types of locks are NOT prone to failure. There are good and bad locks. I do not have an extensive list of good lock types but that would be a better question if you are looking for a very good lock.

What I would do for every new folder from every manufacturer is to check the lockup visually when you get the knife. Then with the knife in a gloved hand, YOU MIGHT want to lightly press down (1lb to 2lbs of pressure max) on the back of the blade with the other hand. If it passes this it is probably never going to fail you in normal duty.

Don't bother spine whacking the knife because that would probably not be a normal function for any folder to pass. You can test a knife any way that you want, but spine whacking does not prove the integrity of a lock.

If you buy a new folder that has a lock that fails return it to the manufacturer explaining what happened and ask them to fix it.

I have quite a few folders and one ZT lock did fail(Zero Tolerance Factory Custom 0450FCZDP), but they fixed it. I'm still buying folders, but I'm looking for fixed blades that I can EDC and leave most of the folders at home. Again, you need to do your due diligence (testing) when you get a new folder. This should be part of your experience in carrying a folder.
 
I don't think most people test them. Personally I never spine whack although I don't see anything wrong with doing so against the palm of the hand. I do always test for blade play including lock rock. I also note how much a liner or frame lock moves over when cutting forcefully. But I never manually push over the lock.
My first gen 0801 had a lock that would move all the way over when cutting forcefully. It would jam and be difficult to disengage.
Since then I've owned a 0562, 0630, 0301, 0450 and 0462. I didn't detect any lock issues.
I'm interested in the 0470.
 
Horizon7 said:
Since the list of Zero Tolerance models having lock failure issues is so long, it may be easier to list the models that have NOT had issues.

After reading several threads, I haven't seen reports of the Les George or Ken Onion collabs being affected. I also heard the 0470 is good to go.

Any others?
Click to expand...

My 0909 will close if tapped lightly on the spine.
 
Horizon7 said:
Since the list of Zero Tolerance models having lock failure issues is so long, it may be easier to list the models that have NOT had issues.

After reading several threads, I haven't seen reports of the Les George or Ken Onion collabs being affected. I also heard the 0470 is good to go.

Any others?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't say it's model specific but a qc issue. They have issues with lock geometry on random knives. The guy who tested this had all 7 of his knives fail. And there have been failures many years ago too. So technically it could happen to any of them. Though I suspect some models won't have the issue at all, it's too hard to tell.
 
It’s random, I read all about 450’s failing and mine was fine, same with my 561. But that is a gen 1 with no lock bar insert so there you go.
 
I hardly ever beat the hell out of my $200+ knives but my 0462blk and my 0562 seem to lock up very early (<25%). Those are the only ones I can think of that lock up extremely early and might fail a spine-whack-abuse test but I’m not gonna hammer on my ZT for no reason. If I’m cutting something the pressure is going the other way, and my finger is under the flipper tab which means it ain’t gonna close anyway. I don’t get why people care about that dumb test in the first place.
 
tony281sc2 said:
I hardly ever beat the hell out of my $200+ knives but my 0462blk and my 0562 seem to lock up very early (<25%). Those are the only ones I can think of that lock up extremely early and might fail a spine-whack-abuse test but I’m not gonna hammer on my ZT for no reason. If I’m cutting something the pressure is going the other way, and my finger is under the flipper tab which means it ain’t gonna close anyway. I don’t get why people care about that dumb test in the first place.
Click to expand...
No one's ever hammered on these to get these failures. . They are light spine whacks on say a roll of tape or the palm of your hand.

ZT says they do spine whack testing in qc. But they don't do light spine whacks like this.

Apparently they have a fix if you send them in. But I'm not sure if they are fixing the issues on the assembly line for new knives.
 
My 0770 is a liner lock but holds solid. The liner mates evenly and is seated very well.

I used the spine to crack open nuts and had no issue with the lock disengaging.
 
I wasn't going to, but at the height of that last thread, I just had to play with the tough kids. Even got out a roll of tape to keep the test as close as possible. I think I tested 15+, without a single failure. Soooo, yeah.
 
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