ZT 0450/0900 owners flipping difficulty?

PSU2001

PSU2001

Joined
Jul 25, 2014
Messages
350
Just received my 0450 yesterday, extremely hard to flip. Called the seller, and they said that the 0450/0900's need to be flipped using the tip of your finger, which is still difficult. I also understand their will be a breaking in period, but does anyone else have this problem?
 
Most people had that "problem". They end up breaking in to perfection (at least IMO). Just keep at it. Remember to light switch the flipper, don't push in! Mind your fingers on the lock!
 
I found no problems with ZT0900. But I experienced same thing with the ZT0450. Sometimes it would open smoothly, other times very hard to flip. I would have to get it "just right". It's kind of hard to explain. It's almost like if I try too hard to flip it, it wouldn't flip. However, I do think it's just a matter of breaking in.
 
I don't know why they said to use the tip of your finger, that's not very good advice. The technique that needs to be addressed with the new ZT flippers is to keep your fingers from putting pressure on the lockbar.

[video]https://youtu.be/Ss5VFjk6i6U?t=4m43s[/video]
 
I own a 0562cf, and it is smooth right out of the box, not near as hard as the 0450
 
Fingers off the lockbar and make sure you are pulling back, not trying to push through. I gifted my 0900 to a friend who is 60+ and he had no issues flipping it.
 
I seriously don't get having to have an exact technique to flip open a knife. So technical that it takes away the point of having a flipper.

If my 25 dollar Buck Vantage can do it, why can't a 175 dollar ZT knife do it?

Maybe ZT needs to read the threads of late.
 
Ignore technique. just press it in the easiest way for you. the strong detention will launch that puppy hard. Nothing wrong with that.
 
PSU2001 said:
I own a 0562cf, and it is smooth right out of the box, not near as hard as the 0450
Click to expand...

The ZT Hinderer models have a very light detent, making it a smoother operation, as in my 0561. My 0801 however, has a very strong detent, and takes a bit of force to overcome it, but it rockets out whereas the 0561 sort of lazily glides out. With the 0801, I use the side of my finger between the last and middle knuckle to get more leverage, whereas with the 0561 and 0770 CF and Kizer Ki423 I use the fingertip.

The Rexford designs seem to have the strong detent in common. I have no experience with the Sinkevich ZT's, but my guess is they are similar. It all comes down to technique depending on what style/shape and detent strength of the flipper.
 
As a fan of Kershaw/ZT in general, I have noted that most of the recent ZT flipper models have been designed with more firm detents. Whether or not this ends up being preferred by the consumers is a matter of choice and buying preference, but there it is. I'll admit to being a little on the fence with this one - there are times when I like a nice, easy opening knife like a Sebenza, and then there are times when a hard firing flipper gives me goosebumps.
 
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K.O.D. said:
The ZT Hinderer models have a very light detent, making it a smoother operation, as in my 0561. My 0801 however, has a very strong detent, and takes a bit of force to overcome it, but it rockets out whereas the 0561 sort of lazily glides out. With the 0801, I use the side of my finger between the last and middle knuckle to get more leverage, whereas with the 0561 and 0770 CF and Kizer Ki423 I use the fingertip.

The Rexford designs seem to have the strong detent in common. I have no experience with the Sinkevich ZT's, but my guess is they are similar. It all comes down to technique depending on what style/shape and detent strength of the flipper.
Click to expand...

Newer hinderer designs from zt have the stronger detent as well.
 
my 900 fires out so hard I think its going to break the stop bar!lol.I luv it .the detent is strong but will loosen in time.my bodega has the same thing were the tip of youre fingers cant touch lockbar or it is very hard to flip .this is not how it is on my 900'though iys a strong lockbar and the detent ball sits deep into the blade.this will intime make a track and loosen.to me this extends the life of the knife and is a good move bu zt.my 888 and 0777 detents were so week you heard a "wah wh wahhhh?" after the lamly flipped.the zt 900 breaks the speed of sound.if you have manicured girly fingers the new line zt has isnt for you.try a pink benchmade minigrip cause thats youre style.
 
Scurvy092 said:
Fingers off the lockbar
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This. The 0450 has a bit stronger detent than some knives, but in return it flips very consistently without any special technique (other than not pressing the lock bar). I can even flip it open using my thumb.
 
Yo Mama said:
I seriously don't get having to have an exact technique to flip open a knife. So technical that it takes away the point of having a flipper.

If my 25 dollar Buck Vantage can do it, why can't a 175 dollar ZT knife do it?

Maybe ZT needs to read the threads of late.
Click to expand...

Harder detent is one thing, having to have a special technique is another.

If you can't open any of the newer ZT's, then you shouldn't own them.

And yes, there are opening and closing techniques that work better with different types/models of knives.

You think they should all open and close exactly the same???
 
The vantage is the worst flipper I have ever seen. We ordered one for each of the guys at work and nobody liked how the flipper would never work and the super weak detent. Every flipper is different. I think it is a positive thing, that no matter how you push a ZT flipper when it opens it opens with authority.
That is great. That goes with all of them, very easy to open and close one handed.
I have yet to see one that is not, if someone can point one out that requires two hands.
 
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poolhustler said:
Harder detent is one thing, having to have a special technique is another.

If you can't open any of the newer ZT's, then you shouldn't own them.

And yes, there are opening and closing techniques that work better with different types/models of knives.

You think they should all open and close exactly the same???
Click to expand...

Worse, actually. He thinks a knife with a flipper should have several ways of being opened. You know, kinda like nail nicks, push buttons, and thumb studs,........ Oh wait, those don't either:rolleyes:

Yo mama, the flipper tab was not meant to give the user a million different means of opening their knife. If you want that kind of thing, get a spydie with the spydie hole.
 
BellaBlades said:
The vantage is the worst flipper I have ever seen. We ordered one for each of the guys at work and nobody liked how the flipper would never work and the super weak detent. Every flipper is different. I think it is a positive thing, that no matter how you push a ZT flipper when it opens it opens with authority.
That is great. That goes with all of them, very easy to open and close one handed.
I have yet to see one that is not, if someone can point one out that requires two hands.
Click to expand...
Maybe the Vantage is not the best example cuz I know it had issues in the beginning. Buck did fix them though. maybe a better example is the $80 marksman. I don't think I've seen one problem and it maintains a strong detent as well as super fast action on the flipping.

Another would be the $140 Benchmade 300. Perfect detent and takes very little to no strength to flip out.

My southard from spyderco also has no problems which is about the same price as any other zero tolerance model.

My overall concern is that consistently over the last few months we've seen many reports of zero tolerance having issues. Where there's smoke there's fire. I'm staying away from the brand its just not worth it. Plenty of other companies have figured out how to make a flipper the right way.
 
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