Welcome Home...THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

Hi Guys I would like to talk about a specific Zero Tolerance Knife.  I love zt. I have a 350 myself as an edc however I would like to talk about the zt 550 this knife really puzzles me! have you tried flipping it? The knife didn't have a flipper, which is fine, I get that, but ironically it didn't have an official thumb stud either! it had a blade stop that most people confused with a thumb stud. The difference is that an official thumb stud there's a space between the handle and the blade itself, on some knives, they make these bladestop/thumbstuds which are actually called blade stops whose function is to stop the blade from going all the way upward when flipping it.  That's fine, but on most knives they have a flipper too giving you an official way to open the knife, either that or the thumb stud is really a thumb stud and they put a bar across the top of the knife to prevent it from going up. What i'm saying is every knife has a definitive way to flip it.  It either has a defined thumb stud or a flipper, or a thumb stud/blade stop but there's a flipper too. On the zt550, there's no flipper and there's no thumb stud, just a blade stop that you think is a thumb stud and they leave you with only that, to flip open the knife. The result, you can either flip it or you can't.  Anyhow it took me 3 tries to flip that knife and it was hard! I mean real hard to flip. on the third try I flipped. which was great because my thumb started to kill me.  I was a sportco store and the guy in the knife section said he couldn't flip it either and never bothered to try. On the knife there is what what appears to be the resemblance of a flipper??? but actually it doesn't protrude enough to be any use to you. I guess zt550 (Which is now discontinued thank god!!) was made not to be used at all??? since it doesn't have a flipper or an official thumb stud?? I think this is an interesting discussion maybe you guys might have a different take on it.  either way some people can flip easily, other like me it takes a few tries and other guys like the poor fellow at the sport co store, can't flip it at all.  In any case i will include a pic of this knife and tell me guys what you think. The zt550 however, If you can flip it open does have a really smooth opening, for a knife that does not have I think, correct me if I'm wrong guys, a ball bearing system. maybe one of you maybe more knowledgeable on opening systems than I.  Anyhow this is an interesting discussion about a knife that really made me think about how knives are designed.  Like I said the zt550 is a puzzler. The designer is rick hinderer.  Cant wait for your comments!

Tags: Design, Knife

Views: 409

Attachments:

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

The 550/551 is designed to be opened with the thumb studs, which also act as dual blade stops. 

There is plenty gap between the lock and the stud when the knife is closed to allow for good thumb purchase. 

I have never had a problem with my 551, but I know there is variation in the detent strength, and some of the earlier knives had very strong detents. 

Most report that the detent becomes less stiff after the knife is broken in, but I have not had a problem with any of my many ZT's in this regard. 

You are correct, the 550/551/566 did not have bearings, they were PB washers. 

You might like a ZT0562 - those are flippers and have a more "modernized" Hinderer look/design. 

best regards 

mqqn

Reply to Discussion

RSS

whiteriverknives.com

Latest Activity


Featured
dead_left_knife_guy posted a discussion
21 hours ago
Lars commented on Kevin D's photo
21 hours ago

Featured
dead_left_knife_guy commented on Kevin D's photo
21 hours ago

Featured
dead_left_knife_guy commented on dead_left_knife_guy's photo
21 hours ago
Kevin D posted a photo
21 hours ago
Bruce Owens posted a status
"Thank you."
yesterday
J.J. Smith III left a comment for Bruce Owens
yesterday
J.J. Smith III left a comment for John Robinson
yesterday
John Robinson posted a discussion
Thursday
Kevin D posted a status
"Finished a hammer, and now moving onto other projects. I have to get photos of recent acquisitions too. Staying busy for certain! :)"
Thursday
Jan Carter posted a status
"good nite all and thanks for being here with us"
Thursday
Jan Carter commented on George R Naugle's status
Thursday
Jan Carter replied to Doug Ritter's discussion Knife Rights Really, Really Needs Your Help! Deadline Sunday!
Wednesday
Jan Carter commented on dead_left_knife_guy's photo
Wednesday
Profile IconBruce Owens and John Robinson joined iKnife Collector
Wednesday
George R Naugle posted a status
"For example, I am leaving for the cabin in the morning. Gonna fire up the chainsaw. Yes, I will wear chaps"
Wednesday

© 2025   Created by Jan Carter.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service