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My HEST is still a two hander after loosening the pivot nut and working it in for two days. You won't hear any such sounds from mine. Now the ZT0301...oh yes, it has a heck of a sound when it locks open. And my ZT is a second! I'll take any ZT over the HEST folder any day.

Well, you're in luck! I'm accepting knife donations right now, and I'll even cover the shipping cost! However, this offer is only good if you act in the next hour!

Seriously though, I say if it remains hard to open, take up RYP on his offer to fix the knife. If you don't want to bother, just get a refund and buy something else.