ATR or Chinook???

Buffalohump

Buffalohump

Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
6,211
Hey guys,

A friend at work wants a knife bad and I've decided to sell him my Paramilitary. Although I really dig my PM I got the serrated version and have now decided I actually prefer a plain edge blade.

I am also keen to try out a new Spydie, namely one of these two:

ATR
Chinook

I'd like to hear opinions from people who own one or both of these knives please. I'm talking any picky issues, VG-10 vs S30V, compression vs roller lock, G10 vs stainless scales, etc etc.

Fire away!
 
of the 2 i like the Ti ATR, ya outta look at a manix also.

i prefer the ATR because:

* i like the lock better

*its thinner and carries better

*i like the looks better

not that a chinook bad i just like the ATR better, the Ti ATR anyway.
 
I have the Ti ATR and both of the Chinooks, I & II. I prefer the grips on the Chinooks as the G10 is easier to hold than the bare metal Ti and the I prefer tip-down carry. That said, in all other ways I prefer the ATR. I prefer the lock, the indexing holes, the shape of the blade, the grind, the thickness, and the weight. The stainless ATR will be heavier, most probably, easier to find and less expensive. Those should be the only differences. Since the Ti ATR has been discontinued, I found them hard to find last June and expensive when I did find one.

Edited to include disclosure on the stainless ATR.
 
Thanks guys

Of the ATR's, I would go for the steel version, due to the price and availability.

The ATR steel is slightly lighter than the Chinook, which is a factor. The Chinook is one of the heaviest Spyderco folders, if not the heaviest.

I haven't owned an all-steel knife since my Police model many years back. The grippiness is not great, although the holes will help...

Hmmmm.... it's a tough one!
 
The chinook would be a better weapon, but can still be used as a tool (they have them with a full flat grind now too). The atr would probably be a better tool, but could still be used as a weapon of course. I've had a chinook2 but sold it like an idiot, and I've handled an atr at the knife store many times. I intend to have both of them when I am able.
 
Siggy,

I seem to recall the Chinook is described as a hollow grind on the Spyderco website.

You say this knife is available in a flat grind?

I get confused... what is the flat grind again? That's not like a chisel grind is it? Is this like the Military grind?

I prefer a hollow grind myself. Apparently this is the more difficult one to achieve if the knife is handmade. It also allows for a sharper knife, though not as much strength as a chisel grind.
 
I personally don't like the integral compression lock on the ATR, not because of any strength or lock-up issues, as it is awesome in both of those, but because it is virtually impossible to close the knife one handed.

Thats just me though.

I'd probably go with a Chinook out of those two, but they are both great knives.
 
ginshun said:
I personally don't like the integral compression lock on the ATR, not because of any strength or lock-up issues, as it is awesome in both of those, but because it is virtually impossible to close the knife one handed.

Thats just me though.

I'd probably go with a Chinook out of those two, but they are both great knives.
Click to expand...
What is with this fixation on closing a knife one-handed? I certainly can see opening a knife with one hand, but closing it one-anded? That, quite honestly, seems to me to be a bit over the top. I can close the ATR very easily by releasing the lock and swiping the back of the blade against my leg, something that I do if my off hand is busy, otherwise I use two hands. It is the opening and presentation of the knife that needs be done quickly, not the closing.
 
Buffalohump said:
Siggy,

I seem to recall the Chinook is described as a hollow grind on the Spyderco website.

You say this knife is available in a flat grind?

I get confused... what is the flat grind again? That's not like a chisel grind is it? Is this like the Military grind?

I prefer a hollow grind myself. Apparently this is the more difficult one to achieve if the knife is handmade. It also allows for a sharper knife, though not as much strength as a chisel grind.
Click to expand...

The new 2006 version has a full flat grind. The grind is similar to the grind on the Military and the Manix/Mini-Manix. I just got mine in the mail today and I much prefer the look of the full flat grind to that of the hollow grind, JMHO.
 
*the ATR is easily closed one handed (by me anyway) especially when loosened up and oiled well.

*the Ti ATR is MBC rated so its designed to be a weapon imho, all knives are really.

* i have had both steel and Ti ATRs and IIRC the weight is pretty close, i thought remarkably so when i was comparing the 2.

*i like Ti handles (and the steel ATR handles) and tip up.
 
I was basing my opinion of the integral compression lock on the Titanium Salsa, so maybe the ATR feels a little different. I guess I don't know for sure.

In my experience with the lock, the lock bar is very stiff, and it is very hard to push over. Also there is no outside scale to anchor your thumb against when pinching the lock to disengage it, like there is on a Paramilitary. To me at least, this makes the integral compression lock very awkward to try and disengage using one hand. I pretty much need to use both hands to get the lock bar pushed over and the blade closed. This is independent of how you are trying to get the blade closed, whether it is by flicking it shut or pushing it against your leg or whatever. Maybe I just have weak fingers, who knows.

As far as wheather or not being able to easily close the knife with one hand is miportant or not, that is up to the individual. Personally I like to be able to, but far be it for me to tell you what is important when chossing a knife for yourself. I was just making you aware of something that I personally don't like abut the knife.
 
closing them one handed is nice but the main thing to me is that they dont fold up when ya dont want them too,
 
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