ATS-55 era Spyderco Classics

J

JD Spydo

Joined
Nov 20, 2004
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As many of you here know I'm a huge fan of the "Old School Spyders" >> especially the models from which I affectionately call the GOLDEN ERA of SPYDERS ( 1998-2003). Within that GOLDEN era was a group of Spyderco classic models I refer to as the ATS-55 Era ( late 90s, early 2000s) So many great models came forth from that era even though not all of them had ATS-55 blade steel. Needless to say I still own and use a few models from that era.

The companion folder I have now for my main EDC is out of that ATS-55 era. I'm speaking of the Stainless handled RESCUE model which did have ATS-55 blade steel. That model was probably the most rigid Spyder ever made IMO. There were other super classics from that era like the original ROOKIE model for instance. You also had the G-10 handled Harpy ( which very much needs to return again) as well as the Pro-Venator. But again not all models from that great era has ATS-55 blade steel.

So let's talk about the great "old school" Spyders from that era ( late 90s, early 2000s).
 
I have a carbon fiber Dragonfly (ATS-55) from that period.

(And the CF isn't even cracked around the lanyard hole. At least not the last time I looked.)
 
I believe only my SS rookie is ats55. Was 55 the higher end version of ats34? Ive heard that Spyderco using ats55 when everyone was using 34 still was pretty 'cutting edge'... are awful puns acceptable here? Still new!
 
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I have one of the linerless G-10 Police models with ATS-55 that I bought on a whim in Amsterdam!
I love how easy it is to get that thing freaky sharp.
 
Hi JD,

I carry a FRN Rescue in ATS-55 occasionally still, it was my first SpyderEdge. The serrations are what caught my eye, they just made Spyderco's knives look almost space age compared to everything else available at the time!
 
666mademedoit said:
Hi JD,

I carry a FRN Rescue in ATS-55 occasionally still, it was my first SpyderEdge. The serrations are what caught my eye, they just made Spyderco's knives look almost space age compared to everything else available at the time!
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666mademedoit said:
Hi JD,

I carry a FRN Rescue in ATS-55 occasionally still, it was my first SpyderEdge. The serrations are what caught my eye, they just made Spyderco's knives look almost space age compared to everything else available at the time!
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Oh DUDE!!! If you like that FRN RESCUE then all I can say is "YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET!!" Because if you could get your hands on one of these vintage, ATS-55 Stainless handled RESCUE models you would switch over in a nanosecond>> you would flip over this super rigid, stainless bad-boy :cool:. Because I have carried some type of full Spyderedged blade as a companion folder to my main EDC which at this time is my hallowed M390 Military model>> but this full Spyderedged, Stainless RESCUE model is truly like a Salt Water Crocodile in one hand and has been a super Spyderedged companion folder :cool:>> and up till now I've not yet found anything as good in SE. The original full SE Military model comes in a distant second. Also I had owned and used several of Spyderco's full SE models but so far the Stainless RESCUE reigns supreme in my book. My very first Spyder ever was a Stainless handled full SE MARINER model which was a great folder but even it didn't hold a candle to the STAINLESS, full SE, ATS-55 RESCUE model.

I've tried to get Mr. Glesser to consider bringing back the STainless RESCUE even as a Sprint Run but so far no cigar :( But everyone I've talked to that has had a Stainless RESCUE all them rave about it. It truly got lost in the shuffle during the late 90s when several super classics were in the main line up unfortunately. They have always been tough to find even when they were in the line up. To me it's one of the top 3 of the ATS-55 ERA.
 
trackstar55 said:
I have a bob lum folder in ATS-55. Great knife
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Hey guy I've also got a C-46 Spyderco Bob Lum Tanto Folder in ATS-55. I actually EDC my ATS-55 Lum Tanto folder and frankly I know that Mr. Glesser switched over to VG-10 because he said that VG-10 surpassed ATS-55 in overall performance. But even with that being said I'm here to swear to all of you that ATS-55 is far from being antiquated or even regarded as a sub-par blade steel>> because I still have 4 ATS-55 models that I constantly still use from time to time. And ATS-55 is to me one of the top 5 best blade steels for Spyderedged blades IMO. I also maintain that ATS-55 is a much better than average blade steel for plain edged folders too. I've had great performance results with my ATS-55 Lum Tanto folder. Again there just wasn't anything wrong with that steel in my humble opinion and GOD knows I've used a lot of ATS-55 Spyderco models over the years and I now wish I had every one of them back too.

The ATS-55 Era was truly a great era in Spyderco history and as far as I know I believe that Spyderco was the only USA knife company that the Japanese allowed to use there ATS-55 blade steel in commercially made knives. If I'm wrong please correct me because I've never heard otherwise. And don't forget the original ATS-55 Peter Herbst model along with the Wayne Goddard models in ATS-55 as well.
 
maugust09 said:
I believe only my SS rookie is ats55. Was 55 the higher end version of ats34? Ive heard that Spyderco using ats55 when everyone was using 34 still was pretty 'cutting edge'... are awful puns acceptable here? Still new!
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ATS-55 was actually an experiment by Sal. Molybdenum is added to alloys primarily for high temperature strength, and it is quite expensive. Sal had a batch of steel made to his spec, basically ATS-34 with most of the molybdenum left out since high temperature strength is not really needed for knife blades.
 
yablanowitz said:
ATS-55 was actually an experiment by Sal. Molybdenum is added to alloys primarily for high temperature strength, and it is quite expensive. Sal had a batch of steel made to his spec, basically ATS-34 with most of the molybdenum left out since high temperature strength is not really needed for knife blades.
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Yeah I had heard something to that effect on a couple of occasions. I think I also remember that ATS-55 also had some cobalt added as well. But that plain edged ATS-55 blade in the original C-44 Dyad ( my first one and I still have it) had a really wicked edge when sharp. And I've discovered over the years that ATS-55 really holds up extremely well in Spyderedge. I do remember Sal saying that they switched to VG-10 because under their tests it proved to be superior>> and I don't doubt that at all because I'm also a fan of that steel too. But ATS-55 was not a junk blade steel at all. It was truly a good blade steel for EDC carry.

I also remember an old issue of "Tactical Knives" magazine. That magazine had a regular article called the "Steel Bin" and one issue where Butch Winter the guy that wrote most of those reviews on the blade steels did a really nice one on ATS-55 and if I remember correctly it was in the year 2000 I think. I'm going to see if I can find that old article because it was interesting.
 
JD,

The only stainless handle I've owned is a first gen A.T.R. - your right the stainless handle just makes the knife feel bank vault solid! It's funny though I've only carried it two or three times from new due to the clip design... One damn cool knife though!

Sorry all for the hijack ~ back to ATS-55
 
666mademedoit said:
JD,

The only stainless handle I've owned is a first gen A.T.R. - your right the stainless handle just makes the knife feel bank vault solid! It's funny though I've only carried it two or three times from new due to the clip design... One damn cool knife though!

Sorry all for the hijack ~ back to ATS-55
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No you're in the right place>> because that Stainless handled RESCUE model I was talking about earlier was most definitely in the ATS-55 time slot for sure and I'm about 99% certain that the stainless RESCUE model was only ever made in ATS-55. Now I did hear a remote rumor at one time that Spyderco did make a few of the STainless RESCUE models in VG-10. However I've looked hard for a VG-10 Stainless RESCUE model and I've not ever found one or even seen one or ever talked to anyone on any of these forums that ever had one either. So again I'm 99% certain that the STainless RESCUE model was an ATS-55 exclusive.

The stainless handled ATR model you're speaking of I believe was only ever available in VG-10 blade steel and it was introduced well after the ATS-55 era was over. I had two of those Stainless ATR models and all I ever saw was VG-10 blades. Now the Titanium ATR was made at the GOLDEN, CO factory and it had a blade made with S30V for all of you who are not aware of those models. And they both were in the GOLDEN Era OF Spyders ( 1998-2003).

Also I find it interesting that during the ATS-55 era they were still making many of their Japan made units in AUS-8>> and that has always kind of puzzled me too.
 
Another noteworthy development that took place during the ATS-55 era was that Spyderco introduced their first generation of Carbon Fiber models. And most of them had ATS-55 blade steel as well.

Even the humble Cricket model had ATS-55 during that era. Also during that era is when Spyderco really got their fixed blade market launched.
 
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