Endura 3 Blade Steel Question

D

Dorito Monk

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Nov 17, 2008
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Hello! Let me start off by saying that I haven't posted in the Spyderco section of Bladeforums before, so please bear with me if this has been discussed already. :foot:

I recently bought an Endura 3 from eBay in perfect condition. I was really excited because the seller advertised it as having VG-10 steel, which I've heard great things about, while maintaining the blade shape and handle style of the older Endura 3, which I prefer over the Endura 4.

It arrived today pretty much as described (Endura 3 with FRN handle), except the blade is stamped "Spyderco ATS-55", not VG10.

I don't have any experience with either steel, so my questions are: How does ATS-55 stack up against VG10? Does it make much of a difference? Should I send the knife back since it's different from what the seller advertised, or should I just hang on to it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
Thanks for the advice, guys...I'm leaning towards keeping the knife, but the discussion that you linked, cgmblade, leads me to believe that ATS-55 just doesn't compare to the VG-10 that I'd been reading about...
 
There was a time when 420 and 440A were the wonder steels of the day. As time passed new and improved steels were developed, but that doesn't mean that old knives with 420 or 440A aren't any good now. VG-10 is better than ATS-55 by most standards, but ATS-55 is still a very good blade steel. In my experience it holds a good edge, isn't too hard to sharpen, and I haven't had any problems with rust or chipping.

I know you thought you were getting one thing and ended up with something else so if you want to return it that's your right. Personally I wouldn't return it just because of the difference in blade steel. You bought the gen 3 because you like the blade and handle design/shape. For me that's a bigger deal than the steel. I happen to like the un-lined gen 3 handles better than the lined gen 4 models because the older ones weigh less. Make your own decision but I wouldn't feel cheated.

Of course you could always get a Pacific Salt. It has the same handle as the gen 3 Endura with H1 steel.

BTW, is your knife PE or SE. IF PE I'll buy it from you if you don't want it.
 
That's not the only discussion here or at Spyderco Forums about ATS-55. IIRC, Sal Glesser posted at one point that the two were nearly identical. I don't remember what the difference was that nudged them to VG-10, but I don't remember it being anything that I felt was a big deal at all. There are a lot of us who have ATS-55 blades and feel that it is indistinguishable from VG-10, and that the knives made during that era were at least as well made as those made today. I'd keep it, if it were my choice.
 
The blade is PE and aside from a couple of fingerprints, it looks brand new.

I'm definitely going to hang on to the knife - I've been looking for one for a while now and this is the first one in such good condition to cross my path. The major reasons I wanted the E. 3 were the blade shape and weight, so I think I'll be happy with this one regardless of the blade steel. If I have to sharpen it a little more often, I'm fine with that. :thumbup:

Thanks again for the advice, everybody!
 
I have found that ATS-55 to be less corrosion resistant than VG-10. I used a C-44 Dyad for a year commercial lobster fishing. It would spot with rust after contact with salt water. My VG-10 Endura did not. I have also found ATS-55 to have slightly lower edge retention that VG-10. That said, it is easier to sharpen and takes a very nice edge. I would not hesitate to carry and use a knife with ATS-55.

Pete
 
I've got an ATS-55 Endura3 also. Read most of the threads on it with some interest, and it doesn't appear that it was that bad as much as VG-10 was just a little bit better. I think it's good enough to keep and not worry about.
 
I have a soft spot for ATS-55 because all the original models of my favorite knives were made in it. The Dyad, Mini Dyad and Dyad Jr. just tickle me pink!

If nothing else, the Endura 3 with ATS-55 is a little bit rarer than the E3 with VG-10 because Spyderco only used ATS-55 for a few years before switching to VG-10.
 

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Pete1977 said:
I have found that ATS-55 to be less corrosion resistant than VG-10. I used a C-44 Dyad for a year commercial lobster fishing. It would spot with rust after contact with salt water. My VG-10 Endura did not. I have also found ATS-55 to have slightly lower edge retention that VG-10. That said, it is easier to sharpen and takes a very nice edge. I would not hesitate to carry and use a knife with ATS-55.

Pete
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Fair enough, but most of us don't use our knives in salt water. :D I have a D3 in ATS-55 that has been constantly carried, winter and summer, in my waistband for at least 10 years, and it shows no staining at all. The feedback on your experience is interesting and useful, though.
 
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