- Joined
- Dec 26, 2010
- Messages
- 1,091
So, I've always liked knives, but my first "real" knife was a Spyderco SS A.T.R Spyderedge that I bought in mid/late 2007 (and they were already pretty rare, thus the Spyderedge instead of Plainedge, if not all that expensive). For a long time, Spyderco was my main squeeze. The A.T.R will always hold a special place in my heart, but I never really liked or used it because of the Spyderedge, always wishing I had a Plainedge version, and I ended up selling it last year. Over the years, I had kept an eye out for a Ti Plainedge version, but to say they're rare is an understatement. I sort of moved on, the last two years seeing me sell most of my Spyderco's and investing pretty heavily in CRK's.
A few weeks ago, I picked up a Ti Salsa on the forum exchange (not a grail really, more of a Jesus'-shot-glass), and after receiving it, it re-kindled my love of the Integral-Compression Lock. So, with very little hope in my heart, I went-a-googling. To my extreme surprise, I stumbled across an ebay listing for a NIB Ti A.T.R. It was pricier than I really wanted to pay, and it was in Italy, but I figured, this would probably be the last one I ever see, so I pulled the trigger. I just got it today, and it's already been an adventure. If the claims of it being NIB are right, then ten years ago or so, somebody at Golden had a love affair with Red Loctite Threadlocker. It seems like their philosophy was, if a little bit of Threadlock is good, then all the Threadlock must be better.
I'm pretty sure, the A.T.R hasn't ever been used, but given it's age, I think it's been handled a fair bit by prospective buyers/owners. Figuring that it could use some cleaning and re-lubing, I went about disassembling it. Before I realized there was a problem, I had sheared off one of the phillips head screws that attach the pocket clip. Applying some heat, I was able to get the other two out, one mostly intact, the other stripped so I used some vice-grips. Hopefully I can find the right size replacements or maybe I can get Spyderco to send me some.
Judicious use of a bic lighter and my vice-grips allowed me to get the stub of the sheared screw out. Then I engaged in battle with the two stand-offs, both of which had been packed with Red Threadlock.
Seriously... why?
Anyways, once victory was achieved, I was able to take down the whole knife and clean it up. The biggest surprise difference between this version and the SS version was the lack of a ball-detent. Instead, the lockbar seats in a ramp machined into the blade tang. I don't think this knife will ever be as glassy smooth as my SS A.T.R was. I also discovered some type of washer that I've never heard of before. I have no idea what they're made of or what lube to use, and since there appeared to still be some lube on them, I just left them as is and cleaned and re-lubed the blade tang path that contacts the lock bar.
Here's some re-assembled post-battle shots.
And some family photos with the Ti Salsa.
Hm, those last two weren't as focused as I thought... sorry about that. Not that I'm a very good photographer anyways.
A few weeks ago, I picked up a Ti Salsa on the forum exchange (not a grail really, more of a Jesus'-shot-glass), and after receiving it, it re-kindled my love of the Integral-Compression Lock. So, with very little hope in my heart, I went-a-googling. To my extreme surprise, I stumbled across an ebay listing for a NIB Ti A.T.R. It was pricier than I really wanted to pay, and it was in Italy, but I figured, this would probably be the last one I ever see, so I pulled the trigger. I just got it today, and it's already been an adventure. If the claims of it being NIB are right, then ten years ago or so, somebody at Golden had a love affair with Red Loctite Threadlocker. It seems like their philosophy was, if a little bit of Threadlock is good, then all the Threadlock must be better.
I'm pretty sure, the A.T.R hasn't ever been used, but given it's age, I think it's been handled a fair bit by prospective buyers/owners. Figuring that it could use some cleaning and re-lubing, I went about disassembling it. Before I realized there was a problem, I had sheared off one of the phillips head screws that attach the pocket clip. Applying some heat, I was able to get the other two out, one mostly intact, the other stripped so I used some vice-grips. Hopefully I can find the right size replacements or maybe I can get Spyderco to send me some.
Judicious use of a bic lighter and my vice-grips allowed me to get the stub of the sheared screw out. Then I engaged in battle with the two stand-offs, both of which had been packed with Red Threadlock.
Seriously... why?
Anyways, once victory was achieved, I was able to take down the whole knife and clean it up. The biggest surprise difference between this version and the SS version was the lack of a ball-detent. Instead, the lockbar seats in a ramp machined into the blade tang. I don't think this knife will ever be as glassy smooth as my SS A.T.R was. I also discovered some type of washer that I've never heard of before. I have no idea what they're made of or what lube to use, and since there appeared to still be some lube on them, I just left them as is and cleaned and re-lubed the blade tang path that contacts the lock bar.
Here's some re-assembled post-battle shots.
And some family photos with the Ti Salsa.
Hm, those last two weren't as focused as I thought... sorry about that. Not that I'm a very good photographer anyways.
