Question about ATS-55 compare to others ?

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PETEDYEDGE

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Oct 26, 2001
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Hi everyone,

I am a big fun of Spyderco , I have a Delica C11BK and a Ladybug LBK . Both are AUS-6 . I like to get more of Spyderco , many of it products are ATS-55 which I'am not experienced with. How does this steel compare to? AUS-8 ? or even VG-10? which I hear lots good thing about it. How does ATS-55 edge holding? stain/rust resistant?

My other question is what type of steel does SAK Victorinox is using? ( I have a Victorinox Nomad , I assume that all it Vic. are same steel ) I have not found a different of edge holding between my AUS-6 ( Delica ) and my Victorinox Nomad! in a task of cut. (have use cardboard for the test).:confused:

Thank you in advange for these informations.
 
The main differences between ATS55 and ATS34 are that ATS55 has a little cobalt and a little copper that are not present in ATS34 and has far less molybdenum. I have not owned a knife that uses ATS55 as a blade steel so can not speak of it's qualities. Others will have to do that.
 
I think that ATS 34 holds an edge better than ATS 55, but it rusts easier. Compared to VG-10 it is not bad, nevertheless VG-10 is a fantastic blade steel. I own many knives, and some of them (Fallkniven) are made of this wunderful steel. I cannot imagine anything better that VG-10, it holds an edge very well, gets a very aggressive edge, is relatively easy to resharpen and incredible tough. And it is indeed very rust resistant! My favourite blade steel for sure!

The Victorinox SAK's blade steel ist 1.4110, that is nearly identic with 440 A. But they do a good heat treating and they cyrogenically treat their blades (using nitrogen). Good edge keeping and ease of resharpening is the result. Have many of them and don't want to miss them,.......

greetings,
Gerry
 
Most complaints about ATS-55 seem to revolve around rust. I'm now convinced that ATS-55 is less stain-resistant than the other steels I think of as 2nd-tier stainless steels (8A, Gin-1, 440-C, etc.). Does ATS-55 stain faster than ATS-34? I don't know. In theory, I'd think it would. The reduction in moly most likely means that more chromium will be tied up in carbides and thus not working towards stain resistance. But theory and practice are two different things, and I don't have any controlled tests or personal anecdotes to compare them.
 
Edge holding similar to ATS-34 with less rust resistance tham many stainless steels.

Very similar to D2 for rust resistance and similar to ATS-34 for edge holding. Not a particularly good combo in my view. If I want D2 edge holding I can live with the rust probs, if I want better rust resistance nad fair edge holding I will go for ATS-34 NOT ATS-55

Bring on the VG-10!
 
It's been my experience that some ATS-55 blades will show signs of rust spots fairly easily...sometimes I just carry one of my Enduras in my pocket for an evening neighborhood walk and there will be a few light rust spots afterward. Not a big deal, but a bit annoying. Yet other ATS-55 blades seem to have quite good rust resistance, and they are all Spydie knives...so maybe it is the batch that determines how stainless it is.

As far as taking/holding an edge, I find it takes an edge similar to AUS-8 but holds it a little better. AUS-8 is much more stainless and a little softer. It almost seems that ATS-34 is usually harder, though they are normally both listed at 59-61 (I think ATS-55 is).

I am looking forward to seeing more Spyderco knives switching over to VG-10, as I hear nothing but good things of this steel, and it seems to outdo ATS-55 with none of its weaknesses (although, please understand, ATS-55 IS a quality knife steel. Overall I've found it performs quite well for utility, better than a lot of steels).
Jim
 
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