Spyderco ATR Review Request

theres a ATR that has been in passaround rotation for quite some time now, check out the passaround forum thread for reviews
 
I actually have the passaround ATR in my possesion right now. At first I was really impressed but the more I look at it and use the less I like it. The compression lock is really neat but is kind of awkward at first if you're used to a liner lock. After a few openings and closings you get used to it. The neat part is you can just move the lock bar over and flick it open and closed. However in the case of the passaround one when the pivot is loose enough to flick easily there is both horizontal and vertical bladeplay. Tighten the pivot and most of the blade play is gone but then you can't flick it very well. I realize the knife is probably not designed to be flicked open and closed this way but it still kinda bugs me and if I can't flick it closed this way then I find a liner lock to be easier to use. Also I don't really like the way it carries, it just feels big and clunky in the pocket compared to my military. Also I noticed on this particular one the grind is not even on both sides of the blade. On one side the start of the grind lines up evenly on the point, on the other side it is slightly below the point. I know i'm being picky but at the MSRP of this thing I'd expect it to be perfect. I also don't really care for the blade shape with the goofy hump or whatever you call it at the point. I don't mean to bash the ATR and I guess most of this is just personal preferences on my part except for the grinds lines and the bladeplay. I can see why some people really dig this knife. Me personally I'll just stick with my Military especially at roughly half the price. I've read this somewhere else so I'm only quoting here but "the more knives I try the more I like my military."

hope this helps

Jamie
 
Thanks, jstewart16701!

I guess I'll just stick with carrying my own Military - for the same reasons you state.
 
I own both an ATR and a Military. I have had the ATR from the first production run, and just received my first Militray about a month ago. The ATR is great. I draw similarities (in materials) between it and my large Sebenaza (which is the best folder I own).

However, I simply cannot put my Military down. For the money it is an absolutely fabulous knife. I have a very cool Vess leather sheath for it, and I absolutely am thrilled with the construction, sharpness and light weight of this knife. I will always have a Spyderco Military.
 
July's issue of Tactical Knives magazine (on the newsstand now) has a review of the ATR. Like everything else in the slick gun/knife mags, there's really not much new info over what you can find in the online forums. This is one hard to find knife. Hopefully production will pick up soon. I've heard this knife referred to as the Salbenza. Just thought I'd pass that along. Kewl terminology. :)
 
As much as I like spyderco knives, the ATR lacks what I think is the very most important feature of the sebenza. That is a bushing that will allow the screws to be tight, but the blade move freely. This does away with the balancing of tightness versus blade play.

In fact this has essentially turned my knives categories into sebenzas, and everything else. And everthing else better be relatively inexpensive.
 
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