spyderco classic steals which do you like and which should you avoid.

[A druid]

I like a lot of spyderco's older knives, but I was wondering what you think of spyderco's older steals.gin 1,aus 6-8-10, ats 34-55, in my opinion the ATS steals are in about the same arena as most modern steals that I use. but the rest of them I kind of look at as for collecting only although actually have none of these latter at the moment. The two exceptions that I might want to acquire and use to some degree are the meerkat a design I just think is cool but that I would much rather have in 440c then aus 6 . and the aluminum cricket which even in Gin 1 I consider to be superior to its modern counterpart. although I probably would not have the heart to use it if I had one new.

What is your opinion of spyderco's classic steals does anyone still use any of the knives in Gin 1.

It would be kind of interesting have a spyderco mule in gin 1 and see how it stacks up against the modern offerings of spyderco.

 

[jujigatame]

I can't say I really have any issues with AUS8 or ATS34/55. I can't deny that your intended use for the knife and what you personally want in a blade can sometimes make them look less attractive compared to newer steels. Still, I'm willing to put just as much, if not more, stock in Spyderco's design and production of the knife and the blade specifically than the choice of steel. If the knife isn't the right fit for me or the blade geometry's no good then an exotic super steel doesn't do me any good. But if the knife feels right and cuts like I want it to, I've got no problem touching up an AUS8 blade for slicing duty even if it means doing it more frequently than if the blade was done in S30V.

When I got my C25 rebuilt the blade was left untouched because the blade is what I like best about the knife. I just wanted that blade in a more robust package than the original aluminum with a thin liner lock. The fact that the blade was ATS34 didn't matter a lick. I don't lament the fact that it's not ZDP or VG10 because the blade does the work I need it to do and does it well.

 

[JD Spydo]

A lot of fellow Spyder-heads consider me a bit odd when I tell then that I actually still like GIN-1. I also liked Spyderco's ATS-34 better than Benchmade's. It seemed like Spyderco did a great heat treatment on those older steels which I think in turn really put them on the map so to speak.

GIN-1 is actually a much better blade steel than most people ever gave it credit for. It also went by the name G-2. I don't know if G-2 was made by a different company or why it had a different name designation. Because it truly was the same steel.

The only AUS steel I liked was AUS-10. of the 3 AUS blade steels that Spyderco used it was the only one that I could get to hold an edge for any protracted period of time.

I still use ATS-55 a lot. Two of my every day carries ( the big C-44 Dyad and the G-10 Harpy) both have ATS-55 and I get great performance from both. I think a lot of Spyderco's older blade steels are better than many company's newer blade steels.

 

[smcfalls13]

I have a Jot Singh Khalsa in Gin-1 I pull out for special occasions. For the light duty it gets, Gin-1 is more than sufficient.

AUS-8 is also respectable, I've got several knives in that steel.

AUS-6 isn't very good in my opinion. Better than 440A, but not by much.

ATS-34 is better than all of them. ATS-55 I've never had the pleasure of using.

 

[anson argyris]

It also went by the name G-2. I don't know if G-2 was made by a different company or why it had a different name designation. Because it truly was the same steel.

According to 'The Spyderco Story', it was made by the same japanese company. The
different designation was chosen, because another knife company (Gerber ?) used
Gin-1 at that time.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I had a Millie with ATS55, liked it.

 

[dialex]

While I'm not very fond of AUS-6 / 8, the AUS-10 is a totally different breed. AFAIK they only used AUS-10 for the SS Native (and for the Solo buttonlock, but this one, although Sal's baby, is not quite a Spydie, so let's forsake it for now).
The ATS-34 is decent, but no match for the VG-10 and S30V, not to mention ZDP-189 Spyderco is using now. However, ATS-55 is still one of my favorite steels (and so underrated, IMHO). I'd pick an ATS-55 without hesitation, anytime.

 

[The Deacon]

I go more by the knife than the steel. I carry a GIN-1 Native occasionally because unlike its S30V counterpart, it is not disfigured by a Boye dent. Granted, it does not hold an edge as well as S30V, but I've yet to do enough cutting with any Spyderco in one day to require stopping to sharpen it partway through the job. Like VG-10 well enough but would not really care if my Stretch were any other steel Spyderco has used, except H-1, and that only because H-1 cannot be full flat ground.

 

[Jazzman]

Always been a fan of GIN-1 but ATS-55 never did appeal to me. Seemed like the edge holding just wasn't there. AUS-8 is one more of my more favorite lower end steels. My favorite of all time though has to be ATS-34/154CM.
Matt

 

[u812]

The only steel that Spyderco ever used that I really did not like was ATS 55.

 

[tonydahose]

lol...when i first read the thread i thought you were talking about finding good deals on knives. minor typo. the one steel i have been able to get razor sharp is my military with s30v so that gets my vote. vg10 is pretty good. i think it depends on if it is serrated or plain blade when picking your steel.