Spyderco Endura, ATS55 PE

[killerskill]

I have a chance to pick one of these up for around $50. I allready have a bunch of endura's but I've been getting spyderco's for a long time and I've never ever seen in person an ATS-55 PE. Is this knife very old, or a special run, and how does ATS-55 compare to ATS-34. Is it like how S30V would compare with S60V?

 

[dialex]

An ATS-55 Delica (PE) was my first "real" Spydie (the very first was a Ladybug). Still have it like NIB, BTW
I dare to say ATS-55 is a great steel, even by nowadays standards. It sharpens easily and the edge retention is very good.
From my experience, it is far better than ATS-34. It performs a lot like VG-10 but with a (slightly) lower corrosion resistance.
Anyway, from the collector's point of view, I'd get this knife. But for a user, I'd rather get the updated model (E4 in VG-10 with stronger tip, reshaped handles with steel liners) for about the same amount of money. Or, you can save a little more and get the ZDP one, which right now is the "nec plus ultra" for steel snobs (like me)

 

[Killdozer]

I am no expert by any means but I heard it rusts a little easier than the AT-34 and s30v. Could be an issue depending on your use of the knife.
-Mat

 

[shootist16]

You can get an Endura 4 for that. I would rather have the Endura 4. The latest incarnation of the Endura is the best so far.

 

[mnblade]

I heard it rusts a little easier than the AT-34 and s30v.

I don't know about those steels, but when I lived in South Florida I carried an ATS-55 Endura PE for years and never had any problems with corrosion, EVER.

 

[ginshun]

I have a fully serrated ATS-55 Endura, and I have never had a probelm with corrosion. I don't have any technical info, but IME its on par with most of the common stainless steels that you se nowadays.