Stronger (harder) , ATS55 or ATS34?

P

Poniard

Joined
Sep 12, 2000
Messages
60
I was just wondering which is the harder steel of the two ATS 55 or ATS 34, also which one has the best edge retention of the two. It seems that steel varies a lot on the spyderco knives, I was wondering if there is a particular reason for this.

Thanks,
Poniard
 
I've got several BM's in ATS-34, But my Spyderco with a ATS-55 blade holds an edge much longer, but the ATS-34 blades seem to sharpen up easier. Right now I'd like to give D-2 a try, or M-2, or......
smile.gif
 
My experience exactly, slow1. My "carry" knives are all Benchmades/ATS-34 (AFCK, mini-AFCK, Nimravus). My work knife is a Spyderco/ATS-55 (Goddard ltwt.).
The Goddard holds an edge better, and is only a little harder to sharpen than the BMs.
I'm also about to try M-2 - in a Nimravus Cub.

btw, ATS-55 is supposed to be tougher than ATS-34.

[This message has been edited by Owen (edited 09-28-2000).]
 
Since Spyderco extensively uses both, you might want to post your question there, too. Spyderco tests pretty extensively before they go from "experiment" to marketed product, so I'd be curious to hear how and why they decided to give ATS-55 a go.

BTW, welcome to the forums, Poniard. Nice to see another South County knife knut here!
smile.gif


Glen
 
My everyday use/abuse work knife was a delica 98 in ATS55. I was very happy with that steel. It never chipped on me. And you could sharpen it to a very thin edge without to much worry about it rolling on you. It wasn't the easiest in the world to sharpen, once it was dull it took a long time, not to bad to touch up about once a week on a ceramic stone.
I just recently got a benchmade 750 (in ATS34) to replace the delica. I haven't had a whole lot of time to test it yet. But it takes a good edge ( after you thin down those Axe grinds that benchmade puts on it
smile.gif
) And it seems to hold it decently, but like I said, I haven't had a chance to really test it. It did take a long time to reprofile the edge which gives the impression of it being very wear resistant.
As for which is better... ATS55 is a steel specifically designed for cutlery. It is a modified version of ATS34 which is a tool steel, probably used more often on knives than in tooling. But anyway, The ATS34 has a little more carbon, less chrome, and less of the other elements that go into the alloy. The ATS55 will probably perform a little bit better due to the fine tuning of what goes into the alloy, and since it relies on things like molybednum ,vanadium, yadda yada yadda, instead of carbon to make it perform, it should be more resistant to corrosian.
Either one makes a good knife though.

------------------
It'll feel better when it stops hurting.
 
I've tested the edge holding of BM ATS34 vs a spyderco delica ats55. The ats55 held a longer edge than the ats 34. While it was noticable it was not noticable by much.
 
My experience is a bit different. In my opinion ATS-34 holds edge better but at the same time it is somewhat brittle and prone to chipping when abused (side pressure onto very edge or something like it). ATS-55 is more ductile and doesn't chip so easily, but holds the edge somewhat worse.
Here I have published some comparison test results.
 
This is interesting. On paper, ATS-55 is ATS-34 without most of the Molybdenum that is in ATS-34. The Mo in ATS-34 is there to give it longer life when used hot, as in high speed bearings and cutters. You generally don't need a hunting or pocket knife to stay hard a 1000 degrees.

Less Mo makes ATS-55 less expensive, and it should retain most of the good knife blade characteristics that ATS-34 exhibits. But, Mo also is supposed to increase both hardenability and toughness, so one would think that ATS-34 should have potential for greater performance, depending on how well it is heat treated. Maybe the Mo, in excess of the small amount in ATS-55 doesn't contribute to knife performance. Maybe the reduced percentage of alloy in ATS-55 makes it finer grained and tougher. Who knows? Sal?
 
The ATS55 will probably perform a little bit better due to the fine tuning of what goes into the alloy, and since it relies on things like molybednum ,vanadium, yadda yada yadda, instead of carbon to make it perform, it should be more resistant to corrosian.
Click to expand...

One thing I have to interject here, which I'm surprised that no one has mentioned, is that neither ATS-34 nor -55 has any vanadium in it.

In <u>production</u> knives, my experience with ATS-55 has been very favoriable, while my experience with ATS-34 has been less favorable. But, that has been Spyderco -55 and BM -34, which is not the best comparison. IME, the BM -34 has been harder to sharpen, and holds its edge about the same as Spyderco's -55.

In custom knives, the ATS-34 holds its edge GREAT, and is pretty easy to sharpen. So... apples and oranges there, I would guess.

------------------
iktomi
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top