Spyderco's ATS-55 Era: A Really Noteworthy Time In Spyderco History

[JD Spydo]

I had a CE Tanto folder in ATS-55 and it had some mean, nasty serrations. I would have no problems using it again.

I bet I've got the same one you do>> because I still have a C-46 Lum Tanto CE folder ( coated blade). Yeah mine is an ATS-55 as well.

It does seem like Spyderco did make several of their models in combo edge back in those days. I even used to have a combo edged Military model from that time as well.

I know what you mean by "nasty serrations" on that unit because mine are like wicked needles on that model.

[Sumdumguy]

I had a CE Tanto folder in ATS-55 and it had some mean, nasty serrations. I would have no problems using it again.

I bet I've got the same one you do>> because I still have a C-46 Lum Tanto CE folder ( coated blade). Yeah mine is an ATS-55 as well.

It does seem like Spyderco did make several of their models in combo edge back in those days. I even used to have a combo edged Military model from that time as well.

I know what you mean by "nasty serrations" on that unit because mine are like wicked needles on that model.

That's the one. I ended up selling it, which I regret. But, yes, the serrations were vicious. Had to be mindful of them, as they would reach out and grab you before you realized it.

[JD Spydo]

I had a CE Tanto folder in ATS-55 and it had some mean, nasty serrations. I would have no problems using it again.

I bet I've got the same one you do>> because I still have a C-46 Lum Tanto CE folder ( coated blade). Yeah mine is an ATS-55 as well.

It does seem like Spyderco did make several of their models in combo edge back in those days. I even used to have a combo edged Military model from that time as well.

I know what you mean by "nasty serrations" on that unit because mine are like wicked needles on that model.

That's the one. I ended up selling it, which I regret. But, yes, the serrations were vicious. Had to be mindful of them, as they would reach out and grab you before you realized it.

That's interesting that you bring up the serrated CE part of the C-46 Lum Tanto like I said mine are like wicked needles instead of the spike & scallop type serration pattern. I would sure hate to get raked by those nasty serrations.

I always love the handle on that C-46 Lum Tanto folder out of the ATS-55 era. That model totally changed my attitude about tanto blades. But Bob Lum's were a different animal all together. It's so sad that that man died when he did. I was about to have him make me a custom Tanto folder when it happened.

[Sumdumguy]

I had a CE Tanto folder in ATS-55 and it had some mean, nasty serrations. I would have no problems using it again.

I bet I've got the same one you do>> because I still have a C-46 Lum Tanto CE folder ( coated blade). Yeah mine is an ATS-55 as well.

It does seem like Spyderco did make several of their models in combo edge back in those days. I even used to have a combo edged Military model from that time as well.

I know what you mean by "nasty serrations" on that unit because mine are like wicked needles on that model.

That's the one. I ended up selling it, which I regret. But, yes, the serrations were vicious. Had to be mindful of them, as they would reach out and grab you before you realized it.

That's interesting that you bring up the serrated CE part of the C-46 Lum Tanto like I said mine are like wicked needles instead of the spike & scallop type serration pattern. I would sure hate to get raked by those nasty serrations.

I always love the handle on that C-46 Lum Tanto folder out of the ATS-55 era. That model totally changed my attitude about tanto blades. But Bob Lum's were a different animal all together. It's so sad that that man died when he did. I was about to have him make me a custom Tanto folder when it happened.

I agree 100%. The handle on the C46 is one of my all time favorites.

As for Lum, he is the only designer of modern tanto blades that I really like, they feel special. Whereas most of the other ones are just "tacticool" fodder.

Truly a great loss.

[JD Spydo]

That Lum C-46 Tanto folder wasn't the only folder out of the ATS-55 era that had a great handle. The Stainless RESCUE model that I brag about a lot has the best overall grip of any of the stainless, sheepsfoot models. Also the Peter Herbst model out of that era also had a really nicely made handle too.

Also the handles on the C-42 Viele, C-48 Wegner along with the C-50 Centofante also had great, well designed handles from that era. Also the GODDARD models seem to have a great handle as well. The ATS-55 era was a turning point for the company in so many ways. Because design ergonomics really rapidly improved during that time.

[James Y]

For some reason, ATS-55 never “grabbed” me like it should have. When VG-10 took over, I liked it better. I have several knives in ATS-55 and they are great. I don’t really know why I didn’t like it more.

Jim

[JD Spydo]

For some reason, ATS-55 never “grabbed” me like it should have. When VG-10 took over, I liked it better. I have several knives in ATS-55 and they are great. I don’t really know why I didn’t like it more.

Jim

Yeah Sal told me once that when they tested VG-10 along side of ATS-55 they never looked back after that. I do believe that over time most of the ATS-55 models that are still NIB will bring big values.

It's a shame you don't really like ATS-55 because for some strange reason because I've had really good luck with all my ATS-55 models. Especially the Spyderedged models. And it's just not too shabby in PE either. But it kind of depends on the blade designs. Take the plain edged blade from the original C-44 Dyad>> I can get that blade so sharp that I even cut up pork tenderloins with it like I'm using a laser. I never got rid of most of my ATS-55 models>> I'm sure sentimental reasons are at play because I dearly love the older Spyderco models so much. But to me performance wise I like the ATS-55 about as good as I do the VG-10. Actually I'm kind of fan of both steels even with all the newer supersteels available.

[James Y]

For some reason, ATS-55 never “grabbed” me like it should have. When VG-10 took over, I liked it better. I have several knives in ATS-55 and they are great. I don’t really know why I didn’t like it more.

Jim

Yeah Sal told me once that when they tested VG-10 along side of ATS-55 they never looked back after that. I do believe that over time most of the ATS-55 models that are still NIB will bring big values.

It's a shame you don't really like ATS-55 because for some strange reason because I've had really good luck with all my ATS-55 models. Especially the Spyderedged models. And it's just not too shabby in PE either. But it kind of depends on the blade designs. Take the plain edged blade from the original C-44 Dyad>> I can get that blade so sharp that I even cut up pork tenderloins with it like I'm using a laser. I never got rid of most of my ATS-55 models>> I'm sure sentimental reasons are at play because I dearly love the older Spyderco models so much. But to me performance wise I like the ATS-55 about as good as I do the VG-10. Actually I'm kind of fan of both steels even with all the newer supersteels available.

Joe,
I guess I didn’t actively DISlike ATS-55, I just didn’t care for it like I thought I would when it first came out. I still have all my knives I bought in that steel. One thing that annoyed me about it was that I’d get rust spots forming on it just from being clipped in my pocket in a single day. It was easy enough to get off with 0000 steel wool and mineral oil, but it happened with several of my ATS-55 blades, and multiple times with each blade. And my perspiration is not particularly acidic; certainly not as much as many other guys. I know there are many here for whom good corrosion resistance is not high up on their list of important qualities in a steel, but it is for me, at least when it comes to folders.

Jim

[JD Spydo]

Yeah I've had some corrosion issues with a couple of my ATS-55 blades as well. But over the years I've become a firm believer in Marine Grade TUF CLOTH made by Sentry Solutions company. It gives you just enough protective coating to prevent most rust or corrosion. Unless I'm using a blade for food processing>> then I don't put anything on them.

What I like about ATS-55 the most is that I've found it to be one of the better blade steels for serrated/Spyderedges. I put it right up with VG-10 and AUS-8 both on serrated edge performance. And it's not a monster to sharpen like 440V is. Jim I get what you're saying because I never could fully ever warm up to Spyderco's GIN-1. It wasn't bad in SE but in plain edge I was spending way too much time sharpening it. It was almost a daily job just keeping it sharp enough to do daily jobs. There are a couple of GIN-1 SE models that I would still use in a pinch but I would never again use GIN-1 for a plain edged blade with all the good stuff we have to choose from now a days.

My obsession is probably linked to my fervent love of the models in what I call The GOLDEN ERA OF SPYDERS 1998-2004. And the ATS-55 models fall right into that era. But it's all good and we all like different knives and different blade steels for a variety of reasons. Let's put it this way>> Spyderco's worst or lowest rated is head and shoulders above most company's premium models. Case Closed :cool:

[JD Spydo]

I bet I've got the same one you do>> because I still have a C-46 Lum Tanto CE folder ( coated blade). Yeah mine is an ATS-55 as well.

It does seem like Spyderco did make several of their models in combo edge back in those days. I even used to have a combo edged Military model from that time as well.

I know what you mean by "nasty serrations" on that unit because mine are like wicked needles on that model.

That's the one. I ended up selling it, which I regret. But, yes, the serrations were vicious. Had to be mindful of them, as they would reach out and grab you before you realized it.

That's interesting that you bring up the serrated CE part of the C-46 Lum Tanto like I said mine are like wicked needles instead of the spike & scallop type serration pattern. I would sure hate to get raked by those nasty serrations.

I always love the handle on that C-46 Lum Tanto folder out of the ATS-55 era. That model totally changed my attitude about tanto blades. But Bob Lum's were a different animal all together. It's so sad that that man died when he did. I was about to have him make me a custom Tanto folder when it happened.

I agree 100%. The handle on the C46 is one of my all time favorites.

Glad you brought up handles because I'm going to focus on the handles in the ATS-55 era. Because after reading your post I got my 1999 Spyderco catalog out and looked through the entire ATS-55 line up. And you're most definitely on to something significant because that entire ATS-55 line up is stacked with great models that have really nice handles.

A few to consider are the C-46 Lum Tanto as you pointed out. The Big Calypso C-54 model ( superb Micarta Handle), The original Caly Jr models, The Peter Herbst, The Goddard models, The Pro-Venator, The first G-10 Police models, The Rookie, The Big Dyad C-44, The G-10 Harpy, and the AUS-8 Catcherman.

There most certainly was a shift or even a total product evolution in the handles on newer models in the ATS-55 era and the other models which got revamped and upgraded during that time slot. Yeah it's fair to say that the ATS-55 era took a huge step up the "quality ladder" with several of the models in that era. Oh and did I mention the first Jot Singh Khalsa model?? as well as the C-42 Howard Viele model. Yeah the company took a huge step up The Quality Ladder during the ATS-55 era.