A.T.R.: Worth it?

[The Saint]

Now, I'm not trying to piss anyone off, but is the A.T.R. as good as the price necessarily demands? It looks quite intriguing (love the blade design and the idea of an integral compression lock), but for 200 bucks one could get a very decent custom folder.



Does anyone have any exposure to it? I'd love to hear of anyone's experience with it.

[AllenETreat]

The Saint -

Just my two copper coins ; If one's
gonna spend $200, they'd be best served buying a good surplus pistol. I myself
don't go over $100 for a knife.

AET

Some things are necessary evils, some things are more evil than necessary. John Le Carre

[The Saint]

I live in Canada. We can't carry guns. Hell, we can barely carry knives thanks to the asinine vagaries we have that almost resemble respectable laws. <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[zeus]

I posted my thoughts on this model but can't find the post... anyway I was lusting after one until I got to handle one at a gun show for at least 20 minutes. The balance seemed off due to the light weight titanium handle, and the clip is folded sheetmetal that LOOKS like a chunk of steel. I hate to knock Spydies, but this one reminded me of something made in R.O.C. I do like the blade shape and size, plus the Cobra hood. If the price was half and the scales were stainless, I would add it to my arsenel. I was comparing the Dodo and the A.T.R. at the same show and the Dodo did it for me.

Now to come up with a way to bolt on a Cobra hood to my Military....

[SURLY]

I LOVE <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>.I was into the blade design and was going to add one to my stable til I saw the price and couldn't find one cheaper than 189. Yes, I think it is pricey <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> I have to hold one first and feel it before I buy.
Be @ Peace..SM

[EarthDog]

Is it worth it? Great question, and one you have to answer for yourself.

I chose yes. I decided it compared well to the Sebenza, and I really like the blade design, compression lock, handle ergonomics, and materials. I had a little cash to spare and was willing to spend it. (Best price I found was The Fire Store, btw.)

The one thing I see as missing in the A.T.R. is bronze washers, such as those used in the Sebenza and many Benchmades. They smooooth out the open/closing very nicely. As is, the A.T.R. is taking a little lubing to smooth out some.

Woof,

EarthDog

[thombrogan]

It was worth it to me, but I got a special deal. I don't think you'll find a better folder in the $200 range in terms of fit, finish, lock strength and reliability, and materials.

And if you do, it'll also be a Spyderco.

[samosaurus]

ATR = C<img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0><img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>L.. Someday, I'll get one.. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

"have scars will travel.."

[swede]

For my 2 cents, I agree with Earthdog. The Sebenza is essentially a factory knife, which costs more than twice as much. The feel, fit and finish of the ATR is better, and I like the blade design more.

Dave

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha!

Oooohhh, not for me. I agree w/ AET totally. If I could AFFORD to dish out that kinda money on a folder, then no problem...but I don't go over &quot;3digits&quot; myself.

Love the ATR, but not the price...

God will put you over...if you let Him! John 14: 13,14...try it, it WORKS!

[antichristina]

i love mine granted I didn't pay retail for it but it is one of the most expensive blades i own for production knives and i tend to carry quite offten.

[java]

Read the review of the ATR in the July issue of &lt;i&gt;Tactical Knives&lt;/i&gt; for more information. I myself am comfortable with the Gunting and carry the live or drone versions alternatively. (Both of which, BTW, are over $100.00 MSRP) The ATR is an effective MBC folder and your value will depend on its use and what you're going to put into it.

Although it doesn't guarantee quality or justify price I find the $100 limit viewpoint prevalent in people buying SCUBA equipment as well. Many folks question why I buy a $400.00 plus regulator and rather than go into flow volumes, ease of breathing, quality, and maintenance issues, my response is usually, &quot;How much is your life worth?&quot;

I know we're not talking life or death with the ATR but you have to set your own value and decide what is important in an MBC rated knife, a collector's knife, or anything else you want to own. Your own value and utilization should drive what you can and will pay to achieve optimum satisfaction. Worth, effectively, is relative.

I, myself, would think much more than twice about buying a &quot;$200.00 pistol&quot;. Unless you've got a buddy who's going to sell you a seriously good pistol for the price of the ATR, I wouldn't trust a $200 surplus handgun without wondering what in the flaming hubs of Hades is wrong with it and how many rounds down the tube before it jams or fails on me - but then your buddy could probably sell you his new ATR at a bargain price too.

I may reconsider this opinion based on whether that's $200 Canadian or $200 US for those customs you're talking about. Aw heck! Either way, that would be one heck of a bargain for a custom. Keep me on the list and send pics!! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

BTW: I do have an ATR and believe it is a finely crafted tool well worth the much less than $200 price I paid as a collector. I just prefer the Gunting as an MBC carry due to the fexibility it offers along the application of force scale.

j


Edited by - java on 5/15/2004 2:56:10 PM

[timlara]

After handling the ATR, I couldn't wait to get one. The fit and finish were excellent and there's just something about the look and feel of titanium that I find really, really appealing.

If you consider that titanium ain't cheap to begin with (titanium jewelry is expensive, too - a simple ring will typically run you over $100 pretty easily) and that it's also not very easy to machine, the cost over other similarly equipped Spyders isn't really that much higher.

I think the ATR is definitely worth sub-$200 price you can find it for at the better dealers. I would hesitate to pay the full retail, but you also have to remember that retail prices are set deliberately high enough so as to give the resellers room to discount and compete with each other...

I'm picking up an ATR next week, actually! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[thombrogan]

While I am most assured to read that the lock is MBC-rated and trust its compression goodness, I don't see the Salbenza, er, ATR as something to be used for martial arts. Imagine surviving a violent attack only to have your ATR locked up in a police evidence locker where it might not be returned to you and possibly sold to some schmoe at auction for $50. That's not <i>really </i> surviving.

Then again, it's fast to deploy, has a reliable lock, and a strong tip, so what do I know?

[java]

Thombrogan,

I like the &quot;imagine surviving a violent attack part&quot;..... After that everything is just roses for me. I 'll see my wife and kids again and some schmoe can pay $50 for my ATR. I lived to buy buy another.

j

[jayharley]

I paid $160 for my new ATR and it was certainly worth it, to me. I cannot say if it would be worth it to you or not. Everyone has different financial restrictions and guideliness. No one can really decide how you should spend your money.

[The General]

I thought a steel handled version was in the pipe line?

Otherwise, what is anything worth? What you are willing to pay I am afraid. Just because you can get a custom at the same price does not make it a better knife, just handmade and crafted.

Till I try one, I will withold judgement weither I would buy one. At that price I think you always must see a knife first.

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/index.php?referrerid=41

[Rger No. 1]

My ATR was worth every cent I paid for it. I am a big fan of the Gunting and the Lil Temperance but the ATR is in a class by itself. When you look at the design and the finished manufactured product its hard to believe it is not custom made.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution." Albert Einstein

[Jurphaas]

Dear Holy Man - your question certainly pisses me off. It will probably also piss off everyone at Spyderco involved in designing and producing it. Yes, you can get a proper folder for far under $100,00 and if you're not prepared to spend in exess of that for a knife, why bother to look at it and to ask stupid questions?
Now,I challenge you to show me the $200 custom knife with laser cut machined and drilled titanium scales, a state of the art exclusive lockinf system and a CPM S30V blade in the size of an ATR!
Don't you think that a reputable custom knife maker would like to see a fair and honest return on a knife he spends days on to make? Come on!


Clipits work!

[The Saint]

I think I made a friend. How delightful. :D

[HoB]

Peace, guys, I don't think that the question was meant to insult nor did I read it as an insult either. I think it is a valid question, though IMO posed poorly. There is no question that the technology and materials involved justify the price. The question is more (just as most people that have responded have understood it) if you can have an outstanding knife like the Native II, with a great lock, awesome blade steel and good handle for approx. $70, do the titanium scales, integral compression lock etc. really offer that much more in functionality and in pride of ownership (a very important component, me believes) that would justify the extra $100. A question that really everybody has to decide for him or her self so I understood Saints question as a collection of personal opinions.

So here is mine: I have had the chance to handle the Buck Mayo TNT with Ti scales and it absolutely rocks. A friend of mine has relegated his entire collection to some obscure drawer and doesn't even look at them anymore ever since he got his Buck TNT. For me personally to have the chance to get a Spydie with the same materials and potentially even better fit/finish and lock is absolutely awesome. I just haven't gotten to like the blade shape,...yet. Wish it had a blade like the Calypso.

Edited by - HoB on 5/18/2004 2:51:52 PM

[SURLY]

I agree, I will pay what a knife is worth because of materials used and workmanship.What slows the knife buying process down is that when a blade goes for more than two hundred plus pesos I MUST feel the balance,action and overall quality of the knive then I will either Love it<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> or be really glad I didn't order it sight unseen.<img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Be @ Peace

[thombrogan]

Java,

Good point. Still, without an ATR, can you really say you're alive? <img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> j/k

[SURLY]

After listening to everyone here and looking at the pictures of the ATR at New Graham (click on it). I'm very close to getting one.<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Any Deals out there peeps ?

Be @ Peace "Si vis pacem, para bellum" Psalm 133:1

[Ted]

Some Ti frame lock (variations) folders with approx 3.5&quot; S30V blades


Spyderco ATR (Ti/S30V)- $299 MSRP ($190 retail)
Buck Mayo TNT (Ti/S30V) - $296 MSRP ($190 retail)
Chris Reeve Large Sebenza - (Ti/S30V) $345
A.T. Barr 'Cape-Fear' Framelock (Ti/S30V) - $450
Scott Cook Lochsa (Ti/S30V) - $490
Wilkins Knives Ghost Dog (Ti/S30V) - $600

So if you like the looks of the ATR, it's a bargain compared to several other Ti/S30V knives.

Ted

Edited by - Ted on 5/19/2004 12:07:15 AM

[Jurphaas]

I hear you Ted!

Clipits work!

[java]

Good points by all and glad to see we have convinced an ATR buyer or two!

Jurphaas,
You're always so cool and calm.... Looks like I need to buy the second round of Oranjebooms to keep things mellow. Do you ever deal with my comrades at CNA??? Keep it safe my brother Aero-Spydie man! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Java

[thombrogan]

Ted,

There's also the Lone Wolf Tighe Tactical.

Its MSRP is $279.99, but it's online price is $119.99

Of course, aside from the ATR, none of the other models have a compression lock. They're all subject to the same problems that plague other linerlocks and framelocks.

[Jurphaas]

Dear Java - Thanks for the offer. Sure I'm cool. I certainly reacted a bit childish and got carried away a bit. With all due respect, I hereby apologize to our friend The Saint, no harm ment and (hopefully) no hard feelings.




Clipits work!

[The Saint]

Jurphaas: No offense taken whatsoever. I figured you weren't being entirely serious anyway. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[Jurphaas]

The Saint - You are right. In a certain sense I visit the Forum daily just to check in and to see what's going on and to shed off the many busy hours I go thru during the day. Altough I'm still active military, I also am a very close friend to Spyderco and to many of the people running it. My views on Spyderco and it's product are (admittely spoken) not always with out bias. Since 1995 I run a little knife business - holland Knives -as a side line to my work but - alas - due to my tight schedule and a lack of time it is dormant for the time being.
Believe me, I try to see things not so seriously and I find many friends here at MY Forum.
Make it a great weekend!

Clipits work!

[thombrogan]

The General,

A steel-handled version, with extra holes and VG10 blade steel, is on the way they say. Its MSRP is $167, which is, what, 60 Euros? Its internet price will likely be around $100.

[timlara]

Finally got my ATR today. Oh, yeah!! Based on look and feel alone it was absolutely worth every penny! More insightful comments to follow once I've had a chance to carry it for a while. For now, a few pics will have to do:

&lt;img src=&quot;http://timlara.cqhost.net/atr/atr-closed.JPG&quot;&gt;

&lt;img src=&quot;http://timlara.cqhost.net/atr/atr-closed-clip.JPG&quot;&gt;

&lt;img src=&quot;http://timlara.cqhost.net/atr/atr-open.JPG&quot;&gt;

&lt;img src=&quot;http://timlara.cqhost.net/atr/atr-open-clip.JPG&quot;&gt;

&lt;img src=&quot;http://timlara.cqhost.net/atr/delica-atr-jester.JPG&quot;&gt;

Edited by - timlara on 5/23/2004 3:11:43 AM

[HoB]

FINALLY!!!
Great pics of an ATR. Thanks much Timlara! Dang, that IS a nice piece, I might have to re-evaluate my dislike of the blade shape.

[Civilian]

Just got mine(thanks Carlos) and it is a stout piece! The blade seems strong enough to use as a prybar. The lockup is solid although it could be louder like the Milie. the Fit and finish is great, the Ti looks great as well! The only thing I don't care for is the tip-up carry, it should have all 4 corners tapped.
So Yes it is worth it.
______________
MAT&lt;img src=&quot;spyder.gif&quot; width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0&gt;TER

Edited by - CIVILIAN on 5/28/2004 12:06:35 PM

[patogordo]

I hope its worth it, bacause after a long wait ngk just sent me one today

Slowly one at a Time, but someday...