2013 Case/Bose Collaboration

Is it harder to produce this pattern? I would imagine that to produce a thousand wharncliffe blades in 154CM steel would be costly, but shouldn't add much more machining costs to the order itself.
 
I hate second guessing companies, but in this case I will do it anyway.

When you have the most popular pattern there is, you can charge a premium for it, because you know you can sell it. It's a business. Businesses do that.
 
I'm gonna have to pass this year myself, darn it. Too many expenses coming up at the same time. :(
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Is it harder to produce this pattern? I would imagine that to produce a thousand wharncliffe blades in 154CM steel would be costly, but shouldn't add much more machining costs to the order itself.
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I really wonder how Benchmade does it? They use much harder steel and make more knives for that matter than most other manufacturers...except Case I would imagine. And yet they produce these at a lower price. I know I know...costly on cutting dies etc. but still 154CM is hardly M4 or even S30V.
 
akadave2 said:
I really wonder how Benchmade does it? They use much harder steel and make more knives for that matter than most other manufacturers...except Case I would imagine. And yet they produce these at a lower price. I know I know...costly on cutting dies etc. but still 154CM is hardly M4 or even S30V.
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I'd think you can do more with machines on a Benchmade than a Case.
 
Woodrow F Call said:
I'd think you can do more with machines on a Benchmade than a Case.
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When it comes to cutting the blade blanks etc its about the same. There is always going to be more hand fitting of a traditional regardless of the steel the blade uses. It makes no sense to charge triple for a knive just because it has something other than 1095 and soft stainless. Again, Queen uses ATS-34 and D2 without nary a blip in price. And while I like the Case/Bose collabs, GEC is about on part fit and finish wise from the two I have handled. So you really are paying for a name for collectible purposes not so much as a user.
 
Bolsters, scales, springs, pins, buff, polish....antiquated methods.

I imagine that almost all the parts on a Benchmade can be punched out or molded. Everything finished or close, then screwed together. All those little steps a traditional needs cost a little extra each.

Glocks benefit from a modern design that results in a quality pistol that is cheaper to build than a good 1911 or revolver. Kind of the same thing.
 
Woodrow F Call said:
Bolsters, scales, springs, pins, buff, polish....antiquated methods.

I imagine that almost all the parts on a Benchmade can be punched out or molded. Everything finished or close, then screwed together. All those little steps a traditional needs cost a little extra each.

Glocks benefit from a modern design that results in a quality pistol that is cheaper to build than a good 1911 or revolver. Kind of the same thing.
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Queen uses ATS-34, D2 and 1095 and is a lower price point to boot. Case could easily make a mid-model knife between the standard knife and the Bose collab.
 
Their price is their price, but is it a take it or leave it situation? What justifies the higher cost. We've had a small two blade jack and two trapper size single blades in the past three years. Prices have remained at 350-400 from most dealers. Steel and handles same options. Where did the extra coin come from?
 
Woodrow F Call said:
Bolsters, scales, springs, pins, buff, polish....antiquated methods.

I imagine that almost all the parts on a Benchmade can be punched out or molded. Everything finished or close, then screwed together. All those little steps a traditional needs cost a little extra each.

Glocks benefit from a modern design that results in a quality pistol that is cheaper to build than a good 1911 or revolver. Kind of the same thing.
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That is incorrect.

G10 has to be machined.
PM alloys and pretty much anything other than 420HC has to be laser cut, waterjet cut, or otherwise machined.

A clearer reason is that neither Benchmade nor Spyderco are publicly traded corporations. Case is owned by a publicly traded corporation. Such corporations have an overhead and come with higher expenses.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Their price is their price, but is it a take it or leave it situation? What justifies the higher cost. We've had a small two blade jack and two trapper size single blades in the past three years. Prices have remained at 350-400 from most dealers. Steel and handles same options. Where did the extra coin come from?
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I do think it is a "take it or leave it" situation.

Why would they have to justify their price?
The Case Bose collaborations are high end items with a set market.

The price is not necessarily entirely based on cost. There is this thing called "profit". Corporations have stockholders who demand "profit", and the more the better. So if they have an item which will support a higher profit, they have a stockholder mandate to go for that higher profit.
 
You're right about profit, and all of these will sell. I think it will take longer to sell this pattern though. Justification is tough, but I would have to say I am the one that has to justify if that knife is worth the asking $ when it comes to my wallet. Without seein it in person I would have to say no.
 
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knarfeng said:
... Case is owned by a publicly traded corporation. Such corporations have an overhead and come with higher expenses.
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Case is owned by Zippo. Zippo is a privately held company. There is no publicly traded stock for Zippo. It is owned in full by one man, George Duke.
 
I'd say the company that stands to make the most money off this years Case/Bose Collaboration is Kleenex what with all the whining about the price of these knives. It all boils down to affordability. Either you can afford them or you can't. Wait until next years collaboration is announced and buy this years knives at the discounted prices at that time.
 
Modoc ED said:
I'd say the company that stands to make the most money off this years Case/Bose Collaboration is Kleenex what with all the whining about the price of these knives. It all boils down to affordability. Either you can afford them or you can't. Wait until next years collaboration is announced and buy this years knives at the discounted prices at that time.
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For me its not the affordability. Ive spend an obscene amount on guns and knives. Its getting what you pay for. People thought I was nuts for paying over $5k for a watch...I got my moneys worth. I dont collect, I use and I dont like paying a premium for knife that was made to be a safe queen first, user second. I still like them though.
 
knarfeng said:
That is incorrect.

G10 has to be machined.
PM alloys and pretty much anything other than 420HC has to be laser cut, waterjet cut, or otherwise machined.

A clearer reason is that neither Benchmade nor Spyderco are publicly traded corporations. Case is owned by a publicly traded corporation. Such corporations have an overhead and come with higher expenses.
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You're right. I was over generalizing the fact that the product Benchmade is much more automation friendly than a traditional pocket knife. I’d even think their scales would be, G10 or not. I have not been on a tour of their facilities, just what I'm thinking that could be done with thier product.
 
I don't have a real problem with them charging so much for the knife. It's just not what I'm going to pay for one. I'm a little fish though. I'm sure they will sell.
 
I have two of Queens ATS34 knives. In no way are they comparable to the Case/Bose collaborations in fit, finish or quality of materials (i.e. steel liners vs. brass or nickle silver.) In addition, they are great designs, fluted bolsters, swedges, etc. but much more a "copy" of the old patterns than the Bose designs. Tony breaths new life into the old patterns, not Queen. You pay for the design as well as the materials. I don't own GEC but that's because I've never seen one that asked to be taken home. :) They don't float my boat, but I've handled plenty and they are no Case/Bose. The first Case/Bose I ever handled I wanted, but could not afford. So I waited. Never got that knife, but the ones I've found, in my price range, I've snapped up.

If the Case/Bose collaborations were so easy to execute and make tons of money, then why doesn't any other company do the same thing? The Queen collaborations with Pardue and Burke were no where near the Case/Bose level of quality and those efforts appear dead.
 
Woodrow F Call said:
I don't have a real problem with them charging so much for the knife. It's just not what I'm going to pay for one. I'm a little fish though. I'm sure they will sell.
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Yeah, I can agree with this. I am of course disappointed that they are out of my price range. I believe in capitalism, no question about it. My thought however, is, are they worth the increase? For a stockman or other elaborate three blade or more knife, yes. I guess we were just lucky that prices have remained level for a couple years.
 
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