A Call to Action: Resurrect the AFCK!

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dangreco

Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
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Ok, so I would LOVE to get a AFCK or a TSEK from Benchmade. I know a bunch of people who would also like these highly regarded knives. I'm pretty angry at Benchmade for discontinuing it.

So here's my plan: Everyone who wants to, please e-mail Benchmade and ask them to remanufacture these knives. If you don't want to write your own, here is a sample:

Dear Benchmade,
I am a Bladeforums member, and many people in the knife community, including myself, would like to see the AFCK and TSEK manufactured again. It would be in Benchmade's business interests to remanufacture these knives, because there is a great demand for them.

Sincerely, ________



You just have to go to the Benchmade website and find "Contact Us." Together we can get these machines up and running again.

Thanks!
 
The 806 Axis lock AFCK was a response to forum demand. It was a dismal failure in terms of numbers sold. It became known as the knife that everyone wanted but no one would buy. But maybe if you pay up front for a 600 piece run they'll oblige you. Good luck.
 
yablanowitz said:
The 806 Axis lock AFCK was a response to forum demand. It was a dismal failure in terms of numbers sold. It became known as the knife that everyone wanted but no one would buy. But maybe if you pay up front for a 600 piece run they'll oblige you. Good luck.
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I have to disagree. The run of 500 knives was sold out in less then a week. I would call it success, YMMV ;)
 
RxEnergy said:
I have to disagree. The run of 500 knives was sold out in less then a week. I would call it success, YMMV ;)
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Or the 50 in grey G-10 that I didn't even see in time before they sold out.:mad:
Stay away from the internet for ONE day...
 
The 806 AFCK was and is still my favorite knife. Got my first one in 2000, the ATS 34 steel lock liner version, and a few months ago was able to get one of the limited M4 steel AXIS locks. I did pay the "Flipped" price from someone who got it first. In spite of the additional cost I still feel it was well worth it. I would love to see BM bring it back and make it available to the masses so to speak. It's a great knife. When you get it right the first time why change............
 
BM won't actually listen to common sense at this point. despite certain fanboys needing to play white knight for the company, they're doing a piss-poor job lately. I'm amazed they haven't discontinued the few decent knives remaining in their lineup yet. currently their level of quality and innovation is in the neighborhood of SOG, albeit with slightly better blade steel.
 
Face facts...Benchmade is in business to make money, if a knife was making money for them they would still be selling it. If they discontinue a knife it is because it isn't selling thus costing them money.

Unless you are willing to front the money for a minimum run I doubt any number of letters will get them to re-introduce it.
 
yablanowitz said:
The 806 Axis lock AFCK was a response to forum demand. It was a dismal failure in terms of numbers sold. It became known as the knife that everyone wanted but no one would buy. But maybe if you pay up front for a 600 piece run they'll oblige you. Good luck.
Click to expand...

This is all news to me. Could you please flesh out the details of this story just a bit?
 
I think the 806 is doing fine in the limited editions that have come out lately. I don't see anything else as being economically feasible.

I sure would like to see a run of plain edge M4 805 knives and how 'bout a run of M4 800 or 804 knives.

Dreamin' big.
 
I'd admit that in a capitalistic marketplace, a company's biggest motivator would be the cost to profit ratio. I'd also agree that if a company makes money off of a product, especially one that they already have machines tooled to, it would be logical for them to continue to produce that product.

However, this economic standpoint ignores a crucial point: product desireability. Companies like Bugatti, and Lamborghini restrict the number of cars they make to a very low number. I'm willing to wager that they also sell out virtually every car that they produce. Yet they continue to stop production at a low number.

Sprint runs by knife companies create a desire to have a product that few others have; again, this engenders desire in the consumer. The more people that desire a limited product, the more loyalty or brand image a company creates: such a product becomes a status symbol. Obviously, if a company doesn't sell enough products to stay afloat, this can lead to financial ruin. I'd argue, though, that Benchmade is doing just fine financially. The way I view it, by limiting the production of AFCK's, they are creating brand desireability. When they do release more AFCK's, like the 500 AFCK in M4 sprint run, again they will sell out - quickly.

Each time they do so, they create a fervor for their knives, and, once again, increase their desireability.
 
Oh, and I remember before the M4 sprint run, I was wandering around ebay, and I can remember seeing AFCK's going for over 1000 dollars. How many other production knives can boast a nearly 1,000% mark-up after production ended?
 
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