AFCK/M4 Ain't no collecter now

"Please name me a single Spyderco that sells out in a week and that sells on eBay for 50% above MSRP right after retailers run out of stock.

By releasing LEs the way they do, Benchmade is actually giving up on profits in favor of "specollectors". "


I want to agree, but they have not produced such a knife.
Also, this was "almost" a Forum knife.
Most Sprint runs are 600 /1200. None in M4
(minus the Mule) Some in ZDP189, many in VG10.
New sprints will be in H1, but am not sure H1 has the same appeal as M4.
I think the world of Sal & buy lots of his knifes. But also think he missed big time by not getting more models out in M4.
I know of at least one he has coming out soon, but with the volume Spyderco produces knifes
he should have had a dozen on the market early in the year.

Do you think 250 P/E Dodo's in M4 would sell out like the 806-901?
Or what about 250 LG M4 Persians? Lum folding Tanto?
(I would pre-order several of each)

Its the re-introduction of an older model (Something BM almost never does)
Plus the blade steal, all at a great price.
The combination of the above made this one a winner.
Not an easy combination to duplicate.
The Axis 806 has a strong following. Might not be a large group, but to some its one of the best folders ever made. Period.

Just another opinion........

Prices will spike for a day or so, settle down, Then climb.......
It always goes like this.
Older Microtech's come to mind.......
If I missed one of these I would have no problem shelling out the bucks.
D2 806's sell in the $300.00 range. Why should one in M4 sell for less?
I use D2, but do not really care for it. Steel snob, you know.

So far, (1) P/E has sold on ebay for $400.00. Several have sold on forums in the $350.00 range.
Combo edge are selling for much less. $75.00 to $100.00 less.
 
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LorenzoL said:
Please name me a single Spyderco that sells out in a week and that sells on eBay for 50% above MSRP right after retailers run out of stock. :rolleyes:

By releasing LEs the way they do, Benchmade is actually giving up on profits in favor of "specollectors".
Click to expand...

Please name another Benchmade that has sold out in a week that sells on eBay for 50% above MSRP right after retailers run out of stock. :rolleyes:

Not even the S30V version of the 806 did so well.

This 806 version is a unique example. First you had the 710 M4 knives and people have seen the rather extreme selling price increase. Throw in the discussions on how "great" M4 is as a steel. Add in a few 806 diehards, the almost mythical reputation of the 806, and speculators.


The issue is that this was merely a limited edition that did sell out - Benchmade pretty much chose the volume and MSRP wisely. It sold out in a reasonable length of time, the price gotten by the dealers gave them a decent profit, and many buyers will be happy to see their new drawer queen gain in value.

Such a phenomena will probably not happen again.

Personally, I'd get a giggle if Benchmade chose to release 500 more M4 806 versions every 6 months or so. Watch the selling price drop fast. Sorry speculators.

Spend a bit of time looking at more than a few Spyderco models. A year or so after the model is out of production, the selling price is often more than MSRP and in some cases significantly more so. I'm still flabbergasted at the Dodo model's selling prices I often see, niffty knife that it is.

Watch the limited versions of the Military. Often, these are a bit slow to sell out, but once they do the selling price increases.

Kershaw seems to be on to this, also. Offer a model with a premium steel for a time, then switch to a lesser steel. Those premium steel models will probably increase in selling price.

People like to buy things that maintain or increase in value. In the long run, Benchmade etc. gain sales as people perceive the initial cost as being a potential investment at best, a better resellable product at worst.
 
I'd guess that if Spyderco offered a limited run of the original, full-sized Manix in M4, you'd see it go extremely fast.

I'd also say that the reputation of the AFCK is deserved. It really is a very nice knife, especially with the refinements of the M4 run. Benchmade seems to have put the 710 up against the Military. In that matchup, I'll take the Military. But I'd take the AFCK over either the 710 or Military.

I wonder how important the speculator/investors are to knife makers. Benchmade would probably not want to release any more AFCKs, even with the demand, just to keep the investor side of customer base happy. Such a pity.
 
orthogonal1 said:
Please name another Benchmade that has sold out in a week that sells on eBay for 50% above MSRP right after retailers run out of stock. :rolleyes:

Not even the S30V version of the 806 did so well.

This 806 version is a unique example. First you had the 710 M4 knives and people have seen the rather extreme selling price increase. Throw in the discussions on how "great" M4 is as a steel. Add in a few 806 diehards, the almost mythical reputation of the 806, and speculators.


The issue is that this was merely a limited edition that did sell out - Benchmade pretty much chose the volume and MSRP wisely. It sold out in a reasonable length of time, the price gotten by the dealers gave them a decent profit, and many buyers will be happy to see their new drawer queen gain in value.

Such a phenomena will probably not happen again.

Personally, I'd get a giggle if Benchmade chose to release 500 more M4 806 versions every 6 months or so. Watch the selling price drop fast. Sorry speculators.

Spend a bit of time looking at more than a few Spyderco models. A year or so after the model is out of production, the selling price is often more than MSRP and in some cases significantly more so. I'm still flabbergasted at the Dodo model's selling prices I often see, niffty knife that it is.

Watch the limited versions of the Military. Often, these are a bit slow to sell out, but once they do the selling price increases.

Kershaw seems to be on to this, also. Offer a model with a premium steel for a time, then switch to a lesser steel. Those premium steel models will probably increase in selling price.

People like to buy things that maintain or increase in value. In the long run, Benchmade etc. gain sales as people perceive the initial cost as being a potential investment at best, a better resellable product at worst.
Click to expand...

The 710-801 was listed at around 140$ by KW, IIRC. They sold out about a month BEFORE it even started shipping. The first ones on eBay were selling around 220-250$.

This guy here sold out in a couple of days, but it is not doing too well on the after market, despite the very limited edition and the M4 steel:

IMGP3101.jpg


As for the Millie, sorry but you are mistaken. A NIB S90V Millie, which IMHO is far better than either the 710-801 or the 806-901, can be found below its original MSRP, same with a FG Manix. Maybe a Ti ATR or a large Persian.
 
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Wow this thread went south fast. I'll just say the F&F on my new 806 is phenomenal for a production knife. The only F&F problems I've had from BM are a couple off center blades, but I've experienced that with all companies. There was a big demand from the BM community for an AFCK in M4 and BM actually went out and did it, making the most from the supplies they had. I'm glad they did and I'm very happy with this knife, it's unfortunate so many people have gotten upset over it. I mean it's just a knife people...
 
LorenzoL said:
The 710-801 was listed at around 140$ by KW, IIRC. They sold out about a month BEFORE it even started shipping. The first ones on eBay were selling around 220-250$.

....

As for the Millie, sorry but you are mistaken. A NIB S30V Millie, which IMHO is far better than either the 710-801 or the 806-901, can be found below its original MSRP, same with a FG Manix. Maybe a Ti ATR or a large Persian.
Click to expand...


The 710 was open to pre-order for over two months - there were even cancellations - that is why I own a few, because of the length of time being open to pre-orders and the change in number produced.

Look at the BG-42, S90V, and CF Militaries - you know, the limited production versions.
 
tjsulli790 said:
Wow this thread went south fast. I'll just say the F&F on my new 806 is phenomenal for a production knife. The only F&F problems I've had from BM are a couple off center blades, but I've experienced that with all companies. There was a big demand from the BM community for an AFCK in M4 and BM actually went out and did it, making the most from the supplies they had. I'm glad they did and I'm very happy with this knife, it's unfortunate so many people have gotten upset over it. I mean it's just a knife people...
Click to expand...

I don't get it either.
 
orthogonal1 said:
The 710 was open to pre-order for over two months - there were even cancellations - that is why I own a few, because of the length of time being open to pre-orders and the change in number produced.

Look at the BG-42, S90V, and CF Militaries - you know, the limited production versions.
Click to expand...

Oh, these:

IMGP3154.jpg
 
I can't believe people are taking advantage of these things. I saw one for 375. What the hell is this? Ripoff city? Not cool scalpers, seriously.
 
orthogonal1 said:
Yeah, those and similar. The prices have or will rise for the limiteds.

Oops, forgot to add that "A NIB S30V Millie, which IMHO is far better than either the 710-801 or the 806-901" is terribly mistaken :).
Click to expand...

:thumbup: I meant S90V, of course. Gonna edit the post before somebody else reads it ;)
 
I don't even know what BM is being criticized for. A 500 piece run is not a new thing. M4 BM knives are not a new thing. A $225 MSRP is not a new thing. What did they do that is so wrong or shocking?

Man I hate that Hinderer guy, look at the secondary market prices on the XM18.
 
What ever "we" come up with. This will be one great knife to carry.
Well worth what ever you end up paying.
Also think many will never use it. Its their choice.
It will join my favorite 3 1/2" - 4" carry blades.
806 AXIS, S90v Millies, BG42 LG Seb, Early MT Socom's,
Stretch II's, M2&M4 710's.
I like these so much, I have at least doubles. All but the BG42 CR.
And am always on the look out for #2. ;)
 
90% of Spyderco's LE's come from Japan and minimum order on those, depending on the model is 600 to 1200. Benchmades are made here in the US (at least that part of the catalog that matters to most of us) at one location. It's a lot harder for BM to come out with an LE, as they have to work it around their regular production, which includes military orders.
Now feel the difference.
 
RxEnergy said:
90% of Spyderco's LE's come from Japan and minimum order on those, depending on the model is 600 to 1200. Benchmades are made here in the US (at least that part of the catalog that matters to most of us) at one location. It's a lot harder for BM to come out with an LE, as they have to work it around their regular production, which includes military orders.
Now feel the difference.
Click to expand...

That is new to me. I thought most of them are made in the USA if you talk about the Millie specifically. :confused:
 
3mptin3ss said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Benchmade-Knife...in_0?hash=item2c4ef707eb&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

look at this guy, he is trying to sell his for almost a thousand dollars!
Click to expand...
That is not the same knife this thread is about. The one you linked to was a very small LE run of only 39 knives. And it won't be the first knife of that series someone will buy at that same amount.
A total of 239 of 806 series were done with CF scales. Of which 100 - Satin S30V blade, 100 - Gold Class Damascus, and 39 - BK coated S30V. Good luck finding any of them.
 
The reason the knife was limited to 500 units was due to the fact that it was not scheduled for manufacturer at all in 2009. It was squeezed in after Benchmade Forum members demanded it. They announced to us over 4 months ago that they would make it, but had no further info at the time. So everyone just waited. The smart ones got on lists. But many (myself included) did not know how distribution would be handled. The 710-801 distribution became a real problem when KW had the whole lot and some purchased as many as 10 with a few getting close to 20. This created a real problem (rightly so) with Benchmade forum members.

To avoid that chaos they released it with the same rules applied to a gold class knife. Sales to premium dealers were limited to 4 of each PE and SE. First come first served but not more then 8. Not knowing what it was until Benchmade Forum Members started calling after they were given the heads up by Benchmade and before the dealers. A FIRST!! (Thanks Mark ) By the time the calls flooded into premium dealers many only ordered what they had calls for and in most cases it was less than 8. When the calls kept coming days later, premium dealers who called Benchmade to order more were told SOLD OUT. As far as more of these being made. NO TIME SOON IF EVER.

One forum member started this whole thing. They made the knife for him and those who would not let up with posts to a thread that lasted longer then I know. It was huge and led by a man called Mark. This knife is an amazing story on top of an amazing knife.

C1 AKA Doc Pringles :)
 
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