Benchmade prototype

[russellfish]

I saw a benchmade folder that had prototype 2006, Im new to knives and wasn't sure if this was supposed to add to the value of the knife or if it was a marketing gimmick, any info on this is appreciated. Thanks

 

[RevDevil]

I would think it would be a little more valuable to those that really want to collect that particular knife.

 

[John E Woven]

depends on which knife it is

 

[blackjackdan08]

I have the Prototype Bnechmade HK Ally knife prior to mass production...picked it up for 27 bucks...sweet knife

 

[SIFU1A]

BM proto's have little (if any) value over a std production, those which do have more value differ from the production in some way, ie alloy vs G10 handles, i used to collect BM proto's/pre-pro's/1st pro runs and of the dozens of proto's i had exactly 2 sold for more than a std one would have, one had carbon fibre handles vs G10 and one had alloy handles vs G10 ( a stryker and a 710), the stryker sold for $150 and the 710 is worth ~ $150 or so ( i still have it i like the alloy handles, i have a standing offer of $150 for it though). my axis AFCK proto actually brought less than a std axis AFCK, IIRC the std axis AFCK offered tip up/tip down /RH and LH clip carry while the proto was RH tip up only and folks all wanted the ability to change it around, thus the lower price on that 1.

why? they make too many of the things, IIRC the 710 proto's with alloy numbered ~ 400 which was low for BM protos, the typical proto numbers are more like 7-800 IIRC, and really even 400 is too many for it to be "rare", also most protos dont differ at all from the production, spyderco for example makes very few protos, usually less than 10, and one rarely gets outta the shop, i saw a gunting proto (the only spydie proto i have ever seen for sale) sell for $600 or even $700 on ebay(upon reflection it mighta been $1600 or $1700, its been a while now), also spydie uses its protos to test the design, how it carries/etc while BM uses theres more to test the waters for sales, imho anyway.

i did used to enjoy collecting them though and they impress the uninitiated quite a bit.