Blown away by unknowing local gun store's rare Benchmades

Misanthropia

Misanthropia

Joined
Jul 10, 2011
Messages
1,941
After much procrastinating, I finally went to get my license to purchase and own a handgun in the state of Rhode Island (what we call a "blue card"). After an unpleasant experience at one gunstore in a different part of the state (there was a peanut gallery of random guys sitting around in the store making racist comments about a black woman who had just left), I decided to try a different shop in a much more rural part of the state. Anyways, I take the test and afterwards my friend and I decided to look around a bit, as I had seen they had some knives in a display case when I first walked in. What I saw blew me away:

Sitting in a Benchmade display case, they had a 635 Mini Skirmish limited run with the Bk1 coating/Blue handles, a matching 630 Skirmish, a 14100 H&K Snody Fixed, a 14250 H&K Snody Tanto, and various Pika's/1st Production Runs of BM knives. This gun store is in a very rural, rarely traveled area where your average shopper wouldn't have a clue about the value/rarity of these knives, so it's safe to say they probably won't be going anywhere. I was way too excited when I started figuring all of this out (I think the guy that worked there was kind of weirded out by my enthusiasm) so I don't remember the prices that were on them, but I think they were close to the MAAP Benchmade asked for them back in the day.

I'm so excited about these that I want to go back immediately, I can't stop thinking about it! I especially love the Snody Tanto, I never thought I would see that in a store. Do you guys think I should buy all of them up and figure it out when the dust settles?
 
Honestly, what do you think we'd think? You ain't back there already? :D
 
There is always the desire to make a score.

I think the ethical thing would be to inform the store owner of the value of these knives. If he is still willing to let them go at ticketed value, consider your job done. If the store owner wants to go up, negotiate something fair for both of you.
 
He wouldn't be selling them at that price if he wasn't making a profit right? I would snag them!
 
Thanks guys, I know I would get honest answers from you guys :D While this wouldn't completely jeopardize my financial future, it would still be a significant amount of money invested here. I remember the 14250 being $170 which is probably what the MSRP was when it was released. Thankfully I have a birthday coming up so not only will that mean a little bit more funding, but most importantly it will be a socially acceptable excuse to make such an asinine (by other's standards) purchase.

Sherlock, if you really want to know I can send it to you. I can't risk losing my stash this quickly!
 
Misanthropia said:
I remember the 14250 being $170 which is probably what the MSRP was when it was released. Thankfully I have a birthday coming up so not only will that mean a little bit more funding, but most importantly it will be a socially acceptable excuse to make such an asinine (by other's standards) purchase.
Click to expand...

Not to burst a bubble or be a smart guy but you should look at this
link removed
 
Last edited:
I think the price that's on them is the price to pay. Wouldn't the owner have to buy them to mark them up per their collector values?
 
I don't know why the owner needs to be told what these knives are going for in the after market. He or she is a businessman, and it is on the owner know the value of his stock. Buy the knives at a good price and move on.
 
Since when is business ethical? But seriously, I think the shopkeep does know what he paid, and that they are not moving for a reason be it demographics or whatever. Obviously if they are priced very low, he wants to move the merch to make space for something that will sell.
 
Last edited:
Man, what I wouldn't give to find a reasonably priced NIB 635, LE or not. Great find.
 
I hate to echo the general consensus but i would beg, borrow, steal, (alright, maybe not steal) call in mathers day, mothers day, birthdays, Xmas or any other holiday gift you got commin' and run, don't walk to the gun store and scoff 'em up before one of the forumites figures out where you're at and finds the gunstore for themselves. ;)
 
Old lost-in-nowhere shops are the best: their usual customers are not knife-guys and a non knife-guy is not going to spend 100+ $ in a knife. There are hidden treasures in the dust out there!
Just two or three weeks ago I found a '90s Spyderco Civilian. Amazing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top