Discontinued models: An idea

baraqyal

baraqyal

Joined
Nov 30, 2000
Messages
860
Well, I had an idea this morning. I'm not sure how practical it is, but I'll post it anyways.

How about, every so often, Spyderco does a special, limited run of one discontinued model?

Spyderco could have the knife community and collectors nominate their favorite 4 or 5 models, say, once a year. Sal + Co. could narrow it down to the 3 most practical, and have a vote to decide on the most popular one on their website and/or forum.

The blades themselves would say something like "Special run - 2003" on them, to differentiate them from the originals.

This would help out us poor fools that use our discontinued models everyday. That way, when my Wegner gets worn out/broken/lost/etc, I could lobby to try and get a brand new one.

It could even be once every 2 years, or even 3 years. Make it real nice, with a presentation box, and made out of whatever is the newest steel.

It would be highly collectable. A lot of us younger folks never got the chance to buy many of the original models, and some of them are nearly impossible to acquire without a massive budget.

With the community involvement, Spyderco would get the chance to gauge the interest before going to production. And, Spyderco would have the chance to eliminate the models that would be too costly/difficult to produce. There would be no R&D expense, and Spyderco already knows how to produce the knives efficiently.

I know Spyderco already has it’s plate full with new models. But, hey, I guess I just want to have my cake and eat it too. :)

-- Rob
 
I like the idea... but...

Spyderco's have become somewhat collectable. Not Case collectable, but collectable all the same. I think any company that makes a good chunk of business from collectors has to protect its base by continually canceling models and coming out with new ones.

I'm sure in the deep dark recesses of Sal's office, he has studies that tell him every time he releases a new design xxx thousands will be sold to collectors alone, the rest to people who like the knife and want to have one to carry and use.
 
This has been brought up before. Sal pretty much said, 'the past is the past and we want to move on.' I'd try and find one of the threads but I can't search as a basic member right now.
 
Originally posted by ThinkOfTheChildren
This has been brought up before. Sal pretty much said, 'the past is the past and we want to move on.' I'd try and find one of the threads but I can't search as a basic member right now.
Click to expand...

Oh.

What's with the Blackhawk/Renegade/Worker releases, then?

-- Rob
 
Originally posted by baraqyal
What's with the Blackhawk/Renegade/Worker releases, then?
Click to expand...
From what I understand, Spyderco had a surplus of parts for them that had never been used so they decided to finally slap them together and sell them. So it was basically a liquidation of old parts, not a reproduction of the pieces.
 
>A lot of us younger folks never got the
>chance to buy many of the original models,
>and some of them are nearly impossible to
>acquire without a massive budget.

Hm.

I've never tried to track down a long-discontinued Spydie... How true is this?

Do old models really command such high prices?
 
Sometimes yes- look at the Q's on ebay or try and find an older tuffram civilian PE or an original titanium Peter Herbst. Some are hard to find and cost more and some go for about retail. Depends on the knife and the collector. Have i paid dearly for a knife, yep. Hope that answers the question.
Jyork
collector #123
 
As the people at Country Knives(intercourse PA) told me. There are 2 types os knife people on the world: there are collectors and there are Do'ers. They say I'm a do'er(I don't worry about the box or warranty, since I do thing with my knives)!!! So for Collector this idea may have some merit!! But for us do'ers, maybe not!!:confused:
 
>Sometimes yes- look at the Q's on ebay or
>try and find an older tuffram civilian PE
>or an original titanium Peter Herbst...
>Hope that answers the question.

Sorta. But those are particularly rare <i>versions</i> of a particular model that are valued for their scarcity.

You can currently get a Peter Herbst or a PE Civilian for below retail, just not in the rare "collectible" versions.

The distinction is important for collectors. But the original post was for "us poor fools that use our discontinued models everyday."

I guess what I'm not getting is who's supposed to benefit from a "reissue" program. Collectors wouldn't look at a "new" tuffram Civilian the same way as an old one (and might resent it's impact on the value of their "collectible" pieces), and a knife user can defend himself just as well with a carbon fiber handle as with an aluminum one.

If, for example, Calypso Juniors become prohibitively expensive, then I could see a need for a reissue. But if they can still be had on FS forums and Ebay, then I just don't see how it'd be worth the expense of gearing up a whole new production run.

So I guess my first question would be better stated like this:

Are there any models that y'all would love to have as <i>users</i>, but that are too expensive, or too rare to find, or have no current equivalents?
 
Originally posted by Grover_Cephas
Are there any models that y'all would love to have as <i>users</i>, but that are too expensive, or too rare to find, or have no current equivalents?
Click to expand...

The original C15 Bob "T" with aluminum handle. Only 2500 made originally. Very hard to find.
 
Hi Big Target.
I would have thought it would have worked the other way. My Calypso Jnr PE is a working knife, so every now and then I worry about what I'm going to do if I ever lose, break, or wear down my favourite EDC.

I don't see this happening, but if it does my vote goes for the Lrg Calypso PE, can't find one of those for love nor money :(
 
Are there any models that y'all would love to have as users, but that are too expensive, or too rare to find, or have no current equivalents?
Click to expand...

Figuring out what is a current equivalents is a bit difficult. For example, the impala, I suppose, is the closest thing to a current equivalent to the Wegner. But, IMO, it's quite different.

One knife that I particularily like is the G10 Harpy. Sure, you can get a SS Harpy, or an FRN Harpy, but they just don't feel the same. It took me quite a while to find another one (not that it's impossible). Would the SS Harpy work for me? Probably. But it feels different, and has different characteristics. I could have easily bought a SS harpy, but chose instead to wait for a G10 version to come up for sale.

I would also love to get a full sized Calypso.

There are lots of models being retired, and I don't think that all of them will be replaced by equivalents. Sure, it might be easy to find a Starmate now, but how about in 10 years?

Expense is also an issue - would I pay $200 for a "user" that is a "collectible", when I could get the latest/greatest modern design for $130? Probably not. But I would pay $130 for a design I know works for me. I think others are willing to do the same - just look at all the semi-custom buck 110's out there.

Anyways, Sal knows best. If now is not the right time, maybe sometime in the future.

-- Rob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top