Extreme price difference for no reason?

B

built to last

Feedback: +0 / =0 / -0
Joined
Aug 17, 2010
Messages
39
So, here is my dilemma.

I am looking for and EDC that I can literally lose and not care. I heard remington has some decent knives for very cheap, so I figured what the heck, I will check them out. I found the remington echo II and liked the design of the knife, and at only $14.99 I figured I would do some more research on them.

Then I saw that this price is really low for this series. REALLY low. Also, they were selling the military grade, which is made out of n690, for the same price as the 440C civilian grade. I would have just said that this website was making chinese ripoffs and dismissed it but the site was smokey mountain! While never having shopped there before, I have heard nothing but good reviews about them. I did some more searching and found most sites sell them for ~$80.00. All say they are 440C (for the civilian) and made in Italy. Can anyone think of a reason for such an incredible difference in price?

echo II civilian
http://www.knifeworks.com/remingtonechoiialuminumhandleciviliantantopointgifttin.aspx

echo II civilian
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...l™+Echo+II+Civilian+(Tanto)/RE19580.html

echo II military
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...l™+Echo+II+Military+(Tanto)/RE19586.html
 
Are they discontinued? I notice at some knife retail websites the Echo II models are listed as "low stock, call for availability," or "sold out."

If you want one, you should jump at the $15 pricing. SMKW is a very reputable business, and often price discontinued closeouts at significant savings.
 
It's also possible that they worked a deal with the manufacturer...Large buy in for a pretty dramatic discount so the price can be lowered without the profit taking a significant hit.
 
built to last said:
But why would the price for the civilian and military be the same? Different steels and different coatings...
Click to expand...

Again, they may have gotten a better deal on the military themselves. They might have negotiated a deal on the model, or Remington had a production overrun and had extra of the military model to get rid of at a better deal.
 
built to last said:
But why would the price for the civilian and military be the same? Different steels and different coatings...
Click to expand...

Batches of closeout knives, perhaps a special purchase. Gotta move 'em. Price is likely an indicator of the number available.

SMKW has done the same in the past with the original Schrades ($1.39 and up), Wenger and Victorinox ($1.99), Meyerco, Coleman/Western, Camillus...
 
I used to stop by job lot stores in NYC. They would buy up remaining stock of stores going out of business or clearing out a product line. Nice savings, brand names.

I bet Smokey Mountain has the resources to do just that.
 
Sometimes the price is wrong, discounted, or just somehow F'd up.
I just snagged 2 Vic Trekkers for 17.50 each, discounted.
Is the price right, I'd say no way, but that's what they sold them for.

I asked "are you sure"? Said yes, even thought the other discounteds where about $5.

Give it a shot.
 
I always thought N690 steel was almost the same as 440C so the price wouldn't really be that different.
 
I've picked up great deals from SMKW. They are a reputable company.

Bimmer1 said:
I always thought N690 steel was almost the same as 440C so the price wouldn't really be that different.
Click to expand...
The steels are not even close. N690 has 1.5% cobalt, 440C has no cobalt. There is a significant difference in price. I personally rank N690 above ATS-34.
 
For sure n690 is a nice steel. The only company I know that uses it much is FOX in Italy. Some SIGTac knives were also made by FOX and had n690 in them; that is my personal carry knife.

Extreme Ratio also uses n690 and they are made in Italy, but couldn't say who actually makes them.

Do a search on the SMKW site for "remington n690" and look at the other models prices. I see one wholesaler that has reduced the price on them recently, but it is still 300%+ more than these on SMKW.
 
Chuck Bybee said:
I've picked up great deals from SMKW. They are a reputable company.

The steels are not even close. N690 has 1.5% cobalt, 440C has no cobalt. There is a significant difference in price. I personally rank N690 above ATS-34.
Click to expand...


Cool! Thanks for clarifying that for me.:thumbup:
 
I wonder if he noticed the "temporarily out of stock" flag on both models on Smokey's site? (14.99 when we are out of stock.......85.00 when we have 'em)

Good Luck

Paul
 
sheathmaker said:
I wonder if he noticed the "temporarily out of stock" flag on both models on Smokey's site? (14.99 when we are out of stock.......85.00 when we have 'em)

Good Luck

Paul
Click to expand...

Uh, don't know where you're looking, but the Civilian version still shows "In Stock" when I checked just now. :confused:
 
cheap stainless??? what ever stainless is stainless, get a schrade?? All my knives are d2 steel, don't have a much of a dull knife prob. I paid forty bucks for my lifetime gaurantee,free return money back ect from (( your spam is getting annoying )) nice guy no lies to tell about his work . you want stainless at a high dollar most sellers can up the price for you. luck to you
 
Last edited by a moderator:
matutum said:
cheap stainless??? what ever stainless is stainless, get a schrade?? All my knives are d2 steel, don't have a much of a dull knife prob. I paid forty bucks for my lifetime gaurantee,free return money back ect from (( your spam is getting annoying )) nice guy no lies to tell about his work . you want stainless at a high dollar most sellers can up the price for you. luck to you
Click to expand...
matutum is Jason Jacobs. Some of you might be familiar Jason from these threads:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486227
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240790

Jason, why don't you post under your real name so people know who you are?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top