I want to believe - Survive! Speculations! Get it here!

Standard78 said:
I agree. I think a 4.1 style knife in 1095 or O1 with a squared off spine would be a hit. Offer it up with black, green, and natural canvas scales and orange G10 to keep it simple. I'd even leave the blades uncoated and add a disclaimer about rust.
It's always a big gamble though because we all know there are idiots out there that'll intentionally break a knife just to abuse a warranty.
Click to expand...
If the current production timeline wasn't so difficult to keep up with... Maybe. But I would hate to see them deviate from what makes them great. There's no need to get into the 01 / 1095 market when you have so many current pre-orders to fulfill.

I do agree that offering fewer options would be prudent. They do seem to be going the other way. Instead of 2, now 3 or more steels. Instead of fewer, Guy is developing new colors proprietary to S!K.
 
forte_defense said:
If the current production timeline wasn't so difficult to keep up with... Maybe. But I would hate to see them deviate from what makes them great. There's no need to get into the 01 / 1095 market when you have so many current pre-orders to fulfill.

I do agree that offering fewer options would be prudent. They do seem to be going the other way. Instead of 2, now 3 or more steels. Instead of fewer, Guy is developing new colors proprietary to S!K.
Click to expand...

Not for me I would buy a 1095/01/5160/traditional high carbon steel other than A2 or D2. I LOVE their design, sheath, blade geo, etc. I also believe their heat treat is better than most. Busse is using this business model with a lot of success.
 
When I think of SURIVIVE! I think of super steel. Maybe that's just because that's what Guy has always done, but in my mind 1095 seems like a weird fit. It seemed to me thay Guy's choice of steel helped to set him apart. The 1095 market seems pretty saturated with a lot of large and good companies. With that said if the SK line moved to 1096 or 5160 that would truly be a budget line. Guy's designs and attention to detail at 1095 prices would be an insane value.

If we're speculating on business practices, what other ways are there to make it easier for Guy and Ellie? Would changing steel really change much on their end? Personally I hope they keep going with the super steels, but I'm all for anything that makes business more sustainable for those two.
 
The only reason I think 1095 or O1 could be good is because of low cost and its relatively easy to maintain. I love the super steels because I'm basically obsessed with my knives but I know there are a lot of people out there that don't have the same opinion and just want a tool that functions without all the glitz and glamour.
 
Standard78 said:
The only reason I think 1095 or O1 could be good is because of low cost and its relatively easy to maintain. I love the super steels because I'm basically obsessed with my knives but I know there are a lot of people out there that don't have the same opinion and just want a tool that functions without all the glitz and glamour.
Click to expand...

From the user point of view I totally get it. I try not to be a steel snob :) I know those steels would be great in any of Guy's designs. I'm trying to think from Guy's point of view. I'm sure he'd adjust sale prices if he was using a cheaper steel, so if he makes X amount on a GSO 4.7 for $209 he'd probably make the same on alower priced SK 4.7 with 1095. Does any of that make sense?
 
It's really hard to find a knife that's even comparable at these prices considering the quality and steel being used.
Now if my Dad was buying one, he would choose the lower priced option like the SK4 because he doesn't have the "love" like I do with knives. They're just cutting tools to him and that's ok but I see them as a tool that can save my butt without failure plus they look pretty damn good.
If they could make a cheaper version without losing money, it could draw a new crowd of customers that will most likely fall under the same magical spell that sucked us all in.
 
I agree 100% with you. The only thing I was thinking is I don't think Guy needs a wider customer base! I don't know anything about business or Guy's plans, but keeping the target audience as it is might help in the near future to meet current demand. When production speeds up if Guy broke into the high carbon steel market, I have no doubts he would take over the world.
 
Silver Needle said:
I agree 100% with you. The only thing I was thinking is I don't think Guy needs a wider customer base! I don't know anything about business or Guy's plans, but keeping the target audience as it is might help in the near future to meet current demand. When production speeds up if Guy broke into the high carbon steel market, I have no doubts he would take over the world.
Click to expand...

That's a great point considering these knives just fly off the shelf! Hopefully they'll get a bit of breathing room between runs now.
 
I own a TON of knives (S!K, Busse, Swamp Rat, Battle Horse, L T Wright, Blackheart, Lionsteel, Fallkniven, Viper, Ka-Bar, Buck, Mora, Spiderco, Benchmade, etc.) in a lot of different steels (01, 1095, D2, A2, INFI, SR-101, 20cv, s35cv, 440, 3g, vg10, etc...) and I keep coming back to my GSOs (I own all of the GSOs except for the original necker) and there's a lot more to the GSOs than the 3v steel. They have great ergonomics, have great balance, good weight and great feel. All of my GSOs have good power, all of them can be used as a crowbar and all of them can do fine work. I have never had a hot spot from the 100s of hours I've spent with my GSOs and the canvas micarta scales grip wet or dry. They can also be easily removed for cleaning or for a new look/feel. I can't say this about the other knives listed above. For example, I love my Busses but their edge sucks for anything but chopping, the larger knives are too heavy to work with for a long time and I can't remove the scales. I really like my Fallknivens but I don't like the sharp spine of my F1 and my S1 doesn't have the power of my 5 or 5.1. I love my woodsman pro but I don't like the broom handle and the sharp spine. So I always go back to 4.1, 5, 5.1 or 7/7.

I really love 3v but I also love 1095 and 01 too. Now that I am starting to get better at sharpening I find that I don't care as much as I used to about the 3v steel verses "X". Oddly enough I've recently found that I don't like A2 or D2 as much.

So long story/rant short I would love to see an 01, 1095, 5160 knife from S!K. I don't need one but that's never mattered.

To Silver Needle about his quote "The only thing I was thinking is I don't think Guy needs a wider customer base! I don't know anything about business or Guy's plans, but keeping the target audience as it is might help in the near future to meet current demand. When production speeds up if Guy broke into the high carbon steel market, I have no doubts he would take over the world." - I think Guy wants more customers and it's possible that a lower cost high carbon knife might actually help S!K ramp up production for their 3v knives. 1095, 01, 5160 knives are easier, cheaper and faster to make and they appeal to a different market. Guy and Elly could pump out more of these knives to a larger audience and this might help them get the capital to expand the business and hire more people.
 
OBX, you are awesome. You made a great statement and I envy your experience with GSO's and other reputable knife designs.

As far as the statement of mine that you quoted, I based a lot of that off something Guy or Ellie said about avoiding anything close to advertising. I interpreted that as they are working tirelessly to fill existing orders without the need of another wave of people coming in. Also, unless there are plans to change this, Guy is the only one able to sharpen the knives to his standards. Can you imagine if the current demand remained while an entirely new "demographic" of becker and ESEE and TOPS customers came on board. I will admit that when I typed my previous statment, I thought it was way counterintuitive from a business standpoint..... less customers, really? But when you look at the reality of SURVIVE!'s existence, there needs to be a balance between supply and demand and until we can clone Guy I don't know how they can significantly increase supply. I hope I don't sound negative! I'm just trying to look at it practically. And also I don't know the first thing about running a business of any type, so take all this with a Titanic sinking sized grain of salt.
 
SN - Thanks for the kind works.

I get it and I wasn't trying to be critical. I just think it would be a great way for Guy and Elly to expand the business. I still believe that there's room for another 10x5 or high carbon knife in the market. Tops are well built, maybe a little over built and a little goofy, but are good knives. I've had 2 of them and ended up giving them away after I got my 4.1 and 5. ESEEs are also great knives and I've owned a couple as well and again gave them away after getting my 5.1 and 7/7. Anyway I also get your point about Guy being the only one that can sharpen but these high carbon steels should be a lot easier to sharpen. My blind horse/battle horse Woodsman Pro and LT Wright GNS are both made of 01 and both arrived about 90% of a Guy S sharpened knife, which is pretty damn sharp. So I think with the knife making talent in the region they should be able to get someone who can put out knives with crazy sharp edges. Just my $0.02.
 
Well said. I'll definitely defer to your greater experience. Now that we have this more or less figured out, maybe we can turn our attention to world hunger or a cure for the cold :D
 
So, it might just be an optical illusion, or I just spotted Bigfoot in the 4.7 shipment picture. Did you notice that some of the blades where wrapped differently, and it looks like they where not ground like the other blades? Could guy be experimenting in with a 4.7 SCANDI in the new mystery steel? Since 3V Scandic didn't work out before... Hmm...

Also, if you look reeallly close, one of them appear to have my name on it. ;)

6829e523d1bfa601934ff6aa999f42c1.jpg
 
ni1s said:
So, it might just be an optical illusion, or I just spotted Bigfoot in the 4.7 shipment picture. Did you notice that some of the blades where wrapped differently, and it looks like they where not ground like the other blades? Could guy be experimenting in with a 4.7 SCANDI in the new mystery steel? Since 3V Scandic didn't work out before... Hmm...

Also, if you look reeallly close, one of them appear to have my name on it. ;)

6829e523d1bfa601934ff6aa999f42c1.jpg
Click to expand...

Hahaha. Unfortunately, I have to shoot you down sir. Those are just the scrap pieces that didn't survive the production process for one reason or another.
 
SURVIVE! Ellie said:
Hahaha. Unfortunately, I have to shoot you down sir. Those are just the scrap pieces that didn't survive the production process for one reason or another.
Click to expand...

by scrap pieces i surely hope you mean "factory 3rds" that will be sold in the "gear" section as non functional knife art....I'm not saying i would buy them, but I would.....
 
SURVIVE! Ellie said:
Hahaha. Unfortunately, I have to shoot you down sir. Those are just the scrap pieces that didn't survive the production process for one reason or another.
Click to expand...

Hehe, thanks for clearing that up! (However, I think that's remarkably close to the cover-up they used transporting the UFO to Area 51, but I'll let it pass. For now. ;)
 
2nd page bump & update.

For those who haven't seen, Ellie has been spilling the beans (going bananas!) over in the 4.7 thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1339830-Gso-4-7?p=15501134#post15501134

A new Ceracoated Mystery Steel line (4.7 and at least also 4.5 has been ordered in those steels already?) cheaper than the GSO (the new SK line?)

And a new "ultra custom" line where you might request all kinds of stuff, colors, notches, engraving, brass bow drill divots, unicorns!

It's good times being a Survive!or :)
 
It is cool. Although I have ordered a few of the GSO lines, I am sure I could be easily satisfied with the SK line of knives as I am not a heavy user. Really keen to see the test results from the folks here who would really put them through their paces.
 
Has it been said (or speculated) anywhere on what other GSO models will get an SK counterpart? 5.1 I'd guess for sure, maybe 4.1 or 3.5. Depending on the steel they pick I wonder if it would be a good fit for the really big or small models.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top