Is it safe to say that kershaw is leading benchmade and spyderco now?

[Thomas W]

To some, it tarnished the Benchmade brand. They figured it out and dumped it.

Is that why they did it? Perhaps there were other reasons?

It's also about being exclusive. I don't think you'll ever see Benchmades at Wal Mart.

I'm not sure that would be because there is a lack of interest in WM sales.

You are right, that is off the subject. Why would you ask me that?

It seemed as though you were feeling our lack of production was killing sales. My point is that our ZT sales volume might surprise you compared to the others. Perhaps I misunderstood your post. Sorry bout that.

Now let me ask you something

Sure, love the conversation even when it feels loaded.

where are the 0560s?

Around. Another large run just being finished up.

And when they are produced, how many of us will be able to get an 0888 or 0777?

2500

What I know is that there are some great looking ZTs I've wanted for many months, which seem to trickle out in production and are rarely available. On the other hand, if I want A Benchmade knife or Spyderco, I generally just buy it and posess it within days.

Appreciate the interest. Maybe you're getting our LE's confused with regular production. Most every cataloged sku has stock on the shelves other than the 0550 and 0560. As I mentioned in my original post here. We're a new brand, if you want to hold us to the same level as the other 2 you can, let's just try to keep it real here. Let's talk 2-3 years from now.

What he was talking about has nothing to do with sales figures, which you know.

No I don't know. Availability and sales figures can easily be discussed in context.

It has to do with actually being able to purchase the knives you make. There are a couple different model ZT knives that I have gone to every online retailer I can find to try and get on a list or preorder the knife, and I'm not going to get the knife from what I'm told. If a knife nut that studies the forums can't even purchase a knife, then something needs to change. You can't be on top if only a few people are able to have a particular knife model in their pocket.

You're talking LE's again. Sorry they are not more available, but then that wouldn't make them LE's.

 

[jazub]

Hey Thomas W., I said in my initial post that ZT was 3rd for me because I couldn't get my hands on one. I did not demean your brand in any way and the fact is that 0560s have not been available to many who want them, including myself. This extremely unusual exchange with yourself based on your presumption about how I "feel" has ended my search. Good luck in your business; I appreciate that you are manufacturing some of your goods in the USA.

 

[Thomas W]

I did not demean your brand in any way and the fact is that 0560s have not been available to many who want them, including myself.

I never said you were demeaning to our brand. Was there something said in my post that made you feel that way?

This extremely unusual exchange with yourself based on your presumption about how I "feel" has ended my search.

Well that's 3 today. Not sure what got you worked up, but sorry for the conversation. Guess I should just not converse anymore. Maybe Les or Sal will be by to speak with you directly.

Good luck in your business; I appreciate that you are manufacturing some of your goods in the USA.

Thanks I guess.

 

[MODiFiEDZ]

I like that Benchmade & Spyderco has many folder designs, blade steels, & locks. Both companies offer knives in my favorite blade steels of M4 & M390. I like the Cerakote on the Benchmades because I can use them to cut stickers & address labels on boxes without gewy stuff sticking to the blade because Cerakote is anti stick. I have more knives by Spyderco & Benchmade on my to buy list than Kershaws for some reason. I do hope Kershaw will develop more folders for different tasks because I like their flipper designs & prices.

 

[A. G. Russell]

I feel compelled to say: I really admire the knives that come from Kershaw and the people, not just Jack, Craig and Thomas but the folks who think that quality really matters.

Any company that can prosper in the knife industry year after year, even in times like these has to be admired.

 

[RevDevil]

As far as Sprint Runs and Limited Editions are concerned, I can't understand how folks that "study" the forums can say they've missed out. I've been able to get my hands on every knife I've wanted in the last 3 years with minimal inconvenience, vested search time, and without paying a secondary premium. There are a few knives that I missed out on because I simply didn't act at all. I will say that my experiences and strategies have worked pretty good in the past. Is it a manufacturers fault that some are just not able to procure knives now? I find this overbearing and bratty. Just my 2 pesos.


/Kevlar suit on

Hey Thomas W., I said in my initial post that ZT was 3rd for me because I couldn't get my hands on one.

Or maybe I'm just mad I cant get the couple knives that Kershaw/ ZT makes that I want. As soon as I saw the 0777 I was trying to track down a store to take my money. Now they are about to ship and pictures will probably be as close as I get to one.

Click Here






By the way, I am posting this as a member, not a mod.
I'm still a die hard knifenut/steel head no matter the color of my user name.

 

[hardheart]

I've been able to get my hands on every knife I've wanted in the last 3 years with minimal inconvenience, vested search time, and without paying a secondary premium.

I haven't. Benchmade, Spyderco, and Kershaw/ZT do limited runs that make it difficult for some to get these knives. Of course some people get the knives, the runs sell out. Even regular production items are sometimes hard to acquire to to slow production and high demand. There is no reason for anyone to be happy about it. Customers don't get what they want, and companies aren't earning revenue for product they don't make but could be selling. Meeting demand without overshooting it is a tricky thing, but the consumer has no reason to stop asking for stuff.

 

[RevDevil]

I prefer to think that I've gotten the knives I've wanted because of good planning rather than pure luck.

 

[hardheart]

Yes, but for a 1000 piece run, 1001 people with good planning is still going to result in one disappointed party.

Plus the idea of needing to plan to get a knife, it is another level of the hobby, where obviously the product is not as available for those in the general public with a 'need', but for the enthusiast with a 'want' and a forum presence/dealer contacts through hearty collecting. As such the way limited runs can advance the brand is also limited.

 

[InsurgentNarhwal]

I have to say after reading this thread I have more respect for two of the aforementioned brands who are not in this thread playing internet-tough-guy knife guru. People have opinions, and you should have some class.

/Rant

 

[TheSharpStuff]

Most of kershaws designs dont do much for me, the skyline was good, but GOOD GOD enough with the flippers. LOL it seems like if they would make their knives with good thumb studs instead of flippers I would like them more, but that just me. Flippers are cool but they get old realy quick to me. I dont like how all their knives are just satin finish with black g10 handles, its just boring to me. Spyderco has awesome colored frn handles with great texture and benchmade has cool aluminum, sculpted g10, and normal plastic. I don't care for how most of their new models are made in china ether, I used to really appreciate kershaw for making US knives, which they still do, but most of the new ones are not.
In summery if they would break away from the value/china made/flipper/satin and black g10 handles and a liner lock, and make a few models with thumb studs, more colors, come up with new lock like the axis/compression lock maybe some FFG blades with stone washed finish and keep those great blade shapes they have like on the tilt and tg1 make it in the US and get their foot in the door for that around $100 they would DOMINATE the market, but right now there is just to big of a gap between the value knives and their ZT line. Just my opinions though, take it or leaver it.

 

[momouppa]

when it comes to sales I am taking a guess that Kershaw is ahead of Benchmade and Spyderco. I don't live in the US but I am guessing that is more likely people buy kershaw because of the price.

 

[KYenglish]

Guess I should just not converse anymore. Maybe Les or Sal will be by to speak with you directly.

Thanks I guess.

I have to say after reading this thread I have more respect for two of the aforementioned brands who are not in this thread playing internet-tough-guy knife guru. People have opinions, and you should have some class.

/Rant

Sorry but I don't agree.

All else aside, Thomas being here is a remarkable and great thing for the forum, I don't spend a lot of my time in manufacturer forums but I've learned a lot from Thomas, spyderco forums a great place to, and I'm sure the benchmade forum would be a nice place if I ever visited.

At the end of the day these are perks, and great ones, we buy knives, not the makers/owners/higher ups/etc free time or servitude. That some of them offer it is something wonderful. He's the Director of Sales & Marketing for heavens sake, not your dang store clerk!

Anyway, keep you money by all means, but don't insult the guy answering questions and offering knowledge/experience and info just cause he ain't groveling for it as he does so

 

[seguine.knives]

I feel compelled to say: I really admire the knives that come from Kershaw and the people, not just Jack, Craig and Thomas but the folks who think that quality really matters.

Any company that can prosper in the knife industry year after year, even in times like these has to be admired.

I have to agree with Russell. you are discussing 3 different companies that are trying to fill almost three different "niche" markets. if you were to really compare them you would have to discuss profit margins, output, quality and a number of other different qualities that define a business and a manufacturing company. people will all have their opinions, but for a company to be surviving they must be doing some things right. when it comes down to it Kershaw makes great knives to do certain tasks as well as benchmade and spyderco. You are not going to take a para military 2 and field dress a deer with it, nor are you going to take a benchmade 940 and go and do a prying task with it. I feel like we are comparing Sig Sauer vs Glock vs 1911s.

As far as availability goes I would like to use the example of Kel tec. Kel tecs availability is Zero. As soon as it is produced it ships out to the dealer or the customer. There were people before us that waited in line just like everyone else does to get their product. you have to understand that the company is doing its best and that you just have to be patient. A company can only grow so much at a time. If it gets too big too fast you could end up producing more than what demand is. Now you are losing money. As a company obviously you dont want to be losing money. Not to mention that you need to build a reputation the encompasses your business model.

As far as Limited runs go all you are talking about is how much money You have. If you have a thousand dollars Im pretty sure someone would be willing to sell you their knife. So all you really are talking about is that you cant find the knife for a "reasonable" price. reasonable being what is reasonable to you...

Im sure some people might not agree with this but when it all comes down to it business is business. And each of these business' are doing well at what they do. Exactly why we keep coming back for more....the whole point..