Is there an 'average' lifetime for various models ?

[Pointshoot777]

Hi everyone - - this may have been asked before, but I need to upgrade my membership so have had limited search ability right now. - - - I was wondering if there is any 'average' lifetime for a Spyderco model knife ? Some of the models I like are discontinued, (though I thought personally that they were great designs - maybe not enough others thought so, or all that did bought what they wanted so sales are dropping ?) Is it like car models that have an average lifetime - - car companies often keep the same model names on new designs, though-- - I really like my Centofante IV and plan to buy another. Would hate to kick myself later if they were discontinued and it was more of a hassle & expensive to replace. (Bought my SpyderCard back in 2001 for around $30 and one sold for about $150 recently on ebay.)

 

[The Deacon]

Hi everyone - - this may have been asked before, but I need to upgrade my membership so have had limited search ability right now. - - - I was wondering if there is any 'average' lifetime for a Spyderco model knife ? Some of the models I like are discontinued, (though I thought personally that they were great designs - maybe not enough others thought so, or all that did bought what they wanted so sales are dropping ?) Is it like car models that have an average lifetime - - car companies often keep the same model names on new designs, though-- - I really like my Centofante IV and plan to buy another. Would hate to kick myself later if they were discontinued and it was more of a hassle & expensive to replace. (Bought my SpyderCard back in 2001 for around $30 and one sold for about $150 recently on ebay.)

$150 for a Spydercard. I might have to try my hand at eBay selling.

As for your question, it's not that easy to answer. I'd say the first thing is to divide the knives into two groups, in-house designs and collaboration models. The average for the collaboration models is much lower than for the in-house designs. I'd say 3 to 4 years or so would be "average", although a handful have stayed in the lineup considerably longer and one did not even last a year.

For the in house designs, the range is considerably greater. At the one extreme you have the SS Police, which has been in continuous production for 24 years. At the other, the original R, of which there was only a single run. Harder to figure an average, but 8 to 10 years is probably not too far off.

Paul

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[yablanowitz]

There really isn't an average, although the collaboration models generally have a shorter run than the in-house designs. That isn't set in stone though, as some in-house designs have gone away after a single year while others just keep on keeping on. The C07 Police model was introduced in 1984, and has been in the current configuration for about twenty years, while the C54 Calypso only lasted one run.

I'd say if you like the Frank Centofante IV, get a couple of extras now, while they are still in production. You never know about next year.

 

[Pointshoot777]

Thanks guys for your input. You can't get too crazy about buying 'spares, - just in case', but I've groaned a few times in the past over various products which I really liked that were later taken off the market. Sounds like it might be a good idea to get another Cento IV since its a collaboration. - - All the best,

 

[swingshot]

Generally the less conventional designs seem to last about 2, maybe 3 years.
Old favourites like the Delica, Police, Endura, Cricket, and to some extent the Chinook have never faded, but instead gone through changes.


....and if a model doesn't do so well... it goes the way of the T-Mag.

$150 for a Spydercard. I might have to try my hand at eBay selling.

Never did take to it. Time to go dust mine off.

 

[Bruceter]

I don't know if it makes any difference or not, but the Spydercard that was on E-bay recently was still in the clampack. That's still quite a bit of $$$$.

Bruceter

 

[Pointshoot777]

I know what you guys mean about the Spyder Card. I think I opened a total of three letters with mine, and that was about it. Never sharpened, with original box/papers, etc. - - Now I just have to find what box I packed it in. - - - Of course it was ebay, and you know how that goes - - we've all seen the exact same item sell two or three days apart with a 100% price difference between them. Some times people (me included, I admit) get a little emotional when they really want something and want to win. - - - Lets just make sure that if we ebay our SpyderCards we don't dump them all at the same time !
On another note - - I found a good price on a Centofante 4, so ordered my 2nd. When they eventually stop making them, I'll have my spare.
All the best, - - -

P.S. - guess I'm more of a user than a collector - - - pay that much dough and probably not even open the clam pack to get to use it ? Not me !