Is this a collectible?

Y

yubert

Joined
Apr 5, 2010
Messages
14
I ordered a Benchmade Griptilian 551SH20 online and it just arrived. There's a label on the box saying it's a "First Production 0946/1000" and on the blade it has etched the same information.

I'm not familiar with knife collecting so is this a gimmick or does being part of the first production run make a knife more valuable to a collector? I used to collect watches and for some brands, a "limited edition" enhances the value but for other brands it's just a marketing ploy.

I bought this Griptilian as an EDC but if it's truly collectible, I'll save it and get another one.

Thanks.

--Yubert
 
I imagine it could be collectible but I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think it'll be too collectible any time soon. I would use and enjoy it.
 
Agreed, if your buyin' it as an investment, you might have to wait a long time before you see a substantial profit but if you use now, you profit instantly by gettin' to use an excellent example of a modern knife that will faithfully serve you for a long time.
 
Thanks for all the quick replies. I guess I won't rush out and buy another one, I'll just use and enjoy this one....
 
Hi yubert -

I read once that the second that something is declared "collectible" or "limited edition" that it never will have any true collectible value due to the fact that most people who buy the item will keep it back as a collectible, and thus there will be a relatively large supply of mint items.

Think about that for a minute.

Do you seriously believe that you would ever get enough gain in value on that knife to make it worth never having used it?

My thought is use it, take care of it, enjoy it, and let your heirs worry about it's latent value as a collectible.

I prefer to use the nicer stuff so that I get maximum enjoyment from them.

best regards -

mqqn
 
It's only collectible to people who collect that particle model or that collect "First Productions"
 
Truly, unless I had ordered a first production run specifically, I'd be annoyed at all those words on a user blade.
 
BM 1st production runs/pre-productions and even the majority of prototypes wont bring any premium over the std run of the mill one, they just dont.

why?

they make too many of them, whats "limited production" about a run of 1000?

now if ya ahve one thats says "007", or someones birthday, or ya are keifer sutherland and ya find "0024", maybe so, but its a rare thing (i knew a guy who collected MT OTF's and he sold 2 he had to sutherland that were #24, he didnt find out who he was selling them to until after the sale though, he had never even heard of "24" lol).

FWIW i have had literally dozens of BM pre-pros, 1st pro-runs and prototypes, i used to collect them, of them all exactly 2 brought anything over what a std one would, they were both proto's that differed a lot from the production ones, a 710 with alloy handles (and other diffs) and a stryker with CF handles, other than those 2 they all were the same as a std one.
 
Benchmade used to only made 1 of 50 of different colors, or other stuff, but then they ruined it, by making thousands of first runs, etc. I don't why companies do that. I think it hurts themselves in the long run.
 
microtec did the same, it seems like every single MT made now is a limited this or 1st run that.
 
I would agree. Just like with baseball cards. When people stopped playing with them they became more expensive and less collectible. That, and they stopped coming with gum. Did the "collectible" knife come with any gum? That might make it more collectible if it did.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top