Knife prices around the world?

C

collecter

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Aug 21, 2002
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I ask because I recently bought a new Kabar and it was almost the same price that I paid $20 years ago. I remember way back 20 years ago when I got the first one, it was $39.99 at Sports Authority in Fort Launderdale FL. Not long ago I remember seeing the same knife at Big 5 here in Cali for $45. It looks like currently the Big 5 replaced the Kabar with a Chinese knock-off under the Mossberg brand, still priced at $45. My new Kabar Tanto was $47.99 plus shipping. $8 price increas in 20 years, not bad imo! Oh but it has a fancy polymer sheath which is easily worth $8 more than the original so I guess the increase is hardly insignificant.

Victorinox Alos SAK's also appear to have remained the same, about $25 since I first learned of them also about $20 years ago. Same as my Buck 110, $35 back then and it still wears the same price tag.

Those are my three favorite knives...I must have real bad taste for investments, or good taste for classics!

Contrary to the Kabar, several years ago I remember seeing Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe for $80 and today they're about $105 :eek: Definitely not in line with the pricing of my three favorites!

I wonder if prices have done the same thing in other countries?

Collecter
 
Yes & No downunder. We've had significant reductions in import tariffs that have virtually killed off manufacturing in Oz. Most of our knives come from other countries with premium prices still being commanded by well known name brands. But massive investments in CNC/robotic production in the Far East has seen a flooding of markets by low cost products, and this has forced many traditional EU & USA companies to go offshore for some of their range. Those that choose to continue production in country of origin have had to work smarter and leaner to remain competetive, and often form strategic partnerships to increase the likelihood of mutual viability

Goods made the traditional way and with limited production like Gransfors will continue to climb in price in line with inflation - especially when they offer a lifetime warranty. For discerning users that appreciate quality and performance, this should not be a concern
 
In EU state we have VAT+other tarifs. You can get Spyderco Tenacious under $40 in the states. In EU area Tenacious costs around$80-$100 depending on country and its still is cheapest Spyderco folder generally available in Finland, since even with in EU VAT's are different in each country.

Folder's are really expensive in Finland. Victorinoxes are cheapest you can get almost anywhere but you can get good puukko around here cheaper than average folder. So eBay is only choice if you want a good locking folder in sensible price.

But basically yes: Prices has risen a lot. Most they changed when national currencies were put a side from Euro. Then prices could double or worse. When breakfast porridge cost 1 markka before Euro time, then it became 1€. And 1 € roughly 6 markka's. So prices have risen significantly when currency was changed. And they just rose VAT from 22% to 23%. Sucks.
 
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Over here almost anything imported from the states is priced in euro's the same amount as dollars +50%

Which in total makes most american brands 200% more expensive than they are in the states. Sometimes the price is simply €=$x2

For instance I saw a CRK Micarta Sebenza at a local store a few weeks back. It was priced €799 (close to $1200 US)
 
Yeah, the importer really kills us. So most people don't buy local.

CRK, RAT, Spyderco and quite a few others are horribly overpriced because they come through that distributer. As a result the guy doesn't sell much to us knifenuts.
 
Here in the Philippines, knives made in the US or are by US brands are price at the same level as the MSRP, which is way above the online pricing. We do however, have local made knives like the bali-song and the bolo and others that are real cheap and are of good quality. Bali-songs here could be had for $5-$15 and the laws here are not as tough on bali-songs as in the US.
 
here in belgium, the netherlands and germany the prices are way up on the american price or even the msrp

spyderco endura €99.95 $149.11
benchmade mini rukus €250 $372.95
spyderco para military €250 $372.95

just some i remember from the top of my head :p
 
in Finland Spyderco Paramilitary is about 175€'s available thru few retailers. Generally its below 200€'s. And I always thought we had expensive knives in FInland.
 
When I asked Uncle Google (:P) for help he said me that today's US dollar course is:
1 US dollar ($) = 2,81040186 ~ 2,81 Polish Złoty (PLN)

and various knifes with my country cost just like everything (imo toooooo much)

Spyderco Military Black - 663PLN (~236$)
Spyderco Tenacious - 180PLN (~64$)
Ka-Bar 1217 - USMC The Legend - 289PLN (~102$)
Ontario - RAT-5 (1095 version) - 449PLN (~160$)
Black Fallkniven A1 - 790PLN (~281$):eek:

Yeah - I know its horror prices :mad:
(but I didn't knew that in Belgium are worse :P)
 
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So if I'm heading to Europe around Christmas time, what would make sense for me to bring with me? Think a local knife shop would take spydies etc in trade for something?
 
I can't really understand why Europeans buy their American knives from local dealers, of course the price difference is massive.Buy privately on-line and it's much more cost effective especially with the Euro being nearly 1.5 Dollar, even with postal rates and import tariffs it's still well worthwhile.
 
albi} when i was a kid, like $15 years ago, you could buy the local polish brands "chefa" for under $20. you could also buy deer hides for $6.
 
albi said:
When I asked Uncle Google (:P) for help he said me that today's US dollar course is:
1 US dollar ($) = 2,81040186 ~ 2,81 Polish Złoty (PLN)

and various knifes with my country cost just like everything (imo toooooo much)

Spyderco Military Black - 663PLN (~236$)
Spyderco Tenacious - 180PLN (~64$)
Ka-Bar 1217 - USMC The Legend - 289PLN (~102$)
Ontario - RAT-5 (1095 version) - 449PLN (~160$)
Black Fallkniven A1 - 790PLN (~281$):eek:

Yeah - I know its horror prices :mad:
(but I didn't knew that in Belgium are worse :P)
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Damn. I'm glad I live here in the US.
 
LX_Emergency said:
€=$x2
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Or: US RETAIL $ -> € (in other words, US RETAIL $X1,5)

I once checked how Helle knives are priced here compared to states and I couldn't believe it. Example:

Helle Varg:
Price at ragweed: $69
Average price in finland: 95€ ($134)

So you have to pay double price on knife made in norway. For those who don't know, norway even shares border with finland. So, you would propably save a bit money by ordering it from states.. It's total madness.
 
collecter said:
Victorinox Alos SAK's also appear to have remained the same, about $25 since I first learned of them also about $20 years ago. Same as my Buck 110, $35 back then and it still wears the same price tag.
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I checked at some local Dutch stores on the Buck 110. They cost 70 EUR on average, which is 104 USD. So we pay almost three times the price that you in the US pay for your Buck 110. :mad:
 
We get robbed blind in Australia :(
$120AU for a buck 110
$330AU for a spyderco military
$150AU for a SS endura

this is all from local stores. Online is usually a bit better
 
Harayasu said:
I checked at some local Dutch stores on the Buck 110. They cost 70 EUR on average, which is 104 USD. So we pay almost three times the price that you in the US pay for your Buck 110. :mad:
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Yup, and they wonder why they don't sell many knives.
 
Roger999 said:
I take it you've never seen King of Thieves?

http://www.kingofknives.com/Cutlery/Outdoor/Sports-Knives/Folding-Knives/

Brb charging $200AUD for a Spyderco Native 3.
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Wow... I bet they are flying off the shelves.:eek:

We have only one major knife dealer in Singapore and they sell only at MSRP and at times more. It's a niche market I guess. The knife collecting thing is not big here and we do not have a knife carry culture. So, poor me for getting into this hobby.

Azad
 
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