LE's Today and yesterday

Cobalt

Cobalt

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This is more of a historical discussion on how manufacturing improvements allow the ability of obtaining LE's, when pertaining to BM's of course.

It is amazing to me how different the manufacturing is of BM's these days. I was able to get my LE's without a problem as was anyone else who wanted one. The FBM's as a whole were available for only several months before the were taken off the market, but in that short time a shipload was produced.

By comparison, the original SHBM was in production from 1998 though late 1999 early 2000 and I'd bet that more FBM's were produced in 3 months than SHBM's were in that 3 year period. Evidence of this is the SHBM LE. Look on badmojo and take a look at the LE's. 1whobuys #37 is actually a Satin Collector grade 1 of 300 looking knife, which makes it a very early blade. DarkNemesis LE is a hollow rivet LE with no clip, which is reminiscent of the last run of SHBM's and that one is #236. Of course the one Skunk found is #500 and has looks in between the other two so it is actually in between them in manufacture date I would bet. So the time laps between LE #37 and LE#236 is near 2 years. I have never seen another SHBM LE. So I think that #37, #236 and #500 must be the only LE's.:D

My new LE's I have #13 and #998. I got them both within weeks of each other. If it wasn't for Busses new mfg method, I might be waiting another 2 years for the new LE's. Thank goodness for advanced manufacturing.

How many of you who remember the old way are glad of the new way. I for one am. I know that many are still not happy since the runs come and go fast, but we do get many more knives than before.:thumbup:
 
I only wish I knew about Busse back then...

But you're right, think about what the secondary market prices would be if Boss wasn't spitting so much out these days. :eek: :D ;)

.
 
It didn't take me long to figure out that Jerry and Skunk offer more INFI than I can realistically afford to purchase. Add the exchange, the ganza's, shows, etc: and you can go broke very quickly. They certainly do seem to put out a lot of knives in short order.
 
And there's still people that complain about not getting what they wanted. :D

I think production is at the best it's ever been. Way more than I can afford which is very cool. And it is only since about 2004-5 that production has really taken off.
 
I think Eric had one too.
The thing now is so many knifes are being made so quickly I can just wait for them to show up in the 4 Sale forums now and get them cheap.
There are dozens and dozens of the same model shipping at the same time now where as it used to be maybe a dozen would ship this month.
Turn around time for a knife then ...a year, a year and a half was common.
Now, 6-8 weeks.

So far I still prefer the Straight Handle knifes to all others.
The new SH knifes are the Ruck, AK, and the SF handled knifes.
The guys before they were called "Hogs" use to tell me, and I'm telling you..
"Get them while you can" The straight handle knifes are rare, the straight handle Variants are more rare, and Mint ones are even more rare.
I have gotten to where I use my keepers now, so is the case with many an Old Hog so those MINT ones are going away quickly.

If you see a knife you want buy it Now, don't wait or it will be gone.
 
1whobuys said:
I think Eric had one too.
The thing now is so many knifes are being made so quickly I can just wait for them to show up in the 4 Sale forums now and get them cheap.
There are dozens and dozens of the same model shipping at the same time now where as it used to be maybe a dozen would ship this month.
Turn around time for a knife then ...a year, a year and a half was common.
Now, 6-8 weeks.

So far I still prefer the Straight Handle knifes to all others.
The new SH knifes are the Ruck, AK, and the SF handled knifes.
The guys before they were called "Hogs" use to tell me, and I'm telling you..
"Get them while you can" The straight handle knifes are rare, the straight handle Variants are more rare, and Mint ones are even more rare.
I have gotten to where I use my keepers now, so is the case with many an Old Hog so those MINT ones are going away quickly.

If you see a knife you want buy it Now, don't wait or it will be gone.
Click to expand...

A good example is the SFNO, it nearly doubled in price less than a year after it was gone. I do remember waiting over a year for my SHSH's, my SHBM's and my mean streets. At the time I did not want to spend much needed money on LE's. Wish I had now. I still don't think there were many LE's made and definitely not 500 as skunks LE would presume. Whoever bought that one originally asked for that number I'd bet.. Aside from the ones we know of, I have never ever seen an old LE for sale. EVER! Neither have several hogs that have been around for sometime.
 
What are your thought on calling them LEs when there are 1000+ made ?

What is the limit on the new SSLE for example are they only limited to how many are ordered , or does Jerry set a limit on the number to be made ?


Thanks for any input in advance guys !
 
I think they are called LE because they are only offered once, never again. Has nothing to do with how many are ordered.
 
Well, I think that the premise of LE is that there is less made than te regular run and they have special features. So having said that, the fact tha there is at least 998 LE FBM's means that there are a whole hell of a lot more CGFBM's.

Personally, I would prefer that the LE run be more imited to say 300 knives. But then they would sell out in a day or so probably and many people would miss out and be angry and whine, bitch and all the stuff you hear about. At least this way, anyone that wanted one gets it and they cannot say they missed out except of their own choice.
 
Thanks guys for clearing that up for me .

I`d definately like to see a run limited to 300 . Imagine the late nights waiting for the GO button and the amount of worn out F5 buttons ?
 
Cobalt said:
..... But then they would sell out in a day or so probably and many people would miss out and be angry and whine, bitch and all the stuff you hear about.
Click to expand...


I miss that.

I’m not married so it serves as a reminder not to go there again.;) :thumbup:

TG
 
The old SH le's are sweet! I don't have one.....but I like my FBM LE's :D
 
Jerry has become very successful, and through the financial gains associated with that success, has had the means to improve and expand his manufacturing facilities and equipment. It says something about his integrity, intelligence, and business acuman that he has the following he does, and gets the prices he does for his knives. I have to take my hat off to him. I would bet that in years to come, production will continue to increase, and you will maybe even see more than one knife offered at a time (though having the ability to do that doesn't mean it will happen as I don't think it fits his current business model)

On a side note to Cobalt...who is that woman in your avatar!!! Inquiring minds want to know.
 
bigbcustom said:
Jerry has become very successful, and through the financial gains associated with that success, has had the means to improve and expand his manufacturing facilities and equipment. It says something about his integrity, intelligence, and business acuman that he has the following he does, and gets the prices he does for his knives. I have to take my hat off to him. I would bet that in years to come, production will continue to increase, and you will maybe even see more than one knife offered at a time (though having the ability to do that doesn't mean it will happen as I don't think it fits his current business model)
Click to expand...


That is interesting; especially when you consider that much of what makes the Busse primary market is the strength of the secondary market. So to walk the line of increased production without decreasing secondary demand will be walking a fine edge indeed.
 
Tony G said:
That is interesting; especially when you consider that much of what makes the Busse primary market is the strength of the secondary market. So to walk the line of increased production without decreasing secondary demand will be walking a fine edge indeed.
Click to expand...


yes, but it is done and succesfully because the same knives are not ever produced again. that has been the Busse motto until now. Thus, they all still become collectible. If Busse had a model that never went away, then it would not increase in value. But as soon as you make any changes to it the previous models become collectors.
 
Cobalt said:
yes, but it is done and succesfully because the same knives are not ever produced again. that has been the Busse motto until now. Thus, they all still become collectible. If Busse had a model that never went away, then it would not increase in value. But as soon as you make any changes to it the previous models become collectors.
Click to expand...

So, if an exact knife was reproduced without any changes(e.g., SHSH or SFNO) do you think it would undercut the secondary market completely. Or would people differentiate between the original and the reissue?
 
Very good topic Cobalt, I'm new to Busse since January this year, and I was very surprised to find a product ANYWHERE which has a following like Jerry has.

His old models are excellent, the SHBM's are the bomb, and the secondary market ensures that there is always something out there if your prepared to look for it...

I was never around when the production took over a year :eek: but I'm sure it was all worth the wait!


Alex
 
XMP said:
So, if an exact knife was reproduced without any changes(e.g., SHSH or SFNO) do you think it would undercut the secondary market completely. Or would people differentiate between the original and the reissue?
Click to expand...

No, for two reasons:
1. because it would be a custom and would cost at least $100 per inch.
or
2. There are so few made that d not significantly change the value of the original.

SHBM's are a perfect example. The older ones are worth gold. The new ones seem to be as well becase so few are made and they obviously are finished with better handles etc.

Same goes for SHSH's
 
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