Limited Edition/Exclusives Knives losing their importance?

G

Gideons

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Hey BF,

I hate it when my knives get discontinued, as then they can't be replaced or often serviced. This leads me to buying two of them in case anything happens. I bought two of the ZT 0301 re-run, I bought two M390 Xm-18 spanto from DLT among many other knives. Everytime I use to see one of these specials, I would get super excited, and buy two right away. Now, they may not be exactly the same, but re-runs/sprint runs keep on coming out or something similar, like the ZT 0392 (example). Are they just losing their appeal and frankly becoming the normal? Are we to a point in the knife community that everything eventually comes back? Not saying this is bad, as like I said I hate having items of mine not replaceable, but that also means I no longer need to buy multiple or jump on limited edition knives soon as they're released. Just my thoughts - what do you guys think?

-Gideons
 
I think the first time you don't buy two sprints/le then they'll never make it again. I was actually surprised that zt made the 301 again. It is hard to tell if a manufacturer will ever make a sprint/le again. Although Spyderco does good at continuing sprints.
 
Pretty sure you can buy additional parts for benchmade and possibly zt as long as you own the specified model. Tho don't quote me on that as I've never done it.
 
dsalazar said:
I think the first time you don't buy two sprints/le then they'll never make it again. I was actually surprised that zt made the 301 again. It is hard to tell if a manufacturer will ever make a sprint/le again. Although Spyderco does good at continuing sprints.
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I was extremely surprised with Zero Tolerance. But, maybe it is because of a lack innovation, but companies seem to be relying on proven popular designs to increase profits. That with spyerdco is kinda what I'm referring too, now if I miss a sprint run or an exclusive I will never be able to get that exact model probably. But, it isn't hard to imagine that a variation similar will become available in the future.
 
Mo2 said:
Pretty sure you can buy additional parts for benchmade and possibly zt as long as you own the specified model. Tho don't quote me on that as I've never done it.
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As somebody who has experience with this, I can tell you that ZT no longer will provide spare parts etc to knives that are discontinued. They will give store credits for the knife if it is serious however.
 
Sort of yes. I am pretty much Spyderco only and the fever pitch for sprints has cooled a bit. Lots of dealer exclusive sprints too, CS, BHQ, KW, that keep the exclusivity lower. I did land and then sell the CF PM2 that was the CPM154/S90V which there were only 200 of. Probably never get that lucky again.
 
twinboysdad said:
Sort of yes. I am pretty much Spyderco only and the fever pitch for sprints has cooled a bit. Lots of dealer exclusive sprints too, CS, BHQ, KW, that keep the exclusivity lower. I did land and then sell the CF PM2 that was the CPM154/S90V which there were only 200 of. Probably never get that lucky again.
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Yea spyderco def does not sell blades. Not sure if @Sal Glesser could comment on the subject matter. He's been very helpful answering many questions on the forum.

But for the most part I think many of the sprints are of common models for the most part, they share parts. And if some thing is discontinued you may just want to put it in a safe so nothing can happen to it and as you mentioned buy two of them especially if it's really rare. I use my super steel sprints, I'll just get another one if the tip breaks or whatever. Doesn't have to be the same steel.
 
Maybe buying three sprints is better. One to use. One to lose and a spare. I like zt don't get me wrong but I think it sucks when they discontinue a model. I have the 0560 and I requested a couple parts. They informed me they don't provide for discontinued models. They could at least sell a parts kit.
 
What some of these responses have to do with your question is beyond me. -_-

Are "sprints" becoming the "new normal?" To a degree, yes, I think. Sprints and LEs tend to sell at a markup even though they are mostly the same knife as their less-expensive versions. They don't take any additional tooling or training, no new manufacturing process. As a result, I'd guess they are pretty profitable for everyone involved, from the manufacturers to the retailers. Personally, I don't think the market is saturated yet as far as sprints go. In fact, I think that as the overall market shrinks manufacturers will be forced towards more sprints and fewer new models as a matter of making "safe" profits.

Whether that means you decide to buy less of them out of the gate is up to you. I've never done that personally, despite owning several sprints and LEs.
 
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DocJD said:
The whole idea is to artificially inflate the price by creating a built-in shortage . A sucker is born every minute !
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In many cases this is just not true. Sprints can be a way for Manufacturers to gauge interest in different steels. Spyderco using Maxamet is a good example.
 
fq55 said:
In many cases this is just not true. Sprints can be a way for Manufacturers to gauge interest in different steels. Spyderco using Maxamet is a good example.
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OK , if it ain't true then no hurt feelings . Still , I think maybe you suspect it might be sorta true or why be defensive ?
 
This is like complaining you can't buy a K-car any more.

Sure you can't buy an new K-car but the cars on the lot are a thousand times better.

Just because some purple screw half tanto recurve blade only gets made that doesn't mean it's the alpha and omega. It's going to have it's day and then be eclipsed by a new knife with a better steel or longer lasting pivot or a better lock or all of the above.

Learning how to see through the hype and not jumping on every bandwagon that comes along while at the same time keeping an open mind for functional improvements is the real trick. One that some folks never seem to master.
 
DocJD said:
The whole idea is to artificially inflate the price by creating a built-in shortage . A sucker is born every minute !
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Not at all. No knife company can keep 1000s of models in production and no designer wants to go through life making the same knife every day of their career. Putting a reasonable shelf life on new models is completely fair and stating that it's a short run from the word go is being upfront.
 
In a way it's like comics in the 90s with reprints, special editions, holograms etc.

Technically anything can be brought back or redesigned. It's how the Chinese manufacturing is able to reverse engineer about any discontinued rare in demand knife.

Like any other hobby it's a game of hot potato with intrinsic value.
 
Danke42 said:
Not at all. No knife company can keep 1000s of models in production and no designer wants to go through life making the same knife every day of their career. Putting a reasonable shelf life on new models is completely fair and stating that it's a short run from the word go is being upfront.
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Sorry , but NO ! This is a marketing ploy that started soon after the industrial revolution began mass producing all kinds of stuff that was previously handmade and by nature in limited supply . Prices tended to plummet uncontrollably if mass produced . To maximize profits , the market must be controlled by manipulating and conditioning the "consumer "to create demand .
 
While there are companies who are certainly capable of producing more knives but don't, its a big gamble for a company to willingly induce an artificial scarcity. While it may boost sales in the short term, more of the profit starts happening on the secondary market, and that is money that the maker could have put in their pocket. I think a maker would rather sell it for more the first time, than risk gaining a perception of rare+low value.
Also prices cannot plummet uncontrollably. If Sal hand made every delica himself, there would be far fewer, and they would cost more. Yes. But he has staff ($$) machines that help the staff work faster($$) supply line and logistics($$) CS, warranty and R&D($$) So yes the price is lower, but not uncontrollably so, they are not free for him to produce.

Anyone who can condition a market so well as to maintain artificial scarcity as a profit point has to wake up very early to do that every morning, and guess what happens when people want something that cannot be bought? No one is interested in losing cash, likewise they are not interested in slack stock.

It is a marketing thing. But most of it happens in the customer's head. There is such a thing as pricing something too low. Likewise in our current culture because we don't need more stuff, what we look for is exclusivity. Most people are far past the "any color so long as its black" days, and that factors into the business model. Can't have it both ways, either everyone gets one cheap and we are not special, or we get to collect cool stuff, and by golly, that comes with a price-tag.
 
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