Looking for Help

J

Jeff@dewittreps.com

Feedback: +0 / =0 / -0
Joined
Jan 28, 2009
Messages
1
Looking for mentors, God help me you guys are it. I am in process of opening a store front. The Cutlery section will be small segment The demographic is a combination of white collar (CHL $) and public service (LLE,FLE >$) I need to strike a balance of quality vs. cost to cover my demographic, Understand I have a limited amount of capital > 25K available for inventory, so I need quality and cost. I have a very limited knowledge of this segment of the industry. Any direction you might have would be greatly appreciated, I need more than Go and No Go, I need to know why. I spent a week at the shot show and I still have a headache, way too much G2 to process.

My folder selection is as follows:

Ka-Bar
SOG
AL Mar
Emerson
Extreme Ratio
Tool logic
CRKT

Fixed Selection
Becker
Extreme Ratio
RAT
Mil Tac

Thanks..DTC
 
I think carrying some spyderco's is a must, especially because you say that LE will be alot of your customer base. Their byrd line is also worth carrying for those who don't want to spend alot of money but still want a good knife.
 
Spyderco and Benchmade are definitely companies you should look into. Especially with Benchmade's supposed new plan which is bound to cut out online dealers. You would be one of the few places that can carry them.
 
Might I add Buck? Just seems a basic necessity to carry a Buck 110 - fairly cheap in price, but not quality. It's the classic folder: indespensible.

But I'm just a knife nut, no store-owner. I'm sure the other guys with more experience will punch in sometime today. Good luck with your business!
 
No Kershaw? Shame on you :mad:

Their model line has all kinds of knives that appeal to a wide variety of customers.

The Zero Tolerance line is perfect for for LEOs/other professionals.
 
Welcome to BF!

I'm no expert with knives and tend to be a cheap-ass so I concentrate on good bang for the buck knives.

NOTE: I don't have much actual experience with Al Mar and Extrema Ratio. Most of my experience is from fondling knives at shows and shops. I think ZT and higher end Spydercos and Benchmades (BM) are better options.

My folder selection is as follows:

Ka-Bar <- only a few strike my fancy, I think you could drop this line of folders.
SOG <- overpriced for what ya get imo, drop
AL Mar <- overpriced for what ya get imo, drop
Emerson <- I could see 2 or 3 models being stocked.
Extreme Ratio <- waaay overpriced, drop
Tool logic <- looks gimmicky imo, drop, no real experience with them tho
CRKT <- I'd say if ya have Kershaw, BM, and Spyderco, ya dont need CRKT, drop

add:
Benchmade
Kershaw/ZT
Spyderco/Byrd
The above 3 offer a wide range of price points and offer great bang for buck imo. ZT is the higher end ones.
Buck <- big time name recognition, good products
Victorinox <- the Swiss Army Knife has a ton to offer and many price points, ya gotta carry a few.

Fixed Selection
Becker/Kabar <- great bang for the buck imo, Kabar makes Becker now
Extreme Ratio <- overpriced again
RAT <- great stuff, stock a few models
Mil Tac <- new to me, looks overpriced from what I googled.

add:
Mora <- Frosts Mora knives from Swedan, not to be confused with Frost Cutlery which is crap
BM <- a few models worth stocking
BRKT <- Bark River knife and Tool, from MI. Great selection of fixed blades.

My humble suggestions.

PS. You might want to consider a few Leatherman mulitools. Various price points and a wide selection of models.

PSS. Possibly look to add Fenix flashlights in the future.

Best of luck on your venture.
 
gazz98 said:
Welcome to BF!

I'm no expert with knives and tend to be a cheap-ass so I concentrate on good bang for the buck knives.

NOTE: I don't have much actual experience with Al Mar and Extrema Ratio. Most of my experience is from fondling knives at shows and shops. I think ZT and higher end Spydercos and Benchmades (BM) are better options.

My folder selection is as follows:

Ka-Bar <- only a few strike my fancy, I think you could drop this line of folders.
SOG <- overpriced for what ya get imo, drop
AL Mar <- overpriced for what ya get imo, drop
Emerson <- I could see 2 or 3 models being stocked.
Extreme Ratio <- waaay overpriced, drop
Tool logic <- looks gimmicky imo, drop, no real experience with them tho
CRKT <- I'd say if ya have Kershaw, BM, and Spyderco, ya dont need CRKT, drop

add:
Benchmade
Kershaw/ZT
Spyderco/Byrd
The above 3 offer a wide range of price points and offer great bang for buck imo. ZT is the higher end ones.
Buck <- big time name recognition, good products
Victorinox <- the Swiss Army Knife has a ton to offer and many price points, ya gotta carry a few.

Fixed Selection
Becker/Kabar <- great bang for the buck imo, Kabar makes Becker now
Extreme Ratio <- overpriced again
RAT <- great stuff, stock a few models
Mil Tac <- new to me, looks overpriced from what I googled.

add:
Mora <- Frosts Mora knives from Swedan, not to be confused with Frost Cutlery which is crap
BM <- a few models worth stocking
BRKT <- Bark River knife and Tool, from MI. Great selection of fixed blades.

My humble suggestions.

PS. You might want to consider a few Leatherman mulitools. Various price points and a wide selection of models.

PSS. Possibly look to add Fenix flashlights in the future.

Best of luck on your venture.
Click to expand...

+1 on all of this. Very sound advice. I work in a cutlery store and those lines have done very well for us (though we don't have BRKT or Mora because of lack of space/demographic).
 
Welcome to BladeForums! :)

Many of your suggestions look good, but some of them you could probably do without and add more profitable venues.

Take SOG, for example---they have several good knives, but some of them are controversial and somewhat gimmicky. I also feel that CRKT would be a bit superfluous in your stock if you had Kershaw---Kershaw makes knives for a comparable price inside the United States with much better fit and finish in my opinion. Tool Logic is also a bit gimmicky---I do like their model with the fire rod built into the design, but a knife with limited use and a low- to moderate-output flashlight? Why not carry a good-cutting knife and a Fenix, SureFire, or some other well-respected light?

In your folder selection, I'd recommend that you add Spyderco, Benchmade, and Kershaw---all have cult-like followings because of their outstanding performance, customer service, and pure functionality. All have knives available at a low price point, and also feature mid/high priced knives for your upper echeleon customers---maybe keep a handful of these in stock.

The Buck 110 is a classic, and a household name. I'd recommend that you add them too.

Victorinox, as mentioned above, is a real keeper. Many LEOS and white-collar professionals carry a multitool of some kind in their pocket for their daily chores. On that note, you might also want to think about Leatherman, as well.

In regards to Extrema Ratio, I like their folders and fixed blades, even if they are a bit expensive.

The fixed section looks like a good representation, but I would wait to add MilTac until they're a more established and well-known company. Kabar and RAT are staples of the industry. Mora is also a well-advised addition; excellent knives at a low price point.

I will add more advice as I think of it...good luck in your new venture!

God bless.

KATN,

Wade
 
Welcome to Bladeforums!

Recommendations. I'm going to move this from the General Knife Discussion to FEEDBACK. :)
 
SHOT may show you the latest & greatest but what you need are the tried & true, models that will march off your shelves, not wait for a specialty customer.

Folders & fixed: Buck, Spyderco, Kershaw, probably Benchmade (although I don't personally respond to them).

Tools: Leatherman and SOG multitools and Victorinox and Wenger Swiss Army Knives.

Fixed blades: Becker (made by Ka-Bar), Ka-Bar (made by Ka-Bar), RAT Cutlery, Ontario. All these are cheap but delicious, standards of the industry.

I've got 3 Extrema Ratio folders, there are none better, none. But maybe too expensive for a starter brand in a small department. Personally I also like the big SOG fixed blades, I find them like the Becker line to be distinctive in design, ergonomic for my big hands, and solid workers.

You might like to look over Cold Steel. Lots of good, basic designs, well made. You might like to ask about any that appeal to you, because a few of their products don't match up.

Most of these companies now have assisted opening folders. Their function overlaps with automatics (switchblades), which may be problematical for some of your customers.

Let me add a comment on Mil-Tac. Craig Sword is down in Texas, too, should be easy for you to deal with, and the knives are designed by Elishewitz, who is first-rate. Not a big name brand, but I think the bang for the buck is there.
 
Last edited:
I forgot to mention Boker in my previous post. At least the designs by Chad Los Banos. These are all VERY reasonably priced and I think would appeal to a lot of people.
 
Congradulations :thumbup:

For starters I would say gazz98 hit the nail on the head.

However, I wouldn't recommend carrying buck 110's if you live within 30 miles of a wal-mart. Perhaps the 110 with finger grooves since it's unique and isn't stocked regularly at local shops. Just my .02 on that particular subject :)

Good luck with your storefront, J.
 
1) Buck
2) Gerber (i know but they offer a wide variety and some like my freeman and my fast draw are top notch!)
all the others mentioned sound good too.
a shame you couldnt get Case, dont know the particulars on becoming a dealer for any of these brands... that maybe an issue
love my buck alpha dorado:thumbup::D
all the best
ivan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top