my new PM2 arrived, now to decide if I should keep it

They are wrong, but only technically. It is a distributor exclusive, not a sprint and not a dealer exclusive. When all the hairs are split, however, it's still a limited production run knife available until the production run is sold.

thallium said:
No that doesn't really help. I'm not debating the definition of a sprint run but whether the brown one is and that page does not make it clear. You said the brown PM2 is not a sprint. Where does it say that it is not a sprint? Like I said, BladeHQ is calling it a sprint run. Are they wrong?
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The difference though is that a distributor or dealer has the rights to reorder a production run of the knife if they so choose. Sprint runs don't work that way.
 
JNewell said:
They are wrong, but only technically. It is a distributor exclusive, not a sprint and not a dealer exclusive. When all the hairs are split, however, it's still a limited production run knife available until the production run is sold.
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I'll just have to take your word for it. It is still not very clear. Spyderco's exlusives page doesn't indicate whether the knives on that page are sprints or exclusives. I'm a little irked as I've prepurchased several of those knives recently thinking they were sprints and now I don't know and apparently Spyderco doesn't make it clear and the retailers don't seem to know either or are intentionally misleading.
 
Well, I Would Keep It And Use It.
Brown Shouldn't Pick Dirt Up THAT Bad.
If It Does.. It's A User, So Dirt Really Isn't A Big Deal As The Knife Will Get Dirty Anyways.
When It Gets Dirty.. You'll Clean It.
So Really, There Is No Loss In The Situation.

If You Really Want To... I Would Trade It For A User Para2 Either Black Or Camo, And Have Them Add Something As Well.

Then You Get Your Regular PM2 And Another Good Knife ... I Would Opt For A Delica 4 Added. And You'll End Up With Two Awesome Users.
 
It says in the link underneath the listing for the Brown Paramilitary : "Distributor Exclusive - available at multiple dealers".

At the top of the page is an explanation between a Sprint Run and a Dealer/Distributor Exclusive.

To stay plugged in on order/release dates and what's a Sprint Run and what is a Dealer/Distributor exclusive it helps to check in over at the Spyderco forums from time to time. It is valuable to ocassionally visit the larger on-line retailers who will list Spyderco pre-orders. Tracking/pre-ordering/buying a Sprint/Exclusive is part of the "game". If you find it frustrating don't play the game. caveat emptor.

I will admit that for the uninitiated it can take some effort to learn the rules of the game. The nice thing about Spyderco fans is that if you ask for help you will receive it. I tried my best to help you with providing you with that link. Your response was full of personal frustration.
 
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The knives on the exclusives page are all dealer/distributor exclusives. While there may technically be a difference between sprints and exclusives, there really isn't much of a difference. They're both limited production runs with interesting steel/handle combinations you wouldn't get otherwise.

That having been said, why does that irk you? What's the difference between a sprint and an exclusive and what does that mean to you? They're both very limited production runs and they both will more than likely be gone relatively quickly, leading to higher prices in the resale market.
 
MJF said:
The knives on the exclusives page are all dealer/distributor exclusives. While there may technically be a difference between sprints and exclusives, there really isn't much of a difference. They're both limited production runs with interesting steel/handle combinations you wouldn't get otherwise.
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The real critical information is what they DON'T tell you, meaning the number of each that was/will be produced.
 
Gramps said:
It says in the link underneath the listing for the Brown Paramilitary : "Distributor Exclusive - available at multiple dealers". If that is not clear it's time for a refresher course in basic English!

At the top of the page is an explanation between a Sprint Run and a Dealer/Distributor Exclusive. We can walk you through the text if need be.

To stay plugged in on order/release dates and what's a Sprint Run and what is a Dealer/Distributor exclusive it helps to check in over at the Spyderco forums from time to time. It is valuable to ocassionally visit the larger on-line retailers who will list Spyderco pre-orders. Tracking/pre-ordering/buying a Sprint/Exclusive is part of the "game". If you find it frustrating don't play the game. caveat emptor. Whining is unattractive.

I will admit that for the uninitiated it can take some effort to learn the rules of the game. The nice thing about Spyderco fans is that if you ask for help you will receive it. I tried my best to help you with providing you with that link. Your response was.....well?
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You don't have to insult me.

I still don't think it's very clear. The fact that it says "*Distributor Exclusive - available at multiple dealers" gives me no indication that it is or is not a sprint run. A sprint run could be a distributor exclusive for all I know. The only substantive difference I can gather between their description of sprint and exclusive is "Exclusives are produced for one customer or in conjunction with one customer and the Spyderco Factory Outlet Store (at the customer's request)" and that Spyderco reserves the right to manufacture them at a later date.

So whether or not it's a sprint run or exclusive has nothing to do with how many distributors the knife may or may not have, at least based on their description, which may be misleading. So insulting my intelligence by pointing out that ""Distributor Exclusive - available at multiple dealers" is not helpful.
 
thallium said:
You don't have to insult me.

I still don't think it's very clear. The fact that it says "*Distributor Exclusive - available at multiple dealers" gives me no indication that it is or is not a sprint run. A sprint run could be a distributor exclusive for all I know. The only substantive difference I can gather between their description of sprint and exclusive is "Exclusives are produced for one customer or in conjunction with one customer and the Spyderco Factory Outlet Store (at the customer's request)" and that Spyderco reserves the right to manufacture them at a later date.

So whether or not it's a sprint run or exclusive has nothing to do with how many distributors the knife may or may not have, at least based on their description, which may be misleading. So insulting my intelligence by pointing out that ""Distributor Exclusive - available at multiple dealers" is not helpful.
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I think that once you calm down, and reflect on the information, you will begin to make sense of things. I regret having confused you, and I am burdened by the realization that I have not been of help.

- best regards
 
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There are dealers and there are distributors. Dealers sell directly to the general public, often from one website, whereas distributors sell wholesale to a number of different dealers. A distributor exclusive will be sold by any number of dealers which purchase from the distributor who owns the rights to the exclusive, whereas a dealer exclusive will be available only from one dealer. Distributor exclusives will probably have different prices depending on where you purchase, but a dealer exclusive has one price. As for the sprint run vs. common production bit, I think it's safe to assume that most of the dealer exclusives will be produced in numbers similar to a sprint run and on a limited basis. This may not always be the case, but for a large number of these exclusives, including the brown PM2, it's likely. I hope that clears it up some thallium.
 
MJF said:
The difference though is that a distributor or dealer has the rights to reorder a production run of the knife if they so choose. Sprint runs don't work that way.
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That's right. I can think of one case in which the "sponsor" (which was neither a dealer nor a distributor) ordered a second run, but that's the only one that comes to mind, so it's pretty uncommon. And to answer a question somewhere else in the thread, this is probably the reason that no numbers are specified for the exclusives.
 
MJF said:
There are dealers and there are distributors. Dealers sell directly to the general public, often from one website, whereas distributors sell wholesale to a number of different dealers. A distributor exclusive will be sold by any number of dealers which purchase from the distributor who owns the rights to the exclusive, whereas a dealer exclusive will be available only from one dealer. Distributor exclusives will probably have different prices depending on where you purchase, but a dealer exclusive has one price. As for the sprint run vs. common production bit, I think it's safe to assume that most of the dealer exclusives will be produced in numbers similar to a sprint run and on a limited basis. This may not always be the case, but for a large number of these exclusives, including the brown PM2, it's likely. I hope that clears it up some thallium.
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That's very well said ! Correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is, when an item is a Sprint Run, Spyderco typically announces the number to be produced before release.

In the case of a dealer exclusive, once the contract is signed, so to speak, the dealer (retailer) will reveal the number available for pre-order on their web site.

Distributor exclusives ( another equivalent moniker would be "wholesaler" ....Blue Ridge Knives and Moteng are distributors) I don't think the number they order from Spyderco is definitively revealed. Suffice it to guess that it must vary somewhere between 600-1200, depending upon production costs. I would imagine the minimum ordered by a distributor would be a number that puts a profit in everyone's pocket and fits into Spyderco's production schedule. I doubt very much Spyderco would agree to do a distributor exclusive, let's say, of a 125 frn chartreuse handled Natives. That wouldn't put bread on anyone's table. All parties would probably want to sell as many as possible, but better to sell out and reap a relatively quick and tidy profit, than have 100's laying around unsold; an approach that encourages regular, return trips to the feeding station. :) Production capacity and scheduling, as mentioned, also would be a qualifying factor, I think.
 
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get a black one in addition to your brown one, you can color coordinate with the outfit your wearing that day. LOL.

I just ordered by Dirt brown PM2 this afternoon and I'm looking forward to getting it. I have enough black knives and need a change of pace. Other than my Buck Paradigm 337 which has a blue handle with some black in it. the rest of my knives are black. this will take my collection in a new direction.
 
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