My problem with sprint runs

FlaMtnBkr

FlaMtnBkr

Joined
Oct 20, 2004
Messages
4,704
Is that I like them too much. I'm basically a steel snob so these limited runs with exotic steel are great. I don't like all of the models but the ones I do I normally buy 2 so that I can have a user and safe queen, or if it's not my thing, good trading stock.

The problem with this is that I can only afford so many knives. I am disabled and can't work so my play money is severely limited. So regular production knives usually get passed over for the sprint runs and there are more than a few models that I really like the looks of. The Super Leaf being the top of the list.

The other problem I have is that I have so many knives now, the practical side of me doesn't see the need to use all my knives. Most go into the safe and only get turned over in my hands for a few minutes every couple months. Occasionally I get a knife and there is no inner turmoil, and the knife goes straight into my pocket. These are fairly few and far between. I will use a knife that I might have already or don't absolutely love if it has a new steel that is supposed to be at the very top of the heap for edge retention.

Anyone else stuck on only sprint runs lately?
 
My last four knives were sprint runs: CTS-XHP Military, Super Blue Caly 3.5, R Nishijin, M390 Military (just got it today!).

I plan on carrying and using all of them, though the Super Blue Caly 3.5 is probably going to be sold off--for mid-sized EDC, I've found I like the R Nishijin better.

I say you should use and carry your sprint runs! If you don't, then the extra money for exotic steels isn't really doing much for you other than collecting dust in a case.
 
Im with you. I love those sprints only i dont buy duplicates. All my sprints do see pocket time but use and wear is minimized cause there are so many knives in the rotation. Keeps the number of knives down at least a little bit.
 
My first Spyderco is on its way to me and its a sprint run and I'm going to use the hell outta it, no safe queens here.

I used to collect a few things from fountain pens to watches, it got to the point where I had cardboard boxes full of the stuff sat in cupboards. Over 400 fountain pens and 10+ nice watches.

I came to the realisation that I was preserving these items and getting no enjoyment from them, who was I preserving them for? certainly not me as I had no use of them other then the occasional fondle!

My attitude now - I purchase items for myself to be used, I will enjoy them, not someone else. I will add character to them in wear & tear, they will age with me and then go to someone else with the added wabi of my lifetime.
 
Plus I find it amusing that Spyderco bring out all these versions of the same knife with the ever changing / evolving / lastest fad steel which cuts better, holds an edge better, resists corrosion better, tougher than the last model, looks brighter, sharpens easier etc etc etc only to not be used and reside in the packaging in a box in a cupboard / safe. They might as well just release these knives with cardboard blades for all the use they will see.

Spyderco must be laughing all the way to the bank with the Pokemon "Gotta catch em all" marketing strategy - supply and demand.

I'll use my knives thanks, I may get suckered into a different colour handle of the same knife with the latest steel which will perform no differently from the last steel blade but still, I will use it, if I find no use for a knife I'll give it away or flip it.
 
Jaytaylor said:
Plus I find it amusing that Spyderco bring out all these versions of the same knife with the ever changing / evolving / lastest fad steel which cuts better, holds an edge better, resists corrosion better, tougher than the last model, looks brighter, sharpens easier etc etc etc only to not be used and reside in the packaging in a box in a cupboard / safe. They might as well just release these knives with cardboard blades for all the use they will see.

Spyderco must be laughing all the way to the bank with the Pokemon "Gotta catch em all" marketing strategy - supply and demand.

I'll use my knives thanks, I may get suckered into a different colour handle of the same knife with the latest steel which will perform no differently from the last steel blade but still, I will use it, if I find no use for a knife I'll give it away or flip it.
Click to expand...

Yep there's new super steels every year, and Spyderco will have a sprint Para and Military in blue, orange, and desert tan. They sure do make bank off of it, hats off to good marketing to collectors. There was a nice thread on steel snobs... makes you think back to when AUS8 was the best you could get.
 
Yes to your last question...and having the $ame problem. :D Worse could happen. :cool:

FlaMtnBkr said:
Is that I like them too much. I'm basically a steel snob so these limited runs with exotic steel are great. I don't like all of the models but the ones I do I normally buy 2 so that I can have a user and safe queen, or if it's not my thing, good trading stock.

The problem with this is that I can only afford so many knives. I am disabled and can't work so my play money is severely limited. So regular production knives usually get passed over for the sprint runs and there are more than a few models that I really like the looks of. The Super Leaf being the top of the list.

The other problem I have is that I have so many knives now, the practical side of me doesn't see the need to use all my knives. Most go into the safe and only get turned over in my hands for a few minutes every couple months. Occasionally I get a knife and there is no inner turmoil, and the knife goes straight into my pocket. These are fairly few and far between. I will use a knife that I might have already or don't absolutely love if it has a new steel that is supposed to be at the very top of the heap for edge retention.

Anyone else stuck on only sprint runs lately?
Click to expand...
 
I know how it is to have knives that you barely look at. A guy's tastes can change or he can have so many of them that the old ones get little attention. (And how many times has the 'itch' to get something been totally diminished once you actually get it; its the hunt and the wanting that drives and gives pleasure to a collector). IMO the problem with 'the newest & greatest steel' even though it may make little difference in actual day to day usage - - is that there's always a newer and greater one coming out next. - - Personally, I'm concentrating now on just a few that I really like, and getting rid of the others to buy something that should see a much better rise in value over time . . . silver.
 
It is sort of silly that I like the hard use steels so much given that I cut open 2 bales of hay a day thats 4 hay strings/day LOL. And once every 2 weeks cut up some cardboard when I go to the dump. Oh and I open my mail too!
 
Fat Goat Forge said:
It is sort of silly that I like the hard use steels so much given that I cut open 2 bales of hay a day thats 4 hay strings/day LOL. And once every 2 weeks cut up some cardboard when I go to the dump. Oh and I open my mail too!
Click to expand...

Yup. I don't do as much work with my knives as I used to, so it does seem odd that I've added a lot of new steels to my collection lately. Oh well. Everybody has an interest in something!

At least it's not as expensive of a hobby as cars or being an early adopter tech guy. In general I find myself amused that it's often cheaper to buy a limited edition or sprint run knife earlier, rather than later. It's a very different market than electronic gadgets. Besides, some of the steels that are still considered top notch have been around for quite some time.
 
The majority of our "Sprints" and "Exclusives" are the response to requests by customers, either from the End line User (ELU) or dealers wanting an exclusive model. The models that we make and call "Sprints" will not be made the same way again. The models that are made for dealers can me made again for the same exclusive dealer.

As far as a business model is concerned, the jury is still out. Each model, being different, especially where steels are concerned offers its challenges in that each steel is different to work with. That's why most knife companies don't use many steels. Refently, we've been turning down exclusives due to capacity constraints. With our own "Sprints", we are often offering a requested steel to our customers in a useable format.

sal
 
I have had to shut it down on a couple of sprints that were juicy lately (the Orange Para 2 and the Green Para 2). I already have the gray Para 2 and also the blue one. I just ran out of road for being able to justify more renditions of the Para 2 when the two I have are terrific.

Plus I just got the CF Military in M390. Sprints are pretty great but I have to rein in my spending a bit right now. After a few months to recover, we will see where my addiction takes me.
 
I'd say the majority of my folder collection are sprints, often because I put regular production items at the back of my list because I know I have time, and because I prefer higher edge retention steels to good edge retention steels. However I also use all of mine. I also usually only buy sprints in platforms I like, for example my favorite 3 Spydercos are the Military, Para 2, and Manix 2, so I have 3-4 of each in sprints (don't have the regular version of any of them), and even though I really wanted to try Super Blue, I don't like the Caly 3.5 enough to get it (back lock, pinned).

+M390 Military, and orange and green para 2 ordered (probably will skip the brown Para 2, not enough difference to the regular)
IMG_2217-1.jpg
 
I have finally caught up on all of the standard production catalog models that I have wanted.

It looks like it will be sprint runs and limited editions from now on.

I am glad to see the improvements over previous designs from years ago.

Plus having different handle material colors is so much better than the basic "tactical" black.

I am not a steel snob, I do like the progress that has been made in some of the newer blade steels too.
 
Guess I need to start distinguishing in my usage of the words "Sprint" and "Exclusive". I've been lumping them together.
 
Thanks for the replies and thanks Sal for writing. It isn't really a problem. The only real problem is that I can't afford to buy everything I want.

I use plenty of my knives and I use them hard. I just don't use them all because there is no need to use a dozen Manix 2 knives. I did try to collect all the Manix knives but there just got to be too many. Now I just pick and choose the ones I think I will really like or that the steel will really excel. I've got the gray Para and preordered the green. I had the S90V but my wife accidentally lost it and they are just too expensive to replace.

I really like the look of the super leaf so I will try to track one down. Maybe I can find a used one that is a little cheaper and that I won't hesitate to use hard.
 
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