Need help picking my jaw off the floor...

It'll be my first and prolly not the last. My only wish is that it came with some Damascas but CRK will prolly debut that model later.
 
I bought a bark mammoth a couple of years ago and have sold it since.I paid 850.00 at the time.I really have a problem with retailers marking up a product 20% because it has a nicer set of scales.I was interested in this knife but i passed because of mark-up.The dealer said price was because bark mammoth was getting more rare.Thats a totally false statement.Mammoth ivory is dug up all the time in a wide variety of quality.Congratz to the new owner since it is a beautiful knife!I just have a problem with retailers gouging CRK collectors and this particular dealer does this frequently.
 
I was absolutely amazed and saved the picture to my file.

I spoke with CRk this week and my annual will be available soon.......

Small Sebenza with Stainless Damascus and Mammoth Ivory Bark.

Can't wait!
 
coolhandluke said:
I bought a bark mammoth a couple of years ago and have sold it since.I paid 850.00 at the time.I really have a problem with retailers marking up a product 20% because it has a nicer set of scales.I was interested in this knife but i passed because of mark-up.The dealer said price was because bark mammoth was getting more rare.Thats a totally false statement.Mammoth ivory is dug up all the time in a wide variety of quality.Congratz to the new owner since it is a beautiful knife!I just have a problem with retailers gouging CRK collectors and this particular dealer does this frequently.
Click to expand...
Chris Reeve keeps a pretty tight watch on pricing from dealers. He(Chris Reeve) sets the price that dealers pay and they are only allowed to mark them up about 5%, depending on how much of a discount they get from the factory. That's based on quantity purchased. If the dealer you bought from told you the mark up was from the rarity of bark ivory, than I doubt he was an authorized CRK dealer to begin with. If you were to call the factory and puchase this particular knife, the price would probably be what Lynn asked.
;)
 
To my knowledge,bark mammoth prices are set at CRK and not according to quality.You pay the same for a below average and a super bark mammoth.Mine was one of the better examples i've seen.Lynn Olson is a CRK dealer and thats who sold this knife.So i quess this dealer didn't obey pricing rules.Personally,i won't buy from this dealer for that reason.If you've got a nice sebenza for sale why not let the buyer get a nice deal and not high ball the price!By the way,my limited 2006 bark mammoth was purchased from CRK and if you ordered a crackle bark mammoth like one Lynn Olson sold it would be priced similar since prices haven't gone up much.Problem is CRK will not let you cherry pick ivory so you take your chances and quality varies greatly.
 
Since I have one on order and I have asked the question, I think I can respond to the previous thread knowledgably. CRK chooses the 'best' mammoth ivory bark for the large and small annuals. The barks are supposed to be unique and it is reflected in annuals.
Lynn Olson had his large annual for sale for $1125. I am not sure what a large annual with 'premium' ivory bark sells for but I can tell you my small annual with a damascus blade is nearly $900.

As far as dealers making a profit, I think they deserve to make at least 20 points. Look at the amount of stock Lynn or Neil Ostroff keep on their shelves. Without high end dealers like them, it would be like the wild west with price swings everywhere. Their posted prices on the website are set by what the market will bear. If they have a product sitting around for a year unsold, obviously they have got the wrong price.

My $0.02 worth.
 
All mammoth bark is unique since it would be impossible to have two the same.About the same as a fingerprint but I've seen probably 30 annual bark mammoth on sale by dealers.The rarest color is blue and cost a premium.Crackle mammoth is much more common.It's readily available if you know where to find it.I emailed Lynn Olson to inquire why price was so high over retail and he gave me info about how rare mammoth is.That is a flat out lie and that is what i was talking about.If you order from CRK it's a crap shoot since they pick the ivory and you have no idea what quality scales til it arrives.I've seen several that were poor examples that sold through different dealers.The best i saw was a forum member that got his same time i got mine.His was much more impressive than mine but i guarantee he paid same price.That price Lynn Olson got was crazy overpricing!How can You justify $1125 for a production knife with a nice set of scales.CRK didn't make that price-Lynn Olson did.He would be more comfortable as a used car dealer i think!
 
Granted the price did seem a bit steep I was thinking. But I guess to know for sure would take a call to the CRK factory. Lynn has always been a stand up guy and dealer, never known him to gouge. Some bark ivorys will be more in cost depending on what was paid for it by the maker to begin with. Perhaps we should be less critical of pricing and look to what we are actually paying for...that is, if YOU are paying for it!
 
That is a great looking seb and the owner should be a happy camper!And i suspect CRK won't give out the info you suggest.Only Fine Knives was last dealer i bought a large limited from in california buckeye burl for $600.He's a super honest dealer and always priced same as straight from CRK.Dealers have a built in profit and once they go 20% over that it's upsetting.Sorry, just my opinion.
 
In regards to pricing, there is a dealer that sold wood LE's for $100 over CRK retail price. I think that CRK's price is too low and that leads to speculation, that is people get on the list for LE's knowing they can flip them for even more after they are delivered.

I can't blame them, I would get on the LE list too, but I want to see them first before I buy, which seems like you can't really do.

My advice to CRK, raise your prices!
 
coolhandluke said:
I bought a bark mammoth a couple of years ago and have sold it since.I paid 850.00 at the time.I really have a problem with retailers marking up a product 20% because it has a nicer set of scales.I was interested in this knife but i passed because of mark-up.The dealer said price was because bark mammoth was getting more rare.Thats a totally false statement.Mammoth ivory is dug up all the time in a wide variety of quality.Congratz to the new owner since it is a beautiful knife!I just have a problem with retailers gouging CRK collectors and this particular dealer does this frequently.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I am wrong...

I bought the Mammoth Bark annual vs the custom Mammoth Bark as the custom knives are inlaid with two pieces on the handle...whereas the Annual knife is one large inlay....

Do I have this wrong?

The CRK I really want is Mammoth Bark with Damascas....but I don't want the two piece inlay version...I want ONE SOLID inlay per side.

;-)
 
You have it right Stronzaa. The annual limited addition are going to cost a bit more anyway. Limited in that there are only 60 each of the large and small made per year. Geeze...60! Man would I like to see all of them, the ivories that is. And yes, the inlays are larger one piece which will in turn cost a bit more!

You're on par with what I'm waiting for too. A large limited w/bark and Damascus. Price doesn't matter when it come to Chris Reeve Limited Sebenza's. This is going to be one sweet folder that will be carried and used!
:eek:
BTW: You can send your new limited back to the factory once you get it and have it fitted with a Damascus blade. Then you will have two blades to swap out whenever needed. I do it with this one...
sebfjr.jpg
 
This annual sold in less than one week and apparently the buyer is happy to own this awesome knife. Wouldn't that mean that the price was right or is this just "Sebenza Envy" by some people on this forum?

I have difficulty with forum participants who rip into sellers who are making a profit when it is unknown if the seller is going to respond.

I was selling a knife on another forum and got a PM from someone who wasn't interested in buying the knife; only to tell me he could buy it for $20 cheaper elsewhere. So what, go buy it I say. My price was based upon my buy price and its limited usage.
 
I think chris reeves knives are priced correctly considering it's a production knife and 100% CNC.I can't think of another knife in production lines that is even close in price.That's a testament to the quality of his knives that he can ask and get this price.I am a CRK fan and bought my 1st in '95 after reading a rave review in Tactical Knives.I've owned 6 and have been satisfied with all and always amazed at quality of his knives.The ones i sold for need of money;i wish i had back!The bark mammoth annual that forum member bought is a fantastic example and i would think will increase in value as time goes on.It makes me want mine back that i sold!I'll be looking closely at dealers stock to see if i can find one this striking for myself.I didn't want to induce buyers remorse by responding to this thread but just commenting on pricing by this dealer.That knife is a keeper and enjoy it-i know i would!
 
RNST said:
This annual sold in less than one week and apparently the buyer is happy to own this awesome knife. Wouldn't that mean that the price was right or is this just "Sebenza Envy" by some people on this forum?

I have difficulty with forum participants who rip into sellers who are making a profit when it is unknown if the seller is going to respond.

I was selling a knife on another forum and got a PM from someone who wasn't interested in buying the knife; only to tell me he could buy it for $20 cheaper elsewhere. So what, go buy it I say. My price was based upon my buy price and its limited usage.
Click to expand...

Well spoken.

CHL,
As far as CRK being 100% CNC, you are only talking about the rough shape for the most part. There is probably more hands on fit and finishing of Chris's knives than any other "production/custom" knife company on this planet. One only has to look at the CRK DVD. Hope you find your bark mammoth!
;)
 
I just hate for CRK to get in the same boat as Busse, where everyone snaps up knives only to flip them for high profits. Tends to piss off customers IMO.
 
DaveH said:
In regards to pricing, there is a dealer that sold wood LE's for $100 over CRK retail price. I think that CRK's price is too low and that leads to speculation, that is people get on the list for LE's knowing they can flip them for even more after they are delivered.

I can't blame them, I would get on the LE list too, but I want to see them first before I buy, which seems like you can't really do.

My advice to CRK, raise your prices!
Click to expand...

My pocketbook will hate me for this, but DaveH is right... :o
 
coolhandluke said:
I bought a bark mammoth a couple of years ago and have sold it since.I paid 850.00 at the time.I really have a problem with retailers marking up a product 20% because it has a nicer set of scales.I was interested in this knife but i passed because of mark-up.The dealer said price was because bark mammoth was getting more rare.Thats a totally false statement.Mammoth ivory is dug up all the time in a wide variety of quality.Congratz to the new owner since it is a beautiful knife!I just have a problem with retailers gouging CRK collectors and this particular dealer does this frequently.
Click to expand...

Buy them from CRK call them up and say "put me in line for a 08 model" they will call you next year this time wanting money:D thats what i did...

I paid a hair less for a 2007 model with a sheath and some other goodies for what I paid for my 2006 model from Plaza with nothing.
 
Sebenza envy??????Get real-I could have bought this knife since i called before guy that bought it!If i wanted to pay that price ,i would have bought it.Hence my complaint about price gougers.There is no knife made that i will support that pricing scam except maybe an Elishewitz!And he's more than fair priced and the most talented custom maker in the biz!My opinion of course but when you get over 1k i want a custom one of a kinder.Sebenza is a great production knife but when you handle a custom it pales in comparison!
 
Sebenza envy? Mabye...and isn't that why we're all here?

Wierd how this topic is off course...this particular model was expensive because of the Mammoth Bark...take off the Mammoth bark and its just a regular sebbie....to compare this model against a custom knife maker is off the mark...the CRKs are production pieces... Not one of a kind never to be done again customs.

I'm well aware that there are great custom folders to be had for $1k and up...but I wanted a Sebbie with Mammoth bark...and voila...Lynn Olson had one...and that fit my need err want.

And by the way, this Sebenza is a cracker! No need to take pix as I couldn't best Lynn's shots if I wanted to...
 
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