Overpriced R2?

F

flying hippo

Joined
Aug 26, 2009
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I live in Tokyo and I'm toying with the idea of buying a Spyderco Almite R2 plain edge at a local store here for about 13000yen. Currently that converts to about about $150 USD. Nice looking discontinued blade--3.5in VG10 lock back that looks like a longer tougher version of a the Spyderco "S." I'm guessing $150 is too much. If it is a fair price, I might get it but if it is overpriced I'm going to pass. What do you guys think?
 
That's what I thought. I'm going to pass then. Most of the stuff here is overpriced and makes for tough shopping.

Thanks for the quick replies!!
 
Guees it depends on how you look at things. You're talking about a knife of which only 600 pieces each were made in PE and SE several years ago. The plain edge version sold out within days. They're fairly hard to find here in the US, and the one place I know has them wants even more than your source in Tokyo. None of that necessarily makes it "worth" the asking price, but it might put it in perspective.

Paul
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My Personal Website - - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting - - - - - - Kiwimania
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Spyderco Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
This is not simple question. With all my love to R2, which I consider a great knife I would not pay $150, but I already have one. Usually they sold on e-bay and Forums for lees, but price is rising and they became more and more rare.
If you want it now, than there are not many options. If you can wait and watch Forums and e-bay, there is a chance to pay less, probably around $100.
 
The Deacon said:
Guees it depends on how you look at things. You're talking about a knife of which only 600 pieces each were made in PE and SE several years ago. The plain edge version sold out within days. They're fairly hard to find here in the US, and the one place I know has them wants even more than your source in Tokyo. None of that necessarily makes it "worth" the asking price, but it might put it in perspective.

Paul
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Arrgh! I was afraid of that. :)

So I guess it depends on how much I like the knife. I'll have to decide if it is worth shelling out double retail for a limited ed knife. (Maybe 300 units made for the plain edge?) I'm working late tomorrow so I think I'll stop buy the shop before work and take another look.

bh49 said:
This is not simple question. With all my love to R2, which I consider a great knife I would not pay $150, but I already have one. Usually they sold on e-bay and Forums for lees, but price is rising and they became more and more rare.
If you want it now, than there are not many options. If you can wait and watch Forums and e-bay, there is a chance to pay less, probably around $100.
Click to expand...

Hey bh49, is there anything you didn't like about the r2? How was the grip with all of those angled cutouts?
 
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bh49 said:
This is not simple question. With all my love to R2, which I consider a great knife I would not pay $150, but I already have one. Usually they sold on e-bay and Forums for lees, but price is rising and they became more and more rare.
If you want it now, than there are not many options. If you can wait and watch Forums and e-bay, there is a chance to pay less, probably around $100.
Click to expand...
True, but you also need to factor shipping costs to Japan, the possibility of duty/taxes, and even the question of whether it would make it through customs at all. The fact it was originally made there might help, but from everything I've read their laws and attitudes toward both knives and "private imports" in general are quite different from ours.

Paul
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My Personal Website - - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting - - - - - - Kiwimania
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
Spyderco Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
The Deacon said:
True, but you also need to factor shipping costs to Japan, the possibility of duty/taxes, and even the question of whether it would make it through customs at all. The fact it was originally made there might help, but from everything I've read their laws and attitudes toward both knives and "private imports" in general are quite different from ours.
Paul
Click to expand...

Agree, taxes/duty/make through customs are big gray area. :confused:

flying hippo said:
Hey bh49, is there anything you didn't like about the r2? How was the grip with all of those angled cutouts?
Click to expand...
I used to have two of them and I EDCed one for about six month. Ergos are great, cutouts just giving better grip, full flat grind blade is a good slicer. 3.5" is the perfect size for my state. I never used it wearing gloves.
Primary reason that I stopped carrying R2 is that I love C83 Persian much more. I sold that knife, this is the only knife I am sorry for selling.
Quick search on e-bay for complete listings on Spyderco R returned me that last one was for sale in September. Starting bid was $80 and nobody bid, the knife was not sold:eek:. The seller is the member of this Forum. But keep in the mind that quite a few sellers will not ship oversears, plus everything what Paul said.
So overpriced or not a lot depends on location. For US $150 is overpriced, for Japan, just do not know.
 
I found several things about the R2 annoying. One was the point in the grip area. I went so far as to have one rebuilt by STR without that. Found that didn't eliminate my other big gripe, excessive thumb reach. My thumb just isn't long enough to open the R2 smoothly. Not crazy about almite handles either, with or without cut-outs. but I have to admit the cut-outs give you a better grip than a dead smooth almite handle would. The R2 is an interesting collectible, but if you're just looking for a great 3.5" bladed Spyderco to use, my advice would be to get the FRN/VG-10 Stretch II.

Paul
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My Personal Website - - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting - - - - - - Kiwimania
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
Spyderco Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
A NIB R2 PE can be found for between 60 and 80$, I bought one last month for 65$. I have seen quite a few on eBay, there does not seem to be a lot of demand for them.
 
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