Para 2 Sprint - Foliage Green w/ Elmax

[sir_mike]

I dont think the steel used warrants that kinda price so I will pass, especially when you could get a PM2 cts-204p for only $150.

 

[cigarrodog]

The more I read the posts in this thread the dumber I feel for buying this knife. Years ago, I bought a couple of SS Police models and just thought they were the coolest. My kids thought so too, so I gave it to them.
I recently was intrigued by the PM2, but couldn't source the one I wanted and had to wait list and became obsessed. When I finally got my hands on one, it was the most fun I've ever had with a knife. Now I've got three of them, about to mod one of them, and just ordered the apparently infamous BBS Elmax Para 2. So you guys are saying it's overpriced, but it is an exclusive sprint version. I thought this was exciting. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[ToxicBot11]

I don't know how you would lose money on a Limited Run Para 2? If you don't like it or it bothers you having it, sell it.

Theres one on the bay that's been bid to $300 with 5 days to go..

 

[Skywalker31]

The more I read the posts in this thread the dumber I feel for buying this knife. Years ago, I bought a couple of SS Police models and just thought they were the coolest. My kids thought so too, so I gave it to them.
I recently was intrigued by the PM2, but couldn't source the one I wanted and had to wait list and became obsessed. When I finally got my hands on one, it was the most fun I've ever had with a knife. Now I've got three of them, about to mod one of them, and just ordered the apparently infamous BBS Elmax Para 2. So you guys are saying it's overpriced, but it is an exclusive sprint version. I thought this was exciting. Maybe I'm wrong.

It is overpriced compared to what other dealers have charged for non-standard Para 2s. However, with the exception of the Brown/S35VN, every one of those has hit over $200 on the secondary market once the dealer's stock was out - so from that point of view, no, I don't think you're in too bad of a shape.

Also, people are kind of tired of BBS's policies in general, with the high pricing, no return policy, and complete and total lack of customer service once they put the knife in the box and the box in the mail. It just really sucks to see them get some really cool exclusives that people would otherwise be all over, price them out of reach, and then try and pull crap like the bundle deal. Really leaves a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.

All of that said - if the PM2 is the most fun you've ever had with a knife, you should have no reason not to enjoy this one just as much. So get excited and keep it and put it in your pocket and use it and enjoy it. I've got one of the Blue/M390 PM2s from a previous BBS's exclusive, overpriced run, and it's still my favorite and most carried PM2. It's awesome and been used and the edge has been chipped up and reprofiled and it's great and I don't regret it at all - I've honestly never even considered selling it, even when it was closer to NIB they were regularly going for $100 above what I paid, even lightly used. I'm happy to have it.

(Also happy to never deal with them again.)

 

[TDOG1]

I'm reminded what $300 will get you. Got my S90v in the mail today


View attachment 446340

The decision on the Para at BBS is still up in the air for me, but I doubt I'll pick this one up. Congrats on your S90v. This one has eluded me. I have many nice Para's or other Spydies I'd do in a trade + cash for one of these. Yes, I'd like the foliage green Para 2 to go with the Endura, Delica, and, Dragonfly, in foliage green, but I have the Para 1 and it is one of my absolute smoothest Spydies,

 

[JNewell]

I dont think the steel used warrants that kinda price so I will pass, especially when you could get a PM2 cts-204p for only $150.

Seen any of those for sale at that price lately?

 

[JNewell]

The more I read the posts in this thread the dumber I feel for buying this knife. Years ago, I bought a couple of SS Police models and just thought they were the coolest. My kids thought so too, so I gave it to them.
I recently was intrigued by the PM2, but couldn't source the one I wanted and had to wait list and became obsessed. When I finally got my hands on one, it was the most fun I've ever had with a knife. Now I've got three of them, about to mod one of them, and just ordered the apparently infamous BBS Elmax Para 2. So you guys are saying it's overpriced, but it is an exclusive sprint version. I thought this was exciting. Maybe I'm wrong.

I don't think you're wrong. Is it a bargain? No, but there are lots of knives that sell in large numbers that aren't, either. Strider and Benchmade come to mind. The regular production S30V Para2 is a bargain at ~$105, but that doesn't mean that a limited production version at MSRP is a bad deal or a bad choice as a knife. I have always like Spyderco's foliage green G10 and the Elmax blade is an interesting change that will perform at least as well as the S30V blades. I wouldn't feel badly at all. :thumbup:

 

[Spyker1982]

There's a green (204p), a brown (s35vn), and an orange (CTS-XHP) on eBay for $200+. Also there's the new Elmax on auction for already $300 plus $10 for shipping. All that = Crazy prices

 

[sir_mike]

Seen any of those for sale at that price lately?

No, I haven't! Just referring to what I paid for it vs what I would have to pay for a PM2 with Elmax. I think $200 is high and $150 would be more realistic price wise! I also dont think exceptions noted that this PM2 with Elmax will increase in value as much as some others but I guess there are always fools out there that will pay way over price for something, like someone noted on an Elmax on Ebay! I dont think it will be the norm for this one! Yeah, I could be wrong but I also dont think the steel warrants the price tag either as it is the best or even compares to m390 or cts-204p in my opinion!

 

[ToxicBot11]

No, I haven't! Just referring to what I paid for it vs what I would have to pay for a PM2 with Elmax. I think $200 is high and $150 would be more realistic price wise! I also dont think exceptions noted that this PM2 with Elmax will increase in value as much as some others but I guess there are always fools out there that will pay way over price for something, like someone noted on an Elmax on Ebay! I dont think it will be the norm for this one! Yeah, I could be wrong but I also dont think the steel warrants the price tag either as it is the best or even compares to m390 or cts-204p in my opinion!

Value is directly related to how scarce an item is. There were 1200(or more)204p Para2's made. Theirs been 2 runs of the Blue M390 Para2 made with a third on the way and they still sell for big money, even used. I don't know the total number of Elmax Para2's made but I think its 600 or less.

 

[JNewell]

Probably not less - I think Spyderco's minimum order for exclusives is 600. (I might be mis-remembering.) BBS ordered three runs of the M390, as you noted but I don't know if follow-up runs have a lower minimum order number. If not, that's going to be a total of 1800 of the blue M390s, which is a lot.

 

[sir_mike]

Value is directly related to how scarce an item is. There were 1200(or more)204p Para2's made. Theirs been 2 runs of the Blue M390 Para2 made with a third on the way and they still sell for big money, even used. I don't know the total number of Elmax Para2's made but I think its 600 or less.

Point taken on quantity made that has a relation to price it fetches but I dont think Elmax is the steel that is good enough to get that kind of value whether resale or collector value. I don't own any Elmax blades so I am just basing it on what I had read comparing steels like Anderson's thread and others. I think it is the reason M390 and CTS-204p PM2's will sell higher is cause the steel that is used.

Would you pay the $189 for the PM2 M390, the $149 for PM2 CTS-204P or the $200 for the PM2 Elmax? I know most will say "all three"! LOL

 

[cigarrodog]

It is overpriced compared to what other dealers have charged for non-standard Para 2s. However, with the exception of the Brown/S35VN, every one of those has hit over $200 on the secondary market once the dealer's stock was out - so from that point of view, no, I don't think you're in too bad of a shape.

Also, people are kind of tired of BBS's policies in general, with the high pricing, no return policy, and complete and total lack of customer service once they put the knife in the box and the box in the mail. It just really sucks to see them get some really cool exclusives that people would otherwise be all over, price them out of reach, and then try and pull crap like the bundle deal. Really leaves a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.

All of that said - if the PM2 is the most fun you've ever had with a knife, you should have no reason not to enjoy this one just as much. So get excited and keep it and put it in your pocket and use it and enjoy it. I've got one of the Blue/M390 PM2s from a previous BBS's exclusive, overpriced run, and it's still my favorite and most carried PM2. It's awesome and been used and the edge has been chipped up and reprofiled and it's great and I don't regret it at all - I've honestly never even considered selling it, even when it was closer to NIB they were regularly going for $100 above what I paid, even lightly used. I'm happy to have it.

(Also happy to never deal with them again.)

Thanks to you and the others who post the "other side of the coin." I recognize that others get tired of the BS that companies like BBS foist on those who want what only they have, especially if you've been doing this for sometime. Despite what I previously said, there is good in letting a company know when they're screwing you. The best message is to not buy their product. BBS did add the Elmax as a separate purchase. I do think threads like this are read. But companies like BBS know there are people like me. So thanks to all who tell it like it is.

 

[JNewell]

Thanks to you and the others who post the "other side of the coin." I recognize that others get tired of the BS that companies like BBS foist on those who want what only they have, especially if you've been doing this for sometime. Despite what I previously said, there is good in letting a company know when they're screwing you. The best message is to not buy their product. BBS did add the Elmax as a separate purchase. I do think threads like this are read. But companies like BBS know there are people like me. So thanks to all who tell it like it is.

There's no black and white answer here. Talking about $150 204P Para2s is pointless if you can't buy one for that price, and Sal Glesser recently posted in another thread that there aren't going to be any more Para2 sprints or exclusives, although he didn't say that there weren't some existing contracts in the works. Even the $190 blue M390 is on some kind of indefinite backorder due to production backlogs, so it's not clear when the last lot of those will be delivered. If you want a new Para2 sprint or exclusive, the Elmax one is what's available, and it's a good looking version of a great knife with a very good blade.

This stuff may be a game but there is no scorecard other than your own satisfaction. Skywalker referred to his blue M390 as overpriced but also his favorite and most carried Para2. I'd say that any knife like that was a good purchase even if it doesn't give you bragging rights over a beer or a cable modem. If the Elmax Para2 does as much for you as Skywalker's blue M390, it's all good. If not, there's one on eBay right now with a $300 bid and five days left to run - sell it and buy something else - it'd be amazing if you can't get at least your cost back.

At the end of the day, the only person you have to please is yourself. :thumbup:

 

[Cisco Kid]

Listen to JNewell. He has is crap together.

 

[hank_612]

I think the whole bundling deal was BS but I am glad bBS emailed those of who bought the bundle and offered to amend our orders to just the elmax pm2.

 

[cigarrodog]

There's no black and white answer here. Talking about $150 204P Para2s is pointless if you can't buy one for that price, and Sal Glesser recently posted in another thread that there aren't going to be any more Para2 sprints or exclusives, although he didn't say that there weren't some existing contracts in the works. Even the $190 blue M390 is on some kind of indefinite backorder due to production backlogs, so it's not clear when the last lot of those will be delivered. If you want a new Para2 sprint or exclusive, the Elmax one is what's available, and it's a good looking version of a great knife with a very good blade.

This stuff may be a game but there is no scorecard other than your own satisfaction. Skywalker referred to his blue M390 as overpriced but also his favorite and most carried Para2. I'd say that any knife like that was a good purchase even if it doesn't give you bragging rights over a beer or a cable modem. If the Elmax Para2 does as much for you as Skywalker's blue M390, it's all good. If not, there's one on eBay right now with a $300 bid and five days left to run - sell it and buy something else - it'd be amazing if you can't get at least your cost back.

At the end of the day, the only person you have to please is yourself. :thumbup:

Thank you. With no more Sprint Para2s other than those already contracted, then I guess it's time to hunt down the ones already done.

 

[Evany]

I overpaid for my 204P Para 2, but I don't care. Can't seem to carry anything else these days.

 

[JNewell]

Thank you. With no more Sprint Para2s other than those already contracted, then I guess it's time to hunt down the ones already done.

Yes...if you want them. It may be expensive, but prices seem to vary a lot. But if you look hard, you can get good buys. Example: the brown S35VN has recently sold on eBay for prices anywhere from about $160 to almost $300. Someone here recently bought one of the original solid S90V/CF sprints for mid-$300s.

Also, Sal did seem to qualify his 'no more sprint/exclusive Para2s' statement; it seems to refer only to new contracts with Spyderco. I'd be surprised if there isn't an M4 version somewhere in the planning that was contracted for a year or two back. But I will also remind all of us that the Manix 2 exclusive in CPM-M4 came from BBS.

 

[cigarrodog]

As a Spyderco newbie, I'm happy to have this thread to become better informed. Thanks. I want to get more PM2s and now I'm just about ready for starting with the Military, and also want the upcoming Rubicon.