"Phantom Blades" Waiting time from introduction to production

[Double Edge Dave]

This really cheeses me off. Take the Beretta/Warren Thomas collaboration. Introduced at SHOT '99, Still haven't seen one from production.That's 17 months! How about the Harsey/Gerber Airframe. It has been advertised for months now, but no production piece is in sight. Same is true with the Kershaw Boa,although I understand that additional time was required to add the safety to production pieces. The point is, knife manufacturers shoot themselves in the foot when they wait so long between introduction and production.If they aren't sure it can be ready in a reasonable time, maybe they should wait. for the intro.
I was very impressed with the way Benchmade introduced the Osborne at the Blade Show. At their booth at the NRA convention just a few weeks before, they wouldn't say boo about new production pieces.
Then they roll out the Osborne at Blade and have knives to their distributors in less than 6 weeks.
I know that intros need to be timed with magazine releases for maximum effect,and there is a 3 month lead time for magazines. This complicates things a bit, but still it would be better if some manufacturers worked on their timing
David

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AKTI# A000150
NC Custom Knifemakers Guild member
NC Knife Knuts member

 

[BH]

David,

I agree with you completely. Take the Microtech D/A LCC for instance. I don't think that I'm the only one who is wanting to get one of those pretty bad.

 

[Les Robertson]

David and Brian,

Here is how it works.

Company A introduces a knife at the SHOT Show. They get X amount of orders at the show and then keep getting them for weeks after the shows. These are orders from big market dealers.

The goal is to secure enough orders to guarantee the ability for the new knife to pay it's own production costs. The economy of scale principal comes into play here.

Once that amount has been secured, production is started. Depending on if the dies are made and the computer program has been written also effects how quickly the knife shows up.

The blanks are cut and shipped to the US or put together in China or Taiwan (some companies actually do all the work in the US).

Assembly begins, invoices are sent, payment is received (unless credit has already been established). Knives are shipped and you start to see them at shows and stores, estimated time is 6-8 months.

Why a knife would take 17 months? Who knows. Sounds like a manufacturing problem.

Guys, factories that produce knives are business's and as such are treated that way.
Bottom line and profit margin are always the focal point. As it should be.

No factory wants delays in production as this has a negative impact.

So while the marketing department might get a little ahead of itself for your taste. Creating the "buzz" for a new knife is a necessary part of the marketing plan for any new factory knife.

OPM (Other People's Money), its one of the ways things get done. Deposits and promises of orders can generate venture capital for any business. This generates positive cash flow and thus allows new products to be developed.

All this in turn allows you to see new things, lust after them, create a buzz about them, insuring a successful product. This inturn allows acceptable profit margins, which will then generate the "next" thing from that company.

The factories are not being devious. It's just a business thing! They don't mean you any harm.



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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com

"If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor"
Albert Einstein

 

[Dexter Ewing]

Take the Microtech D/A LCC for instance. I don't think that I'm the only one who is wanting to get one of those pretty bad.

I know what you mean Brian...I've had one on order even before the Blade Show! But I guess good things come to those who wait

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AKTI Member # A000005
NC Knife Knuts Member
Living life "on the edge"