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what does this mean?
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
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pre- production knives?
- Thread starter dillon benda
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A small batch initial run to test a product before ramping things into high-gear for full production. It's basically a way for companies to test the waters for a project before fully committing. In the knife world this tends to mean increased collectibility as pre-production (or first production run) pieces are oftentimes marked to indicate this status.
batosai117
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You'll see a lot of these markings on Benchmades. Out of all the companies they seem to do this a lot more often than others.
they usually are not worth a premium over the other ones either FWIW, almost never in fact.
1st production runs and pre-pros will SOMETIMES bring a SMALL premium over the std models but this usally is not how it works out, same for prototypes, i used to collect BM proto's and pre-pro's and unless they are different than the regular production run in some way (ie the prototype BM 710 had a alloy vs G10 handle for example) they dont bring much if anything extra, one which is different MIGHt bring a small premium, like $25 or so, maybe a tad more, really only the prototypes are gonna bring much of anything, almost all the 1st pro run and prepro's i have seen probably ran +$5 or $10 over a std model, if that.
why? imho they make too many of them, they simply arent rare.
for example BM makes 300 or 400 prototypes while spyderco might make a dozen, thus the spydie proto's do bring some $$, as they are kinda rare if ya make 3 or 400 of a model they simply arent that rare. also emerson proto's are all hand made and number like 6 or 8 usually again they bring a premium unlike the BM's.
of the dozen or so BM proto's i had only one a couple sold for more than a std model and they both were quite a bit different than the production ones, the 710 and the stryker FWIW, the 710 with the alloy handles vs the productions G10 and the strykers blade grind was different and the handle was a little different too, some like the prototype 800's were exactly the same as the productions FWIW.
i did enjoy collecting them though, and like i said i bet i have had a dozen of the things thru the yrs & still have a couple of them.
1st production runs and pre-pros will SOMETIMES bring a SMALL premium over the std models but this usally is not how it works out, same for prototypes, i used to collect BM proto's and pre-pro's and unless they are different than the regular production run in some way (ie the prototype BM 710 had a alloy vs G10 handle for example) they dont bring much if anything extra, one which is different MIGHt bring a small premium, like $25 or so, maybe a tad more, really only the prototypes are gonna bring much of anything, almost all the 1st pro run and prepro's i have seen probably ran +$5 or $10 over a std model, if that.
why? imho they make too many of them, they simply arent rare.
for example BM makes 300 or 400 prototypes while spyderco might make a dozen, thus the spydie proto's do bring some $$, as they are kinda rare if ya make 3 or 400 of a model they simply arent that rare. also emerson proto's are all hand made and number like 6 or 8 usually again they bring a premium unlike the BM's.
of the dozen or so BM proto's i had only one a couple sold for more than a std model and they both were quite a bit different than the production ones, the 710 and the stryker FWIW, the 710 with the alloy handles vs the productions G10 and the strykers blade grind was different and the handle was a little different too, some like the prototype 800's were exactly the same as the productions FWIW.
i did enjoy collecting them though, and like i said i bet i have had a dozen of the things thru the yrs & still have a couple of them.
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Some pre-production knives do warrant special consideration. I like the "pre-production" Benchmade 806 knives more than the regular production versions, since the blades are thinner and it is a shorter knife overall.
But usually these pre-production knives have little to differentiate them from regular production. Due consider the number made - 1,000 versus 250, for example, the less made being given the more consideration.
But usually these pre-production knives have little to differentiate them from regular production. Due consider the number made - 1,000 versus 250, for example, the less made being given the more consideration.
I picked up a proto Benchamde Nimravus 145SB marked "shot show 1999". The sheath is unique, with a carbon fiber weave intigrated in the Kydex, and the steel ATS-34. It was cheaper than normal, so I bought it. I would love to use it, but would hate to ruin the value if it is valuable. I really dont want to spend the money on another one for use. Any value in that, or should I just shut up and enjoy it?
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The prototype of the new Barrage has g10 handle scales as opposed to Valox.
it might bring a few dollars over a std one, if someone is loking for that particular one, maybe, i doubt ya would get over $25 or MAYBE $50 TOPS over a std one, if that, i would consider using the thing, on the other hand i personally have not seen a lotta BM fixed blade protos though, but i know they gen'ly make a lot of them, i know the 710 i have was supposedly one of the lower numbers produced and they made ~ 200 of them, if i was you i would go to the BM forum and ask them and see what they say, just to be on the safe side, but imho its main value would be as a user FWIW.
prototype value is also influenced to a degree by the popularity of the model, something popular like a proto 710 or 806 is gonna bring more than some of the less popular ones.