Pre-Production Run

[Crookshanks]

I keep seeing knives that are numbered, pre-production runs for different Benchmade models.
Do I want one?
Is there any difference in quality, and is there any collect-ability to these knives?
Thanks.

 

[misque]

The short answer would be yes, no and no. Benchmade makes a very good product and that is the main reason to buy one no matter what the production status of the knife may be.

Regarding the collectability(I'm assuming your talking about collecting as a monetary investment as opposed to collecting just to have and hold and use the knives):
Maybe, maybe in the year 2103 they'd be worth more to a collector, but my gut feeling is my pre-production run models would be the same price on the after market as any other "production run" of the same model today, tomorrow, or fifteen years from now. (I have a handful of "pre-production run" knives from Benchmade.)

I hope this is not a disappointment.

edited to add:

There are factors that may increase the collectability of certain BM models including discontinuance of a model, some kind of notoriaty being associated with a particular model, or even, let's say George W. Bush or Ahhnold Scharwzenneger(sp?) carried and touted a certain model or one of a hundred unknown variables that might contribute to a boom in a knive's popularity.

Ya never really know if something will become a collectable or not. There'd be far more wealthy people around if that were common knowledge.:footinmou


All the best,
Mike U.

 

[SIFU1A]

i have several BM pre productions/first production runs/and 3 prototypes.

imho the pre pros and 1st runs are not worth a premium, more users than anything.

now the prototypes are worth a little more, sometimes they are pretty much diff than the production (ie the 710 prototype i have has black anodised aluminum handles vs G10, the thumb studs are the same size as the axis button, and look like the axis buttons, and the 910 i have is a chisel grind vs "V" grind, the 804 is pretty much the same though) how much extra?? i sold another 910 a while back for $150, about $50 or so extra, i would think that would be tops imho.

of course, this is in NIB or LNIB condition, used, makes no diff at all prob.

greg