Prometheus Design Werx

Otto Carpenter

Otto Carpenter

Joined
Jun 24, 2016
Messages
416
This relatively recent startup is an offshoot of TAD and appears to bring the same "shadowy" anonymous vibe along with it. They may take issue with that description but what other website/knife manufacturer requires a "Passcode" for entry? Certainly the designer (Patrick Mah?) is an integral part of it. The gear/clothing/tools/knives business model of Prometheus Design Werx is very similar to TAD. Nothing warm and fuzzy about this company.
 
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What is your question? I'm sorry if this seems offensive but are you serious? You are going to join a forum and post personal opinions about a company as your first post??? Go do research if you have questions. This is not the place for threads like this.
 
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Otto Carpenter said:
This relatively recent startup is an offshoot of TAD and appears to bring the same "shadowy" anonymous vibe along with it. They may take issue with that description but what other website/knife manufacturer requires a "Passcode" for entry? Certainly the designer (Patrick Mah?) is an integral part of it. The gear/clothing/tools/knives business model of Prometheus Design Werx is very similar to TAD. Nothing warm and fuzzy about this company.
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Their website doesn't normally require a password for access. It is most likely because they are dropping some new products this afternoon.

That being said, they are a great company with some seriously awesome knife collaborations. Most of their knives and products sell out in minutes. Additionally, they have a much more active community on the other major knife forum.

Lastly, what's wrong with exclusivity? Seems like it piqued your interest enough to head over here and start a thread about it.
 
Hey, my bad - meant no offense, RuggDogg87. Certainly an interesting company that is positioning themselves to offer quality products. I have had a little interaction with them and have no real complaints. "Useless personal opinions"? Well, okay, if you feel that way. Just trying to learn a little more about the company from more learned forum members like yourself. Not a lot of info online about them.

MaxFactor: Excuse the noobie, but I didn't even realize there was another major knife forum.
 
Otto Carpenter said:
Hey, my bad - meant no offense, RuggDogg87. Certainly an interesting company that is positioning themselves to offer quality products. I have had a little interaction with them and have no real complaints. "Useless personal opinions"? Well, okay, if you feel that way. Just trying to learn a little more about the company from more learned forum members like yourself. Not a lot of info online about them.

MaxFactor: Excuse the noobie, but I didn't even realize there was another major knife forum.
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Useless should not have been the phrase I used so I do apologize. It just didn't seem like you were trying to learn about the company. More just posting personal opinions about the company by stating "nothing warm and fuzzy about them"
 
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"warm and fuzzy" is overrated anyway...

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Ruggdogg87 said:
I just scored the Invictus Auto and am anxiously waiting for it to be delivered! What models are those??
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First one is a Gareth Bull Miura. Second and third pics are the UET MSC SnG.

I'm tempted to pick up one of the Invictus Autos but unfortunately, even though I'm active duty military, autos are legal where I'm currently stationed. I'm sure you won't be disappointed though.
 
MaxFactor said:
First one is a Gareth Bull Miura. Second and third pics are the UET MSC SnG.

I'm tempted to pick up one of the Invictus Autos but unfortunately, even though I'm active duty military, autos are legal where I'm currently stationed. I'm sure you won't be disappointed though.
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That's a shame. I'm in Oregon and we have the best knife laws. Did you see the new one that launched yesterday? (Or the day before). The semi custom looks awesome.
 
I probably should have chosen my words more carefully as well - call it square. I truly would like to know more about them and wish them success - love their design aesthetic. Really like the TAD Dauntless and the design carry-over is apparent. My impression of their PR resulted from what seemed like auto-generated responses that were a little confusing to me. I guess I was expecting "the personal touch," but then again that's on me.
 
I've never understood how TAD and the like convince people that three milled lines in a handle or a octopus logo on the blade increases the value by $200-500.

I mentally lump it in with Steel Flame, knucks, "EDC" tops, $300 titanium bottle openers, and all of that other overpriced pointless BS. Their value is set by the price they demand and artificially limited supply, not any inherent quality or material superiority.

I picture a lot of these people going through the countless Instagram pictures of their products while giggling. I mean, I know I'm guilty of excessive consumerism. I own far more knives than I need, I have spent amounts of money vastly out of proportion to my income on them, and any one of them would likely serve me adequately for the rest of my life. Even with that admission of complicity with these excesses, at least those expenses do serve some kind of function and represent a general improvement in quality over other offerings.

This is just a cephalopod insignia with a $200 price tag on top of what are generally already grossly inflated prices. Trinkets and baubles. If this seems overly condescending and insulting, it's because it offends my cost:materials:value perspective on purchased goods at a very fundamental level.
 
Comeuppance said:
I've never understood how TAD and the like convince people that three milled lines in a handle or a octopus logo on the blade increases the value by $200-500.

This is just a cephalopod insignia with a $200 price tag on top of what are generally already grossly inflated prices. Trinkets and baubles. If this seems overly condescending and insulting, it's because it offends my cost:materials:value perspective on purchased goods at a very fundamental level.
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Fair enough and you certainly have a point. Branding and marketing. It's why some people purchase items that seem to violate cost/value logic. Certainly built-in scarcity is also utilized as a means to increase perceived value.

The real sweet-spot for marketers is when they can pair reasonably good quality with an emotionally compelling brand. That's when higher prices will be tolerated, because the cost can be somewhat justified. You see it in cars, shoes, sunglasses, watches, etc. People frequently buy the sizzle, not the steak.
 
Comeuppance said:
This is just a cephalopod insignia with a $200 price tag on top of what are generally already grossly inflated prices. Trinkets and baubles. If this seems overly condescending and insulting, it's because it offends my cost:materials:value perspective on purchased goods at a very fundamental level.
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The thing is, PDW isn't asking any more than the standard editions. The rarity of them is the reason they're so expensive on the secondary market.
 
Comeuppance said:
I've never understood how TAD and the like convince people that three milled lines in a handle or a octopus logo on the blade increases the value by $200-500.
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I tend to agree. I own a few pieces of TAD clothing and one of their packs (all bought used or on clearance- let's be real here, I'm in college) and I think almost everything they produce is very well designed......

......but their marketing and business & marketing strategy seemingly relies entirely upon hype and scarcity, especially when it comes to their knives & pocket bling. It's boutique chic for the "tactical"/EDC crowd. I get it. They're luxury goods. I have no place to judge, but the investment of time and energy in tracking down some of this gear is something that I absolutely cannot comprehend (though again, this is probably the impoverished college student speaking).
 
Otto Carpenter said:
Fair enough and you certainly have a point. Branding and marketing. It's why some people purchase items that seem to violate cost/value logic. Certainly built-in scarcity is also utilized as a means to increase perceived value.

The real sweet-spot for marketers is when they can pair reasonably good quality with an emotionally compelling brand. That's when higher prices will be tolerated, because the cost can be somewhat justified. You see it in cars, shoes, sunglasses, watches, etc. People frequently buy the sizzle, not the steak.
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Realistically, if this were a motorcycle forum, I'd probably be saying similar things about Harley Davidson merch, and if it were a car forum, Lamborghinis. Almost any hobby is going to have an upper echelon of blatantly overpriced wares that appeal to one's sense of extravagance. I don't see appeal in expense for the sake of expense, but I know it's a mindset and nothing inherent to a hobby. My ex really liked "rose gold" things and "royal" colors because she mentally equates those with wealth and thus success, and that was an image she liked to portray.

I don't find these companies or marketing to be damaging in any way, but I do find it laughable to a degree even though I realize I'm guilty of hypocrisy because the vast majority would see my $300 automatic pocket knife very much the same way I view a $1200 knife that has $400 artificially added to the price. It's a matter of scale and perspective, I suppose.
 
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