Question for you Spyderco guys

[Perry72]

I recently purchased a Spyderco Vrango at a knife shop. When I bought it I noticed the 3 digit number stamped on the blade. I just assumed it was a limited edition but upon further inquiry to Spyderco I discover that it is a numbered first run that are made for their collectors club. So my question is this. Do these numbers affect value or desirability?

 

[DocJekl]

I'm no expert, but from what I've read, the increase in value of a numbered run for their collectors club is small, and not enough to want to avoid using the knife in most cases. I'd like to see what others have to say about this.

 

[Barman1]

I recently purchased a Spyderco Vrango at a knife shop. When I bought it I noticed the 3 digit number stamped on the blade. I just assumed it was a limited edition but upon further inquiry to Spyderco I discover that it is a numbered first run that are made for their collectors club. So my question is this. Do these numbers affect value or desirability?

The numbers are really only relevant to a particular collector that is assigned that number.
Doesn't necessarily detract from the value but some folks just don't want those numbered knives so the secondary market is reduced.
But on long discontinued models the numbers don't really seem to matter as much as far as value is concerned.

 

[Perry72]

The numbers are really only relevant to a particular collector that is assigned that number.
Doesn't necessarily detract from the value but some folks just don't want those numbered knives so the secondary market is reduced.
But on long discontinued models the numbers don't really seem to matter as much as far as value is concerned.

I wasn’t worried so much about the value, it was more the desirability that had me concerned as I was considering trading it. Thanks for the info.

 

[yablanowitz]

It only adds value if you find that one person on Earth who is collecting that number. Otherwise it either has no effect or lowers the value, depending on how the person looking at it feels about having stuff etched on the blade. Some like me don't care, others dislike it enough to pass on the deal.

 

[gooeytek]

I'd rather not have it, but I use them anyway so it doesn't matter.

 

[sgt1372]

It lowers the value to me.

I have but don't like to buy any knives with numbers or other "special" markings on them beyond the brand's logo, place of mfg and blade steel ID info, which is how Spyderco normally marks its blades.

So, given a choice between a blade w/a # on it and not, I'll buy the one without the # on it.

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BTW, I looked into joining the Collector's Club at one time and discovered that you could pick any # available at the time you sign up. As I recall, I could have picked a # as low as #5 and as high as #190 something.

So, the # on the knife is entirely irrelevant to its value; ie., a lower # isn't worth more and a higher # isn't worth less!

The reason I decided to NOT join was because you had to buy EVERY newly released knife (within the membership category that you selected) whether you wanted it or not (which is why you see newly released knives w/#'s on them flipped after a new release) and because you had to buy them (at MSRP) thru a Spyderco dealer. As an OpFocus member, that would have made no sense $ wise.

This is a link to an old post regarding the Collector Club "rules" then in effect: Spyderco Collector Club Rules circa 2009

Not sure if these rules still apply or if the Collector Club still exists. When I inquired about the Club around 3 years ago, I was told they were planning to make changes to the Club but I do not know if they ever did or not.