Relevance of Numbers - Limited Editions ?

[infamous]

In a previous thread, I inquired about a left-hand, carbon fibre, plain edge, civilian model in mint condition, and I mentioned that it was going at $80 U.S., which I soon after realised is a great price and was advised to purchase it.

Well I recently purchased the Civilian at $80, and a Karambit for $60, both mint condition, in box, and limited edition's numbered #132.

The seller happened to buy someone's complete sypyderco collection really cheap, most of them ordered through a collector's club I was told, all mint condition, and so he is selling every single knife in the collection, and hardly anyone is bidding on them, so they are going at extremely low prices, such as my 2 purchases... (wish I had more money, every knife on the spyderco website was for sale)

My question is, since I'm fairly new to folders, and these will be my first Spyderco's,.... what is the relevance of the # 's ?
For example, many knives in this collection are all numbered #132, with the Civilian being numbered #132V (V for Variation, plain edge, carbon fibre, left-hand I guess?).
Does the numbered editions make the knives any more sought after? like are they actual limited editions ? and how would the original owner have all his knives numbered #132 ?

I cannot wait to recieve these 2 knives, as I the Spyderco appearance did not appeal to me previously, however since finding these knives at such good prices, I'm starting to appreciate the whole Spyderco aspect.

I'm just curious in understanding these knives more, so any help is most appreciated.

 

[The Deacon]

As far as whether the numbers add value, the answer is yes, no, and maybe. Like beauty, the "value" of a CC# is in the eyes of the beholder. Some feel that, since it acts as proof that the knife was an part of the "first run", they always add value. Some feel that, unless you have all the knives of a given number, or at least certain logical "sets" (Large, Junior, Baby, and FRN Goddards for example) they don't mean very much. On some of the earlier knifes they were done in such a way that, at least in my eyes, they disfigure the knife and detract from its value. Numbers below 200 are "generally" Collectors Club numbers, athough there do seem to be occasional exceptions to that.

From what I understand, collectors joining the club have the choice of signing up for just the "foundation" piece of any model, or for "all variants". They are assigned a number. If they take the first choice, no V numbered pieces with their number are ever created. If they take "all variants" then, for any given model, they will get 1 with just their number, and any variations in handle color, material, edge type, with their number and the V suffix like your Civilian.

A CC# does not really indicate a "limited edition", but in some models, like the CF Walker, CF Police, WTC Knife, and 25th Anniversary Delica, that were limited editions, ALL specimens are numbered.