So what's up with Olamic?

I own 3 Olamics -- a Wayfarer 247, Swish & Rainmaker.

They are all simple designs that look timeless (to me). FWIW, I"m a lousy photographer and they look better than in this pic:

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Olamics sell as a significant discount from MSRP but so do other makes/models. They typically retail for around $600-800 but sell in the 2ndrary market for aroune $350-500. I got mine in that range.

Tried to sell the Wayfarer recently, which is entirely plain (just a few holes but no annodizing) but it got no interest. Actually, there was 1 inquiry but the knife was too small for him and I was selling it because I felt it was too small for me too. LOL!

Anyway, I don't think that it failed to sell because of a problem w/the knife itself but primary due to the price and the change in the market place from a sellers to buyers market.

Since the pandemic, people here have had their hands in their pockets and are only buying knives that are "cheap" or that they can get at a substantial discount to what people were paying for the same knives only a few years earlier.

Not too many people who want to spend $300-500 for a knife these days. Still a few but not as many as just a few years ago.

I withdrew my Wayfarer for sale because I still like the knife, don't need the $ and didn't want to sell it for les than what I paid for it.

I actually have about 100 knives that I've wanted to sell since the start of the year but my experience w/the Wayfarer made me choose to postpone attempting any other sales until the market "improves."

I don't need to make $ on the knives that I want to sell but I don't want to lose $ on their either. I can wait.
 
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I have a 247 bowie, in satin ti/marble CF. I think it’s really cool that you can send them back for mods.
I might look into sending mine back to have the handle stonewashed, or maybe go full titanium while I’m at it, that would be the perfect version IMO. It is beautiful, but it shows marks/fingerprints way too easy for me to carry it comfortably.

Here’s a lousy picture that doesn’t do this knife justice…
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I saw a full ti version of mine, but in a “working finish” and it looked amazing. And like you could actually carry it lol
Maybe I’ll go for something like that, but a lighter stonewash to go with the satin blade. Like the 0452ti
 
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I recently reached out regarding a one-off custom classic build, but they sadly didn't have the materials on hand I was hoping for. Some back and forth considering available options to substitute, but end of the day I don't want to pay top dollar for one similar, that I might "sort of" want. For that price range I want THE one that I want, exactly like I want it, and so the idea just kind of fell by the wayside now and lost its muster.
Had a similar experience the last time I attempted to purchase a one-off, and that time I actually settled on another option, but then I did turn around and sell it at a loss a short while later due to personal reasons and just not being "in love with" the one that I settled for, when I still thought about the one that I really wanted but couldn't have.

For me. The price of the regular and more common standard production offerings of theirs, I'd much simply rather buy something else. However 2 for 2 now I've also been unable to procure the, (2 different), one-off models that I actually pictured in my head and really wanted, when I was told they couldn't do it. So idk where I stand on them now.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a discounted second hand one from a reputable source however if I saw one I really liked.
 
I have a Whippersnapper. Nice knife that manages to have a lot of character without being too out there.

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Works for me, at least.

Olamic makes lots of knives that don't really appeal to me, but that's hardly unique to them.
 
That's a good looking Whipersnapper, I've considered that many times.

I also like the fact they're based in Visalia, "local" manufacturer that I can support.

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Because it is "all in the reflexes..."
 
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Never heard of them till now but checking out their website, the Gambit looks cool.
 
I only have one Olamic, but I really like the one I have. I had a really good experience with the company as well.

I ordered mine custom directly from Olamic. The whole process, from my initial order to the emails back and forth to the knife being shipped, took right around two weeks, which I still think is really impressive.

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I thought about the newer Whippersnappers and may get one someday. But I don't really get the holes in scales. I think Tom Mayo started it over a decade ago, we called them Mayo holes even when another maker used holes. Maybe back then CNC couldn't mill out scales like can be done these days. I'm always thinking flesh could push through the holes when closing the knife.
 
I like the holes in the handle. Reminds me of my motorcycle racing days in the 80s when we would drill holes in just about every brackets or piece of metal to save every ounce possible; don't know that it did anything about the outcome of a race if I'm honnest, but it certainly gave a badass look to the bikes.
 
P.C.E. said:
I also like the fact they're based in Visalia, "local" manufacturer that I can support.
Click to expand...

Yeah, they're not super close to me, but I like encouraging them, too.

For its size, California seems to punch below its weight in knife manufacturing.
 
I haven't seen much discussion about Olamic in a while. It sort of feels like the craze over their models came and went.

I considered buying a Swish a few times but I don't love the idea of not knowing where the components come from on such a pricey knife.
 
I’m all for folks loving their Olamics. :)

I’ve owned 3 Olamics all of them gone now. The wayfarer’s did not fit my hand at all. In fact I sold them all based on ergonomics. I’m not trying to bash Olamic, as they make nice looking knives. In my opinion they aren’t special like a Sebenza, they are just another ti scaled knife.

I must confess that I dislike flipper tabs, as I like to choke up on my blades for certain tasks and tabs hinder that and make cutting uncomfortable. I also like straighter handles that offer more gripping options.

I like the look of the whippersnapper, but I think that my previous experiences with Olamic knives has made me put them out of my mind.

If you like the look, love flipper tabs, good quality and customizable knives, Olamic is hard to beat.
 
The secondary on olamic is terrible. My theory is why would I pay 10 or 20% less than retail when I can just order one EXACTLY how I want it. They don't do drops, either. You order it in the configuration you like or sign up for the "Olamic Table" to get notified on a bunch that are available at a bit of a discount. So that's kind of a drop, I suppose. The wayfarer 247 is one of my favorite models and I've owned most blade styles at one point.
 
I got a Rainmaker on here for a steal. It’s long and beautiful with a compound grind. It rarely gets in my pocket but is easily my favorite knife to take to a steakhouse.
 
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