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SOG-Kiku Matsuda collaboration - any updates
- Thread starter spyken
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There is the remote possibility that we might end up making a production version of the knife. It would be a year or two off, but it has been discussed.
If any wants a little more info on it check out the following links
SOG Kiku Knife Info part 1
SOG Kiku Knife Info part 2
If any wants a little more info on it check out the following links
SOG Kiku Knife Info part 1
SOG Kiku Knife Info part 2
Just as a comparison I just bought a hand made knife from another company that's a limited run of 24 blades. The price was US$190. Now sure this knife is bigger so there's more material and the maker is perhaps more boutique for want of a better description but I don't understand how this can be worth 13 times more? 3 times more? Sure. Maybe even 5 times more but 13 times?
Fair enough some people will pay it but what worries me is that the production version (which I would buy) may hinge on the success of these initial 50. It'll be a lot harder to sell 50 knives at $2500 each than say 250 at $500 each.
I used to be a big SOG fan but the last few years has seen lower end (but still serviceable) materials being used with the reasoning being it puts the brand into the hands of more users. Fair enough but how does an offer like this fit in compared to offering a production version of this knife along side these handmade limited edition one?
Fair enough some people will pay it but what worries me is that the production version (which I would buy) may hinge on the success of these initial 50. It'll be a lot harder to sell 50 knives at $2500 each than say 250 at $500 each.
I used to be a big SOG fan but the last few years has seen lower end (but still serviceable) materials being used with the reasoning being it puts the brand into the hands of more users. Fair enough but how does an offer like this fit in compared to offering a production version of this knife along side these handmade limited edition one?
I just got here by searching for "Kiku", to find my post where I asked for any opinions on Kiku Matsuda knives, and "bump" it. Some people have bought all those knives from tadgear and jkd but they aren't here or they're silent. 
That knife [in the photos above] is different to the ones that jkd and tadgear get - it's very polished, most of the blade, and it has the green micarta like 2 of the knives that tadgear had, instead of the usual G-10.
@apsilon, regarding the price: The knives at jkd and tadgear have been around $500-600. This one is obviously very highly finished, a lot more time was put into it. Not that that really answers your question, it's just an observation. I've no doubt that someone will buy them at that price. Look what people pay for Busse, for example.
That knife [in the photos above] is different to the ones that jkd and tadgear get - it's very polished, most of the blade, and it has the green micarta like 2 of the knives that tadgear had, instead of the usual G-10.
@apsilon, regarding the price: The knives at jkd and tadgear have been around $500-600. This one is obviously very highly finished, a lot more time was put into it. Not that that really answers your question, it's just an observation. I've no doubt that someone will buy them at that price. Look what people pay for Busse, for example.
Matsuda Kiku has nice knives that feature another high-tech, over-the-top ultra-secret japanese steel. $500 for the custom version seems a bit pricey but still acceptable.
Now I wonder why someone would pay $2000 more for a SOG-Matsuda version which seems to be essentially the same. Maybe for the collector factor.
Now I wonder why someone would pay $2000 more for a SOG-Matsuda version which seems to be essentially the same. Maybe for the collector factor.
OU-31. There is a .pdf around, which you can find by searching bladeforums, but it does not give technical details. But suffice to say that Kiku Matsuda prefers it.
$500 or so does not seem so expensive when you compare to the more expensive production and semi-custom-production knives made of more expensive steels, and take into account that the Kiku knives are bigger so more steel.
Re the $2000 vs $500, compare the finish of the SOG-Matsuda prototype / show knife to that on the knives shown at jkd and kawasaki/whatever Korean website.
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