Sprint knife value

They don't go up indefinitely. Spyderco Sprints for instance seem to go up a fair amount, then level off, and that price becomes market value that you see a lot of Sprint runs sell at on the Exchange.
 
I have a hard time believing sprints will hold their value relative to a stock version over the long haul. In 10 years will anyone be excited by a Spyderco in some fancy steel that is now last year's steel? Only hardcore collectors.
 
zhyla said:
I have a hard time believing sprints will hold their value relative to a stock version over the long haul. In 10 years will anyone be excited by a Spyderco in some fancy steel that is now last year's steel? Only hardcore collectors.
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There are a lot of hardcore collectors, not many in a sprint run.
 
zhyla said:
I have a hard time believing sprints will hold their value relative to a stock version over the long haul. In 10 years will anyone be excited by a Spyderco in some fancy steel that is now last year's steel? Only hardcore collectors.
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Not sure what sense that view makes. Collectors are who we are talking about when we're speculating on values of limited edition items. Who's going to buy a $250+ Endura made of super steel (regardless of whether it's "last years" or not), a collector? Or some guy who went to Wal-Mart and got a $20 Chinese import?

So, what will be worth more? A 10 year old limited edition item, or a 10 year old run of the mill item that was made in the tens of thousands, and is probably still available brand new?
 
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Benchmade knives in M2HS steel still fetch a premium, as well as any Spyderco knife in S90V. Basically, we knife nuts are willing to pay for anything that sounds cool, looks cool, is rare, or is discontinued. ZT knives are a great example of that. The 0500 and 0302 didn't sell well when in production, but as soon as they're discontinued the demand almost skyrockets.
 
Spyderco Sprint PM2's in S90V are likely bringing in around $600 now...haven't checked lately. But, in ten yrs? Who knows? The Spyderco Sprints in 204P and S35VN have leveled off and even decreased some in value lately to at or below $200.
Don't count on anything for way down the line...
 
Quiet said:
Not sure what sense that view makes. Collectors are who we are talking about when we're speculating on values of limited edition items. Who's going to buy a $250+ Endura made of super steel (regardless of whether it's "last years" or not), a collector? Or some guy who went to Wal-Mart and got a $20 Chinese import?

So, what will be worth more? A 10 year old limited edition item, or a 10 year old run of the mill item that was made in the tens of thousands, and is probably still available brand new?
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That's not quite a fair comparison, is it?
I think it would be more fair to compare Production Vs Sprint Run of the same knife.
Obviously a collector's edition of almost anything is going to be worth more than a $20 Walmart knife.
 
Values depend on a lot of factors, such as number produced (which varies a lot), steel and handle materials, and market fashions/tastes.
 
I have to say that across the board, the Sprint run Spydercos hold their value, and most increase quite a bit. As stated earlier, many factors are at play: steel type, handle material, model, etc. I use the Spyderco Military as an example. Try to find a M390, or a M4, priced under $350. They certainly didn't sell for that new.

That is just one example, but the Para 2's are a similar story.
 
Rasco said:
That's not quite a fair comparison, is it?
I think it would be more fair to compare Production Vs Sprint Run of the same knife.
Obviously a collector's edition of almost anything is going to be worth more than a $20 Walmart knife.
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You are saying the same thing I was essentially speaking to. This is the comment that was made:

"I have a hard time believing sprints will hold their value relative to a stock version over the long haul."

So, I don't see the logic in that because I can't think of a single luxury good* in which a limited edition variant that was available several years ago (or even last year, or last month) that wasn't worth more, and what's more, held that value indefinitely as compared to the regular version. Watches, comic books, coins, knives, cars, whatever you care to name. So, I don't see why zhyla would believe that, collectors tend to set the price of collectible items, and those prices always end up being higher (and remaining higher) than the normal run versions of those items.


*Expensive knives generally would be considered this.
 
It is completely variable and hard to predict.

Spydercos which were completely unpopular during production a few years or a decade+ after they are discontinued can sometimes rocket to 2, 3, 4, 5+ times MSRP. In other cases, values can stay stagnant and even fall. This applies to both sprints and production knives discontinued. In some cases, production knives are in lower figures resembling springs, like the Spyderco-Fox Volpe.

As a general rule, plain edged is more desirable than serrated, as is satin over black blades on non-tactical folders. Knives with all original parts (including boxes in good condition) will bring more.

With some sprints, you may also see a second or third production run come in to play, or a full-scale production run. This impacts value. One example is how the Benchmade 940 and 941 had very limited runs of CF handled knives with S30V and D2 blades (2 diff runs I know of)...now they make the production 940-1. This has negatively impacted the value of the super limited LEs to some degree, and so selling one of the LE ones of these while the 940-1 is in production is probably not the best time (i.e., hold the knife until production ceases...all 941s went up in value when BM went to the 943, which is technically the same knife). PM2s have also seen resurges in production is sprints in exotic steels with colored handles. Knives discontinued do reappear sometimes.

Ultimately, it comes down to what people are willing to pay. With more recent LEs from KAI, that tends to be high across the board. With Spydercos and Benchmades, this tends to be high but it is not as consistent. With LEs from someone like Boker, it's not very consistent at all. The economy and the current offering and pricing scales makers use both affect this (Benchmade's change in MAP does affect out of production models sold before MAP went into affect).

One can certainly make money collecting knives, but I have found over the years that it is a long-term investment strategy just like most investment, with occasional 'big' hits, but that usually isn't how it works. That comes with an understanding that there is no guarantee on any one model. So I've come to buy limited runs when they are actively in production, keep most of them, trade some if I find knives I like and want more, and enjoy them. Down the road if I need money, I'll sell some with the understanding that not all will yield big (and in some cases, any) profit. My primary purpose in buying is enjoyment, but it not being a 100% empty hobby is certainly a plus. YMMV.
 
Sprints are odd. It really depends on the demand for the base model, combined with what it is exactly that makes it a sprint, then you have to consider whether it is discontinued as a base model, then there's the quantity being produced....

A S35VN Paramilitary still typically goes for under $200, but there are certain models of Manix sprints that hit the 200s and 300s without question. There's no straight yes-or-no answer to the question, but I think you'll find that most sprint runs, if you get them at a good dealer price (knifeworks typically has the best prices, if it's not specific to a different dealer) you can easily make a minor profit on it if that's what you're in to.

Honestly, if you're looking to make money off of knives, sprint run poaching is both not that immediately or dependably profitable, and you effectively force the end user to pay a premium when they should, honestly, have been the first person to get it.
 
Sonnydaze said:
Spyderco Sprint PM2's in S90V are likely bringing in around $600 now...haven't checked lately. But, in ten yrs? Who knows? The Spyderco Sprints in 204P and S35VN have leveled off and even decreased some in value lately to at or below $200.
Don't count on anything for way down the line...
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The CF versions in S90V seem to be the most expensive these days. They have probably kept increasing over time. The more recent versions such as the M390 PM2 were high initially but have leveled off. The 204P PM2 has actually gone down because more were produced. I think some rare versions may increase a little bit. I think it is possible that demand will decrease in the future, plus Spyderco might start making more factory models in S90V or S110V. Some rare versions may still hold their value but others might decrease. OTOH in 5 or 10 years a factory production Military in S90V might start at $400 so that could still leave room for the rare models to keep increasing from today's prices.
 
bdmicarta said:
The CF versions in S90V seem to be the most expensive these days. They have probably kept increasing over time. The more recent versions such as the M390 PM2 were high initially but have leveled off. The 204P PM2 has actually gone down because more were produced. I think some rare versions may increase a little bit. I think it is possible that demand will decrease in the future, plus Spyderco might start making more factory models in S90V or S110V. Some rare versions may still hold their value but others might decrease. OTOH in 5 or 10 years a factory production Military in S90V might start at $400 so that could still leave room for the rare models to keep increasing from today's prices.
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I agree. Both the solid S90V and 154/S90V PM2s are fetching high prices around the $500 mark for NIB. I guess that is partly due to them also having a really cool handle.

With the PM2, I think most of them being purchased for value purposes are risky for the reasons you noted on. It is a popular knife and the super steel sprints are super popular. It would not be that surprising to see Spyderco pick up and resume virtually any sprint model made to date. I think the M390 blues went down a bit also due to the second run of the 204P's.
 
pnsxyr said:
I agree. Both the solid S90V and 154/S90V PM2s are fetching high prices around the $500 mark for NIB. I guess that is partly due to them also having a really cool handle.

With the PM2, I think most of them being purchased for value purposes are risky for the reasons you noted on. It is a popular knife and the super steel sprints are super popular. It would not be that surprising to see Spyderco pick up and resume virtually any sprint model made to date. I think the M390 blues went down a bit also due to the second run of the 204P's.
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Spyderco's website says they don't reissue sprints, but dealer/distributor exclusives can be re-ordered, and several have been. There have been two runs each of the M390 and 204P, and a third run of the M390 has been ordered.
 
JNewell said:
Spyderco's website says they don't reissue sprints, but dealer/distributor exclusives can be re-ordered, and several have been. There have been two runs each of the M390 and 204P, and a third run of the M390 has been ordered.
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I did not realize sprints had such specific definition. Interesting!

Don't ask me why but I had in my head that sprints were runs of under 1200 pieces...I suppose I must really like that number as I cannot find anything that suggests my understanding was anywhere near right or that knife runs of "1200" or "1200 or less" means anything beyond exactly what it states.
 
Sprints are originated by Spyderco and sold through the dealer network; exclusives are originated by a dealer or distributor and sold by/through that dealer/distributor. Sprint numbers have ranged anywhere from 300-1200 (going by memory). Exclusives, at least recently, are 600 minimum for the initial order but the number actually sold will be less due to Collector Club knives that come off the top of the order.

Usually the distinction is academic but reorders of the M390 and 204P Para2 (especially the 204P) seem to have taken a lot of air out of resale prices.

Maybe you're recalling posts by Sal Glesser that Spyderco tends or order or make runs of about 1200 for production knives - I'm going by memory again but I think that's the usual production run (production of knives is rotated among models rather than having all knives in continuous production).
 
It might be. I must subconsciously really like the number 1200 or perhaps it has to do with 12:00 being a time I eat at, and I really like to eat...and since I use knives to eat, it may haven all blended together like a broom handle + an iPhone in a BlendTech?

I recall a ways back the blue handled M390 PM2s were fetching $400+ in some areas. Recently it seems that price is lower. Did that happen when they did another run of them?

I didn't think of it until now, but I think one other thing that can perhaps modify the value of a sprint, LE, or rarer knife is if the knife is made in an exotic steel and that steel becomes better known at a later date. I think in some cases it would cause value to go down if similar production knives in the same steel are made (like the British Racing Green Delica 4 in ZDP-189 following the Pebble Blue Sprint D4 in ZDP-189), but possibly go up if the steel never gets super popular but gains a really good reputation among collectors or no knife in that steel is really comparable to the sprint/LE? (perhaps like the Vanax line)?
 
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