Sprint runs

I

illumination

Joined
Nov 21, 2005
Messages
125
Why do so few companies (other than Spyderco, of course) offer 'sprint' runs with varied steel, handle materials, etc. ?

For example I'd love to see the Benchmade 710 in S30V, or some other stainless steel. Benchmade doesn't seem to be very experimental - they ofer one steel at a time. In fact they 'upgraded' many of their models to non-stainless d2 or M2 even though lots of users (myself included) prefer stainless notwithstanding the better performance of carbon steel.

What other 'sprint' runs do other people want to see?
 
Backlock Military, or even better, Ball Bearing military! Heck Yeah, Baby!

As for un-spyderco's:
Let's get us an Axis Lock Alias I, and how about ANY SOG in a better steel than AUS-8! Also, let's get us another run of the TSEK/AFCK, and a run of 940 Osbournes with G10.
How about a Junkyard Dog with a Hawk Lock?
 
dangreco said:
Let's get us an Axis Lock Alias I ... Also, let's get us another run of the TSEK/AFCK, and a run of 940 Osbournes with G10.
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I'm a big fan of the Axis lock and G10 as well. I think Benchmade doesn't offer enough Axis/g10 models. The 940 is nice, but I hate the idea of aluminum grips!
 
I am amazed by the very existence of Spyderco Sprint runs. I am no entrepreneur, but I just cannot fathom that they make any business sense whatsoever. Setting up a small production run to sell a few hundred units at a very slight premium ? It's not like Spyderco is CRK.

Other companies do "Limited Editions" that sell for much more. This makes sense to me.

I love Sprint runs. My new FFG Meerkat is great. I guess the LH Millie isn't really a true Sprint, since it is different tooling.
 
BM doesn't do this? Don't they have some 710s in 154CM, D2, M2, M4?

They did:

AFCK "Sprint" in M4
Gaucho in M4
940 in blue handles and D2
940 in green handles and D2
Mini-Rukus in blue handles and 154CM steel
707 in green handles and D2
And these are only the ones I can think of off the top of my head since I got into the scene.

And they have many variations of the Griptilian model (regular, Spyder-hole, Ritter in S30V, Cabelas in D2).

I think BM does make their fair share of "Sprint" runs and "alternatives."
 
Oh, I almost forgot. How about some ceramic blades, manufacturers? I would buy a little knife like a Sage or what have you in ceramic. Not so tough, but man what an edge it takes, and holds.
 
THG said:
BM doesn't do this? Don't they have some 710s in 154CM, D2, M2, M4?

They did:

AFCK "Sprint" in M4
Gaucho in M4
940 in blue handles and D2
940 in green handles and D2
Mini-Rukus in blue handles and 154CM steel
707 in green handles and D2
And these are only the ones I can think of off the top of my head since I got into the scene.

And they have many variations of the Griptilian model (regular, Spyder-hole, Ritter in S30V, Cabelas in D2).

I think BM does make their fair share of "Sprint" runs and "alternatives."
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yeah, I guess you are right. but usually with some exceptions their variations are just one way "upgrades" like 154cm to d2; they generally don't do one time small runs with exotic steels, etc. like spyderco. When was the last time the 710 was available with stainless, for example?

please don't bring into the picture all of Benchmade's silly co-branding lines...I'd be embarassed if I was them from all of the pimping. Don't get me wrong - Benchmade proper offers awesome knives - I'm not a fan of unbridled marketing
 
tradja said:
I am amazed by the very existence of Spyderco Sprint runs. I am no entrepreneur, but I just cannot fathom that they make any business sense whatsoever. Setting up a small production run to sell a few hundred units at a very slight premium ? It's not like Spyderco is CRK.

Other companies do "Limited Editions" that sell for much more. This makes sense to me.

I love Sprint runs. My new FFG Meerkat is great. I guess the LH Millie isn't really a true Sprint, since it is different tooling.
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I suspect the economics work out. spyderco has been doing this in a big way for a long time

how else do you get someone to buy a dozen Enduras, for example?
 
I think Spyderco does it because Sal is as big a Knife Knut as any of us here, and he's not trying to get rich. He just wants to make the best product he can at a price that working people can afford. Other makers have other business plans.
 
I agree with Yablanowitz^. I think that Sal just loves to go out of his way to bring us knife afis the best and newest materials. Spyderco is one of the very few companies(not just knife companies) that takes great pride in what they do and continually strives to make a better product. Kershaw also likes to give us new exotic steels at very affordable prices. I absolutely love sprint runs and only wish that I would see more.
 
illumination said:
yeah, I guess you are right. but usually with some exceptions their variations are just one way "upgrades" like 154cm to d2; they generally don't do one time small runs with exotic steels, etc. like spyderco. When was the last time the 710 was available with stainless, for example?
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Yeah, you're absolutely right. That's why Spyderco has a special place in my heart :D

illumination said:
please don't bring into the picture all of Benchmade's silly co-branding lines...I'd be embarassed if I was them from all of the pimping. Don't get me wrong - Benchmade proper offers awesome knives - I'm not a fan of unbridled marketing
Click to expand...

Not sure to what or whom you are referring.
 
I am amazed by the very existence of Spyderco Sprint runs. I am no entrepreneur, but I just cannot fathom that they make any business sense whatsoever. Setting up a small production run to sell a few hundred units at a very slight premium ? It's not like Spyderco is CRK.
Click to expand...

These sprint runs are not completely standalone kind of knives - the tooling of the general pattern is already available. The modifications typically are limited, like a different kind of handle scales (simple), or a different kind of steel/grind (still doable).

I'm sure that Sal & co calculated that these sprint runs do make sense!
 
Dagon said:
These sprint runs are not completely standalone kind of knives - the tooling of the general pattern is already available. The modifications typically are limited, like a different kind of handle scales (simple), or a different kind of steel/grind (still doable).

I'm sure that Sal & co calculated that these sprint runs do make sense!
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You're probably right, of course. It's just that at my company, small custom orders are a huge, inefficient hassle for us and the customer. Our product is fairly standardized and even relatively minor variations are difficult to produce without a few bugs.
 
If Sal was only in it to get rich the mule knives wouldn't ever have existed. There is so little markup in those knives most companies wouldn't waste the time and energy they put into the project, which could be used on higher return projects.

As Yablanowitz said Sal is as big a knife knut as the rest of us here and I'm glad of it. :)
 
One of the ways Sprint runs benefit Spyderco is the fact that tooling costs a lot of money. Once a model falls out of popularity (sales wise) and is dropped from the catalog, this tooling sits unused. I'm talking FRN molds, CNC programming, leftover lanyard tubes, etc. Lots of investment sitting there mothballed. When the market starts screaming for the model again, the dust gets blown off and now you have a run of knives with an initial tooling (and programming) investment that's already paid for. Change the color of the FRN and make a few tweaks in the design (learned from any past mistakes, the deeper "clip well" on the Goddard is an example of this) and viola, you have a quick cash cow. A well timed sprint run can help make payroll and infuse some sorely needed cash flow during lean times, my guess.

Rumors of an up and coming Matriarch sprint are circulating over at the factory forum. If true, check out the benefits... The handle is still in production as it's currently being used for one of the Salt models (paid for). The programming for the blade blank laser cutter is in the Spyderco vault (paid for). The old sharpening wheels, if any are left, can be used (paid for). And if no wheels are left, the programming for making new ones is in the vault (paid for). The long hours of CAD design and field testing have already been spent. (paid for). Manufacturing lessons learned. (paid for). So the Matriarch sprint, if true, will be a win win for everyone. :) We're getting a second chance to own a classic and Spyderco's getting a wider profit margin than normal and a quick blast of cash.
 
Good analysis - that sounds right. Each of those sprint runs reignites demand resulting in sales that wouldn't otherwise happen.

It seems like Spyderco has figured out how to tap the "collector" spirit in each of us much more so than the other companies. That's why some of us (not me unfortunately) have dozens, including many variations of the same model.
 
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