Spyderco's odd ball, forgotten collector pieces

[JD Spydo]

It's funny that I don't hear about the past models that are really sort of "out of the ordinary" Spyderco models that should by all rights becoming extremely collectible at this point. But little if anything is said about them

It's sort of like many collectors have swept them under the rug to be forgotten. But there are a few Spyderco models that are so obscure that they are almost disappearing from the landscape.

A few of them are:
The Spur model
The colored C-39 Dyad models
The Golden CO made Renegade & Blackhawk models
The stainless Rescue models C-14 & C-45
The C-49 Tim Wegner Jr.
The yellow handled Catcherman

Do you all agree with those models being past by as collectible? Which models do you all put in that category?

 

[GronK]

I know when I had to sell off the majority of my collection a couple of years ago I listed my Blackhawk at a very reasonable price. I was surprised to get no offers at all on it. I still believe the value will go up in the future, so I have it stored in the box. It's fortunate I now have its soul mate, a Wally World Native, for a user.

 

[jill jackson]

I see the most popular Spydercos becoming the most sought after when they are discontinued.
Some long gone less popular models on eBay, go a lot cheaper than some more recently discontinued ones. In comparison to what they cost when in production.

 

[The Deacon]

Define "past by as collectible" JD.

I'd say there are a combination of factors at work here. Probably the most significant is that right now, due to the economy, there are very few collectors entering the hobby. That is limiting interest and the competition for collectible knives when they come up for sale. That is keeping prices lower than they've been for quite a while for all but a small handful of models. Heck, even Q's are down in price.

I'd bet the economy has also caused at least a few existing collectors to slow down, a few to stop altogether, and a few to start selling off knives. So we have more knives available and fewer buyers, which in turn tends to keep prices down.

As for other factors, aside from the "two screw" first generation Worker, the P.I.G. Police, and the PE Harpy which all stainless models have ever generated a high degree of collector interest? Same question for models with stainless handles with Kraton inserts? Then there's FRN models with integral FRN clips, aside from the pink Delica? Finally there's edge type. The harsh reality is, collectors overwhelmingly prefer PE blades. Granted, there have been a few exceptions, but SE and CE models hardly ever are of much interest to collectors. Far as I can tell, there's was always a decent amount of collector interest in PE Blackhawks, Renegades, and Wegner Jrs. If that's declined, I'd attribute it to the economy.

Paul

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[zenheretic]

Since when has the harsh reality of unpopular models remaining unpopular ever stopped JD.

 

[JD Spydo]

I know when I had to sell off the majority of my collection a couple of years ago I listed my Blackhawk at a very reasonable price. I was surprised to get no offers at all on it. I still believe the value will go up in the future, so I have it stored in the box. It's fortunate I now have its soul mate, a Wally World Native, for a user.

The Blackhawk & Renegade have always been sort of sentimental favorites of mine. I even EDCed a Seki model Renegade for almost a year at one time. I finally replaced it with a C-44 Dyad which I still carry a lot.

But if they were to resurrect either the Blackhawk and/or Renegade in a newer blade steel I would jump all over either one of them again. The Renegade just seemed to be a perfect all purpose EDC folder. And with the biker appeal I'm still baffled as to why it hasn't attained the collector interest. But I agree with you that it's time will come.

AS far as I know the Renegade & Blackhawk were the first Spyders to have G-10 handles. You would think that alone would generate collector appeal.

 

[JD Spydo]

I see the most popular Spydercos becoming the most sought after when they are discontinued.
Some long gone less popular models on eBay, go a lot cheaper than some more recently discontinued ones. In comparison to what they cost when in production.

I agree with you to a point. But I have in the past year seen several models finally gain collector interest after years of being discontinued. For instance I'm starting to see the Catcherman ( older model Catchermen AUS-8) finally getting some collector interest along with the few of the older Spyderco kitchen knives which usually never get much collector appeal.

The Mariner is finally getting some interest. Models with GIN-1 blade steel that had been ignored are finally starting to get a few more dollars. One really unusual model I always liked the C-40 Jot Khalsa has really gotten some attention finally.

But I am surprised that the colored Dyads for instance have not taken off especially when the Micarta C-39 & C-44 models have had excellent success. But I do think time will be kind to some of these I've mentioned.

 

[jill jackson]

Seems like if a model was very popular when it's discontinued the price goes up really fast, like the Manix for example and the sprint run Militaries.
This is no doubt due to not only collectors trying to buy them up, but users that missed out on them and users that already have one and love it wanting another.
Other less popular models don't have this sudden price increase as soon as they are discontinued. They tend to keep selling at their normal price until the supply slowly dries up. Then the price climbs.
It's fairly unpredictable just how sought a model will become after it's gone.
Who would have thought the DoDo and Yojimbo(in black especially) would bring what they do today? Or, the large Persian. All 3 of those models could be had for less than 100 dollars and now commonly bring well over 200.

 

[type00rev]

JD,
There was a yellow handled Catcherman on eBay last week. I bid when I first saw it one day into the auction......it ended up going for a bit over $300.

 

[Razzierb]

JD,
There was a yellow handled Catcherman on eBay last week. I bid when I first saw it one day into the auction......it ended up going for a bit over $300.

good grief .... I used to have a couple of these and parted with them for peanuts some years ago. Timing is everything when it comes to the collector market.

 

[Slatts]

My collector zeal just happened to pinnacle when the Spyderco collectibles were fetching the highest prices. Bad for me I suppose. I'm not so interested these days but bet I could steal a few at cheap prices. I probably won't though.

 

[JD Spydo]

Seems like if a model was very popular when it's discontinued the price goes up really fast, like the Manix for example and the sprint run Militaries.
This is no doubt due to not only collectors trying to buy them up, but users that missed out on them and users that already have one and love it wanting another.
Other less popular models don't have this sudden price increase as soon as they are discontinued. They tend to keep selling at their normal price until the supply slowly dries up. Then the price climbs.
It's fairly unpredictable just how sought a model will become after it's gone.
Who would have thought the DoDo and Yojimbo(in black especially) would bring what they do today? Or, the large Persian. All 3 of those models could be had for less than 100 dollars and now commonly bring well over 200.

Great observations Jill :thumbup: I too marvel at the Dodo and Yojimbo models catapulting out of the stratosphere

Also you could note that when a certain model finally does gain the interest of the collector community it does so in a lightning fast manner as well. Just look at what the one brother has just observed regarding the Yellow handled Catcherman recently fetching around $300**

But still the Renegade & Blackhawk models are truly a mystery to me as to why they have little or no collector appeal. Because by all collector criteria they should be getting very popular. I do believe that those were the first Spyderco models to have G-10 handles and I also think they were the very first models to have been made in Seki City Japan as well as Golden CO USA.

If nothing else I would think there would be at least a mad rush to grab the Golden CO USA versions of the Renegade & Blackhawk models

But let's not forget the models that were just out right overlooked and passed by like the C-54 big Calypso model and the C-40 Jot Khalsa which are both finally getting some well deserved attention.