Survive! knives

[wolverine_173]

For the 3 of us still here it has been an uphill battle to get caught up. In the past here, Guy mentioned a partner who he had entrusted with helping to grow SURVIVE! by managing the business. But this person knew sales and marketing, and very little about producing a product. He hired a marketing team and reached out to dealers before we were able to fill that demand. He is no longer working here but because production has been taking so long, we are still catching up. We've even paused all dealer orders until we can get more finishing processes in house, to avoid the high rate of Factory 2nds we've been seeing so we have more available to our customers.

We know that the wait is our biggest downfall and we are doing everything we can to fix it. Guy and I are in here 7 days a week until these orders are current. We should have some GSO-5.1s sharp before ordering opens up for those and then the only big bulk of orders to slow us down will be the Necker II preorders. After that I am hoping to change our policy to one week.

Hale Storm, if you haven't gotten an email back it may be because yesterday was pretty busy around here. Josh works on emails in the mornings and tries to get back to check them later in the day, but sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day.

On the first day of the sale we did have a problem with the system where it listed the premium handled GSO-3.5s as available, even though we did not have them in stock and the page was not setup yet (meaning those upgrades were free). We talked about cancelling and refunding those orders but decided not to because it was our mistake and we thought the premium handles were going to be ready a lot sooner. Those orders will have a little bit of a delay until we get the preordered knives built and shipped. Fortunately, the premium handles are scheduled to start arriving in the next couple of days. Here is some proof of life for you:
View attachment 451895

how about the gso 4.1 sheaths. they were suppose to be available mid june. any updates?

 

[straitr]

I have never sold a knife. Didnt mean to imply that, but once in a while i will trade them. My knives and guns tend to find homes within my family. I am done replinishing and buying new designs. I truly thought that since the preorder fiasco was over things were changing and that 3-5 days for assembly meant delivery within a week or two. I would have canceled my order already if I hadnt already made a commitment to buy a sheath from Halestorm and shown my 6 year old a picture of it.

I get it brother, been there, and it get's tiresome. In fact, I'm waiting till they get things settled before attempting to purchase more, and I'll probably do that from a dealer showing "in-stock" just to be sure.

I was just surprised that you already have 9, but number 10 was frustrating you being a week late, that's all. Good on you for being loyal to your commitment and especially for setting that example for you kid, there's not enough of that these days, and I'm extremely keen on it in our home too. :thumbup:

 

[Kiah]

how about the gso 4.1 sheaths. they were suppose to be available mid june. any updates?

On me, I've been tied up with other things. I should get to some mid next week barring any problems.

 

[Rasco]

What is S!K's phone number?
I've tried waiting patiently for about a month now.
If you're not ready to ship me my factory 2nds 4.1, that's fine, but how about you refund my money until you get caught up? eh?

I'm trying to move too. To a new house. And $179.00 would go a long way toward getting shit I need for the house. So I'm tempted to cancel my order, get my money back, and buy a BRK any time I feel like it and have it in my hands in a few days. But I really want the 4.1. The BRK would be a consolation prize

Ellie, Josh, Guy, anyone, if you could give me some update via this post, that would save me the call and hopefully also save you guys the time and hassle of taking the call.
I'm not tryin to bug, I know yall are busy, but it has been a month, I would just like some kind of update please.

 

[SURVIVE!]

Hey Rasco,
I'm just getting ready to leave for the day, it is about 95 degrees in this shop right now. I'll jump in front of your questions since I'm the one doing all of the edges right now before these go out the door. We did have some machine troubles about a week or so ago, which caused me some set backs. The machines were just run ragged from being used all day, every day for the last few months and needed some work. I am the bottleneck at right now with edge finishing. Me.

I'm sorry man, I really am, I can only do so many in a day. I wish I had a better method, like some one step "drag it through" type machine that made edges razor sharp and even but unfortunately each knife takes some time.

Outside of the premium handled GSO-3.5s, I am finished with all of the preordered GSO-3.5s. I am done with all of the GSO-10s that were recently ordered, all of the Neckers, and most of the lottery GSO-4.1s which should be completed tomorrow. I should have the rest of the rough steel GSO-4.1s done by Friday and the GSO-3.5 regular orders done by Monday.

As an aside, I'm honestly considering just prebuilding everything in the future, cutting back the amount of available options a good bit and people can just select from what is already done. That or limiting what is available each day, so that we can keep ahead of demand that way.

-Guy


To those with GSO-3.5 premium handled preorders or those interested, they are just about complete. Here is a photo of one of the first off the mill after 3D milling, before hand finishing.

 

[Ankerson]

Guy,

I am sure you will get it worked out. :thumbup:

Delays do happen as you said so sometimes a little patience helps.

 

[Rasco]

Thanks for the update Guy. A little feedback goes a long way. My rough steel 4.1 did have a premium handle (red & black) so I don't mind waiting a little longer, I just don't like to feel like I'm in the dark.
I get that yall are busy and pestering you about order status is the last thing I want to do, but I hadn't heard anything in a month, so I was getting a lil antsy. You're partly to blame for my anxiety by creating such awesome knives that I want so bad

Grind on brotha and I will look forward to a tracking number sometime this weekend-ish

 

[Zymologist]

Guy,

Hey I love coming on here and seeing you guys respond personally to inquiries considering already how busy you guys are you still take the time to do the little stuff. Your business is definately a testament to your product. You'll eventually get your supply vs demand squared away. Your obviously a hard worker so keep up the good work. As for us customers patience is a virtue and its a hard one I'm just as guilty of having a hard time waiting for anything! I just wanna give you guys thanks for your product and being upfront with business and keeping the customers in the loop.

As a side note I grew up in adams county down your way and I hate to see you leaving but I'm looking forward to watching you guys grow.
Also I hope to see you guys at Bladeshow next year I'd love to come scarf up some blades there in person

Keep up the good work folks at survive!

 

[hank_612]

:boxing::boxing::boxing:

I get it brother, been there, and it get's tiresome. In fact, I'm waiting till they get things settled before attempting to purchase more, and I'll probably do that from a dealer showing "in-stock" just to be sure.

I was just surprised that you already have 9, but number 10 was frustrating you being a week late, that's all. Good on you for being loyal to your commitment and especially for setting that example for you kid, there's not enough of that these days, and I'm extremely keen on it in our home too. :thumbup:

I did not take part in the preorders and have only bought 1 knife from survive.com before. The one I bought directly came with the wrong scales and I had to send them back and wait for the correct scales which took a reminder email to get that done. Another minor issue that erked me was they promised to get me a credit for shipping cost to ship the scales back. That did not happen but I overlooked it and bought the 3.5 because it was "in stock".

I am camping with 4 nephews and my 6 year old who is the youngest this weekend. I bring knives hatchets, 22s and archery equip ect. We do a lot of silly stuff that envolves knives. My son and one nephew use spyderco mules because they cant handle a 4.1 safely. I am excited to get the 3.5 in their hands. It is not life or death but it is important to me.

I own a small business and support small businesses all the time. I understand missing deadlines. I also understand being realistic making deadlines, following thru and exceeding customer expectations.

A pattern has developed. Excuses have been made. IMHO it is time to set back and see if things change. The quality and newness of the product has carried Survive thus far but if they want to continue their growth customer service will have to improve. That being said I think Ellie and Josh seem like great hard working people. I am sure they arent the ones giving production estimates that suck. Whoever does that could make things easier on them by either doing whatever is needed to turn orders faster (increase staff probably) or by not selling things they cant deliver in the time they advertise. Many makers "close the books" and catch up and no one faults them. Other makers have waiting list and years of backlog but are honest about that.

FLAME SUIT ON :boxing:

 

[Hale Storm]

Damn!!! I'm super busy in my own shop but had to check in. Now that I've read a few more posts, I feel an apology is in order. To Guy, Ellie, and Josh, I'm sorry. I try to be a stand up guy and a man of my word. My dad taught me that and I'll never be the man he was. I said I was supportive of S!K and patient, and dammit, if I didn't turn out to be human and err like a human. I apologize if it seemed like I was jumping on the "where the hell is my knife and whining" bandwagon. Much of what has been said is true about the issues and to see the three determined souls at S!K forge on and keep working so hard to resolve it is refreshing and invigorating. We need more companies like this and definitely more knife companies like this. I faltered a little and I'm back with my full support. Thanks for what you've brought to the knife community and continue to strive for in spite of all the adversity and challenges. Thank you for the incredible blades and the commitment to the highest quality at an affordable price.

On the lighter side, I point some blame at Guy for making such an outstanding product. I also point some blame at my fellow BF members for all the feedback and videos showing that the knives truly exceed all the hype and they're the real deal.

Survive!Knives, I am your customer.

 

[Hale Storm]

Thanks hank_612. You're one of a kind in my book.
I have all of those except the 10. Just sold it and will keep beating on my Esee Junglas for batoning wood and trai lclearing. I kept some and love the knives but there is no real market for custom kydex for the GSO series. Khia makes a great product. I was testing the waters and will move on to other blades in stock for sheaths and of course any custom work can be sent to me. The Survive knives I'm keeping are my personal knives that I use in the woods and water. I might even buy some newer models when they come available. Machete is at the top of my list.

 

[salmonkiller]

Any word on the Survive Sub-forum?

 

[Zymologist]

Any word on the Survive Sub-forum?

I'd love to see one of those in the near future.

 

[Rasco]

Any word on the Survive Sub-forum?

You're looking at it
43 pages and still going strong

 

[Blues-90]

I just want to be another voice encouraging Guy and the gang. I ordered one of the 4.1 lottery seconds and am waiting patiently for it. I am confident that it will be worth the wait. Good Lord willing, there will be more in my future.

 

[olybears57]

No pictures of the knives in use this week at work on the trail crew.. Too busy using the knives to stop and take pictures. (I brought up my gso 6 this week, my pal Stu brought his 4.1) Used it to make feather sticks for fire every night, whittle in my spare time.. cheese knife, butter knife, bread knife, package opening, stake driver (pommel) and trail tool (lots of brush cutting this week) Still wicked sharp. Still in love.... I don't think I'll ever need another backpacking knife in my life. My friend Stu and I also are on volunteer SAR, and used his GSO 10 on a rescue a few weeks back to clear 1/4 mile of trail through thick willow, salmonberry, and blackberry for a litter carry on a hypothermic patient. Worked like a charm. Perfect one tool option. Keep up the great work Survive crew.

 

[Jmboz]

I just wanted to say thank you to the Survive! Knives crew for your hard work and dedication to getting the orders filled. As someone who is currently waiting on a GSO 3.5, I appreciate the communication. Since I probably have more knives then I possibly need at the moment (or in my lifetime), I don't mind waiting. If I can wait 2.5 years for a Koster MUCK, a few weeks is nothing. Yes, if anyone is questioning, it's a superb knife and was well worth the wait.

 

[B34NS]

I don't think most people here would be able to wait for a custom knife if they had the money. 6 months?! Wait what?!

 

[Rasco]

I don't think most people here would be able to wait for a custom knife if they had the money. 6 months?! Wait what?!

Depends on whether or not I was told up front it would be a 6mo wait time. If I know that going in, and I agree to it, I can't really complain about it, right?
But if your website says knives ship in 5-15 business days and twice that many days pass and you don't hear anything, people start to get antsy.
Again, it's all about expectations.

 

[FFK]

Esse 6