The "Ask Nathan a Question" Thread

When it comes to economics, your logic truly defies me, specially for a very bright and knowledgable person who also happens to be quite brilliant at his craft.

So allow me to muse here for a second or two: the K20 sells out in literally less than 2 minutes but you expect that the Shiv numbers don't get too crazy even if the preorder is left open for a while week? Seriously, LOL... OK granted that the K20 number were initially limited to only 100 but the way in which the payment was split (I understand the reasoning) basically puts the K20 and the basic Shiv on par at $750 a piece, right? Further, I also grant you that back in the K20 preorder era, there were no gathering recession storms on the horizon as it appears these days but although Shiv being one of least practical CPKs, it will actually still be more practical than a NotaKatana on any day and twice on a Sunday (so I've been told). In therms of collectibility, I would put a loaded more expensive Shiv right up there with any K20.

My innate glass 1/2 empty nature is flashing warning red lights against orderly and leisurely. I will not be surprised if the 300 is reached in less than an hour because THIS IS SPARTA! 🤣
 
Casinostocks said:
When it comes to economics, your logic truly defies me, specially for a very bright and knowledgable person who also happens to be quite brilliant at his craft.

So allow me to muse here for a second or two: the K20 sells out in literally less than 2 minutes but you expect that the Shiv numbers don't get too crazy even if the preorder is left open for a while week? Seriously, LOL... OK granted that the K20 number were initially limited to only 100 but the way in which the payment was split (I understand the reasoning) basically puts the K20 and the basic Shiv on par at $750 a piece, right? Further, I also grant you that back in the K20 preorder era, there were no gathering recession storms on the horizon as it appears these days but although Shiv being one of least practical CPKs, it will actually still be more practical than a NotaKatana on any day and twice on a Sunday (so I've been told). In therms of collectibility, I would put a loaded more expensive Shiv right up there with any K20.

My innate glass 1/2 empty nature is flashing warning red lights against orderly and leisurely. I will not be surprised if the 300 is reached in less than an hour because THIS IS SPARTA! 🤣
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I have to disagree with you. The K20 and shiv are both weapons made for killing. I think the k20 is more practical for killing and the shiv would be a back up option.
 
JACKMANDU said:
Nathan, could the K20 be considered a weapon of mass destruction?
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Probably?

The end user is responsible for determining the applicable laws in their areas and they vary widely.

I brought my K18 onto an airplane by accident (I forgot I was wearing it) and they asked me to go back put it in my car. But the traffic court didn't have any problems with it (it was pretty inconspicuous as a neck knife, they may have just thought it was a necklace.)
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
The Shiv is going to be $750. That's very expensive for a CPK from the shop here. Is that expensive in today's economy? I don't know, things have gotten weird. I do know that it's a persnickety pattern that requires a lot of "Nate time" (that diamond cross section long pointy tip is unsupported and requires different fixturing and some technique that none of our other patterns require) so I don't want to make a lot of them and do nothing but Shivs next year. And I also don't want a repeat of the K20 pre-order that sold out too fast. The purpose of pre-orders is they are supposed to be leisurely and stay open a week rather than the fast Friday sales. While we pride ourselves here making the highest quality tools at good prices (the best bang for your buck) this pre-order has the potential to be a no-win situation and I choose the option that has me sending Abby to college next year. We will have plenty of outstanding affordable CPK knives next year but the Shiv won't be one of them.
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$750?? I guess it's a good thing that I'm single and don't have to worry about being in the doghouse for a few months - or get divorced. :)
 
Nathan,

Have you thought about this to see if changing things to this way may help you out to streamline the preorder process because after all, the POs were initially designed to help out those who could not otherwise get a CPK whether by direct participation or even requesting a proxy bidder. The CPK elders are well aware of your initial aversion to the PO process and that it took a lot of convincing to make you pliable on POs.

Let's say that you only initially offer very basic options through the first preorder and then depending on how many are filled, you then consider running other POs for the same pattern with semi-custom and embellishments if you so desire without any prior promissory obligations. I know that other shops call this the "custom shop" options but you have spared us such caveats in the past. I know that what I am musing is not going to be terribly popular and in fact, it is against my own self-interest but that could be a win-win compromise for you and your expanding customer base.
 
Nathan the Machinist Nathan the Machinist
Don't know if you might've missed my post yesterday, but I was wondering if you had a rough idea of when the sale/preorder for the semi integral dagger would drop? And a rough ballpark for the price.

Trying to plan ahead for the 'fun fund', between the Shiv preorder and the K20. If the SID is slated for some time closer to the middle of next year, it'll make it simpler to space it all out.

One other question; I recall reading something about a proposal that the Shiv preorder be 1 Shiv per post (but I can't recall who posted that), so if someone wanted 3 Shivs, they'd need to make 3 separate posts within that 300 cutoff (just in case this goes the way of the K20 sale). Is that going to be a thing for the Shiv preorder?

*** Personally, I don't think it will, as I'm of the opinion that there are a LOT more katana/pseudo-katana/some-kinda--katana fans, including ones who may not have been particularly knife crazy, or collectors/fans of all things CPK (and the K20 sale seemed to confirm that, as there were quite a few names I don't recall having seen before).
 
twistedLogic said:
Have the 4 knives/winners been selected from the polls?

Sorry if I missed that, but I've been away....
-thanks
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Yes.

The Shiv 2.0 preorder is this Friday at 3pm. Friday at 5pm (as preorders always are).

The other 3 will be a semi-integral 8" dagger (Nate's Executive Decision), an EDC 1.2, and the Medium Light Chopper.
 
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bluemax_1 said:
*** Personally, I don't think it will, as I'm of the opinion that there are a LOT more katana/pseudo-katana/some-kinda--katana fans, including ones who may not have been particularly knife crazy, or collectors/fans of all things CPK (and the K20 sale seemed to confirm that, as there were quite a few names I don't recall having seen before).
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I sincerely hope this is true. Selfishly, and for my sake.
 
Box_Opener said:
I sincerely hope this is true. Selfishly, and for my sake.
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Time (and the preorder) will tell. There's no question that even in just a few months, there are even more folks who know about CPK, and more folks who've become fans of CPKs, but due to movies and TV, the katana has become an iconic piece that's desirable, even to folks who aren't knife/blade enthusiasts in general.

The prospect of a near-indestructible D3V CPK Notta-Katana would appeal even more to anyone who's enthralled by the idea of owning a katana (except, maybe the collectors of historical pieces).

The Shiv OTOH, is a CPK icon. Nathan's detailed its original design goals, and those design goals were the reason I'd previously never looked at acquiring one.

Now, as another nutjob CoCPKs (family friendly), I realized I should get at least 1 Shiv, as it's the CPK in the logo.

I think that same reasoning might apply for a lot of folks. It's a design that is very specific, and sought after by CoCPKs, simply because it isn't commonly available.

Unlike FK2s, HDFKs, EDCs, all the Choppers etc. it's not a design that's highly desired for its function/usability, and unlike a katana where the overwhelming majority of owners want one to either display, or just to have a katana, I think the Shiv is one where the greatest appeal is specifically to CoCPKs.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
The Shiv is going to be $750. That's very expensive for a CPK from the shop here. Is that expensive in today's economy? I don't know, things have gotten weird. I do know that it's a persnickety pattern that requires a lot of "Nate time" (that diamond cross section long pointy tip is unsupported and requires different fixturing and some technique that none of our other patterns require) so I don't want to make a lot of them and do nothing but Shivs next year. And I also don't want a repeat of the K20 pre-order that sold out too fast. The purpose of pre-orders is they are supposed to be leisurely and stay open a week rather than the fast Friday sales. While we pride ourselves here making the highest quality tools at good prices (the best bang for your buck) this pre-order has the potential to be a no-win situation and I choose the option that has me sending Abby to college next year. We will have plenty of outstanding affordable CPK knives next year but the Shiv won't be one of them.
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That’s less than what I was thinking they would be and at that price I might try to get one.
 
tokerblue said:
Was there an official list or just the end results of the polls? The 8" dagger is really calling out to me...
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That list was as stated by Nate himself.

The other 3 won their respective polls, but Nate made the decision that he really wanted to make an 8" semi-integral dagger, instead of the Boot Dagger which won the 3rd choice poll.
 
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