Too many Sprint Runs, Dealer Exclusives and Limited Editions?

It makes me crazy when a company discontinues a good knife to make room for a new one. So if all of these sprint runs keeps the classics around and just make great knives even better than Im fine with that.
 
To be fair, there is less room for new knives when tooling and machinery isn't set for new knives.
If they keep pumping out old models, would that be akin to a company putting an electric drive train in a model a?

New models don't get the chance to become "classics" if the old ones are still around.
 
I don't buy every sprint but I sure do love having them available. The steel junky in me delights every time a new steel/knife combo is released. Example is the HAP 40 series, or the 52100 Millie. I can't get enough of these. In fact them being difficult to actually get is my only complaint.

So, no, I'm no where close to thinking there are too many sprints. In any event I figure the guys running the companies know the market they swim in much better than I ever could. I only pay attention to the models that interest me. Gone are the days where I pretty much bought every new release. Now I often only get the sprints in the steels I like. I already have more knives than my whole family can use in 3 lifetimes.

Joe
 
Hadn't there been Sprints of these I could've never gotten my hands on my now favorite Hawkbill ever, and my favorite camp-hiking fixed blade.

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These are two awesome knives I lost tha chance to get back in the day, but fortunately enough were brought back in nice exotic steels and colors. Even better than the originals IMO. So I say :thumbup: to Sprints!
 
My favorite knife to date is a pm-2. Favorite steel M4. And I enjoy lighter colored scales (jade). So I have to say I'm happy with the current trend. I'd liked to see a few more delica sprints as well. S110V, 154Cm, M4, even 1095 would be cool. Unless I finally commit to a sebenza, a delica is next.
 
I don't think there's too many because I'm very nerdy about different steel types. I've developed a set of favorite steels for different applications so I like it when there are different steel options for the same model knife through one of these mechanisms. I don't buy knives just to collect them anymore so I don't care about their value or rarity as a collectable. I buy them to use them and I no longer own a knife that I don't or wont use.
 
akrapacs said:
I don't think there's too many because I'm very nerdy about different steel types. I've developed a set of favorite steels for different applications so I like it when there are different steel options for the same model knife through one of these mechanisms. I don't buy knives just to collect them anymore so I don't care about their value or rarity as a collectable. I buy them to use them and I no longer own a knife that I don't or wont use.
Click to expand...

This is pretty much where I sit.
I have a few alloys that I prefer for camping/yard work, some that I prefer for kitchen usage, and some for work, both dirty and clean.
The knife in my pocket for daily carry tends to rotate, but is often a tougher carbon or tool steel (52100, 1095, m4, SR101) but I have been tossing around the idea of adding a high alloyed/carbide rich stainless. The closest I have to that atm is a custom in CPM Rex 76, and I am Really liking it.
 
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As long as there are enough fans willing to buy them, and fans willing to buy flipped ones, they will keep making them.
 
I definitely like the sprints but they stress me out too. I'm still waiting for a sage g10 endura to come back in some form of cool blade steel or even the dang old g10. Really wanted to pick one up. Most sprints I don't care for but when I see the knife that's the perfect combo of what I like, I produce a silent fist pump in joy. My funds are tight right now but I'm REAL interested in the zdp189 endura in British racer green.
 
Almost everything in my collection (other than Emerson's) is a Sprint Run of some sort.

I prefer to hold out for the better (or different) steel and handle material. Not into safe queens, so the sprints are extra special when I score one.
 
There is no problem with sprint runs and dealer exclusives. Buy them, or don't buy them. I tend to like more choices, but with so many dealer exclusives these days, they are no longer as special as they once were. It used to be fun to read the forums, plot your strategery and then strike like a deadly jungle panther in order to score one of the sprint runs. Now days, there are so many "special" knives that none of them are really that special. And it drives home the reality that a $279 Ti/carbon fiber Military - which I will probably buy when one hits the market - really does not open a case of Mountain Dew any better than a $20 Kershaw. Its just more fun.

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It doesn't bother me. I haven't bought much in the last few years. I'm more about downsizing now. In general, I'd rather have too many choices then too few. Like Whitty said, some of these at aimed at rewarding dealers and I'm all for that.

To those that are serious collectors (or OCD) and MUST have every version of a model, I'm sorry for your pocketbook. :D
 
I don't think so. All it takes is to see secondary ebay prices on these things to know their is less supply than their is demand. I think that certain companies could even increase the amount they are offering. If people get upset because they have less chances of shafting one of us down the line oh well. These companies are making knives for knife fans. Not knife scalpers. And if people are collecting them in the hopes they become more valuable Id say stop collecting to make money even farther down the road.
 
I see limited runs and deal exclusives differently, just because of their availability and prices. For example, the KW exclusive BM 710 and 810 are fantastic knives to have and you can get them any time you want (well, until after they are discontinued). Also, dealer exclusives do not necessarily mean more expensive. On the other hand, limited runs are always with limited availability and are often more expensive (e.g., ZT0392), which I dont always appreciate.
 
I'm pretty mad about them right now.

I just discovered my favorite folding knives ever--ZT0452 and 0450 series.

Looks like I missed out on some sprint runs a few months ago of these in a super steel. Would love these in an m390 but missed the chance.
 
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