WE Knife Co. 703

GCG199 said:
I have a 617 and a 701, both of these have D2 blades also.

I have had no problems at all with rust or corrosion so far.

I think that they got the heat treat right.
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I'm thinking this is 100% right here. WE clearly got the HT right on this. D2 is not a bad steel by any means.... I think a lot of us are just spoiled with recent offerings of 20cv, m390, s110v, k390, etc. so far I'm loving D2. I have a Jarosz folder in AEBL coming and will try 80crv2 when the winkler folders are released. I'm finding that I'm liking some of the steels better that aren't used more widely than the newest production offerings.
 
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dryflytrout said:
M390 is imported into America, isn't it? How would shipping it to China be that much more expensive? I know it's sort of comparing apples to oranges but the Bradford Guardian 3 sells for around the same price with M390. The extra expense of shipping the finished knife to American customers should be offset by much less expensive Chinese labor.
I'm not saying the WE 703 isn't a nice knife or anything. Just that using a higher quality steel shouldn't raise the price that much. The real difference is they have a higher profit margin using D2 at the same price point.
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As someone who has been collecting knives a long time, I find myself being less fussy about steel. I remember when most Spydercos were GIN1 and AUS-8 was condsidered an upgrade. It was not long ago, when folks were happy to $600 for Dozier customs made of D2.
 
KingMC said:
You are assuming a few things:
1. With the materials used for the 703 currently that they are actually making a large profit.
2. With an upgrade in the steel that they would accept a lesser profit margin
3. Price increases would only be tied to how much the materials cost

M390 is much harder to work with so manufacturing costs would increase, and since M390 is also known as a premium steel and WE could easily increase the cost above what just the upgraded materials would add pulling a greater profit than with D2.

Benchmade makes a griptilian in CPM-20CV steel, made in the same country as the knives are, yet the price increase is around $60 street value just for the nicer steel, which is on par with M390. Something tells me that WE would have a similar increase in price for their 703 if they upgraded to M390, and considering the current price point that increase would be over 50% of the base price.
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Maybe if WE was trying to squeeze every last dime out of its customers but they dont seem to be doing so. WE uses m390 and doesnt charge any more for it than s35vn. In fact i tink a couple models switched from s35vn to m390 and no price i crease was imposed. Sure they cant offer it at $100 but compared to most brands their m390 knives are a bargain.


anthony cheeseboro said:
As someone who has been collecting knives a long time, I find myself being less fussy about steel. I remember when most Spydercos were GIN1 and AUS-8 was condsidered an upgrade. It was not long ago, when folks were happy to $600 for Dozier customs made of D2.
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People still seem to be happy paying $600 plus for a knife with d2 as many medfords and nearly every brous.
 
Forgot to add..... in my humble opinion this is the regular production knife to beat as far as materials, fit and finish, and price for what you get.

I'm all ears if you have something better. I would love to try it as this price point.... whatever it is
 
I just got one delivered to me at work this morning, a surprise from the wifey apparently haha. I am pretty well blown away by how nice of a folder it is.

Pic just cuz the thread needs more:D:D

Z8dNzZ3.jpg
 
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