What is a Limited Edition?

[TinyDog]

All,

Sorry for the title. I know what a limited edition is, or Do I? As I get older I think more of the definition of limited editions, short runs....1 of 25, 1 of 250, and often prototypes in many cases.

Obviously I am not talking about a custom knife which was all handmade where there is no patterns for it and it is truly a one off. Or lets say a Sig Sauer P210 Legend Limited 1st Edition where it was gold plated and engraved 1 through 210 for its return to production in Germany. That to me is special, or could be. I would like to use GEC for example for knives as they make what is mentioned above. Let me get to the point....

If GEC makes a pattern in a color, handle material, Blade configuration in a limited run for This year 2020, Lets say they make 25 of these. They are all engraved 1 through 25 on the bolster. Does this really make them worth more than one that was not limited? How are they really better when the next year they can do it again? To me it does not make sense. I would rather have a pocket knife with no inscriptions labelled on it anywhere, am I alone?

Please if you like limited editions or short runs I am not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers, to each there own. We are all different. I mean to me its seems other than cutlery everything is a limited edition, or limited time offer today. I believe this is all about marketing and creates a false sense that one has an item of huge value above and beyond its true worth. I ate a limited run the other day, you want to know what it was.... McDonald's Mc-Rib sandwich. Its back today as a limited time offer again (-; I think because it was limited it tasted special..

Not trying say pocket knives are sandwiches. But I hope my thought is coming across, Does anyone wonder how everything is special today, especially when its manufactured as a "Limited" something or other?

TD

 

[Eli Chaps]

Limited Edition shouldn't be as much about numbers as much as when they are done, they are done.

Case does this quite often with their "Vault" offerings. They'll bring out patterns that are not in their regular line up and make them for a period of time. I think they run for a year. Then the pattern "goes back in the vault" and it will be years before they make any more. They might make thousands of them during that time frame but then that is it.

So it could be 25 total or 2500 total but the idea is, when they are gone, that's it.

 

[Smaug]

It's an attempt to boost demand by limiting supply. When people fall for it, it means they can price gouge due to limited supply. Then, in turn, the owner of such a knife can gouge again when they sell it a few years later with a healthy mark-up.

I'm not falling for it.

 

[E.D.C.]

Yep I'm an enthusiast, not a consumerist.

 

[jbmonkey]

I'm not a fan of them. I like a good knife with nice features and will buy on that. numbered and limited amount made i don't care for and unless I just want the knife for what it is steel and scales design etc, ill pass. its more a marketing tactic.

I guess good for the maker and good for the collectors, but not great for me....is how I look at it.

 

[XL883N]

Seinfeld said it best. It's limited to how many they can sell. LOL

I like production models and hate limited edition anything. Stuff you can use and not worry about future resale or collector value gets 2 thumbs up from me.

 

[Danke42]

Some people like etches or engraving. Others don't. It's personal taste and only affects you.

If GEC made a run of 25 special editions they could ship empty tubes and they'd still get snapped up.

A limited edition is a knife that's already in production that's released in a different steel or special covers and in fewer numbers than regular production. Usually the knife maker only tries to recover their costs vs. score massive profit and get free attention as a result. For spot like Spyderco something like a special edition can be in the 1000s. They attract collectors by their scarcity.

If anyone doesn't like them or feel an attraction that's good news for you since by definition they're harder to get.

 

[afishhunter]

... If GEC makes a pattern in a color, handle material, Blade configuration in a limited run for This year 2020, Lets say they make 25 of these. They are all engraved 1 through 25 on the bolster. Does this really make them worth more than one that was not limited? How are they really better when the next year they can do it again? To me it does not make sense. I would rather have a pocket knife with no inscriptions labelled on it anywhere, am I alone?

IHMO any GEC, numbered or not, is a "Limited Edition".
My "reasoning":
1) They don't make enough in any one run to meet demand.
2) I was told by GEC, "If we do another run of any pattern, it has to have a noticeable difference from any/all previous run(s) of that pattern. Different blade(s)/ blade combinations, different covers, etc. ..."
She didn't specifically mention them, but I'm guessing Brass vs German Silver bolsters could also be a "noticeable difference" on a subsequent run or runs.

Are the numbered knives any "better" than the un-numbered?
I don't know. Currently, my only GEC is a numbered 852211 Harness Jack, dressed in burnt stag.
I "know" from the published production figures, more un-numbered 852211 Harness Jacks in Stag were produced than numbered knives. I've never seen one though, so I don't know if they are the "same", "better" or "worse" build quality. I would have to guess "the same".
This 852211 was a gift from a very generous member here, who desires to remain anonymous. I don't know if there is a price premium for a numbered knife.

I had two other GEC, (also gifted to me); one a numbered 610211 half congress in jigged green bone, and a un-numbered Number 06, in smooth white bone. I know I'd never carry them, so I gifted them to two people who would and are carrying them. Both are too nice to just sit around in the tube collecting dust.
I find the congress pattern uncomfortable in hand. The 06 (I "won" it in a give a way someone entered my name to get the knife, if he won) is just way too tiny. I did give it a chance, and carried it for a week, when it arrived.)

I've never seen another 61, or 06 pattern, so like with the 85, I don't know if there is a difference in quality (or cost), between the numbered and un-numbered knives, in those patterns.

I'm not "crazy" about blade etchings, but they are not a deal murderer for me, like a serrated edge is.

 

[GIRLYmann]

nothing personal but
figuring "limited edition" could mean
different things to different people.
its probably all about creative marketing
which boils down to making some bucks.
how a product is positioned periodically
through atvertisng & promotion, could at
lean times, help develop further market
interest.so that if one was to sell a standard
product with nothing more than a different
packaging which had the words "limited edition", it becomes almost a certainly that
somebody will choose to buy that over
the regular pack
here's a real example of wordcraft
'...xxxx is launching an exclusive limited-
edition design. With only x0,000 available
worldwide, fans can also expect premium
packaging with a mirrored foam insert
and a vibrant coordinated box and sleeve
for a truly one of a kind memento..."
truly one of a kind is a catch phrase.
honestly not making a judgment...
and so when it comes to knives
its akin to milking the fan base
with an unlimited spending habit
on the most part.
no guessing who else would be entised
enough to keep on buying what is essentiall the same knife in different shades??!

it works for the manufacturers
and it keeps consumers happy enough
to keep on wanting more.
interest is never quite for a limited time only ;-)

 

[GatorFlash1]

"Limited" to me means something unique, perhaps made of special materials, or having a special shape or style, and made in small batches, that sells for many times what the similar mass produced type item would.

A good example would be a diamond of 3 carat size, with a D color, flawless clear and clean, and very well cut and polished. There many diamonds around, but one with these characteristics would be very rare, and "limited" and could be made by very few craftsmen.

In the knife world there are a few custom makers who's knives sell for huge amounts because they are highly respected, very well made, and very "limited" in production quantity.

If I ever win the lottery, and that is highly unlikely because I understand how a lottery works, speaking of "limited", I'd buy a pilot Bob Loveless Delaware Maid Drop Point Hunter. They are around, but in very "limited" quantity.

If you really want to see what high quality "limited" knives are check this video. You want to especially watch the production process.

 

[DocJD]

I regret that some of these will never be mass marketed and so will never become a bargain / value that I will buy .

Luckily , there's no shortage of Un-limited production models .

 

[Hal]

Woodpeckers - an upscale tool manufacturer has a limited run of tools.

They are known as "One time tools".

When all the regular tool orders for all their stock items have been filled, they shift production to the "one time tools".
They do this instead of laying off people when normal production slows.

Maybe some of the knife companies can do something similar?

 

[comis]

I think it's really just marketing evolving over time. Limited edition wouldn't magically make something 'rubbish' more desirable, but it sure does have a 'ring' to it and attract attention to new comers.

 

[eveled]

The limited edition thing has been used so much that people aren’t falling for it anymore.

Glad to hear the McRib is back at McDonalds though.