hello, i apologise for the currency confusion. I wasn't aware that the knives are so cheap over there. i guess it makes sense because most of them are from american companies.
Well, there are a lot of US brands but that's not the reason why they're so expensive in Germany/Europe. The main reasons seem to be that european dealers buy small amounts - that way they (probably?) get quite close to the US MSRP. THen you'll have to add shipping and custom fees. They probably choose insured shipping ($30 minimum) and the fees range from 19% to 27.5%.
That way you'll get european prices and you can't say that those dealers charge too much for their service.
Still - you could save on several ends:
- buy from the US secondary market
- choose USPS priority mail international (not insured - but reasonable @ $14)
- try to stay below 150 EUR - that way you'll save 8.5% custom fees (in GER).
Of course - that's a greater risk for you and you'll have to spend more time on it, but you can save some $$ that way.
FYI: NONE of these knives can be legally carried in Germany. In short and probably oversimplified:
- One hand opening is only ok if not locking
- Two hand opening knives can lock.
You're allowed to carry one-hand-openers and fixed blades w/ a blade length >12cm if you got a legal reason (not self-defense!). You;ll have to figure that out for yourself - no one ever frisked me and i'm carrying my knives to cut stuff (that's MY legal reason - according to MY opinion), but if i'm in the city i conceal my knives and i guess i dont attrack too much attention. (wearing combat boots or having an iro or a shaved head could get you a lot more experiences with police officers.)
just an update for you guys. I found a shop were i could buy balisongs. so i just ordered two balisongs for 70€ ($92).
It's a felony to
OWN balis in Germany - and i wouldn't buy or own them!
You could go to Austria and try them there...
If I had about 60 EUR for my first knife and if i would like spyderco i'd try to get a delica for 60 EUR. The Endura is quite large if you never had any really large folders and especially for other ppl..
My first more expensive knife (until then i carried 10-20 EUR folders - the last one was from smith&wesson) was a BM707. I really digged the 710 and 707 and i was close to just buying a griptilian (cheaper - same lock, same blade steel as the 707) but... i thought if i would buy that one i would always want a 707, too - because of the looks
Then i found my first 707 for $100 shipped on the US bay - which was less than what i would have paid for a Griptilian from a german dealer
Good luck finding a knife - and.. i'd advise you to forget balis as long as you live in Germany... Sorry :-/ (they start growing on me, too...)
s_f
