- Joined
- May 20, 2012
- Messages
- 1,703
I'd very seriously like to see Nathan's take on a karambit
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Actually a CPK Bladesports type chopper is on the white board and something we are seriously considering. 👍😊
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Actually a CPK Bladesports type chopper is on the white board and something we are seriously considering. 👍😊
Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk
wrt folders; my opinion is that $1000 is twice as much as a folding knife for utility should cost.
I have folders worth somewhere in that ballpark, and while I use them, their value to me comes from their artistic and handmade aspects, for testing, and for personal reasons
Shirogov's knives are really cool. Lots of intricate detail work and machining, innovative features and components, great designs. Rockstead, too. But I'd never spend that kind of coin on one. For that price, I'd rather have an artsy fartsy kind of thing
There is a huge pool of great knives available in the $500 range. That tells me that's where the heat is and where I think the CPK folder is destined to compete
wrt folders; my opinion is that $1000 is twice as much as a folding knife for utility should cost.
I have folders worth somewhere in that ballpark, and while I use them, their value to me comes from their artistic and handmade aspects, for testing, and for personal reasons
Shirogov's knives are really cool. Lots of intricate detail work and machining, innovative features and components, great designs. Rockstead, too. But I'd never spend that kind of coin on one. For that price, I'd rather have an artsy fartsy kind of thing
There is a huge pool of great knives available in the $500 range. That tells me that's where the heat is and where I think the CPK folder is destined to compete
Huh! You mean I should be sending my CRK's to a professional to have them sharpened instead of sharpening them the old fashioned way on 12" oiled Norton and Arkansas stones? I've been using dull knives for a awful lot of years and didn't realize it.
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Huh! You mean I should be sending my CRK's to a professional to have them sharpened instead of sharpening them the old fashioned way on 12" oiled Norton and Arkansas stones? I've been using dull knives for a awful lot of years and didn't realize it.
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Still wanna see a CPK Bowie and Kukri
wrt folders; my opinion is that $1000 is twice as much as a folding knife for utility should cost.
I have folders worth somewhere in that ballpark, and while I use them, their value to me comes from their artistic and handmade aspects, for testing, and for personal reasons
Shirogov's knives are really cool. Lots of intricate detail work and machining, innovative features and components, great designs. Rockstead, too. But I'd never spend that kind of coin on one. For that price, I'd rather have an artsy fartsy kind of thing
There is a huge pool of great knives available in the $500 range. That tells me that's where the heat is and where I think the CPK folder is destined to compete
This is something that is really REALLY interesting to talk about. For an entry level Shirogorov selling direct via their website, they are in the $420 range, going up to the Custom Division in the $1400 range. Leave out the full custom artsy fartsy as you call it knives which just sold via auction for well over 10Gs, US. Now when you add in secondary market markup to get them into the US, you see the ranges go into the $600s, up to $2000+ for the CDs.
That is something Shiro and CPK have in common. High secondary market demand. How many folders are $500+ new, and on the secondary market take HUGE losses? Most of them.
So that tells you Shiro can make a spectacular knife in the $300 range, and sell it for $420 at a profit. And the market is willing to bear a MUCH higher price for it because.....
So while Nathan is going to have to make a lot of really tough decisions on how this is done, there is hope for me that if it is executed properly, it will sell extremely well and Nathan will be able to sell them at a premium and reinvest that money into equipment improvements. It's not charity, just smart business.
Personally I will spend much more on something that is very high quality that I will use and that will serve me well, because I believe that tool perhaps might outlast me. I will spend much less on something that is only for looking at because I perceive less value in something I can only look at, but not really touch.
That is why Shiro works so well for me, rather than spend a ton of money or time making something that is more for looking at, they have poured over the smallest detail, and created something that is primarily a tool, and added a little embellishment that aesthetically pleasing to my eye. I am happy to pay a premium for the combination of perfect mechanical execution, flawless finish, user oriented design, over the top level of attention to detail and the amazing level of machining steps they take.
The reason I am so interested in the CPK folder is I believe Nathan has a lot to bring to the table. Quite frankly, I don't expect him to make Nathan's version of a Sebenza and would be disappointed if that's what happens. Not that it matters why I think, but like you said, the market is crammed full of $500 knives that are selling for much less. I want to see what Nathan's vision is, his interpretation of an EDC folder, something meant to work, mechanically perfect, robust and durable, but performance oriented, like a Shiro. And I will happily pay.
The Sebenza was molded into something that could be turned out as easily as possibly and in as large numbers as possible. CPK isn't like that.
Justin, regarding the part of your post which I have emboldened: there are going to be a few extra factors involved with CPK which actually constitute a less steps in the proverbial supply chain:
1- By and large CPK sells directly to its end users. Yes, there are "authorized" dealers such as Fort Henry, but there are no huge network of dealers and distributors which add onto the retail price of their products.
2- Nathan's prices are low(er) as compared to a lot of other similarly sized knives which use lesser quality steel, less optimal HT and craftsmanship.
3- The tight supply and the high demand in addition to CPK's cult following (for good reasons) will almost ensure that unless Nathan manages to produce a complete dud of a folder, we will not be seeing any of those concerns when it comes to the secondary market as long as the secondary marketplace has actually heard of this guy! I have zero concern about buying a $500 knife from Nathan which will end up being a $350 knife immediately when I open its box and find out that I don't like it. ZERO CONCERNS!