Why the fuss over the 0777M390?

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Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
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I got mine today, and... It's a flipper framelock with a pivot system and good steel. Why are people shelling out near-custom if not actual-custom prices (500+) for this? It's a third of an inch longer than a Southard and roughly the same weight, with basically the same steel and pivot system, but it's going for over twice the street price of a Southard. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine knife. It fires out, has good lockup, and is sharp and centered... But so is a Southard. And a Whaleshark. Both considerably cheaper knives that are easier to get a hold of.

I don't get it. Someone please enlighten me.
 
I don't know, mine was way less than that. But the other knives you mention are regular production, the ZT isn't, so that definitely figures into it.
 
I agree with Jill Jackson. Probably cuz it's a limited run of a cool knife. Look at the prices on some of the para 2 sprints. Crazy talk!
 
I don't get it either.... It would make more sense if the price was around $300-$350.
 
I wasn't curious enough to drop 6 hundo like so many seem to have. I got it at a very reasonable price, but, even for how much I paid, I feel there are better knives out there in the price range. It's grown on me slightly in the last half hour, but, not enough to justify keeping both that and my Whaleshark.
 
To start the materials and manufacturing quality, but I think a large reason they're selling for what they do is because of the what they are. ZT LE's nearly always hold their value, and appreciate for that matter. that is just my opinion on the matter. though, I think if the knife was regular production, it would still be a very sought after piece. Bottom line is they sell for what people are willing to pay. :)
 
Just my opinion, but I think it looks a lot better than the other two you mentioned. ZT probably has the best warranty of the three also.
 
Comeuppance said:
I got mine today, and... It's a flipper framelock with a pivot system and good steel. Why are people shelling out near-custom if not actual-custom prices (500+) for this? It's a third of an inch longer than a Southard and roughly the same weight, with basically the same steel and pivot system, but it's going for over twice the street price of a Southard. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine knife. It fires out, has good lockup, and is sharp and centered... But so is a Southard. And a Whaleshark. Both considerably cheaper knives that are easier to get a hold of.

I don't get it. Someone please enlighten me.
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The high price has nothing to do with the materials of the knife. It has to do with the rarity.

Why don't you start this thread about the sprint run Spyderco PM2 or the LE Benchmade AFCK?

Why do Southard customs that cost 900-1300 on a table sell for 2-3x that later?


Also, the Southard is made in Taiwan (lower cost of labor, Sal has confirmed it would be $400 if it was made here), it does not have 3d machined carbon fiber which is a very difficult and expensive process, it does not has a sub frame lock or an adjustable steel lockbar insert, it doesn't have a 3d machined Ti pocket clip.

I have no hate for the Southard at all but the 0777m390 is FAR closer to a $500-600 custom than the Spyderco Southard will ever be.
 
I probably wouldn't have paid in the high 300 range if they weren't selling for over 500. I don't like it better than my Tilts, which retailed for a bit over 200 and now bring over 500. I paid 190, for Spyderco's carbon fiber Military in S90V and they go for well over 500 now. No bearings, steel liner lock yet people want them so, they're high dollar items. Supply and demand, like anything else.
 
Well considering all the machining in the blade and handle, the cf and Ti I'm pretty sure I can see why people are excited about it... I can compare a a factory 5 cobra to a shelby 427 all day doesn't change the fact that on is the real deal and one is a replica. Guess which one costs more?
 
Scurvy092 said:
The high price has nothing to do with the materials of the knife. It has to do with the rarity.

Why don't you start this thread about the sprint run Spyderco PM2 or the LE Benchmade AFCK?

Why do Southard customs that cost 900-1300 on a table sell for 2-3x that later?


Also, the Southard is made in Taiwan (lower cost of labor, Sal has confirmed it would be $400 if it was made here), it does not have 3d machined carbon fiber which is a very difficult and expensive process, it does not has a sub frame lock or an adjustable steel lockbar insert, it doesn't have a 3d machined Ti pocket clip.

I have no hate for the Southard at all but the 0777m390 is FAR closer to a $500-600 custom than the Spyderco Southard will ever be.
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Hmm. Fair enough. I retract about 70% of what I have said. The retail price, given that, is perfectly acceptable, but the secondary market prices are insane!

Someone asked "Why spend $400 on a Sebenza?"
It's never really been my thing, but I understand Sebenzas and their owners. They're exceedingly nice knives, and the warranty on them is basically "send yours in at any time and we'll make it like new." That's a heck of a warranty. If they made flipper versions or perhaps used more exotic steels (M390, M4, CTS-XHP, 110V, Z-Wear, etc) I might consider getting one.
So, basically, I'm never probably not going to get one.
 
The problem I think you're having is that once you get up over $300 for a knife, all of the stuff you mentioned 'It's a third of an inch longer than a Southard and roughly the same weight, with basically the same steel and pivot system... It fires out, has good lockup, and is sharp and centered' most of it is irrelevant.

$50 knives fire nicely, are sharp and centered.

The materials are available on knives starting at $200

Once you get up to the level of customs, Sebenzas, and Limited Edition ZTs you have to look a lot deeper and closer.

Again, keep in mind that if your Southard was made in the USA, it would cost as much as the Sebenza.
 
The 0777 has a long list of things that make it cost what it does.

- Smooth 3D machined carbon fiber scales. Carbon fiber costs ten times as much as G-10 and the handles take a long time to machine - the cutting bit steps over 0.010" each pass. Oh, and it eats up those $60 carbide cutter bits like candy.
- ADJUSTABLE stainless steel lockbar insert - No other knife (that I am aware of) has this feature. The lockbar has a small set crew going down the length of it. You can adjust it with a 0.050" allen wrench, and it can move the lockbar insert forward of back.
- Ever try machining a perfect smooth groove in M390? It sucks (and eats cutter bits) so it's uncommon in production knives.
- 3D machined titanium lockbar - several setups and a fair amount of machine time.
- Machined Titanium pocket clip - much more work than a bent steel clip.
- Made in the USA.

That's the short list. I completely get it if this knife doesn't trip your trigger, but comparing it to an imported, flat G-10/flat titanium knife is not a fair comparison at all. Materials, machine time, and innovation cost money. We should have charged $800-$1000 for these knives for the amount of work that went into them.

Check out what other manufacturers are charging for their high-end pieces and thick about what you paid for this knife again. For the M390 version, MSRP was $450. Go take a look at what $50 will buy you these days. I'm not knocking anyone, but look at the price of a Benchmade Gold Class, production Microtechs, Lionsteel, etc. High-end production knives are not cheap. This knife represents a huge amount of bang for your buck, and I for one am not ashamed of the price it went for.

Not everyone sees the value in a $450 knife, and I get that. If your value zone is closer to $200, check out a ZT 0560 or a ZT 0801. Street price on the 0560 is around $260 with 3D machining, Elmax, KVT Bearing washers, etc. Or check out the 0801 - KVT, full titanium construction, Elmax, and they street around $190. Both made in the USA.

I hope this knife grows on you - it was a tough project, but the end result was a really cool knife, and if you can afford to keep it, I sincerely believe it will increase in value.

- Jim
 
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Comeuppance -

I hope I didn't come off harsh. It's often hard to understand all costs that add up when you're holding a knife. There have been plenty of times when I finally get to hold a I knife that I dreamed about and I'm surprised that there's not more to it. In the end it's a knife. Most of my high-end stuff is gone now - I had a hard time letting valuable stuff sit around gathering dust. If I could afford to, I would have kept it all, but that is not the case.

You have every right to be unimpressed with this knife - I just figured I'd throw some information your way. I'm wasn't trying to give you your comeuppance (sorry, couldn't resist) :p
 
CJZ said:
I don't get it either.... It would make more sense if the price was around $300-$350.
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The other day one of the online stores had one for 350, while selling the same for 450 on ebay, just have to look for the deal and take advantage if you can.
 
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