Worst knife deals you ever saw?

for the money GEC is charging these days, they should at least upgrade to 52100 over 1095, that would be a huge improvement and keep it 'old school' with top tier carbon steel

there are a few patterns I'd love, but I'm not paying a 50% markup over msrp
 
A couple years ago, I remember eying the Ontario sk5 at MidwayUSA for a while at a time before I started frequenting all the popular knife distributor websites. I really wanted one, and at the time, I was still in the phase of convincing myself that it was ok to pay more than $100 for a knife, so I was really waffling. I shopped there a lot, so I would check to see if they had them in stock and if they were on sale. If I remember right, they were around $115-$120 and when on sale, you could get one for $100. Not much later, I would see them on the "knife" websites for almost $200! I just didn't understand. After shopping around, I began to see other examples of this but the sk5 is the one that stands out in my mind. When I was a kid, there used to be this cheesy guy on tv late at night that was in the commercial for his gun shop and his line was, "I don't want to make any money, I just love to sell guns!". I'm always reminded of that commercial when I recognize horrible deals...
 
ferider said:
Regarding the question in the OP, I'm always puzzled by sales in the exchange with higher prices than if I buy the same knife still available new at dealers.
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I see that fairly regularly. Sellers with something they "never carried or cut anything with" but think it's up to the buyer to recoup their shipping cost even though the same knife qualifies for free shipping from a dealer.
 
dirc said:
for the money GEC is charging these days, they should at least upgrade to 52100 over 1095, that would be a huge improvement and keep it 'old school' with top tier carbon steel

there are a few patterns I'd love, but I'm not paying a 50% markup over msrp
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I see them selling on ebay for three to four times or more their original price. It's completely asinine.
 
ferider said:
Why is this illegal in Holland ? It's very typical in the US at least. Just check any new Spyderco knife for instance, they are all "discounted" ~30% at least from the price (MSRP) stated by Spyderco. As long as the factory sells it for MSRP, and at least 1 other dealer (and there are a couple), saying that there is a discount is true, no ? Not saying that you are wrong, just wondering.
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Well, I'm not a lawyer, but the article mentioned that the fake discount trick is in breach of the so called 'wet oneerlijke handelspraktijken" which I can loosely translate as the 'law on unfair commercial practices' which forbids misleading your customers among other things. The article (in Dutch, so I won't link it) mentions they did a small test and 26 of 40 webshops were in breach of this law on account of misleading pricing. So it happens a lot. I also see it a lot around 'Black Friday'.

In my example I cannot recall said knife ever being more expensive than the going price, and it's been on my wishlist for about 2 years. I even bought one years ago, but I messed it up, so I'm keeping my eye on a new one. I think it's not illegal to say something is a discount in regards to MSRP (because everyone knows MSRP is nonsense anyway), but it is illegal to straight up invent a discount, even though the article in question has always been this price.
 
simple6 said:
Any Emerson, Benchmade, Spyderco, in that order are overpriced.

Ridiculous and stupid would be Medford, Chris Reeves, and any other $400+ knife.

Randall's are just retarded.
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I guess I’m an overpriced, ridiculously stupid kind of guy. Not retarded though because I don’t own any Randalls.
 
dirc said:
for the money GEC is charging these days, they should at least upgrade to 52100 over 1095, that would be a huge improvement and keep it 'old school' with top tier carbon steel

there are a few patterns I'd love, but I'm not paying a 50% markup over msrp
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GEC isn’t charging extravagant prices. They set MSRP. They’re not the ones putting a 50% markup over their own suggested prices.
 
ferider said:
Regarding the question in the OP, I'm always puzzled by sales in the exchange with higher prices than if I buy the same knife still available new at dealers.
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I see this less on the exchange than I do on other site, but yes, makes me scratch my head and wonder. One would think that if a person was shopping for a limited product that they would aware of the state of the primary market or at least be smart enough to do a google search.
 
I have a local Army-Navy store with a pretty impressive knife counter.
All the Spyderco’s are full MSRP while other knives (BM, Kershaw/ZT, Microtec) are at or close to MAP. I doesn’t make sense to me.

Otoh they have a few out of production models sitting around…if you’re willing to pay for them.

I hate to see the Japanese Spydercos drifting up in price. The Delica is an awesome knife that’s kind of a hard sell.
The Tenacious (I know, not Japanese) was mentioned somewhere above. Yes, it’s expensive for 8Cr and I’m not a fan of the country of manufacture, but I have to admit it’s solid, well built knife.

IIRC, the Benchmade 756 was something like $360 MAP. I wasn’t sure if that was laughable or insulting.

Lastly (and sadly) SOG. I have a soft spot for SOG. Before going low-end they made some decent folders (maybe they still do), but they were generally overpriced by about 30% (or more at some shops!). I’ve lost a couple over the years that I really miss…but I haven’t replaced them as they’re just not in a favorable place value-wise.
 
BD_01 said:
I have a local Army-Navy store with a pretty impressive knife counter.
All the Spyderco’s are full MSRP while other knives (BM, Kershaw/ZT, Microtec) are at or close to MAP. I doesn’t make sense to me.

Otoh they have a few out of production models sitting around…if you’re willing to pay for them.

I hate to see the Japanese Spydercos drifting up in price. The Delica is an awesome knife that’s kind of a hard sell.
The Tenacious (I know, not Japanese) was mentioned somewhere above. Yes, it’s expensive for 8Cr and I’m not a fan of the country of manufacture, but I have to admit it’s solid, well built knife.

IIRC, the Benchmade 756 was something like $360 MAP. I wasn’t sure if that was laughable or insulting.

Lastly (and sadly) SOG. I have a soft spot for SOG. Before going low-end they made some decent folders (maybe they still do), but they were generally overpriced by about 30% (or more at some shops!). I’ve lost a couple over the years that I really miss…but I haven’t replaced them as they’re just not in a favorable place value-wise.
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SOG appears to be making quality knives again (stressing the word appears), but their prices are sincerely outta wack. I like the look of some of them, but I'm not paying $180 for a Pentagon XR. It's a nice knife on paper for sure, I don't even really mind the Taiwan point of manufacture, and I love XHP very much. Just a lot for a knife from a company who's made poor quality products for so long. If say, Cold Steel was asking that much for the exact same knife, I'd pay it. But hey, who am I kidding. If Cold Steel made them, that knife would be like $110. SOG, sorry man, you guys are in the same lane as Gerber and CRKT in my eyes.
 
tony281sc2 said:
Maybe I’ll try that out. It’s only like $20 to be able to buy/sell here right ?
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The Aflac Duck said:
I’ve owned a couple and they are grossly overpriced. Luxury items typically are.
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At least with Rockstead it's also grossly unnecessary precision and quality. I'd never own one myself, but at least they're giving you something for your extra money. On the other hand you have The James Brand, which is basically charging a premium over Reate prices for the time they spend convincing you how cool your knife will make you with your hipster friends.

Danke42 said:
For pure price vs. what you get honourable mention to Tracker Dan.

$750.00
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I don't even think that's an honorable mention, I think Tracker Dan may be in the running for the flat-out win. I'm not saying he doesn't have some great designs, and the handle wrap is really stellar. But I swear, given the materials, fit, and finish, only an idiot would pay more than $250 for a Bloodshark, which I've never seen for sale for less than like $1,250! It's like the Sebenza of prison shanks, but, it's still basically a prison shank, so it can only ever really be worth so much.
 
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Quiet said:
SOG appears to be making quality knives again (stressing the word appears), but their prices are sincerely outta wack. I like the look of some of them, but I'm not paying $180 for a Pentagon XR. It's a nice knife on paper for sure, I don't even really mind the Taiwan point of manufacture, and I love XHP very much. Just a lot for a knife from a company who's made poor quality products for so long. If say, Cold Steel was asking that much for the exact same knife, I'd pay it. But hey, who am I kidding. If Cold Steel made them, that knife would be like $110. SOG, sorry man, you guys are in the same lane as Gerber and CRKT in my eyes.
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You know, I'd have to say that about several of the more 'budget' brand knifemakers. CRKT, Gerber, SOG, and Boker mainly, and even Buck a little bit. They're all trying to break into the high-end market, but none of them really have the quality control experience to consistently produce knives at the fit and finish of the high-end production market. Boker gets some amazing designs and their high end uses good materials, but none of that is any good if your quality control on your top line knives can't match the quality control on a Spyderco PM2 for half as much.
 
madcap_magician said:
If you're interested in trying one, I've got a spare wharncliffe Half Track for sale well below retail.

At least with Rockstead it's also grossly unnecessary precision and quality. I'd never own one myself, but at least they're giving you something for your extra money. On the other hand you have The James Brand, which is basically charging a premium over Reate prices for the time they spend convincing you how cool your knife will make you with your hipster friends.


I don't even think that's an honorable mention, I think Tracker Dan may be in the running for the flat-out win. I'm not saying he doesn't have some great designs, and the handle wrap is really stellar. But I swear, given the materials, fit, and finish, only an idiot would pay more than $250 for a Bloodshark, which I've never seen for sale for less than like $1,250! It's like the Sebenza of prison shanks, but, it's still basically a prison shank, so it can only ever really be worth so much.
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Trasher Dan stuff sells 100% because of the Instagram clout it confers on the bearer from other IG "Stabby McPrisonShank" people.
 
madcap_magician said:
If you're interested in trying one, I've got a spare wharncliffe Half Track for sale well below retail.
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This is not the place to promote what we are selling. Please respect the rules so we don't have to enforce them. Use the Exchange.

Thank you.
 
Quiet said:
SOG appears to be making quality knives again (stressing the word appears), but their prices are sincerely outta wack. I like the look of some of them, but I'm not paying $180 for a Pentagon XR. It's a nice knife on paper for sure, I don't even really mind the Taiwan point of manufacture, and I love XHP very much. Just a lot for a knife from a company who's made poor quality products for so long. If say, Cold Steel was asking that much for the exact same knife, I'd pay it. But hey, who am I kidding. If Cold Steel made them, that knife would be like $110. SOG, sorry man, you guys are in the same lane as Gerber and CRKT in my eyes.
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Not all of their stuff. I agree that there are a few models from them that I would like to try but the price tag is just ridiculous for what they want but the Terminus XR in S35VN is a great value for what you are getting right now. Carbon fiber, S35VN steel, and a sliding bar lock (Axis lock? Able lock? XR lock?) all for $85. Not too bad when you consider the prices of even the lowest end Benchmade axis locks.
 
c7m2p3 said:
Not all of their stuff. I agree that there are a few models from them that I would like to try but the price tag is just ridiculous for what they want but the Terminus XR in S35VN is a great value for what you are getting right now. Carbon fiber, S35VN steel, and a sliding bar lock (Axis lock? Able lock? XR lock?) all for $85. Not too bad when you consider the prices of even the lowest end Benchmade axis locks.
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That knife, I'd agree, wouldn't be a bad deal. I'm also looking at things like the Spartan Talos, which is a Taiwan-made folder in CTS-XHP for around there as well. Pretty good deal.
 
Quiet said:
That knife, I'd agree, wouldn't be a bad deal. I'm also looking at things like the Spartan Talos, which is a Taiwan-made folder in CTS-XHP for around there as well. Pretty good deal.
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Interesting I like the look of that as well. Seeing the price vary widely from dealer to dealer though. Some have it at $115 and looks like Knifeworks has it at $78. Is this supposed to be an exclusive for them?
 
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