Prices OMG Seriously?

[Evil D]

I tend to find that my pockets are deep enough when I really want something but even I have my limits. If $427.50 is just the cost of manufacturing a Rex 121 Sage 6 then I guess it is what it is, I really like the button compression lock but it's not enough to justify the price when I already have the Rex 121 Sage 5 and it was half the price. That's fine, I don't have to own them all.

I just bought the S90V Bodacious and I'm pretty sure it's the most I've ever spent on a single knife from Spyderco, and I only justified it because it has better steel and handle material that I really like, and because the Bodacious is my favorite model. Despite that, I'm not paying $300+ for any base model. For me (and I suspect also for many others) it's not about whether it's a fair price or not, it's just that at a certain price the options from other brands really start to come into play, and some of those options are very competitive and could result in lost sales for Spyderco.

There's also the topic of "flaws", like blade centering, blade play, uneven edge bevels and such, that are overlooked or even forgiven at lower prices but will likely not be tolerated at $400+.

To put it more bluntly, if I'm going to pay small Sebenza money ($425.00) for a Sage 6 Rex 121 ($427.50), then I have to expect small Sebenza fit and finish. IMO Spyderco already wins in ergonomics and blade steel, but if this is the direction that prices are heading then expectations are going to increase right along with the price.

[Brock O Lee]

I like my Spyderco's, but at Sebenza prices I don't want a Spyderco, I want a Sebenza.

[aicolainen]

These prices are a bit saddening.

I don't need Rex-121 in my life, I'm just curious about how it behaves.
As @apollo mentioned, whatever a knife costs in the US - EU/NO pricing will be significantly higher.
I'm sure these are expensive knives to get to market, so I'm also not complaining. I'm actually happy Spyderco are willing to make these knives for the enthusiast, for even they must realize these may not jump off the shelves. So I'm just a bit sad, because I've just realized where my curiosity stops and my grown up self has to step in and whisper in my ear that this out of bounds. Even for me.

Especially sad because, to me, bringing Rex-121 to the Chaparral platform makes a lot of sense.
That would be the one to get. But I don't see it happening unless I can score a good deal on (the almost non existent domestic) secondary market.

[BeggarSo]

My only question is why a PM2 REX-121 is $265, while the Sage 6 REX-121 is $427? That’s a large price difference and not sure why.

Probably the same reason several other exclusives have been at or below the price of the black G10/S30V base model... the dealer entered into a contract with Spyderco several years ago. There's a linked video in the 'Jeff Loffer' thread where he mentions that sprint run has been in development for five (5!) years. KnifeCenter and SMKW Shaman exclusives were also priced lower.

Ah now that helps make better sense of it. Thanks.

[BeggarSo]

Spyderco has to test and test and test and then train everyone on how to deal with Rex121 to turn the knives out.

Evidently not considering how many of the recent Cutlery Shoppe exclusives have severe lock stick and unfinished edges.

And there is that concern and my own personal dissapointment at getting one with an unfinished blade feels like prices up short quantities so no exchange when something goes wrong and a lack of Quality
y Control which goes to quality is down.

Not a great combo there.

[BeggarSo]

Lol "grown up self steps in" well said. I also just ordered a Bodacious S90V in CF.

Um I guess people should realize by my posts I do buy and I am not cheap.

So if someone who has the disposable income raises this topic it has merit for Spyderco to consider.

If shipping is raising prices well do it here. If you need to use China go for it.

[vivi]

I tend to find that my pockets are deep enough when I really want something but even I have my limits. If $427.50 is just the cost of manufacturing a Rex 121 Sage 6 then I guess it is what it is, I really like the button compression lock but it's not enough to justify the price when I already have the Rex 121 Sage 5 and it was half the price. That's fine, I don't have to own them all.

I just bought the S90V Bodacious and I'm pretty sure it's the most I've ever spent on a single knife from Spyderco, and I only justified it because it has better steel and handle material that I really like, and because the Bodacious is my favorite model. Despite that, I'm not paying $300+ for any base model. For me (and I suspect also for many others) it's not about whether it's a fair price or not, it's just that at a certain price the options from other brands really start to come into play, and some of those options are very competitive and could result in lost sales for Spyderco.

There's also the topic of "flaws", like blade centering, blade play, uneven edge bevels and such, that are overlooked or even forgiven at lower prices but will likely not be tolerated at $400+.

To put it more bluntly, if I'm going to pay small Sebenza money ($425.00) for a Sage 6 Rex 121 (427.50), then I have to expect small Sebenza fit and finish. IMO Spyderco already wins in ergonomics and blade steel, but if this is the direction that prices are heading then expectations are going to increase right along with the price.

For a long time I basicslly only bought Spyderco and Leatherman outside of kitchen knives.

Prices drove me to start considering other brands.

I used to have a hard limit of $200 per knife.

Couple years ago I realized that either had to change or I pretty much had to stop buying Spydercos.

Not a fun choice to have to make.

But I also realize times change and Spyderco had to raise prices to make a profit. In the end I'll take higher prices to the company going under or moving production to China.

Since then I've spent over $200 a few times. Military 2 Salt, 15V Military 2, and a Winkler.

The M2 Salt was flawless, but the 15V one, the most expensive folder I've ever bought,had the worst blade centering I've seen in any brand new Spyderco I've purchased.

Meanwhile the folder I've carried the most this year? $52 before shipping, not made in China, perfectly centered blade, zero blade play.

Luckily I've got all the Spydercos I've wanted to buy out of current production. I'll pay $200+ for a 5" Police and Manix XL Salt and I'm sure I'll be happy with them,but I'm getting more selective with my purchases as time goes on. No longer am I buying the same model in five steels,just one or two then moving on.

Still a big fan of the products, but when we're approaching $300 for one knife I think a lot harder about my purchases compared to when a brand new Police or Military was under $130 shipped.

[jdw]

Pretty much every year since MAP started I have considered whether Spyderco was really a value when comparing performance vs cost. Often the answer was still ‘yes’, but the costs keep going up while their quality control has declined. I have been a fan of Spyderco for three decades or so but I believe that they may have finally priced me out of the market.

[Paul Ardbeg]

November 2024, I bought a Military 2 sprint run in my favorite combo of S90v and CF. That was the first time my rational almost won from my (emotional) passion for Spyderco knives when considering buying the knife for €364 ($423). I did buy it in the end after some deliberation.

Logos vs. Pathos.

Now I have the same dilema with the Bodacious sprint run. Currently in Europe it's for sale at one retailer for €406 ($472). For me personally, this is where I draw the line. It's not what i'm willing to pay. It is likely other retailers will sell it for about €350, still a lot of money, but worth it to me for those special sprint runs. But again, it gets harder to pull the trigger on buying knives at that price point.

This is not criticism towards Spyderco. I appreciate all that Spyderco does for their customers, as they do so much more for their customers than the average (knife) company.

I understand the sprint runs are expensive models to make and if US made it adds even more to the mfg cost. I do think it's in Spyderco's best interest to understand where end line users draw the line in terms of pricing. As in the end we all want Spyderco to remain successful and prosper.

[8th_Note]

I'm happy to see them offering a USA made folder under $100 again in the charisma.

And Schempp model for the masses too. That one is definitely on my list

[WilliamMunny]

I agree with everyone, the prices on some of these models seem a bit crazy. I thought the Sage 5 REX-121 LW at $340 MSRP was a bit steep, but awesome steel and probably worth it. Then the Starmate at $450 MSRP seemed even higher. And now the Sage 6 REX-121 came out with a $570 MSRP.

These knives IMO are worth the money, I will never think Spyderco is ripping any one off. But I do feel that it is a trend that Spyderco is making higher end knives with higher end price tags to match.

On the flip side you can also see Spyderco's dedication to keep a cheaper line for people on a budget. Just look at the recently announced Buttonup and Mantra, two great looking knives that will sell for well under $100.

I think they are doing a great job at serving all budges, addressing all needs, but like others there are probably a half dozen knives I want to buy from Spyderco this year (Native 50th, PM2 LW 15v, PM2 REX-121,BBB colaberation, Starmate, etc.) but at their prices I can sadly only afford to pick up one, maybe two.

To repeat what Sal normally says on these price discussions is it's a formula, Spyderco needs a standard profit margin after cost, and they stick to it. They need to keep the lights on and good workers of Spyderco paid. If a knife is too expensive it just might not be something you should buy and I think Spyderco is okay with that, thats why they make more of a value line.

[JoviAl]

From a business standpoint we are having to be much more selective with what we buy and the projected service life we can get out of a tool. We increase our CapEx/OpEx by around 5% above inflation P.A. but even that is not keeping up with the cost increases in tools we are seeing from the US and some European manufacturers. It’s not just Spyderco, and thankfully the Spyderco knives we buy for our business (JM2’s, Stretch 2 LW Salts and Salt 2’s in the main) are such good quality and durable tools that to buy cheaper alternatives is still false economy, but it is still a bit of a shock sometimes when MSRP jumps up beyond what you had predicted. I’m seeing these sorts of price rises in all of my Stihl and Husqvarna equipment too, so it’s not limited to goods coming out of the USA.

[Naperville]

Spyderco has to test and test and test and then train everyone on how to deal with Rex121 to turn the knives out.

Evidently not considering how many of the recent Cutlery Shoppe exclusives have severe lock stick and unfinished edges.

So far all of my Spydercos have been fine, but I do see the complaints.

Last week or the week before I received a Spartan Harsey Clandestina fixed blade that I really wanted. It was over $375.

Took it out of the box when I was not wearing my sunglasses and was blinded by a thick burr that ran the entire length of the blade. Whoever sharpened it and boxed it, never look at the edge to see if it cut. I was not happy, but I have 3 to 4 different sharpening kits so I can fix it. It was disappointing but I had forgotten about it until I was reading this thread.

This forum is unique in that it focuses on Spyderco Knives. Every manufacturer should have a forum for feedback. Feedback is part of the process of quality control. I thank Spyderco for listening and being involved in the forum.

As a buyer of knives from many different bladesmiths and corporations, I think quality control needs to step up when the prices are so high, I'll not argue there.

[Wartstein]

This is not blindly "defending" Spyderco, but I personally honestly believe that the high prices on some models overall are justified and actually an inevitable consequence of aspects I actually appreciate when it comes to Spyderco and their approach:

...Offering that many exotic and/or expensive steel variants, learning how to perfectly treat them, training workers to do so...
- Investing a lot of time and resources in developing new models and refining existing ones, being fine with also absorbing market failures in the process
- Doing fair business and offering fair contracts to partners, as well as good conditions for employees, so having high ethical standards
- Trying to produce a lot of stuff completely in their home country (the US)
- and more

... is something I like to support when I can and that also just has to lead to higher prices than some competitors might offer.
I also believe that Spyderco is calculating reasonably while not abandoning the above aspects, and is not about ripping off customers.

That said:
Of course I also understand if one does not want to pay what that higher priced models cost, and am probably lucky in that I personally honestly find the very affordable FRN Sekis to be the very best Spydies (also FRN by far the best handle material) and don´t care at all if a model has a slightly off centered blade or a tiny amount of lock rock. Just who I am.

[Michal O]

Sage 5 in rex121 was $300, I hope that $427 for S6 is only because steel is very rare.

[Fastidiotus]

Isn't Rex 121 one of the steels that's gone extinct with the death of Crucible? The prices of the Sage 5 and Pm2 were set long before anyone knew how limited of a supply there was. There's always the chance that they sit on shelves and don't sell. Then they'll get clearanced in a year or two. If demand out paces supply though you gotta pay to play.

I will say, I have a Sage 6 s30v and it's fantastic. It's nice to see it getting variants so quickly even if I'm not the person that can afford a $300+ knife.

[Danke]

No steel is ever really gone.

[James Y]

I tend to find that my pockets are deep enough when I really want something but even I have my limits. If $427.50 is just the cost of manufacturing a Rex 121 Sage 6 then I guess it is what it is, I really like the button compression lock but it's not enough to justify the price when I already have the Rex 121 Sage 5 and it was half the price. That's fine, I don't have to own them all.

I just bought the S90V Bodacious and I'm pretty sure it's the most I've ever spent on a single knife from Spyderco, and I only justified it because it has better steel and handle material that I really like, and because the Bodacious is my favorite model. Despite that, I'm not paying $300+ for any base model. For me (and I suspect also for many others) it's not about whether it's a fair price or not, it's just that at a certain price the options from other brands really start to come into play, and some of those options are very competitive and could result in lost sales for Spyderco.

There's also the topic of "flaws", like blade centering, blade play, uneven edge bevels and such, that are overlooked or even forgiven at lower prices but will likely not be tolerated at $400+.

To put it more bluntly, if I'm going to pay small Sebenza money ($425.00) for a Sage 6 Rex 121 ($427.50), then I have to expect small Sebenza fit and finish. IMO Spyderco already wins in ergonomics and blade steel, but if this is the direction that prices are heading then expectations are going to increase right along with the price.

100%.

It's unfortunate, really, that prices on virtually everything are required to increase every year. It's not too far off when a base model Military 2 (just for one example) will cost $1,000. The QC will definitely have to increase, along with the skyrocketing prices.

Personally, I'm not too affected, because I haven't bought a knife in several years. I could probably never buy another knife in my life and be perfectly happy. And although I really want a Bodacious, especially if a Salt version comes out, I could live without one. For me, it has less to do with price than simply having reached a personal limit of how many more knives I feel that I "really need to have."

Jim

[apollo]

This is not blindly "defending" Spyderco, but I personally honestly believe that the high prices on some models overall are justified and actually an inevitable consequence of aspects I actually appreciate when it comes to Spyderco and their approach:

...Offering that many exotic and/or expensive steel variants, learning how to perfectly treat them, training workers to do so...
- Investing a lot of time and resources in developing new models and refining existing ones, being fine with also absorbing market failures in the process
- Doing fair business and offering fair contracts to partners, as well as good conditions for employees, so having high ethical standards
- Trying to produce a lot of stuff completely in their home country (the US)
- and more

... is something I like to support when I can and that also just has to lead to higher prices than some competitors might offer.
I also believe that Spyderco is calculating reasonably while not abandoning the above aspects, and is not about ripping off customers.

That said:
Of course I also understand if one does not want to pay what that higher priced models cost, and am probably lucky in that I personally honestly find the very affordable FRN Sekis to be the very best Spydies (also FRN by far the best handle material) and don´t care at all if a model has a slightly off centered blade or a tiny amount of lock rock. Just who I am.

I agree with what you mention there for the most part.

Only i do need to say Spyderco has become in my eyes a bit unbalanced over the years as they clearly try to up there quality but struggle to keep the value for money in check everytime they bring out new more premium models. I just kinda feel sad knowing if Spyderco would try and make the Nirvana again for example it would be a 1000$ plus knife while eventough it is stupidly beautiful and well made i would not say its on par with a Sebenza for example (except for its looks that is.) And my brother still buys those for 600-750$.

So if they do not try to balance out in a couple of years any higher end Spyderco with a more premium steel or handle material will cost equally or more then a Sebenza. And i find that a very harmfull tought for the future of Spyderco.

[infinkc]

Not looking forward to seeing the tag on the 50th anniversary knife, I better save up now.