Prices OMG Seriously?

[bearfacedkiller]

It is what it is. The price of most things has gotten crazy. I still bought a handful last year and I’ll likely buy a couple this year. I dont think most of them are a good value anymore but this is a hobby where I buy luxury items with my expendable funds.

[TkoK83Spy]

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

Hopefully it doesn't have Rex121!!! With it being a model that MOST people will not be using for regular use, I hope they go a cheaper route on the steel to keep the overall price down a bit.

[TkoK83Spy]

Never did I ever think I'd be gravitating to LW models, I actually used to put them down during my heavy use days...but these days and with these prices, need to be smarter and realistic about spending on WANTS vs NEEDS. I'm personally glad I've already got an arsenal of knives and it's very easy to talk myself out of any new purchases unless it's something that really strikes me. I feel for new folks getting into the hobby these days, vs just a few years ago.

[ChrisinHove]

I accept Sal’s many comments over time that the prices are cost, plus fair margin.

Material & labour inflation, and tariffs, will have increased costs.

To paraphrase a famous remark - you *can* have domestic manufacturing, high quality, and low prices - but choose 2.

[Wowbagger]

EDIT TO CHANGE : "black handle " to Cobalt Blue handle

$427.50 for Burnt Orange-G10 uh yeah no, just no I told myself, as in buying permissions revoked.

errrr
yep .
I had the same experience . Though I don't need to find my knife after I just dropped it in the bush , or the stream or the snow .
Orange has always been a turn off for me . Put my 121 in a Cobalt Blue handle . Talk about exspensive ; buy a doner knife just for the handle. Makes me happy when I look at it ; rather than going "Yuuuuck" every time I look at it.

In the same breath I got in there last year and bought everything I could want at resonable prices .

And before I take another breath : seems like they like to start up in the stratousphere before taking the Halo jump back down to earth . . . just saying .

Breath taken
then I think about how I bought my Drunken up near $600 and now they are mid to high $400s .
Think I will go to my fainting couch now .

[BeggarSo]

$427.50 for Burnt Orange-G10 uh yeah no, just no I told myself, as in buying permissions revoked.

errrr
yep .
I had the same experience . Though I don't need to find my knife after I just dropped it in the bush , or the stream or the snow .
Orange has always been a turn off for me . Put my 121 in a black handle . Talk about exspensive ; buy a doner knife just for the handle. Makes me happy when I look at it ; rather than going "Yuuuuck" every time I look at it.

In the same breath I got in there last year and bought everything I could want at resonable prices .

And before I take another breath : seems like they like to start up in the stratousphere before taking the Halo jump back down to earth . . . just saying .

Breath taken
then I think about how I bought my Drunken up near $600 and now they are mid to high $400s .
Think I will go to my fainting couch now .

Lol, I was having a conversation about this today and my friend without my prompting said ya know I think Spyderco is on a bad track for the longest time they were not as high priced as the Chris Reeves or the Microtechs and the Benchmade stuff, but now they are getting too high in price and are going to loose alot of business.

I replied it is why I only own 4 Chris Reeve knives and over 70 Spydercos, it used to be a time when the spirit of Spyderco was afordable adventure with rare new steels, some outrageous designs and a wallet smacker here and there but now, it seems they are pushing light weight stuff to meet a price point but that may not be what people want, I know I dont.

So the only thing that can be done is not buying at such high prices or buy very few, not sure how there buisness model works but ya gotta sell allot of knives to keep the lights on and if the prices go too high well people will have no choice but to buy far less.

Remember last week when Mike lost his knife and he was talking about how he was looking for a replacement and how high Spyderco prices were and said that's nuts.

He was pretty shocked when I gave him that Endura because I felt so bad for him.

Mike is a Field Crew Party Chief for our Land Surveying division he works outdoors in the worst imaginable hot swampy Florida woods conditions you can imagine, a regular Joe not a knife nut.

Spyderco is loosing those purchases. The purchases of the working man who really needs a knife.

Me I'm an office bum I quit labor nearly 30 years ago for a better paycheck, so my actual knife needs are very few, my S90V Sage would be all I ever need, but I am not the majority.

[zhyla]

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

Wow, this really surprised me. I've been saying a long time there needs to be more budget level knives and a $100 Spyderco that actually looks a little unique is a huge win.

Regarding high prices, most are far more than this kind of stuff is worth to me. But we don't really need to argue about it, Spyderco will make cheaper stuff if people stop buying the expensive stuff. It's just business.

[Fine Swine]

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.

That's the beginning and end of it for me. At $400+, I want CRK equivalent quality.

[Red Leader]

I figure we'd see a thread like this after some of the prices we've been seeing on knives like the recent Sages and Chaparrals (carbon one included). I'm grateful to Spyderco for considering all budgets and having offerings at all different pricepoints.

When I first looked through the release, I saw the Rex-121 Sage 6 and got really excited so I snapped a picture of it and sent it to my wife to show my son (he's 14) because the Sage 6 is one of his favorite models. At that pricepoint though, of course we won't be able to get it, but it was fun to see that they were releasing it. And, I understand that we don't always get what we want or like. That is okay too. I think most people are thinking about is the value proposition. At $400+, you are edging up to and into Chris Reeve, Hinderer, and US-made Demko territory. If anything, Spyderco has an uphill battle, as people already expect Chris Reeve knives to be in that higher tier price bracket, same with a lot of other small batch US makers...but people expect Spydercos to be cheaper (and that is also considering that the $400+ knives make up a small minority of their offerings). I think what I'm hearing people say is true to a large degree, mainly if you are in Chris Reeve territory, most people would rather have the CRK. And...at $400, people are going to start becoming a *LOT* more picky about the knives. So, smart play on Spyderco for having their most expensive offerings almost entirely come from Taichung, as they really have their QC dialed in comparatively. That is sure to generate less complaints.

I think it is okay for Spyderco to want to play at this upper price tier, but they also have to be competitive. As always, the market will bear this out. If the $427 Rex-121 Sage 6s end up sitting around because nobody buys them, then the price will probably come down, as it has done with other offerings they try to move. Likewise, if it sells out like crazy, then it still continues to allow Spyderco to be profitable and stay in business and continue making other knives that I would be willing to purchase. No harm, no foul. With that said, I don't believe that the recent knives like the Balance, Starmate, fat Carbon Chaparral, or the new Rex-121 offerings are worth it, IMO. At those prices I'd rather have something else. But others may disagree and obviously some have, as they have purchased some of these. It's great to have variety.

The biggest hindrance for me playing in that price range is simply that I use my knives and I don't like the idea of having that much $$$ tied up in my pocket to risk loss or damage with...it is the mental game. It is simply too much for me to consider carrying a $300+ knife because what happens if I lose it on the job, or I drop it from the ladder and it cracks in half on concrete? That is why I think I've gained a little bit more appreciation for the lightweights, sort of like what @TkoK83Spy was talking about - I can still get a high performance blade, but it is in a lighter, less-expensive package that can get beat up a little bit because I'm not worrying about snail trails on titanium.

If 'upper echelon' was the only arena Spyderco was shifting to, then this would be a very different conversation. That PM2 15V LW is totally my jam, and I'm looking at that as an ideal work knife, and I'm so glad that at the same time we are seeing some of their most expensive offerings, we are also seeing some great, lower cost American knives. And, let's not forget that there are MAP holidays and sometimes specials, closeouts, and deals like Seconds Sale online sales.

I will agree that the closer we get to 'boomstick' territory, the more it is going to push me and others out of the market. We are not there...yet. We are seeing signs, and let's all hope Spyderco is wise enough balance this out right.

Spyderco is loosing those purchases. The purchases of the working man who really needs a knife.

I'll agree and disagree...with the current trajectory, yes. But as a working man myself, I've found lots of great knives that offer tremendous performance for lower $$ outlay...





The deals will be out there. And...if you can make it, the Seconds Sale is an awesome experience and a great chance to really stretch your dollars to get some incredible deals. I do really feel for our European friends, however, who not only see these high prices, but have to pay even more still when it is all said and done. Maybe time for a Euro-SFO?

[Wowbagger]

I AM NOT SAYING TO BUY THIS KNIFE , what I am saying is prices (both ways ) OMG.
Many years ago , maybe a decade now . I had a knife design in my imagination ; mostly this handle / ignore the blade .
Then in the last couple months it popped up and I looked at the price bracing myself . I won't say but basically I felt that the "other country" it came from was paaaaying me to carry it .

Here it is . I love this handle ! Just what I wanted . Of course it had to be Ti (in my imagined desgn ) and it is Ti .
I have used it enough to dull the blade . It's decent D2 . . . . what ever .

What I am trying to say is that if we put a Super Steel blade in this knife ; REX 121 ? . . . heck I would settle for M4 . . . and they charged me an aditional $120 for JUST THE BLADE ALONE then added the price of this entire knife to that I would still be WELL UNDER $200 .

OK still not fair to the Anerican knife manufacturer ?
so we make that blade ALONE add $220 . . . just for the blade .

I do know that if this was at "regular" REX 121 prices this would easily be a $600 plus knife .

I don't know .
My no name does have a Steel pocket clip .
A Spyderco would have a Ti clip .

[Red Leader]

But that is a (nearly) no-name Chinese knife, right? I think that is totally different than Taichung-made + ultra high end steel. I think the closest equivalent was the M4 Tenacious, and it was a lot lower in cost. I (probably along with others) am wondering why the button adds almost $130 to the cost of the knife (either from the Rex-121 Sage 5, or from the premium S90V Sage 6), but we just don't know until someone tells us.

[Wowbagger]

their quality control has declined

I have to speak up there . The last many knives I have bought HAVE ALL been seriously good !
Heck I bought one of the very first Sirens years ago back when there was a lot of discussion about lock rock and it was / is perfect. ( I know one has to press down very hard on a cutting board to feel this )
I have bought three more since then , LC200N and the newer S90V version .
All perfect ; no lock rock , super good edges , centered , pivot great from the factory . . . you name it .
My Slym is a poem to hold and use . All good .
Tenacious M4 ? ALL three just great .
Why all the duplicates ? I tend to do some blade swapping and modding .
Still , what I started with was extremely satisfying and I am one picky b*st*rd

[Fine Swine]

The biggest hindrance for me playing in that price range is simply that I use my knives and I don't like the idea of having that much $$$ tied up in my pocket to risk loss or damage with...it is the mental game. It is simply too much for me to consider carrying a $300+ knife because what happens if I lose it on the job, or I drop it from the ladder and it cracks in half on concrete?

That's a good point. I've given this a bit more thought and realized more of what my, personal, issue is with that Sage 6 in particular at the $400+ price point. It's all about the super-steel and, presumably, performance. For me, though, when I'm spending that much money on a knife, it's going to be pocket jewelry, not a heavy user. That usually ends up being a small Sebenza or Inkosi. I also have a Techno 2 that serves the purpose. Burnt orange G10, no matter the steel, doesn't cut it.

[Red Leader]

The biggest hindrance for me playing in that price range is simply that I use my knives and I don't like the idea of having that much $$$ tied up in my pocket to risk loss or damage with...it is the mental game. It is simply too much for me to consider carrying a $300+ knife because what happens if I lose it on the job, or I drop it from the ladder and it cracks in half on concrete?

That's a good point. I've given this a bit more thought and realized more of what my, personal, issue is with that Sage 6 in particular at the $400+ price point. It's all about the super-steel and, presumably, performance. For me, though, when I'm spending that much money on a knife, it's going to be pocket jewelry, not a heavy user. That usually ends up being a small Sebenza or Inkosi. I also have a Techno 2 that serves the purpose. Burnt orange G10, no matter the steel, doesn't cut it.

It's interesting you mention the super steel aspect. I think there is a bit of a psychological draw to 'the best'. No matter what it is, most people want it. Human nature. The Rex Sage has all 3 big hitters on it - it is in a steel that has a reputation for being 'the best' steel (for pure wear resistance), that steel is rare (common is boring and rare is special), and it is going away, so... (FOMO). So I think even with these high prices, it is going to sell. People want what is rare and hard to get, what they cannot get any more, and of course the best. Some may even consider the pricing to be a boon, as the idea of buying something expensive at a status symbol.

I feel the draw a bit, especially with the PM2 Exclusives, but I do have a Rex-121 Sage 5, and it is a good knife, but I don't carry it very much because a super wear resistant-but-brittle steel is a bit of an imbalance for my knife use habits. K390/Magnacut is closer to balanced for me.

[BeggarSo]

As someone who ownes uses and loves the Sage 6 in S30V and S90V both with button compression locks which I love and Also ownes a modified clip point PM2 (most call a Drop Point) And Wharncliffe PM2 in REX-121, and has purchased and has the Sage 5 in REX -121 INCOMING FOR $245.00 New.

I believe I am in a position to say adding a button does not justify that high of a price.

I mean for goodness sake atleast give me full Carbon Fiber Scales like on the S90V so I can pretend it is worth it.

[sal]

Interesting thread.

On pricing, one can lower the quality, or one can lower the material cost, or one can make knives in China. You might also suggest other ways to lower prices. What would be your preference for Spyderco to make less expensive knives?

I keep seeing comparisons to Chris Reeve's knives; What do they charge for their REX-121 models?

sal

[vivi]

I'd rather pay $200 for a US made knife than $60 for a chinese knife made from the same materials personally.

[sal]

Thanx Vivi for the comment. Though at 6/1 dollar to Yuan, the 200 US $ knife would be more like a $35 Chinese knife. So they can charge much less and make much more profit. A challenging thing for the West.

sal

[Zbec27]

The way I see it Spyderco is playing a very different game compared to some of these other makers.

To constantly be experimenting with new materials and doing it at scale is a hard game to play and it has a cost that you won't see in a side by side comparison of one knife vs another.

I'm happy to pay the Spyderco tax if it moves the needle forward.

[sal]

Thanx Zbec,

appreciate your understanding.

As far as high costs;

I would suggest to broaden the values you are using to compare prices on knives. You are comparing materials. If you reduce a human down to their chemistry, they aren't much. There is much more to a knife and the company than a piece of titanium riveted to a piece of steel, with a clip.

Very few comments on; design, safety, ergonomics, customer service, variety, Research and development and on and on...

Each company does it's best to survive. We are always trying to create enjoyable, safe, good quality knives for our customers. If a knife stops selling, for whatever reason, we make a change. If it's cost, we analyze the paths available? Sometimes we change something to alter the cost. Sometimes we just discontinue the model.

We don't just "guess" what to charge. "We feel that to charge the customer as much as the market will bear, is to bite the hand that feeds you". We try to pay our staff as much as we can. Good people are hard to find and need to be secure and appreciated to be able to do good work..

We're a privately owned family business. We try our best to take care of our customers, our staff, our vendors & suppliers and our community.

sal