Prices OMG Seriously?

[Manixguy@1994]

I guess I will stay in my own lane , congratulations Spyderco for 50 years on innovation and Sal thank you for your kindness years ago . MG2

[sovereign]

SAL, l guess to put a fine point on it the question is why is the Sage 6 Button Compression Lock in orange G-10 in REX-121 so drasticaly more expensive than the Sage 5 in the Same steel?

It isn't adding up to me. It is very hard for me to say that approaching Chrise Reeve Prices is making much sense with the Sage 6 I could use a few other overpriced knife companies for comparison but I dont buy from them.

To be clear for what you get from Chris Reeve they are overpriced. And as I covered in the Drunken conversation many Spydercos as I shared equal or exceed them.

As I posted above the new price for the Sage 5 REX 121 is $412.50:

https://knifeworks.com/spyderco-sage-5 ... query=sage


The FRN version is increasing to $348.75:

https://knifeworks.com/spyderco-sage-5 ... query=Sage

[sal]

Hi BeggarSo,

We have been working with our Taichung maker for about 25 years. They do an excellent job, among the best in the world. They charge what they think is a fair price. We pay their price. Add in shipping, duties, tariffs, packaging, margins, etc. They know that if the price is too high, the model won't sell and there won't be any re-orders. If the model doesn't sell, which could be design, price, or even the market is too small to support the inventory, it's discontinued.

sal

[DansGearAddiction]

I'm personally buying fewer new knives, so I don't mind paying a little bit extra (everyones wallets are lighter right now, but also the costs of doing business are higher due to the current economic situation), but it also means that I'm being very choosy with what I do buy, in particular the companies and factories that I support -- I'm happy to support both Spyderco and the Taichung factory.

I pre-ordered the Chaparral in REX121 despite the price because the Chaparral is my favorite knife of all time, and this appears to be a very special release given how little REX121 is apparently in inventory.

[BeggarSo]

Hi BeggarSo,

We have been working with our Taichung maker for about 25 years. They do an excellent job, among the best in the world. They charge what they think is a fair price. We pay their price. Add in shipping, duties, tariffs, packaging, margins, etc. They know that if the price is too high, the model won't sell and there won't be any re-orders. If the model doesn't sell, which could be design, price, or even the market is too small to support the inventory, it's discontinued.

sal

So the answer is that the cost went up alot to cause retail to be so high.

Wow I cant argue with that, whatever the heck is going on with trade etc this is very drastic.. I fail to see it as any form of improvement. If anything things are getting worse not better.

As for using China I have no heartburn with that this whole tarrif B.S. is just making things worse not better.

Well things are how they are because they are.

Sadly no Sage 6 for me. Now let me see where I can find that Drunken

[Brock O Lee]

With all this CRK talk in here, I feel I can add a bit from my own personal perspective. I was DIEHARD Spyderco for my first few years around here and probably cycled through close to 100 knives throughout that time. Really found what I liked and didn't like. Then it got to the point where I was ready to try something else. I had all these different knives, different sizes, steels, colored scales, lock types. Many of them started becoming a bit repetitive models but with different steels/scales through various exclusive and sprint runs, while the prices were also slowly creeping up.

At that point, thanks to a handful of the enablers around here I was ready to give something else a try. Something different than Spyderco and a bit more high end vs all the G10 I had gotten so used to and already had around 30 knives. So CRK was it. It wasn't about a status symbol or pocket jewelry, I was just ready to take what felt like another step in the journey. I've had 6 different CRK's and now currently only have 2. Yes, they absolutely are fantastic knives that you need to use and carry to really appreciate. They're not "fun" knives, but are admirable in their own way. I will say I don't think they cut as well as most Spyderco's I have, even after reprofiling, but they are certainly capable of getting work done and I used all of them during my warehouse days.

With the prices of knives creeping into similar price ranges, it comes down to what you're looking for and prefer. You want fun and exotic steels with various lock types and/or materials you go with Spyderco. You want titanium tanks with tight tolerances, you go CRK. As Sal himself likes to say about steels, I believe works with quality knife brands..."all good, just different"

Rick you said it well. This has also been my experience.

I will add that Sebenza comparisons become relevant when prices are similar, even though those comparisons are apples vs oranges. Sage vs Sebenza, they are completely different beasts with different pros and cons.

The opinion of someone who has not owned and used and sharpened both over an extended period of time does not carry much weight in my view.

[olditguy]

I'm carrying my Swayback today. IMO every bit as nice as my Sebenza, for a lot less cash!

[BeggarSo]

Well I have owned and sharpened both still have my Sage 5 Knives for years now and I think maybe a Sage 3 have to look, as for Chris Reeves different steels pretty much the same models. I like Magnacut so the S35 and S45Vn stuff got sold recently roughly 20 years with both brands and I agree completely different knives both good but the Sage 6 no matter how much I like that model has a distorted price now, sorry the model just doesn't command that price point with me, cant see it.

Getting into Chris Reeve Prices for a Sage 6 is a hard stop for me.

I get it things are costing more to produce but my paycheck isn't going up that fast, and the Sage 6 in S90V with button compression lock carbon fiber handles at the $300.00 I paid for it is a fair price. So is the G10 Sage 5 in Rex-121 I have incoming for $245.00

This is where I am willing to spend for a Sage 6.

I am sorry things are costing so much to produce I really am because now my grown up self has to say No, this is not to do. I just cant go there on this model and feel alright with it.

The Sage 6 button compression lock in S30V got me to buy the S90V and I spent $245.00 for the Sage 5 to experience it in REX-121. So without looking with tax I am invested in the model for 3 knives at around 800.00 and more. I feel good about this.

I would never feel good about paying $427.50 at Blade H.Q. For a Sage 6 REX-121

All this does is add a button, that's it.

It would be nice to wake up to.orrow and see the price where it should be I would still buy at $300.00 even though there are no Carbon Fiber Scales I think concidering it is in G-10 A $50.00 bump is a fair price.

But ya know what they say wish in one hand crap in the other see which gets full first.

[BeggarSo]

I'm carrying my Swayback today. IMO every bit as nice as my Sebenza, for a lot less cash!

I agree.

[ladybug93]

We have been working with our Taichung maker for about 25 years. They do an excellent job, among the best in the world.
sal

absolutely no arguments with this point. my taichung spydercos are all great.

[sal]

Hey BeggarSo,

We cannot afford to buy everything we like. I get a decent salary, but I don't think I could afford to buy every model at retail. I get them to test. Part of my job.

We don't like the high prices either. I think we'll need another year or two to get things balanced better. There is a lot going on globally right now. I hope we can sail through the storm. I think that as humans, we could do better.

sal
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

"Want a better world? be a better person".


sal

[LadybugMan]

I simply love how everyone extols the virtues of CRKs, but no one mentions the standard lock-rock that is inherent to any Sebenza with the ceramic ball detent. Spyderco gets critiqued for the lock-rock issue, but on CRKs it's OK - double standards if ever there was one. And when it comes to actual cutting performance, there is simply no comparison. My K390 Delica or any other FFG Seki Spyderco for that matter will outperform any CRK knife when it comes to using the knives for what they were designed for - as cutting tools.

Please note I'm not knocking CRK - I understand that excellent marketing at the heyday of the three holy grails (CRK, Strider and Hinderer) has created a huge amount of aspirational value in these three brands, and in particular for CRK - but the whole truth has to be told. CRK no longer makes the "Best" （whatever that is） knives, just as Rolls Royce no longer makes the world's best car. I wonder how many Spyderco fans would be happy to have been offered a model range of only 9 variants in essentially one blade steel.

Those who bemoan the price of the Sage 6 in REX121 - maybe a more judicious approach when buying knives would have served you well. I would be happy to pay that price if I had really wanted it - lucky for me, I don't.

However, I will be very happy to pay twice that for an Ayoob; in ordinary, S30V.

[BeggarSo]

Thanks Sal I agree with you just wanted to share my reaction and reasons why as I explored them.

Hope it is more valuable to Spyderco than just a gripe session.

I intend to remain a Spyderco enthusiast and I do thank you and all the people at Spyderco for this great hobby.

You've got the best job! but It must be difficult to catch and release.

[Brock O Lee]

Living in an inflationary cycle is not fun, for retailers and consumers alike. So many contributing factors are driving prices up.

Over Black Fri 2025 I compared the deals Amazon offered on good quality hand tools, with the prices I paid for the same items during Black Fri 2024. Everything was significantly more expensive in 2025, some items even double the price "at discount".

Speaking of CRK earlier, they had their last price increase in Sep 2022. That is more than 3 years ago. I would not be surprised if they adjust soon, given the current market conditions. Speculation on my part, not facts.

There are still good value Spydercos around.

[BeggarSo]

I have more Spydercos in my future undoubtedly but maybe only 1 more Chris Reeve. Missing the glass blasted Sebenza Micarta inlay in Magnacut, pretty hard to do it though when the S45VN I reprofiled works so well, yeah would rather put the $650.00 into some Spydercos.

[M_J87]

I have a lot of respect for Spyderco. I trust that they're just responding to the market rather than trying to take advantage of us. It's an inflationary period and the steel is 1 of 1 exotic and likely won't get reproduced. I certainly wouldn't want quality to suffer and I appreciate the models made in USA or Japan, any knife I've ever purchased has been worth every penny. Would I like Rex 121 for cheaper? Yes. Will I make do with VG-10? Yes.

[shunsui]

Personally I'm happy for the long suffering silver stackers blowing past the gold snobs.

[sal]

Sal with prices of spydies going up each year could you find it in your possibilities to cqi your hardware without raising prices for it? Because i feel really bad i need to say this your screws are the weakest spot in any spydie and in comparison off all the brands i ever took apart spydies are the only one i am scared to put a screwdriver in because if someone on your factory floor even puts a micro drop of loctide to much on they are like butter its kinda depressing. So i do not find them worthy of the quality you are trying to make let alone for the current prices inflation has given.

Hi Apollo,

This is next on Eric's list. Thanx for the suggestion.

sal

[Stuart Ackerman]

Life goes on...
Somehow we cope...

[apollo]

Sal with prices of spydies going up each year could you find it in your possibilities to cqi your hardware without raising prices for it? Because i feel really bad i need to say this your screws are the weakest spot in any spydie and in comparison off all the brands i ever took apart spydies are the only one i am scared to put a screwdriver in because if someone on your factory floor even puts a micro drop of loctide to much on they are like butter its kinda depressing. So i do not find them worthy of the quality you are trying to make let alone for the current prices inflation has given.

Hi Apollo,

This is next on Eric's list. Thanx for the suggestion.

sal

That is perhaps the best news mentioned on this forum for me personally in the last couple of years thank you so much Sal for looking in to this really it would make allot of difference for many people.