Are lower Collecter Numbers considered more collectible?

[Hollyfeld]

I occasionally see some pretty low Collecter Numbers on different Spydies that are for sale and it got me thinking...is there something inherently more collectible about the very low numbers? Are there people who seek out low production numbers? Or is it just basically just a cool bonus to get a hold of a 001 or another early number? Thanks.

[Firefighter880]

Actually, people, well collectors or others who want to keep the knives and not really use the knives, will generally pay more for lower numbered models. They are harder to get, and when they do come available, they are usually more expensive. I'm not sure by how much... I think it usually depends on the number and model, but I know it does make a difference.

All of my Spyders are users, so I really don't care to pay more to have a collectors, or numbered, model. I'm sure there are others here who can probably explain it better than me.

:spyder:

[spyderking]

From what I've heard.. the numbers are for those in the collectors club. I could be wrong, but that's what I've come to understand. A lower number is great if you're going to collect. However, If I had a choice of a CF Walker #150 @ $600 and a CF Walker #1500 @ $300 I would go with that latter. At that point.. you're paying $300 for numbers on a blade. A knife is a knife.. the numbers are just that, numbers! I could probably take a knife somewhere and have them put a number on it for me.. so really, only numbers to me. Remember, that's just my opinion. :D

Remember, if you're collecting.. it's all how you look at it. I'd just be happy enough to have a CF Walker or a CX06 Experimental.. numbers, no numbers, doesn't matter to me. Numbers are the least of my worries.. they don't hurt, but when paying extra for the number, try to avoid it. It all depends on the knife though. Some things I'd definitely be willing to pay more for.. others, not so much.

[Hollyfeld]

Thanks for the responses. I am not a collector...I like to use the knives I have. But I have thought about buying a couple of very low numbered knives that I've seen on occasion as potential investments. Like you said, a number is just a number, but when it comes to a low :spyder: number I wondered if it was something some people would value.

[spyderking]

:spyder:

Thanks for the responses. I am not a collector...I like to use the knives I have. But I have thought about buying a couple of very low numbered knives that I've seen on occasion as potential investments. Like you said, a number is just a number, but when it comes to a low :spyder: number I wondered if it was something some people would value.

Yeah.. of course, I think people do value the low number. I just think it's unfortunate that people can charge so much more because of a number on the blade. If I'm in the market, sure.. but most of the time I'm not, so a :spyder: without a number is perfect for me.. Just as long as it's what I'm looking for. I think it comes down to what you want. For me.. If I want it, and I want it bad enough.. then I'm willing to pay a little more than I should. I may get over-charged.. but with Spyderco, you never know when you'll have another chance. I've let a few knives get away, and until I get those knives, I won't let up.

[zenheretic]

There are two different numbers you may run across. Older knives, seemingly higher end pieces, would often have a serial number. If you see a Spyderco with a number over 200, it is for sure a serial numbered piece. If you see a number below 200 (since there are only 200 collector numbers) and if you don't know much about that particular knife, it could be either a collector number or a serial number. That would only occur on older knives, as Spyderco quit doing serial numbers some time ago.

Extra value based on a number on a blade is of course up to the buyer, some may be more willing to pay more for a double digit number vs. a triple digit number (01-99 vs 100-200). I sometimes see eBay sellers trying to hype a lower collector number to squeeze out some more dollars from the seller. The collector numbers are all engraved from the same batch of first run knives. 01 is the same as 200. In fact I would submit it is entirely possible, that a higher number can be engraved before a lower number. I know for a fact, that I had one CC# that was engraved and shipped to me months before the Deacon or Carlos received their CC version, and my CC# is much higher than theirs.

If someone wants to shell out extra money because the blade has 22 on it instead 122, well then what can I say about a fool and his money? Unless you can buy a whole numbered collection, having a random number engraved usually detracts from the knife. If you don't understand that concept consider the collab. piece with Kershaw. Many many detractors hate all the scrawl on the blade. Isn't a number engraved on the blade extra scrawl? If you have a collection and half your blades are naked and the other half have random numbers 1-200, with no rhyme or reason, I'd say your collection isn't all that it could be...even if it is impressive. :)

I have a triple digit number, for some reason, I've become attached to it. I had chances to move down to a lower number...but why bother? Then half my knives with numbers wouldn't match. Perhaps time will prove me wrong, but there certainly is no higher value for a lower CC numbered knife. I would think for many a number on the blade will actually DETRACT from the value. Take a look at Wouter's turquoise Kopa pics. The Deacon mentioned it was the first non CC# Turq. Kopa he had seen and it looked fantastic. I didn't say it, but I feel the same way.

Food for Thought.

[J Smith]

From what I have seen over the years numbered knives do not bring as much as non numbered.

[JspyEDC]

As far as collector club knives....numbered 001 - 200, I don't really think a lower number would represent any more value. When I joined, I had my pick of available numbers, and there were a few available in the low hundreds, but I chose #162 because it is the year of my wife's birth. (1962, not 162 AD!)

I do not know this for sure, but I believe the CC knives are all engraved in Golden, and as we all saw, the far east got their ZDP BRG Delica's before the US did. (I still do not have a CC BRG Delica!) I highly doubt the "First 200" knives off the line in Seki were sent to the US for the CC members. That being said, the collectors club means this to me.... that I simply will receive every new model and variation of all models Spyderco will manufacture, and that it will have my number on it. It's all I could hope for really, and I might add, I am VERY pleased thus far.

If you want 'em all, and can financially make the investment, it's the only way to go.

[clovisc]

a lower number will sometimes fetch a higher price if there is a specific collector who collects pieces with that specific number...

for example, a non-forumite friend of mine collects #60 (i think). if he has the choice between buying an unnumbered knife and a knife numbered #60 or even #160, he may be willing to pay more to get a blade with the number he prefers on it... :D

[zenheretic]

I do not know this for sure, but I believe the CC knives are all engraved in Golden, and as we all saw, the far east got their ZDP BRG Delica's before the US did. (I still do not have a CC BRG Delica!) I highly doubt the "First 200" knives off the line in Seki were sent to the US for the CC members. That being said, the collectors club means this to me.... that I simply will receive every new model and variation of all models Spyderco will manufacture, and that it will have my number on it. It's all I could hope for really, and I might add, I am VERY pleased thus far.

If you want 'em all, and can financially make the investment, it's the only way to go.

Yeah they are engraved in Golden...no hard and fast rules regarding just about anything, but in general the CC knives are the first batch. The first batch is larger than 200 usually, so it is easy for the non CC#s to escape for sale before the CC#s...especially if the engraver is the only dude able to run the corporate snow plow. :D

I view the CC the same way you do.

[zenheretic]

a lower number will sometimes fetch a higher price if there is a specific collector who collects pieces with that specific number...

for example, a non-forumite friend of mine collects #60 (i think). if he has the choice between buying an unnumbered knife and a knife numbered #60 or even #160, he may be willing to pay more to get a blade with the number he prefers on it... :D

That is true, which just goes to show there are no hard rules in regards to little numbers on the blade...sometimes it won't matter, sometimes it will lower the value, sometimes it will raise it. :)

[edrose]

I think we are trying to rationally approach something wich belongs to the irrational. Collector's item's values or prices what collectors would pay for them can't be defined on a rational way. Of course #003 and #197 are stamped with only a few seconds of difference (rational), and of course the #003 will have a higher ideal value (irrational). There are users, there are collectors (maybe I'm both? ) , there are practical values and ideal values, all that's normal. But it is very difficult to give crossover explanations. I think it's easier (and enough too) to accept... :)

[The Deacon]

[quote="edrose"]I think we are trying to rationally approach something wich belongs to the irrational. Collector's item's values or prices what collectors would pay for them can't be defined on a rational way. Of course #003 and #197 are stamped with only a few seconds of difference (rational), and of course the #003 will have a higher ideal value (irrational). There are users, there are collectors (maybe I'm both? ]Think you nailed it in your first sentence Ed, although I don't fully agree that a given single digit number will always fetch more that a two or a three digit one. I do think there are some people to whom a particular number might be worth more, some who will pay more for the lowest number they can get, and others for whom any number on a knife other than a limited edition piece where all are numbered would either be of no interest or not worth as much as one without a number.

On a user, a collector number can serve a useful purpose as it provides a unique identifier in case the knife is lost or stolen. It can also be useful if your workplace demands some way of identifying a knife as belonging to you. Saves the time, and the disfigurement, of them having to engrave your SSN on the blade with a vibrator.

[zenheretic]

... It can also be useful if your workplace demands some way of identifying a knife as belonging to you. Saves the time, and the disfigurement, of them having to engrave your SSN on the blade with a vibrator.

Yeah, save the vibrator for the more important work of keeping the marriage together. :eek:

[JD Spydo]

My Experiences dealing with numbered Spyders has been varied. It seems to me like the only numbered Spyders that I've had that drew a lot of attention and seemingly got more dollars were ones I had that were numbered below 020. I had a couple of Spyders at one point that both had 003 of them and I got a lot of interest. I traded one for an excellent piece and sold the other for a premium price.

It seems to me that any Spyder I've had with a 3 digit number really didn't seem to make much if any difference in the trading or selling arenas. Now there were a couple of exceptions to that rule. On 2 occassions I had 3 digit numbered Spyders that I came across collectors that had those specific numbers.

If I want a certain Spyder for my collection. The number is really not much consideration to me at all. However if the number is below 010 I might consider sweetening the offer a bit.

[FlyCatcher]

this might have been asked before, but what are the "V" after the number? is it for variation?
and one other thing I got a numbered Forrester but without the "V" after the number is that also a CC number? or just a production number.

thank you.

[bluemist]

yeah variation.. funny thing is my Stretch Combo Edge is not the Variant but My ATR SE is the Variant. SE BRG Delica is a V. Since my dealer has a very cool CC number I don't paying 5 - 10 bucks more but he had at one time (gone now)
two Ti ATR's one CC and the other plain.. the CC was $250 but the plain was $175. Man I wish I woulda jumped on that non CC.

Two things happened to me real quick, I've only been into :spyder: since January 07 but I now naturally shy away from CC knives and especially Combo Edges but I do love me some Spyderedge. All or nothing. This preference came to me naturally before I knew it was quite normal and acceptable behavior.

[Axlis]

I've just got one CC# Spydie, Number 033 (Thanks Arend, it is really coming in handy! :) )

<img src=http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7 ... Yt27Jy0Ztw>

pjrocco, where are you? :confused:

[ducktaper]

.... That would only occur on older knives, as Spyderco quit doing serial numbers some time ago.

Did they? I ask this because I recently received 2 Lava's from a dealer and the blades were numbered sequentially, like 182 and 183. I thought Spyderco quite doing serial numbers, too, so seeing this surprised me. Personally, I find number etchings (and things like "Spyker") distracting.

[FlyCatcher]

I'm with you on that ducktaper....recently I got A forrester with a number but no "V" on it. And I dont see any difference on the regular Woodlander and the CC Woodlander (with the "V").

I dont own a Spyker so I can't about it. I like the Spyderco Logo on the Hossom fixed blades.