Scale color for 2010 Forum Knife - Manix 2

[jonUSA,EARTH]

any updates on the forum knife...concept pics?

[bdbender]

I think this takes all the fun out of it. IMHO Sal should spring forum knives upon us as a complete surprise. When it comes to the point, as it did last time, that an internet reseller buys up a significant portion of them, creating controversy in the forum as the main product, maybe it's time for something completely different anyway.

[SaturnNyne]

I think this takes all the fun out of it. IMHO Sal should spring forum knives upon us as a complete surprise. When it comes to the point, as it did last time, that an internet reseller buys up a significant portion of them, creating controversy in the forum as the main product, maybe it's time for something completely different anyway.

I kinda agree with that.... Sort of like BM does with its gold class, the last forum knife just became an opportunity to take advantage of desperate collectors. That's not the proper spirit of it at all; Sal certainly never intended for it to become something rather negative in its effect on many. The best forum knife would be one that is unique in some way but still fairly simple, so that it's a user knife instead of a decorative bauble, and it should be kept to a very affordable price so that it's actually less than it would cost to buy a normal version of it. Maybe a limitation could be put on the purchase of it, such as only one each and a minimum of a week or a month of membership prior to announcement of it. That way it would actually be a gift of sorts to the loyal supporters, rather than an invitation to predation. The knife itself wouldn't be as exciting to the collectors here, but it would be done in a more noble spirit that I think is more in keeping with a company that prides itself on making serious knives in an ethical manner.

[spoonrobot]

6 knives was not a significant portion of the run. The problem was that the knife was a popular combination and a lot of people purchased them very quickly. The inflated prices were a symptom of this, not the cause. The only thing that should be taken away from the 2009 forum knife reaction is this; if you want a limited run knife, pay attention and buy it right away.

The forum relationship is a mutual thing. We benefit from company interaction and a free place to talk about knives and the company sometimes gets feedback and free advertising. We're not "supporting" anything in any meaningful way and to think that we deserve something for posting here is ridiculous. The whole thing smacks of entitlement and is very off-putting.

Looking at it another way. At this point I've seen more forum knives sold for inflated prices by actual forum members than I saw from Spydieguys.

Back on-topic; I am shocked at how many people prefer translucent(natural) scales. I've only seen pictures of the color but I would have figured another choice would have been more popular.

[Sequimite]

Two points:

Please don't get started on what happened last time with the unprecedented sell out. Sal is on top of it.

No forum knife will ever cost less than the comparable regular model. It has additional expenses and a very small run. The regular models are discounted so heavily on the internet that there is little room for a lower price on a more expensive product.

[2cha]

Back on-topic; I am shocked at how many people prefer translucent(natural) scales. I've only seen pictures of the color but I would have figured another choice would have been more popular.

For me the translucent attraction is that it is so very strange and different. It's just cool. Maybe I'll send my leafstorm to Chiba (http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42321) the most excellent photographer, and see if he can photograph it well enough to get the fascination across to others.

[StangBang]

Personally,

I think the translucent green leafstorm style g10 is atrocious. I would much rather prefer any of the other colors listed. (with the exception of brown)

Then again I know there are people out there who don't like orange or blue!

So to each there own.

[2cha]

Blue? How couldn't anyone NOT want a blue knife. Mind boggling. Now digicamo--what's up with that? :eek: I'm already absent minded,...

[MCM]

White Linen / Ivory Micarta.

[2cha]

White Linen / Ivory Micarta.

oooooooooh! Ghost Manix!

I like it.

I already voted.

Shucks.

[spyderHS08]

I really wish they could do an urban digi cam....that would be absolutely awesome!! Somethin like this would look sweet on a knife :eek:
Just my .02

[SaturnNyne]

The forum relationship is a mutual thing. We benefit from company interaction and a free place to talk about knives and the company sometimes gets feedback and free advertising. We're not "supporting" anything in any meaningful way and to think that we deserve something for posting here is ridiculous. The whole thing smacks of entitlement and is very off-putting.

Sorry if that's the impression you got, it really has nothing to do with entitlement, at least no more so than the idea of requesting a knife made especially for forum members does to begin with. We're not entitled to anything we get here, the company's presence and availability to its customers is an above and beyond gift to us. We're also not entitled to a special forum knife of our own requested specifications, which is, essentially, created as a generous celebration of the relationship between the company and the forum members, and of the camaraderie shared here. At least that's how I view it. If that's not what it is, what is it? If it's not done in the spirit of a "celebration" and "gift" of sorts, is it done simply because it's an opportunity to sell us another knife? Now that's off-putting, I don't want to think that, I don't think that's how they do business.

I'm just saying that if we are going to have one, it'd be nice if it were something that leaves everyone feeling good about it :) , rather than a bunch of people upset because they weren't fast enough due to many hoarding multiple copies, mad that a retailer was allowed to grab a bunch and sell them to the general public, sad that they couldn't justify the cost for what they perceive as a non-user, mad that other forum members immediately took advantage of the situation and flipped it for profit, etc. I think the forum knife is a wonderful gesture, and the purple Native was a pretty cool knife, but the next one will be better overall if lessons are learned that make it less divisive and negative in its impact on many members. I'm kind of speaking as an outside observer here; I never wanted the Native, wasn't involved in the hostility that followed it, and am not emotionally invested in the forum knife idea. My opinion on the matter has nothing to do with what I personally want or think we're entitled to, I just want to see something done that is pure in its spirit and makes people happy instead of angry. I don't see what's off-putting about that.

Back on-topic; I am shocked at how many people prefer translucent(natural) scales. I've only seen pictures of the color but I would have figured another choice would have been more popular.

I totally agree with this! I can't believe it's so popular, the Leafstorm is remarkably unattractive to me. Maybe it's just that it's a novelty, which seems fitting for a special model? But I've never seen it in person, maybe it's a lot cooler than it appears.

No forum knife will ever cost less than the comparable regular model. It has additional expenses and a very small run. The regular models are discounted so heavily on the internet that there is little room for a lower price on a more expensive product.

I'm not sure that's true. For example, if the forum knife were a FRN model with a different handle color that they already use but not on that model, it seems like production cost would be no different. If they then sold that model direct for the same wholesale price they sell it to those online discounters for, it would come in very affordable, and they'd make the same amount of profit they normally do. It would cost (street price) - (middleman profit). A Delica in a special color, with no additional collectible fanciness beyond that, would probably come in around $30-35 I'm guessing. Maybe a little more if a really special color were used.

With that in mind, along with the color-flexibility of FRN, and given that a FRN Manix2 is supposed to be along soon, wouldn't a FRN M2 in a special color make an excellent candidate for a forum knife? Especially considering the wide array of G10 versions that have already been made available to us in a very short period of time. It would be less expensive and give more interesting color options.

Back in 2005 over on CPF, Peak was kind enough to make a forum light for us. It was a new model not yet in full production in a special ano color they had never used before and it cost less than the regular version. The entire experience was very positive, everyone was happy and grateful, and there was no profiteering or hurt feelings created by it. That's kind of the model of how to do it that I'm looking at.

Blue? How couldn't anyone NOT want a blue knife. Mind boggling. Now digicamo--what's up with that? :eek: I'm already absent minded,...

So true! :)

[StangBang]

i really wish they could do an urban digi cam....that would be absolutely awesome!! Somethin like this would look sweet on a knife :eek:
Just my .02

yes
please!

[Sequimite]

I'm not sure that's true. For example, if the forum knife were a FRN model with a different handle color that they already use but not on that model, it seems like production cost would be no different. If they then sold that model direct for the same wholesale price they sell it to those online discounters for, it would come in very affordable, and they'd make the same amount of profit they normally do. It would cost (street price) - (middleman profit). A Delica in a special color, with no additional collectible fanciness beyond that, would probably come in around $30-35 I'm guessing. Maybe a little more if a really special color were used.

1) Special color FRN in a short batch has a cost. Somebody's time is spent selecting the color, specifying the color, mixing a unique color, checking it for accuracy. When you do a shorter run the setup costs are always higher per unit.

2) Special inscription needs to be designed set up and etched into each blade or scale. This is an additional cost.

3) Your example of the purple native has the additional cost of FFG which the regular model did not have.

4) Forum knives are always sold at 40% of of list. Plus, some of the additional cost may result in the list price being higher than the regular model s the purple Native was. Regular production is often available on line at close to 50% off regular price.

[mikerestivo]

I have to chime in on the effect that the translucent green has on me: I'm not too picky about handle colors, but that translucent option leaves me clammy. I would be game for any other color (even pink) versus the translucent.

I realize that it got more votes than any other single color, but consider that 61.75% of the folks voted against it by the combined choosing of other colors.

I would hope that if the Manix is going to be the new forum knife, a more palatable color would be chosen, especially since I love the Manix design so much.

[Sequimite]

I have to chime in on the effect that the translucent green has on me: I'm not too picky about handle colors, but that translucent option leaves me clammy. I would be game for any other color (even pink) versus the translucent.

I realize that it got more votes than any other single color, but consider that 61.75% of the folks voted against it by the combined choosing of other colors.

I would hope that if the Manix is going to be the new forum knife, a more palatable color would be chosen, especially since I love the Manix design so much.

I'm waiting for the Manix 2 with translucent scale sample before proceeding to the next poll so that people can see what it actually looks like.

The final round will allow each voter to vote YES or NO on one color. NO votes will be subtracted from YES votes.

[MCM]

So there making a sample?
OK, forget the White Linen Micarta and Black stonewashed bc M4 blade.

[Sequimite]

So there making a sample?

Jose, supermatch38sa, volunteered to make the scales, put them on a Manix 2 and photograph the result.

[mikerestivo]

I'm waiting for the Manix 2 with translucent scale sample before proceeding to the next poll so that people can see what it actually looks like.

The final round will allow each voter to vote YES or NO on one color. NO votes will be subtracted from YES votes.

That sounds like a great idea. Thanks for your effort on this.

[SaturnNyne]

1) Special color FRN in a short batch has a cost. Somebody's time is spent selecting the color, specifying the color, mixing a unique color, checking it for accuracy. When you do a shorter run the setup costs are always higher per unit.

Completely true, I was just thinking that the added cost of that would be less than the difference between wholesale and list since wholesale on them is, as I recall based on what some sellers have said, about 55-60% of msrp. But I really don't know. Doesn't matter anyway now, see point 4....

2) Special inscription needs to be designed set up and etched into each blade or scale. This is an additional cost.

3) Your example of the purple native has the additional cost of FFG which the regular model did not have.

I specified in the idea I put forth that such additional fanciness might be omitted, so as to keep those additional costs out of the equation. I was mostly just thinking of inscriptions though, since they're purely decorative and usually detract from its function as a knife. A FFG version of a model that normally doesn't have it is something else entirely though, I think that's a pretty cool additional expense for a forum version.

4) Forum knives are always sold at 40% of of list. Plus, some of the additional cost may result in the list price being higher than the regular model s the purple Native was. Regular production is often available on line at close to 50% off regular price.

Ah! I hadn't realized this, thank you for pointing it out! In that case, they're already basically doing what I suggested, so nevermind, forget I said anything. You may consider me set straight! :)