Cheaper Darn Dao?

[Doc Dan]

I really like the design of the Darn Dao. One thing I don't personally like is the price. I would certainly be interested in a cheaper ($150) Darn Dao with a different steel choice.

Am I alone in this?

[sal]

Hi Doc,

The cost is in the labor. We'll not likely do another run. At least not in the near future. last time I checked, there were not many left, so I grabbed a few for the future.

sal

[RustyIron]

It's a very cool knife, to be sure. But I don't really know what I would do with one, unless I was going to slip on my Yeezy's, sip highballs, and hike with Ashley Olsen.

http://pagesix.com/2021/07/10/ashley-ol ... a-machete/

[Mushroom]

Hi Doc,

The cost is in the labor. We'll not likely do another run. At least not in the near future. last time I checked, there were not many left, so I grabbed a few for the future.

sal

Hi Sal,
I've noticed some disagreement amongst the forum about what a Flash Batch actually is.

I was under the impression that once a Flash Batch is made, the model itself will never again be made again. Regardless of steel and handle material combinations, the model itself will not be repeated.

Others have suggested that they are similar to sprint runs, where a Flash Batch can not be duplicated in certain material combinations but the model itself can be repeated.

From the sound of your comments on the Darn Dao, a Flash Batch model is repeatable as long as it doesn't reuse the original materials? Is that correct?

(Sorry if this is a confusing question :o)

[ZrowsN1s]

154CM is not an expensive steel. It's a tough steel though. If I was a fixed blade collector, I'd pick one up.

[Naperville]

$150! As President Biden says, "Come on man...."

I'd rather pay more for one and get a 4V or 3V model. I already have one and I'd be interested in more performance, not less.

[captnvegtble]

Hi Sal,
I've noticed some disagreement amongst the forum about what a Flash Batch actually is.

I was under the impression that once a Flash Batch is made, the model itself will never again be made again. Regardless of steel and handle material combinations, the model itself will not be repeated.

Others have suggested that they are similar to sprint runs, where a Flash Batch can not be duplicated in certain material combinations but the model itself can be repeated.

From the sound of your comments on the Darn Dao, a Flash Batch model is repeatable as long as it doesn't reuse the original materials? Is that correct?

(Sorry if this is a confusing question :o)

Directly from the website:
"A Flash Batch, however, showcases a brand new design that has not been previously produced and will never be duplicated in the exact same form again. To make them even more unique and collectible, Flash Batches are individually serialized with a laser-engraved number on every blade."

[bearfacedkiller]

I would like to see Spyderco make a chopper that is more user oriented. I was gonna buy a Darn Dao but didn’t and since then the price increases have moved it out of my budget. It’s a beautiful knife but I probably couldn’t bring myself to use it the way I use my BK9 so it would just sit in the safe.

[The Meat man]

I love the look. Maybe I should pick one up before they're all gone.

[Mushroom]

Hi Sal,
I've noticed some disagreement amongst the forum about what a Flash Batch actually is.

I was under the impression that once a Flash Batch is made, the model itself will never again be made again. Regardless of steel and handle material combinations, the model itself will not be repeated.

Others have suggested that they are similar to sprint runs, where a Flash Batch can not be duplicated in certain material combinations but the model itself can be repeated.

From the sound of your comments on the Darn Dao, a Flash Batch model is repeatable as long as it doesn't reuse the original materials? Is that correct?

(Sorry if this is a confusing question :o)

Directly from the website:
"A Flash Batch, however, showcases a brand new design that has not been previously produced and will never be duplicated in the exact same form again. To make them even more unique and collectible, Flash Batches are individually serialized with a laser-engraved number on every blade."

Right. :) That's the description I'm referring to when I say there seems to be some disagreement about what it actually means. Therefore, I was asking for some official clarification from someone at Spyderco. :)

[TomAiello]

I'd rather pay more for one and get a 4V or 3V model. I already have one and I'd be interested in more performance, not less.

I'd love to see that too. It would be awesome to see an exclusive done that way, but I think it's extremely unlikely.

Definitely a collector piece though.

[curlyhairedboy]

To my knowledge a bunch of the cost is tied up in the handle machining - same thing that tanked the lower cost Proficient.

[Naperville]

I'd rather pay more for one and get a 4V or 3V model. I already have one and I'd be interested in more performance, not less.

I'd love to see that too. It would be awesome to see an exclusive done that way, but I think it's extremely unlikely.

Definitely a collector piece though.

When TEOTWAWKI comes upon us, the machines cease to function, and society collapses and one man rules the wasteland... :o

He/She is going to need a 3V or 4V Darn Dao! I need that blade!!!


https://youtu.be/TMYLjlpP0NY

[yablanowitz]

3V or 4V? You think the original was expensive? By the time they got that grind on a blade that long in the steel you want, it would have to retail for a thousand dollars. You want it for $150? What's the weather like on your planet? They'd have to make the blade out of plastic to get it down to that.

[Cl1ff]

Ignoring the exaggerations lol :p, everything, as far as I can tell, about the Darn Dao is well thought out and intended to be functional.

For those reasons I’m not sure it’s intended to be a collectors piece as a design. It’s only thought of that way because of who designed it and the limited/costly way it had to be produced.

Of course, I’d really like to see a larger knife like the Darn Dao made by Spyderco (as a bunch of us have already said in previous threads about a machete or chopper), but it’s clear the Darn Dao design itself probably won’t be continued.

I think the only way to get a relatively inexpensive chopper from spyderco is to go with a handle like FRN or simple g10 scales that have no polish/complex contouring. That, and a steel which isn’t too hard to grind/finish.

A construction akin to the Street Bowie ($115 at knifecenter), if you go the FRN route, is what I picture. Maybe we can go into more detail about that if you guys agree?

[Naperville]

3V or 4V? You think the original was expensive? By the time they got that grind on a blade that long in the steel you want, it would have to retail for a thousand dollars. You want it for $150? What's the weather like on your planet? They'd have to make the blade out of plastic to get it down to that.

I'm guessing $500 to $600 or there a'bouts at retail. But I do get your point.

[yablanowitz]

3V or 4V? You think the original was expensive? By the time they got that grind on a blade that long in the steel you want, it would have to retail for a thousand dollars. You want it for $150? What's the weather like on your planet? They'd have to make the blade out of plastic to get it down to that.

I'm guessing $500 to $600 or there a'bouts at retail. But I do get your point.

It's $650 MSRP in CPM 154. Do you believe 3V or 4V would be significantly easier to machine? Just curious.

[Naperville]

3V or 4V? You think the original was expensive? By the time they got that grind on a blade that long in the steel you want, it would have to retail for a thousand dollars. You want it for $150? What's the weather like on your planet? They'd have to make the blade out of plastic to get it down to that.

I'm guessing $500 to $600 or there a'bouts at retail. But I do get your point.

It's $650 MSRP in CPM 154. Do you believe 3V or 4V would be significantly easier to machine? Just curious.

I'm not a bladesmith so I cannot answer that.

I do not think that I paid $650 for my copy of the Darn Dao. Retail is around $450 and I do not think that I paid that. If it was $600 at retail, I'd buy one in 3V or 4V. I'm a big boy I can save for what I want.

How many people come in and buy a 2021 Corvette with cash? They make payments or save.

[Naperville]

For $450 it's a steal. I think I'll go buy another one before they're gone.

[Matus]

These kind of knives need to start their life in a forge. To grind all that metal away must cost a fortune. And it does, apparently.