When I visited GEC years ago I was surprised. You can watch the production floor from an elevated level. Of the dozen or so machines visible there was only 2 people working. We walked around and I stuck my head into an office just to let someone know I’m visiting. The secretary got someone to give me a tour. I didn’t realize it until we had been talking for an hour it was the owner. It’s production on a small scale.

Online knife retailers need to do more to combat bots and cart snipping👍

The worst part of this for me is when I see knives that I stupidly let go years ago and now that they’re discontinued is going for crazy prices. That makes it really hard to add it back to the collection. I’ve been wanting to add a Benchmade 707 Sequel back to the collection and now I have to pay 250-300 for a 154cm knife.

Second hand Gec prices specialy on ebay are beyond gross.

Good video, I’d love to have more GEC knives but I refuse to pay the aftermarket price, I’ve always had a rule that I’d never spend as much on a knife as what I could buy a firearm for as I’m a shotgun hobbyist as well so $350-$450 knives are just not my thing. But yeah GEC’s are top notch I just wish I could afford them. So like you say yeah it sucks that they immediately get price gouged the way they do.

Great discussion. I will never overpay for a knife.

I agree, I unfortunately stop buying knives. Happy with what I have.

Let’s talk about the fact that some GEC retailers do this too. Example the Tractor Green 15’s were consistently low $100’s shipped, then there’s TPK that had them listed for more than $180! That to me is more gross than the individual seller making profit.

I don’t have a problem as much with the after market as I do with GEC refusing to up there production which would fix the after market problem with there knives. I get the machines are old and staffing but it would seem to me like many companies they could modernize and still produce good knives. Chinese can do it with modern machines 🤷🏻‍♂️ but they have to want too

They’re dropping the new Slyscz Bowie’s for $450 soon, I want one but that seems ridiculous

On February 29th, 2024, KnifeJoy will be releasing an exclusive Spyderco Slysz Bowie with a blue anodized titanium handle and satin M390 blade👍

This boils down to why your just not a typical business man. You have ethics dude. I am the same as you. I have lost money to sell to people , cause i knew they loved the knife and would keep it and enjoy it.

Good discussion topic for sure

I once Purchased a knife 10-12 years ago from the company called Northwood knife company called the Presidential, I had my pick of like 16 different blue bone knives so i chose my Favorite. I recently(currently) saw this knife for $1050.00 on ebay! Now i may have paid $225-275 originally but Holy Smokes! I Love it and Hate it!

They made a Bowie in m390... But its like 59-60rc m390 from Taiwan, so low performing and low value. The xhp is better performance and goes up to 63rc. Taiwan s90v is also 59rc max, while USA is 61-62 on average. Though 5 years ago Spyderco USA was all 60 or below for most of their steels like s90v and m390. So the older ones are less performance and in return, less value.

Good discussion 😊

Easy solution: 1 per household 👏

GEC could probably increase production if they'd cut the patterns offered in half. As a rule I don't sell a knife outright for more than I paid for it. If it's an auction I'll do the same for the starting price and let the market decide what it's worth. This helps avoid the grossness factor.

regarding the whole consumer confidence thing, that really only matters if you care. i dont give a fuck what a knife sells for after i buy it. i bought it because i want it, not to make a profit.

I’ve been a member of BF for years, buying and selling the whole time. Lots of good people there and I’ve only had positive transactions (at least 100). I’ve sold some pretty scarce, desirable knives. My rule for max pricing that I’ll sell a knife for is what I paid plus estimated shipping. As far as GEC’s, if I see msrp plus shipping, then it’s definitely a ‘buy’. If it’s a GEC that I just have to have, then the max I’ll pay in my mind is $200. Haven’t hit that yet though.

One word for you SteelFlame. 😂

I’ve had this thought pattern for the past few years now. The secondary is getting out of hand in my opinion. There’s some bros out there but not many!

If people would quit buying from scalpers they would stop buying everything up

There is a plain large sebenza selling at dealers right now for $700... For a PLAIN large sebenza. They were $500 a year or 2 ago.

If a manufacturer is seeing bots buy all of their inventory and then selling for double, they are leaving money on the table. They should just raise the price of the product so that it's no longer competitive to scalp them, and honest customers can actually have a chance of buying for less than double the price.

You still carry the R.U.T. Or the TPT?

Remember the Hinderer debacle

How about retailers limit the amount to 1 knife for had to get knives ? I know that would not totally fix the problem but it could be a start !

Had a Slysz Bowie in M390 and Blue Ti handle. Sold that sucker bc I didn't enjoy carrying it. Did the same with the 781 Anthem I had with the blasted ti (as opposed to the anodized gold version). I sold them both for profit and kept what I enjoyed carrying. Didn't think twice about it, because people are willing to pay that price. I think makers limit production to artificially inflate prices. We saw it with Hinderer a long time ago, and we're seeing it with Strider now. CRK is even getting into the game with lead times as long as 6 years...lol It's all artificially inflated, IMO. Simple equation of demand versus supply. Emerson is another brand that inflates prices. People are paying for the name as opposed to quality or materials. I've sold knives for profit, because people pay that aftermarket price. If people didn't pay that aftermarket price, then there wouldn't be any sellers selling knives for an inflated price. I've personally used the profit to reinvest in knives I want.

With the exception of bots, none of this really bothers me it’s the same with good watches, guns and cars. I think people should have the right and the wherewithal to make money. But bots do bug me.

Aftermarket means parts that aren't made buy the original manufacturer. Think the term your looking for is "secondary market"

Dude, i equate this to sports autographs…it’s a complete market of non fans pushing crap in front of athletes to sign just to sell. No matter what market , you get grifters…sucks but part of capitalism.

With inflation the price tripling over 10 years isn’t even that much.

Good knives are a good inflation hedge

Seems like you put more heart into products vs ur head bro. You are using “gross” as a word for profit. Just be glad there are people placing higher values on your products or interests. It’s positive growth. Isn’t it better that your knife may be worth $600 now vs worthless?

Do you feel manufacturers are guilty of "manufacturing" this hype by purposely releasing limited runs?

It’s gross no way around it. GEC will always be worth more than case regardless of aftermarket scumbag flippers bc quality is so much better. BRAPE is wrong.

It's even worse for the firearms community.

capitalism

Really gross

I can't stand flippers. They're ruining the market.

You are wanting the mass production to destroy a private market??? You are literally wanting the corporate giants to win over us little guys? I know you mean well but look deeper into what ur saying or asking for. U seem bitter you are missing out or not able to capitalize while other guys are…

Did you just say gross? Gross as in margins or like stepping in dog shit? Investing in knives can be profitable just like any other hobby like coin collecting, it’s the same. It sucks for you because you don’t want to pay the price but that’s just the way it goes. I’ve learned to live with it and think about what might be more sought after later and scoop it up. Was gross the word of the day today 🤣🤣🤣