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Permalink Reply by Mike Bryant on April 9, 2025 at 14:00

Your points are well taken. You ave branched out but still enjoy your collecting. I was basically a Case Collector with overall intrest in the USA era. I also liked Parkers rmakes of the Old Case Patterns and bought some when they first came on the market.  Then as USA era  Case price  esculated i went to newer Bone Case products and Midnight Stag SFO. After covid I mainly collected the New Marbles and Rough Ryder cheap knives. I also picked up a few of the patterns i missed between Retirement and my being able to draw S.S..   Now with the Tariff's who knows. I am also old enough to remember the SABRA (spelling) Japaneese knives and them being judged as cheap crap. Even Bokers had different values according to where they were made.   At this point I guess I am going to be mostly a lurker and not a collector. Unless i win the Lottery. 

Lars Ray said:

I'm sorry to hear that rising prices are pushing you away from a brand you love Mike, but I get it, I really do. And I imagine many others here on iKC are in the same spot or feel the same crunch. As Marketing gurus will tell you, for every one or two persons who speak up about a product or event (good or bad), they represent 10 to 20 others who don't say a word.

On the other hand, this scenario also plays right into the What, So What, Now What model. This model is a reflective framework used to analyze an experience, understand its implication, and plan for future actions. This is done by describing the facts, exploring the significance, and outline the next steps. Stick with me...I'll try to keep it brief -

This discussion has already identified the What and So What portions. Here is the model in action:

• What? (facts): The price of knives is rising daily, on hand stock is diminishing, and with no real explanation as to why or the cause of either - leading to broad customer and consumer speculation.
• So What? (exploring the significance): The significance is that retailers and brands are losing customer fan base, loyalty, and suffering diminshing resupply and sales. Increased dissatisfaction with future outlook with no real solutions being offered by retailers or brands. 
• Now What? (the next steps): Personalizing this exercise - I've been here before, having to give up something I like very much because I am priced out. I plan to turn this into an opportunity to try out some new brands by making some small purchases to see if I like it. I am exploring new makers, new styles, broadening my fan base and looking for makers/dealers who are willing to explore with me and provide some alternative solutions. Heaven forbid I discover something else I like just as much for maybe even lesser money! Are you old enough to remember all the Japanese product bashing until the world discovered Seki knives? Now you can't touch them without spending some real coin!!! (I wish I had all my "junk" knives now!!)

I shared all this because you stated what many are either thinking or feeling Mike - and you're not wrong. Moreover, it sadens me when a peer I respect makes a "bow out" declaration. Being the Lars that I am, I thought I would use this opportunity to provide a framework in which alternative options can be considered without exiting the game. I am not a Case die-hard like many here are, but I am a serious blade-head. When I could not afford the knife of choice...well, that's when I discovered CFK (in spite of all the negative internet press). I chose style over brand. He who makes the style I like and can afford gets my cash!

And now I take pride in my lesser known brand name collection while I drool over the Kershaw collection of DLKG, the custom folders of Dennis Hilbar, and the 20+ pages of Case knives at 20 photos per page of Mike Bryant. 

Thanks for reading the Pollyanna reply...and take heart!

Niech Cię to zachęci!

Lars

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by dead_left_knife_guy on April 9, 2025 at 18:48

Lars, that was an awesome reply -- even before you mentioned me!!!

Mike, I don't know.  I've only got a couple Case knives, certainly not focused on Case in my collection, but some of those prices -- sounds like GEC!  I'm sorry, man.

I've hit a patch of unemployment, so I too am taking a break from buying knives.  Maybe I can sell some of those BudK knives from early in my collecting days at a decent price!  :P

I make humor to mask my fears...

Anyway, I was expecting my own precarious situation, I just had no idea everyone else was going to be going through something precarious, too.  It's going to make finding another job that much harder!  

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bryant on April 10, 2025 at 14:56

SPOT ON. Very good points. Maybe they have done it in the past and I didn't realize it ?  Also since their is NO Catalog to check the prices against, then it is much easier to play with pricing on the computer data base. Additionally these SFO are designed to make the collector want them and go to great length's to acquire them. I believe Shepherd Hills started it back in the 1990's with the Midnight Stag series. Their comes a time when you just have to say it was fun while it lasted. I still have 1 knife I am looking for!  I saw it in a picture but never offered for sale. It might be one that I will never obtain. At least this discussion has perked intrest from Long time collectors, and I do appreciate everyones reply's. 

dead_left_knife_guy said:

In a sense, it's probably the ideal time to raise prices.  If the item (knife, lighter, whatever) is in stock, and it's $110 on Monday, then $115 on Thursday, then $125 on Friday, they might still sell the knives on Friday, but now they've got customers who are complaining that the knife they just bought was $15 less earlier that week, leaving bad reviews for SMKW in the process.  SMKW then looks bad if they don't respond to any posted complaints -- but they'll probably look just as bad, if not worse, replying with an explanation, whatever that explanation is.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bryant on April 11, 2025 at 19:02

If you look at the pictures I have posted here you will see I have more than a couple of Case knives.I am by no means bragging and  I certainly don't have as many as a lot of collectors.  At this time in my life I understand i won't ever have a huge collection. I am retired and from 2007 until 2013 I was living on only on my state retirement. After I turned 62 then it became easier to afford a few of the ones I didn't even try to buy until I started receiving S.S.  I was blessed to acquire  some of the ones I wanted.  As far as GEC goes I only have a 2006 Un X LD 23 pattern  in stag I got it from a friend in Florida it is a first year of issue I also have a Buffalo Horn from 2007 and a Elk Horn 23 pattern . After that to me the prices went crazy and I stopped even looking for them. So I don't have many and probably won't.  I had a few more 23 patterns from 2007  but sold them a few years ago.  I hope you regain Employment soon and are  able to continue the quest for what ever knives you desire. . For Me age and the price increases have caused my decision to stop with case products. LOL I guess I will go with China or some other cheap brand that strikes my fancy. 

dead_left_knife_guy said:

Lars, that was an awesome reply -- even before you mentioned me!!!

Mike, I don't know.  I've only got a couple Case knives, certainly not focused on Case in my collection, but some of those prices -- sounds like GEC!  I'm sorry, man.

I've hit a patch of unemployment, so I too am taking a break from buying knives.  Maybe I can sell some of those BudK knives from early in my collecting days at a decent price!  :P

I make humor to mask my fears...

Anyway, I was expecting my own precarious situation, I just had no idea everyone else was going to be going through something precarious, too.  It's going to make finding another job that much harder!  

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bryant on April 14, 2025 at 12:56

Paul harvey used to say now the rest of the story. The PB&J is discontinued but I will be durned if i will pay bay prices for 1 for the collection! At this point I am like a few other sort of sick of Case Cutlery .The knife below no longer comes up when I do a search on Case Folding Hunters. I am glad i stole a picture of it before it disappeared. So who knows. maybe later it will return , maybe never. Does it really matter?  NOPE not when the prices are astronomical.

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