Fool me once... well, not even once

[MichaelScott]

I have been reading posts and watching YouTube videos on Spyderco fakes. I figure someday I'll save up enough to get a higher-end Spyderco like a Para 2 or some such (difficult to decide, which is part of the fun) and I do not want to end up with a fake. From what I can tell, unless you have the knife in hand, it is fiendishly difficult to determine if it is real or a fake. Maybe so even then. This makes buying over the internet a dicey proposition. I do have a solution though.

Since I live in Colorado and have occasion to visit Boulder every now and then, I plan to eventually buy my high-end Spyderco at the Spyderco store in Golden. Yes, I know it will cost me more, but I won't have to worry about authenticity, I will get to visit the store and finger all of the knives that interest me and I won't have to spend too many hours doing detective work on the thing that arrived on the UPS truck.

Just my personal solution to a vexing issue.

[Ankerson]

There are some solid recommended knife shops like Knife Works and Knife Center for example to buy online safely.

[jabba359]

I second what Ankerson says. There are plenty of Spyderco authorized dealers that are safe to buy from. Besides the two he listed, New Graham Knife, Cutlery Shoppe, and GPKnives are three that I buy from.

[gbelleh]

Yeah. As long as you buy from a well respected online dealer, you shouldn't have any problems. A few others are National Knives, Bladehq, Howe's Knife Shop.

[kennethsime]

I'll second Howe's, I've bought a couple from them and they're great; fast shipping, they threw in a free LED keychain light with my Para2 also.

[Johnnie1801]

Sometime in November Spyderco will have their seconds sale at the SFO, if you head along then, then you will get some great deals. I seem to recall GoldenSpydie and Bearfacedkiller mentioning that they got green 204p PM2's for around $50 :)

[Jazz]

http://www.warriorsandwonders.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; in Canada.

[PayneTrain]

Not to dissuade you from visiting the SFO, but as everyone mentioned there are plenty of dealers you don't have to worry about. I have a bookmarks folder with 31 sites (if I can count) that you won't have to worry at all about buying from. Pricing varies from site to site and knife to knife, so I like to make my search as exhaustive as possible. If you'd like, I can send you the list.

[bearfacedkiller]

Definitely hit up the seconds sale. I did very well at it. Otherwise shop at one of the dealers already mentioned in this thread. I shop at just a few and they have the lowest prices you are gonna find anywhere. I stop into the SFO very often to fondle the newest knives and then usually just buy it online. The SFO does not charge retail and offers a deep discount but the dealers mentioned in this thread usually have even lower prices. When you get bit by the Spydie bug you need to be as efficient as you can with your knife budget.

[Tdhurl1103]

This thread makes me want to get another PM2.

I will agree that everyone who posted before me, was 100% correct. Stick with reputable dealers and you are "golden"

[MichaelScott]

Not to dissuade you from visiting the SFO, but as everyone mentioned there are plenty of dealers you don't have to worry about. I have a bookmarks folder with 31 sites (if I can count) that you won't have to worry at all about buying from. Pricing varies from site to site and knife to knife, so I like to make my search as exhaustive as possible. If you'd like, I can send you the list.

Thanks so much for your responses. I've sent PayneTrain a PM for his list. That is all good to know information.

A green PM 2 for $50... ? I'll bet I will need to get a number and stand in line... :)

And, since my birthday is in November I'll be dropping some hints for a road trip to Golden.

[bearfacedkiller]

A green PM 2 for $50... ? I'll bet I will need to get a number and stand in line... :)

And, since my birthday is in November I'll be dropping some hints for a road trip to Golden.

It gets crazy and hundreds show up for the sale. I camped out overnight. It is the black friday for Spydie lovers. Well worth it though.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=65906" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MichaelScott]

Looks like a party. November... cool party in more ways than one. I'll be seventy-three in November, so I might not be all that fired up about spending the night camped out by the door. Of course, some single malt, good sleeping bag and a portable heater might help. Really, though, looks like a really fun time.

[Cliff Stamp]

From what I can tell, unless you have the knife in hand, it is fiendishly difficult to determine if it is real or a fake. Maybe so even then.

Indeed, there have been even examples on YT of people who have a decent collection and been around knives for years who buy knives like a Sebenza, make a video on them and later have to make another noting it is fake. The hard reality is that in a short period of time it isn't going to be able to tell them apart. This may have a significant effect on the secondary market and this might carry over into the primary as flippers may be a significant portion of the consumer base. The reality is though, as long as people are willing to buy clones then they are going to be made.