Native sprint question

[calebj06]

I just stumbled across a native FRN with a black PLAIN edge blade.

I believe this was a sprint run. Am I correct?

If so, this would probably be a decent investment no?

Looks about B+ shape. Tiny clip wear. Comes with a black box.

Blade says 003v

Caleb

[bh49]

Pictures of the knife and the box will be helpful. I cannot recall black boxes for full size knives. There was sprint of 400 pieces for ORIGINAL Golden made Native with black PE blade, but box was kind of grey back then.

[calebj06]

[Doc Dan]

The 003V is a collector's number. The blade is marked CPMS30V steel. Interesting knife.

[bh49]

this is it. one out of 400. Rare sprint

[Archimedes]

Did they make a serrated one? Was it a sprint run?

[bh49]

IIRC CE was production

[The Deacon]

this is it. one out of 400. Rare sprint

Are you sure, Roman? I know the PE black bladed Native wasn't around for long, but I was under the impression it was a "limited production" piece, not a Sprint Run.

[Scroop]

Spydiewiki doesn't show it as a Sprint Run, it looks like it was limited to 2006 only? It's in the 2006 catalog on page 10 http://spydiewiki.com/models/catalogs/spyderco2006.pdf as regular production. Maybe Jabba will chime in.

(Edit) After further review it looks like only the PE Satin is listed in the catalog...I didn't catch that at first glance.

[bh49]

Paul,

You right, certainly not official sprint, possibly not even official limited run. First time C41BBK Native Black Blade shown in CE, than in 2006 catalog in PE and CE. 2007 catalog doesn't specify edge type. 2008 catalog specifying PS. I heard many times about 400 produced, but never read Spyderco statement regarding the knife. So per catalogs, it looks like production with unknown number produced between 2006 and 2007. One of the grey areas of Spyderco history like Orange Military or pink Delica.
Roman

[The Deacon]

Paul,

You right, certainly not official sprint, possibly not even official limited run. First time C41BBK Native Black Blade shown in CE, than in 2006 catalog in PE and CE. 2007 catalog doesn't specify edge type. 2008 catalog specifying PS. I heard many times about 400 produced, but never read Spyderco statement regarding the knife. So per catalogs, it looks like production with unknown number produced between 2006 and 2007. One of the grey areas of Spyderco history like Orange Military or pink Delica.
Roman

Yep, that's more like what I've been hearing over the years. FWIW, the pink Delica 4 was a Sprint and was always suppose to be 1200 pieces. Some folks, and one whiny flipper in particular, got bent out of shape because they assumed the first batch of 600 was the entire run and cried foul when they found there would be more.

As for investment potential. As with most "low volume" Spyderco variants, a C41PBBK in absolutely "like new" and comes with the appropriate box in similar condition, would have some. Anything less, and potential collector interest declines dramatically.

EDITED TO ADD: It appears there were at least two batches of them produced, approximately 6 months apart. There's a thread from a couple years ago showing one with a box bearing a JE (Oct '2005) date code, while the box for mine has a DF (Apr 2006) date code. There could be earlier ones, later ones, or ones in between, but there were definitely at least two batches. To me at least, that tends to support the theory that more than 400 were produced.

[calebj06]

Wow. Tons of info. Thanks guys. I went ahead and got it. Pics when it gets here.


So here is the biggest question for me,
Would I be an idiot to actually carry and use the thing??


Caleb

[bh49]

for me this is simple: do with this knife whatever you enjoy the most.