Info needed on Karambit

[RoBoTech]

I am in process of researching what I just received. A NIB Karambit.
I am kinda of confused about this one, so still researching. Maybe it would be better to get the straight info right off the bat instead of spending 3-4 hours and not get answers to my questions.
I got this knife for well below 200.00. It came with some brownish oil on it and I am still wiping. So I don't know if that was Spyderco's lube, or the original owner's (who has since died, thus my questions here) attempt at long term storage.
It came in a black cardboard box with the silver Spyderco name. It os a fold over display type box with the rubberish cushion cut out to fit the Karambit. Looks likes like original packing, but I have never seen a Spyderco come like this.
Is this what the Karambit came in?
The right side scale (clip side) is a nice brushed satin finish. The right side is a coarser finish. Is that right?
And the left side blade has a little coarser (lines) than the right.
Now, I am wondering if I got a blem, or is this a pre-production?
There are NO markings on the box, and it is VG-10 blade steel.
It sat in storage since 2004, according to the Estate sell brochure.
Any one have information that may help me?
I received it and a Gayle Bradley today and may post pics tomorrow in the "new Purchase" picture thread.
TIA

[darkstar29]

This won't be much help, I'm afraid Sorry, bud..
Both of mine are brushed satin on both sides. Nothing rough at all..The box you describe could well be a display/seller piece..
As far as the brownish oil? No clue, man.. It could just be something applied to store the knife?
Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[rycen]

Not sounding good based on the box.Post some pics

[rycen]

If it was a second (blem) it would be marked with a small notch near the opening hole.Spyderco also does not sell "pre production" knives.

[RoBoTech]

If it was a second (blem) it would be marked with a small notch near the opening hole.Spyderco also does not sell "pre production" knives.

There isn't a notch. My friend sent me a Mule to re-scale that had the notch, so I have some idea what to look for.
And from my research on that subject, I believe Spyderco was notching blems in 2004-2005, which are the production run years for the Karambit.
As far as "pre-production", I know Spyderco doesn't sell them, or prototypes, and never said this was ever sold by Spyderco.
BUT, that doesn't mean these type of knives were not made, or acquired outside the "production retail" channels. I know that this happens.
These type of items by Spyderco and other brand of knives can be found years after the production run of the model. Who knows why until the research is done. If anyone ever knows.
Although I am not claiming this is one of those, I am not saying it isn't one, as I just don't know.
Nor do I believe even for a second that this is a "replica" or knock off. It does happen, but not this time.
I have been buying, selling, and trading knives since 1967. I am not a rookie. That is why I am asking for some info. This is a new on me with Spyderco.
I believe that Spyderco puts more effort into finishing "production" knives. At least in MY experience, they do.

Anyway, here are some pics. Storm out today and these are kitchen pics. Bad, yellow light, but hopefully gives an idea of what I mean.

Box shots



As I said, I have never seen this type of box from Spyderco, but I haven't seen all of them. And you can see the "coarse" finish on the right side scale here.


Here are two shots of the scales finishes. This is the clip side


With this lighting, it's hard to see that there is still a small amount of brown oil under the back hole. To much brownish reflection in the picture.


And here are the blade sides. It's hard to see in these shots, but the left side doesn't look quite right in it's was hollow ground. It doesn't look coarse the full length of the blade.


And this side is much more polished.


Maybe I am expecting a better finish, and others have gotten their Karambits in similar condition. Would like to know if that is true or not.

[RoBoTech]

This won't be much help, I'm afraid Sorry, bud..
Both of mine are brushed satin on both sides. Nothing rough at all..The box you describe could well be a display/seller piece..
As far as the brownish oil? No clue, man.. It could just be something applied to store the knife?
Sorry I couldn't be more help.

It was something to think about, thank you.

[rycen]

It is a fake.First the steel marking is on the wrong side.Then the spider on the clip

[RoBoTech]

It is a fake.First the steel marking is on the wrong side.Then the spider on the clip

T appreciate your opinion.
Steel is marked on both sides.
I will keep looking for information until I am convinced. Not at this time, tho. Need more evidence.
Thank you.

[rycen]

I dont know how to say this without sounding like an ass but trust me it is fake.

[cosmo7809]

Put me down for fake as well for the reasons mentioned above.

Also, look at the clip and pivot screw. They look different from the real Karambit.

[rycen]

Also Spyderco does not mark the steel type on both sides ever.Also the frame lock it not cut correct

[RoBoTech]

Yep, I think it is too.
Just looked at a friends Karambit a minute ago, he's standing here right now, And there's no comparison.
Now I have to go through the long ordeal of getting this returned as it was advertised as a Spyderco Karambit.
I got it from eBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=270892928979
Live and learn, I haven't seen it all by a long shot.

[cosmo7809]

Sorry to hear.... Hope you can recover your funds.

[RoBoTech]

Sorry to hear.... Hope you can recover your funds.

Well, at least I have some evidence that it's not real and can go the paypal and ebay route if the seller is untrustworthy.
I have been bit before, and will be bit again, but I won't just accept this.
I believe in Buyer Beware, but I would NEVER sell something and not stand by my description of it.
But, that's me.
I am waiting for a response from the seller, now.
Thank you all for the info.
Now, I have to find a real Spy Karambit.

[Rwb1500]

Well, at least I have some evidence that it's not real and can go the paypal and ebay route if the seller is untrustworthy.
I have been bit before, and will be bit again, but I won't just accept this.
I believe in Buyer Beware, but I would NEVER sell something and not stand by my description of it.
But, that's me.
I am waiting for a response from the seller, now.
Thank you all for the info.
Now, I have to find a real Spy Karambit.

It looks like the seller didn't know what he had. Although maybe he's just a very good liar.

Sucks either way, best of luck.

[darkstar29]

Man, That Sucks, RoBo! For what it's worth, after seeing the pics I agree with the consensus.. It's fake. And that's a damn shame. I feel for ya, bud. At least you didn't pay a premium for it.. Hopefully you get your $$ back.

[RoBoTech]

I am waiting for the seller to respond. I have to work with him before I have to escalte this to a claim.
Let's hope it doesn't have to go that way.

[BadFish]

Keep us updated as to what the seller does. Sorry you got a fake

[RoBoTech]

PayPal pulled the funds and now waiting for the seller to respond.
Sorta my fault, wasn't paying attention, then went into denial, now I am angry at the seller AND myself.
Here's why.
I didn't do my research for a rare Spy. I usually do, just jumped on this as they are rare to come by.
Now that I am looking, I see two things that caused me to escalate the case.
1. The seller added pics the night before the auction ended. Hmm. I bet when eBay checks, they find that someone sent the seller a message that the knife was a fake, so he threw up pics hoping to cover his ass. Uh uh, fraud is fraud.
THEN when I looked at the guys feedback, I discovered something very interesting.
17 and 100% feedback.
All 17 were as a buyer. NOT ONE as a seller, and all 17 buys were for less than $0.99.
Get that?
So, I didn't wait for the guy to clear his PayPal, I hit it before I waited for a response.
Now here's something I may be sorry for. The PayPal account is in a woman's name. And her last name is different than the guy who sent me the knife.
I hope this doesn't hurt an innocent, but I am innocent, too.
Her name is Benitiz, and his is Perez.
See what may be going on here?
I think it's way more than a simple ebay fraud.
We'll see.
This will take 45 days to resolve IF the seller doesn't respond.

[DRKBC]

Sorry to here that Robotech. I had a similar experience only for $4,000 dollars (hopefully you didn't pay that for the Karambit :-) The pictures were of the real deal but the second it arrived it was obvious that it was counterfeit. The sellers history turned out to be set-up the items he had sold and purchased were to people in on the scam. Anyway I informed ebay, Paypal as well as the federal authority that is in charge of fraud (in my case the RCMP), emailed photo's, took it to a dealer and him verify it was a fake and sent on the correspondence etc. etc.
Anyway ... to make a long story shorter, I Hit a brick wall immediately with Paypal (the pal you pay). Fortunately the one thing I did right was put the item on a credit card that gave me purchase protection so I aggressively pursued my CC company for a charge back.
In the end (about 2 months later) after much discussion I managed to trace down and address to send the item back to paypal (which at that time wasn't easy) and I couriered it back. My CC company did a charge back as soon as they received the proof of return. Then (and only then) Paypal admitted it was a fraud and how happy they were to have resolved the issue to my satisfaction Ha, closed my account with Paypal and will never ever deal with them again.
Sorry about the rant just always strikes a nerve with me when this type of stuff happens. I am sure you will get it resolved and hopefully it wasn't too much of a set back.