When you go into a sporting goods store or gun shop what knives do you like to see? I am getting ready to stock some "eye candy" / "quick sellers" and respect your opinions. I currently stock about a dozen different traditional Bokers, a couple of CRKT folders and Stiff KISS knives, a couple of Spydercos, a dozen or so various traditional German pocket knives (Linder, Bulldog, Kissing Crane, Buck Creek, Henckels, Hen & Rooster), a bunch of Frost stuff, a few Buck folders and fixed blades, Ka-Bars, and Kershaws of various styles (I am letting my stock of Kershaw dwindle due to the fact that Kershaw opened the Ken Onion line to Wal Mart). I've got well over 100 different frames in stock but since I'm spending less on Kershaw I want to replace it with comparative merchandise.

Give me a few recommendations. I have found that advice from this board usually pays off rather well.

Jake

If you want a top of the line fancy dress/show knife that someone might drop a few bucks on get a Chris Reeves! I an still waiting for the day I can afford to pick one up beacuse they are not cheap.

cold steel master hunter
alaska knife
strider knives

everyone and their brother sells kershaw and buck knives.

Yea I forgot I do carry about a half dozen Cold Steel knives too, LOL. Kershaw can Kiss my ass though! I know that Wal Mart is a good sales contract for them but it screwed me and many many other dealers when Wal Mart started getting them direct! I mean my prices are just a little higher than Wal Mart's but I can't cut my price to compete and still make profit. I even spoke with the sales manager at Kershaw and he told me that Kershaw has no intentions of giving a price break either, most companies I deal with will give a decent price break if you become an authorized dealer and by direct, but not Kershaw!

Jake

Sog or Emerson.

[b]Cold Steel

Benchmade

CKRT

Spyderco

SOG[/b]

(my personal favorites)

Here are a few that people might like.

[url]http://darceyknives.tripod.com/[/url]
[url]http://www.benchmade.com/[/url]
[url]http://www.randallknives.com/[/url]
[url]http://www.emersonknives.com/[/url]
[url]http://www.striderknives.com/[/url]
[url]http://www.primosknives.com/[/url]


ARH

I have a S&W S.W.A.T. folding knife that I love.  Goes everywhere with me.  

Keving67

The most beautiful/traditional knives I own are PUMA.  But then again, they are extremely expensive!  I bought two at roughly $190 each a couple years ago.


Outside of that, Spiderco's are my favorite brand.  Get some chinese Spiderco knockoff's and sell them for $10 a piece.  You'll make 300% profit ATLEAST.

Go with Benchmade, they're the best production knife on the market.  Excellent build quality, premium materials and a rock solid warrenty.  I have several and will buy more.

Some that haven't been mentioned.

Al Mar
Dalton
Dozier
Kershaw
Microtech
Paragon
Piranha
White Wolf

See above posts about Kershaw!

Jake

Cool!!

Walmart will be carrying Ken Onion folders?

Do you 'spose they'll have to escort you out to your car after you buy one?

Can you buy a whetstone at the same time you buy the knife, or is that like buying a gun and ammunition at the same time at Wallyworld?

How about the SpeedSafe folders?  Are they so politically incorrect that they won't carry them at the local Walmart Sally Soccer Mom Superstore(tm)?

Keep some Kershaws in stock, Jake.  I'll buy a couple of them from you on principle alone.

Yankee1911, the speedsafes are what is pissing me off! They carry Chives, Scallions, Blackouts, Whirlwinds, all of the "core" Onion knives!

I am not dropping Kershaw but I am drastically reducing my stock to an average of 2 to 3 knives per frame. You just can't come out by dropping a few hundred on knives that everyone says "But Wal Mart sells it for $XX.xx!" I think my customers will be happier seeing more Spydercos, some SOG, and Benchmade along with some top shelf fixed blades that come from my previous "Kershaw budget".

Thanks for the support, if people don't support their local shops then it results in higher prices when it comes time to buy something there that can't be found elsewhere. I just wish more people felt the way you do.

Jake

Gosh, I'm sorry.

Crookshanks,
So am I, Kershaw was one of my top sellers and somewhat a favorite production knife. It just irks the shit out of me the way that Wal Mart refuses to sell handguns, and non-PC long guns but while gladly jump on the speed assist bandwagon! And add to that that I can't get a price break for bulk orders and you'll see why I get touchy LOL.

Jake