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Spyderco Sprint Runs – Behind the Scenes

You missed your chance at the latest Spyderco sprint run. You’re frustrated and want to vent! We don’t blame you but we wanted to give some perspective with the following info:

Sprint run knives from Spyderco are special configurations of an existing model – typically done in a new steel and color combination. The production number for these knives is limited and typically rumored to be around 1,200 total pieces. Think about that for a minute and let it sink in…a mere handful of knives spread across all of the dealers that Spyderco has. 

Let’s break it down further; Spyderco offers a Premiere program to dealers that allows dealers to receive up to 5 knives for all models that they make, including Sprint runs. So when you see a dealer offer a new model – seemingly before anyone else – they are releasing this limited quantity. You may ask “Why doesn’t DLT put knives up for sale as soon as they arrive?”, well that’s a good question with a long answer.

For new models we list them as “Coming Soon” and allow for email signups via an in stock notification system. It is not uncommon to receive more than 500 emails for popular models. When you factor in the small number we are allotted (remember this is an allotment – we don’t have the ability to order as many as we want) more people unfortunately go away unhappy than actually score one.

Also, take into consideration that we have Spyderco specific email and SMS notification lists that have over 2,000 customers on each; along with customers on Instagram and Facebook that are vocal if they don’t get word of new releases. Social media numbers are hard to quantify against specific products since we have a lot of followers. Let’s make a few assumptions for the absolute minimum number of people that want a specific knife, and say that customers who sign up for in stock notifications are also signed up for Spyderco specific emails and SMS, and everyone else is just a casual buyer. That still leaves 500+ customers that want one single model!

We’ll move on to how many knives we can get our hands on. We’ve already discussed the 5 knives that we get from the Premier program. We also have to submit orders for Sprint runs, so we submit our order as soon as we know about the model. Before you say “Why don’t you order more?”, we typically order 500 of each. We certainly don’t expect to receive 500, but it’s a quantifiable number that our sales rep can enter into their system that really means “Give me as many as you can”.

Nobody outside of Spyderco knows how they allocate their production, but we do the best that we can to get the highest number possible directly from Spyderco. But wait, Spyderco has distributors who also get these knives! Yes, we know. We do our best to get additional knives from multiple distributors. 

So to answer the original question, we release the highest number of knives that we can at one single time. We don’t want to burn our in stock notification list on 5 knives. We are going to put them for sale once we have our Premier, distributor, and Spyderco direct knives in hand, while trying to coordinate notifications via email, SMS, Instagram, Facebook, and our in stock notification system. 

In the end, we will get less knives than our customers demand. There is absolutely nothing we can do about it. Please remember that this isn’t insulin, defibrillator, ventilator, or other life saving device that we are selling; these are knives and the world won’t end if you miss out. As Spyderco grows in popularity, all of us at DLT encourage them to produce larger sprint runs to make more customers happy.

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How to Win on Knife Drop Day

As the avid knife fan knows, scoring on drop day on highly sought after Exclusive products can be a daunting task. With that in mind, this post is suited for the customer who wants to do everything that they can to increase their chances of being successful during a knife release. We will outline the steps to increase your odds, but first need to set the base assumption that the knife you want has a specific release date and time and that you will be ordering online rather than calling in an order. Phoning in an order on a product release should be used as a last possible resort when the goal is to save time.

To-Do: Days or Weeks Before Release

Create an account on the website you are purchasing from – Saving your address information will cut down a lot of typing once you get to checkout. If you have a different billing and shipping address, make sure you have both saved at the time you are creating your account.

 

Make sure your information is up to date – If you already have an account setup for the store you are purchasing from, make sure your information is up to date. You’ll save a bunch of time now as opposed to making edits at checkout, or worse yet, having a knife shipped to an address that you are no longer living at.

 

If you are shopping at a store that has a rewards system don’t wait until you are at checkout with your shiny new knife to realize that you can cash in points. Most systems utilize either a store credit or coupon system, so cash in the night before a drop while you can do it at your leisure. The store credit or coupon isn’t going to expire the next morning so get it taken care of while you have extra time.

 

Set a calendar reminder on your phone for the release date and time. Make sure to enable reminders 5 or 10 minutes before the release time. You’d be surprised on how many people forget or get busy then regret it later. Keep in mind that you will need to understand Time Zones, choose the correct time zone when setting up your calendar reminder so that you aren’t too early or too late for the drop.

To-Do: Day of Release

Load the site that you will be buying from. Make sure that you are logged in and know where to find the knife.

Decide if you will be using a credit card or PayPal (if available). We recommend using a credit card, regardless of the site you are purchasing from, since Paypal payments are typically slower to process in our experience. 

If using Paypal, login to your Paypal account several minutes before the release. Once you get to checkout and choose Paypal, you should still be logged in.

If using a credit card, memorize the expiration and CVV code. Then type your credit card info into notepad or similar program so that you can copy the number. Once you are into the checkout process paste your card number from the previous step and type the expiration and CVV that you memorized to cruise past everyone else at this last stage.

Alternatively, you can utilize credit card storage features found on all major browsers so that your payment information is automatically filled in for you.

 

If you are unsuccessful in purchasing, sign up for in stock notifications right away. There is always a chance that a customer will call to cancel, or inventory will be added back for many reasons. Don’t lose hope because there is still a chance.


Taking these steps will set you apart from others who just wing it on drop day. Good luck and enjoy the thrill of the chase on drop day!

First look at Zoe Crist Knives – Saluda, Fire Creek, & Santa Fe

These are the first three models in Zoe Crist’s production line. There are three different blade designs, but all share the same handle design. The handle is very comfortable, allowing for a full purchase in the hand. Each includes an ambidextrous leather belt sheath.

Lon Humphrey Brute de Forge Kephart

Lon Humphrey has done it again with his take on the classic Kephart design. These knives are available in a saber and Scandi ground versions, with several different handle options to choose from. Lon’s signature forging marks cover the blade to give this knife a mix of old school craftsmanship and new age technology. They are made from 1095 carbon steel and include a leather belt sheath.

Benchmade 551-1 Griptilian – Now with G-10 Scales

A look at the Benchmade 551-1 Griptilian. This is a new version of the standard Griptilian. It has a gray G-10 handle with blue G-10 liners, and blue anodized barrel spacers. The blade also received an upgrade to CPM 20CV stainless steel. If the base versions plastic handles was a turn off for you, this is the knife that you need to look at.

Rick Hinderer XM-18 3.5″ with Inside information on getting yours first

This is a brief overview on the Hinderer XM-18 3.5″ flipper. I also show you how to signup to be the first to know about new shipments, and how to be notified when a knife is re-stocked. These two simple tricks will help you be the first to act on any new arrival.

Bark River Bravo Series Comparison

A side by side comparison of the Bark River Gunny, Bravo 1, Bravo 1.25, Bravo 1.5, Bravo 2, and Bravo 3. We quickly go over the specs of all of the knives and what steels each are available in.
This video is not intended to be a review, rather a visual size comparison between the models.

Ambush Alpha Gen 2 Handle Changes

We go over the differences between the first generation Ambush Alpha versus the Ambush Alpha Gen 2.

Ambush Alpha Kydex Sheath Options

We cover the many different options that are available for the Ambush Alpha knife. The sheath is able to mount two different sized pouches; firesteel holders; or a large Tek-Lok. The pouches allow an easy way to include a fire starting kit, fire tinder, a second knife, or just about anything else you may need while on the trail or camping.