Knife store around Austin area?

[tms119]

Hey all. Was wondering if there is a knife store in the Austin area that sells Spyderco knives?

Red's has an excellent selection of benchmades, but doesn't sell Spyderco.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[joe817]

5 Austin dealers. I found them on their website under 'dealer locator':

https://www.spyderco.com/dealers/index. ... ity=AUSTIN

[Jusme]

I don't know about Austin, but most of the retail stores, are more expensive than on-line stores. Even with shipping I have been able to get better prices from some of these dealers. here are some that I have ordered from in the past. I don't own any Spyderco knives, but after finding what you like in person you might look at these and compare prices.


http://www.gpknives.com/brands/spyderco ... tools.html

https://www.theknifeconnection.net/spyderco-knives-en/

https://www.smkw.com/catalogsearch/resu ... erco+knife.

[tms119]

Out of all the stores in that list joe, half don't carry Spyderco and the others only have a small selection. I was hoping to try a couple in hand before buying. Might just have to gamble

[joe817]

Well, I was afraid of that. All to often, using that dealer locator is useless. Anywho, good luck on your search!

[WildBill]

Well, I was afraid of that. All to often, using that dealer locator is useless. Anywho, good luck on your search!

From knives to food to anything else dealer locators are mostly useless.

Manufacturers usually sell to distributors or wholesalers and have no idea which stores their products are sold.

[tms119]

Mcbrides said they have a decent selection. Not the one I'm looking for, but I think I'll check them out later today.

[OldCannon]

I don't own any Spyderco knives, but after finding what you like in person you might look at these and compare prices.

I'm not dinging you personally here, but this is exactly why there are few business growth opportunities as a small retailer. This technique has become all too common with the advent of "instant gratification" online shopping.

Mind you, I'm not bashing such a thing -- it's _fantastic_ that pretty much the entire world's inventory of manufactured items can arrive at our doorstep with the press of a button. That being said, if you go into a local small business retailer and check out their merchandise, then scamper off and purchase it online so that you can save a few bucks plus dodge state sales tax, shame on you.

Now I know there are some retailers around that could care less about offering competitive prices, and as a consumer, we must all make choices that reflect our budget-conscious lifestyle. I'm just saying, if you're going into a retailer to fondle their merchandise with the intent of buying online, please don't go into their store. It's just rude.

(This is particularly true in the firearms industry)
(Steps off soapbox)

[nyj]

GT distributors has quite a few.

[tms119]

I don't own any Spyderco knives, but after finding what you like in person you might look at these and compare prices.

I'm not dinging you personally here, but this is exactly why there are few business growth opportunities as a small retailer. This technique has become all too common with the advent of "instant gratification" online shopping.

Mind you, I'm not bashing such a thing -- it's _fantastic_ that pretty much the entire world's inventory of manufactured items can arrive at our doorstep with the press of a button. That being said, if you go into a local small business retailer and check out their merchandise, then scamper off and purchase it online so that you can save a few bucks plus dodge state sales tax, shame on you.

Now I know there are some retailers around that could care less about offering competitive prices, and as a consumer, we must all make choices that reflect our budget-conscious lifestyle. I'm just saying, if you're going into a retailer to fondle their merchandise with the intent of buying online, please don't go into their store. It's just rude.

(This is particularly true in the firearms industry)
(Steps off soapbox)

When it comes to firearms I buy local. I'm willing to pay the extra 20-60 bucks. On the knives however I am seeing a 70-100 dollar markup on the particular knives I'm looking at which I find unacceptable. If they were only a slight mark I'd have no issue but I won't be gouged either. I do understand where your coming from though.

[Jusme]

I don't own any Spyderco knives, but after finding what you like in person you might look at these and compare prices.

I'm not dinging you personally here, but this is exactly why there are few business growth opportunities as a small retailer. This technique has become all too common with the advent of "instant gratification" online shopping.

Mind you, I'm not bashing such a thing -- it's _fantastic_ that pretty much the entire world's inventory of manufactured items can arrive at our doorstep with the press of a button. That being said, if you go into a local small business retailer and check out their merchandise, then scamper off and purchase it online so that you can save a few bucks plus dodge state sales tax, shame on you.

Now I know there are some retailers around that could care less about offering competitive prices, and as a consumer, we must all make choices that reflect our budget-conscious lifestyle. I'm just saying, if you're going into a retailer to fondle their merchandise with the intent of buying online, please don't go into their store. It's just rude.

(This is particularly true in the firearms industry)
(Steps off soapbox)

I fully understand your point an I am a big supporter of independent small businesses, and support them as much as possible, however the OP has already experienced the problem when it comes to knives, unless you want fantasy knives and swords, or cheap Chinese made disposable, there are almost no locations that actually stock the type of knives that your average customer wants. Knife manufacturing in the survival, tactical and Bush craft genre have made amazing strides in the past 10 to 15 years, but stores including big box stores like Cabelas, Gander Mountain etc.. still treat knives as a sideline. The days of being satisfied with a folding pocket knife like grandpa had are over. But retailers have not caught on. I would love to go pick out a knife and have the face to face customer service that is available for other things. But after getting blank stares from salespeople, or being told there is no such thing after reading reviews on line, my patience is wearing thin. I do fully understand the retailers have to make decisions based on unsubstantiated sales figures, but when it comes to knives, they have fallen way behind the curve.

I live 30 miles south of the DFW area and the number of retail outlets that stock knives I would be interested in are numbered in single digits. And those are so outrageously expensive, along with being manned by the uninitiated, I can't justify utilizing them.JMHO

[OldCannon]

when it comes to knives, unless you want fantasy knives and swords, or cheap Chinese made disposable, there are almost no locations that actually stock the type of knives that your average customer wants.

Completely sympathize. I'd dare say that there's an opportunity for an enterprising person to create a new business. Especially if they're extremely knowledgeable about knives.

If anybody is seriously interested, I can give you the names of a few solid distributors. Keep in mind that most high-end knife manufacturers that work with direct dealers (i.e., Benchmade) will expect you to have an actual store open 5x8 and a demonstrable ability to differentiate between other manufacturers (plus the obvious minimum buy-in).

Also, for lack of a better way to say this, knives are small and easily swiped. Expect to have a lot of "shrinkage", or have sufficient paid staff to manage "consultative sales". Either way, those things hit your overhead pretty hard, which means your knives won't cost close to what people can get them for on the internet, which means....

Well, here we are.

[Redneck_Buddha]

Would love to see a store that specializes in some upmarket brands and could also provide an outlet for high quality custom makers to consign their goods. Some brands I'd like to see at such a shop:

*Chris Reeve
*Randall
*Boker
*Benchmade
*William Henry
*Strider
*Zero Tolerance
*Lion Steel

Just to name a few.

[tms119]

Would love to see a store that specializes in some upmarket brands and could also provide an outlet for high quality custom makers to consign their goods. Some brands I'd like to see at such a shop:

*Chris Reeve
*Randall
*Boker
*Benchmade
*William Henry
*Strider
*Zero Tolerance
*Lion Steel

Just to name a few.

I will say that red's has most of the benchmade line available and have competative pricing. I've bought 4 or 5 folders from them in the past couple years.

[Papa_Tiger]

Been a while since I've been there to see their selection, but have you looked into "Knife Sharpest"?

4703 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756