Limited Edition Certificates - Kopa

[ozspyder]

Dear all,

WARNING... Newbie question coming.....

I have recently purchased a couple of Kopa's (Evrina & Black Micarta) from a vendor on the infamous online auction website that is well known to everyone. I usually buy my cutlery from a dealer, but he couldn't course these 2 earlier Kopa's for me so I tried the online auction route.

Firstly, I bid for a Cocobolo Kopa and a Black Micarta Kopa. Turns out he didn't have the Cocobolo...so he offered the Evrina in lieu of the Coco. I accepted....no issues.

Both knives arrived in 2 days.... I was happy as a pig in mud !.... until I realised that they both seem to be missing the (usual???) Spyderco Limited Edition Certificate.

Emailed the vendor and he says he hasn't seen them???? He sent them to me as they were... NIB apparently, the knives seem to be in excellent condition, but missing certificates.

Is this normal or do all SPyderco sprint runs come with COA's ? I assume they do. And if not are their inherent 'collectors' value slightly diminished due to lack of said certificates???

Cheers
Daniel

[zenheretic]

It depends on the Sprint....


The Kopas come with a small card, that would easily fit under the foam in the box. The bad news is that during the time that those two Kopas were made and shipped, Spyderco sometimes wouldn't put the cards in the actual little boxes, but would put the cards in a lump in the shipping carton when shipped to the dealers/distributors. If the dealer/distributor didn't notice the cards and/or appreciate their "value", then they were lost. :(

Not a big deal, unless you plan on reselling in mint NIB condition.

[ozspyder]

Thanks Zen,

Respect your thoughts on that... If I were to EDC them I would not care so much.... but these being a limited run I am actually planning to be shelf queens and use my other Spydies (and other makes) as EDC's.

Thus I suppose you could argue that if they are to be collectors pieces, those certificates may be worth a few dollars.

On the flip side, those who would consider buying collectors pieces such as the Kopa at a much later date will know of their value and as such will be already mindful of their scarcity....

Anyone else have thoughts on this? Should I hassle the vendor to give me a refund and I buy Kopa with certs from elsewhere? Or am I being slightly anal on this?

Cheers
Daniel

[zenheretic]

Personally, I think the value is in the knife not the paper. I don't believe any of my Micarta or Cocabalo's have the card...I have several of each. I almost wonder if they actually issued cards on those early Kopas. ANYBODY HAVE A CARD? I'll try to check mine when I get a chance.

Especially in your neck of the woods, I wouldn't imagine many folks would turn down a NIB Kopa if it lacked a card.

[ozspyder]

Thanks Zen,

Appreciate it if anyone else here can check their Kopa boxes for those cards. I have a Kopa Apple Coral with a card in it. The Black Micarta and Evrina no card..... I have a Cocobolo on its way from the USA as we 'speak'. My most anticipated one would be the Tiger Coral for its contrasting figuring, and the Turquoise just looks like knife bling !!! great colours.....

Not sure about the "Clown Kopa" though :p :p

Cheers Zen

Daniel

[zenheretic]

Thanks Zen,

Not sure about the "Clown Kopa" though :p :p

Cheers Zen

Daniel
Well, with any luck, they will sell about as fast as day old road apples and suffer a great discount. Then I'll buy a handful and get them changed to interesting stones like the Deacon and his Kiwis. :D

[ozspyder]

Well, with any luck, they will sell about as fast as day old road apples and suffer a great discount. Then I'll buy a handful and get them changed to interesting stones like the Deacon and his Kiwis. :D

Hell ! If only they have someone like Santa Fe Stoneworks here in Oz :(

Daniel

[Blub]

My Tiger Coral Kopa arrived today and yes, it has a card.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/eblub/stooge.jpg

[Harry White]

my kpoa cocobolo did not have a card.

[Jurphaas]

If my memory serves me right the cards started with the 3rd of 4th model in this series. For sure I know that the Cocobolo and the Black Micarta had no certificate card.
Jurphaas :)

[zenheretic]

If my memory serves me right the cards started with the 3rd of 4th model in this series. For sure I know that the Cocobolo and the Black Micarta had no certificate card.
Jurphaas :)
Thanks Jurphaas, that is what I was starting to think, but wasn't sure. I wasn't spyder bitten when the first two originally came out. :)

[ozspyder]

Thanks guys,

Glad to hear that (sorta).

Looks like my Black Micarta and Evrina are justified in not having certificates then. And when I receive my Cocobolo I'll expect knife and foam only :)

I'm now saving up for the Tiger Coral, Turquoise, MOP and Clown Kopas :p Emmmm, the Clown is really off-putting in the pics though. Maybe I will have to see another photo of it. Looks a bit like those hard boiled lollies (candy)

Cheers brothers

Daniel

[zenheretic]

Mr. Blonde's Amsterdam thread has some nice pics of the Clown Kopa. It looks better there, but still looks like someone wearing stripes and plaid.

[jaislandboy]

my cocobolo and black micarta kopas are also Cardless....;)
its really too bad i have only one cocobolo Kopa that's been a user...:o these cocobolo Kopas seems really hard to find now....maybe i can coerce Zen to cough one up in a trade...:p :D

[zenheretic]

my cocobolo and black micarta kopas are also Cardless....;)
its really too bad i have only one cocobolo Kopa that's been a user...:o these cocobolo Kopas seems really hard to find now....maybe i can coerce Zen to cough one up in a trade...:p :D
sure straight across for an anniversary Delica or that Worker evolution set...:eek: :p :D

[The Deacon]

Well the Evrina Kopas did come with a card, since mine has one. On the other hand, the dealer substiuted a more expensive knife (MSRP was around $25 US higher) when he gave you the Evrina instead of the Cocobolo, so I guess the question become, down the road, will the lack of a card decrease the value of the Evrina by more than its greater MSRP would increase it?

There's also the point that, as has been pointed out, the knife you originally wanted, the Cocobolo would, legitimately, not have had a card.

[ozspyder]

Thanks Paul and others,

I'm satisfied now that my Kopas that are cardless is not a one-off.

Although I did get the Evrina as a replacement for the Cocobolo, I realy liked to Coco which I had actually bid for...... unfortunately and according to the seller he was disorganised and was selling something he didn't have. I'm happy with both the Micarta and the Evrina which he replaced. Nothing wrong with either knife....both are exemplary Spyderco specimens.

I think I'll let the card issue rest now :) Awaiting my Cocobolo from the USA (should be arriving any day as long as Customs do not confiscate it on a whim :mad: )

These Kopas have bitten me bad ! My collection might someday/ somehow resemble The Deacons Kiwi's ....ROFL, I wish :P

Cheers guys

Daniel

[Mr Blonde]

I got no card with my Micarta, but it did come with the Turqois Kopa and a few others.

Wouter

[quattro98]

I received 2 cards with my black micarta which I just purchased. The cards are dated June 2005. If someone wants the extra one, just let me know.

[jaislandboy]

sure straight across for an anniversary Delica or that Worker evolution set...:eek: :p :D

sorry, zen, too rich for my blood.....you need to be talking to a guy named F E L L Y.....;) :D