2019 AAPK Forum Knife

[WillyCamaro]

Thank you for bringing that up Old Folder! Yea, I've never seen that on the same knife before. I don't know if I like it, or don't like it... But it is unique, so that gives the knife a lot of character. Still, I am probably not going to cave in and buy one. To many Imperials and Queens taking up the pocket book Still, I ike beeg knives...

[Tsar Bomba]

5. Price. At $105 it is very reasonable

I have found this to be the case in every AAPK knife release since I joined, and more than once Bryan has jumped through hoops to facilitate a knife or a shipment to me. I carry mine with pride, often, and will do so with our 2019 version too.

On my soapbox.........

I sure hope that the benefactors of this forum recognize that the small profit from the sale of these annual knives contributes to the AAPK order-as-a-whole which I believe is important to the longevity and fiscal health of this online community. I'm amazed that almost a week after these 103 knives went up for sale that 19 still remain available which means that 84 have been spoken for which probably translates to about 75-80 actual buyers. Now I know having been around here for a few moons that more that 75-80 people have benefited from AAPK and could afford this years annual knife but for some reason have decided not to pull the trigger. I ask that if you are on the fence about getting one that you consider what it might be like to browse your way to AAPK one morning to find our online community silent forever. Shocking - Yes. Probable - No. Possible - Absolutely.

Come on folks, let's get these remaining knives spoken for so that Bryan can focus his energy on other AAPK projects.

Off my soapbox..........

This is why I pulled the trigger on 2 knives immediately and remain receptive to the availability of a factory 2nd should any come out of this run. If I sensed we had a shortage I would have advised Bryan to hold back one but after a few days I didn't see any availability issues. Selling AAPK knives supports our forum and we also support each other as collectors. The knives WILL get out there.

Mine should be here tomorrow. Going to leave some room in my LFP for this big fella.

[cudgee]

"bestgear" You post is full of very pertinent facts. I was umming and arring about purchasing one, but after reading your post and "Schradenut's " i decided to pull the trigger and purchase. $105 for a GEC, supporting the forum was good value. WAS. Worked out my postage on the website of seller. $111. Combine the two=$313 Australian, sorry, i do not think so. How they come up with $111 for postage i have no idea. The most i have paid for postage from USA has been $28US, for a knife sharpener which was alot heavier and bigger by volume. So as much as i agree with your sentiments, you can leave me out. This is in no way any sort of criticism of AAPK or any forum members, just a very flawed business plan.

[Tsar Bomba]

Contact Bryan directly on the site. I've never heard of our Aussie members having to spend that much for shipping. There are some weird international shipping laws for knives at times but I am sure we have other Aussies participating in knife guys/trades here. It could just be an unanticipated glitch in the shopping cart or listing.

Bryan has gone to the mat for me before to get me an AAPK knife, in various ways, and I have no doubt he will accommodate as best he can. Send him a PM or email and I'm sure he can help.

[orvet]

cudgee, you might send a private message to this seller (Bryan) through the store, I believe there may be an error in the way the postage is figured. It appears to me to be a wrong choice on the type of shipping.
The price quoted is about what the USP GXG shipping is, and probably the most expensive way to ship something internationally. I think it's intended for high priority documents and not for merchandise. It should arrive in 1 to 3 days when sent by GXG. The USPS website listed at $101 USD.

A much better option for shipping I think is the Priority Mail small flat rate box. It will ship to Australia for $37.50 USD.

You might message Bryan through the store and ask him if you can get a different option on shipping. Ask for Priority Mail, small flat rate box and I would think it would make it much more reasonable to purchase.

[Tsar Bomba]

Push comes to shove one of us can buy a knife for you and arrange to ship individually to you. Try Bryan first, though, he's your best bet.

[cudgee]

cudgee, you might send a private message to this seller (Bryan) through the store, I believe there may be an error in the way the postage is figured. It appears to me to be a wrong choice on the type of shipping.
The price quoted is about what the USP GXG shipping is, and probably the most expensive way to ship something internationally. I think it's intended for high priority documents and not for merchandise. It should arrive in 1 to 3 days when sent by GXG. The USPS website listed at $101 USD.

A much better option for shipping I think is the Priority Mail small flat rate box. It will ship to Australia for $37.50 USD.

You might message Bryan through the store and ask him if you can get a different option on shipping. Ask for Priority Mail, small flat rate box and I would think it would make it much more reasonable to purchase.

Orvet, thank you for your imput. I thought that it did not seem right, so i sent the seller a message to clarify the situation, they have not bothered to get back to me, so i have gone sour on the whole deal. I realize that times have changed, and the days of going into a shop and handling whatever you want to buy are becoming less and less. But there has to be a trade off, and if they want us, the CUSTOMER to be channeled down the online shopping path, then these companies have to make sure that their customer service is up to speed. And any company, and i can name a few well known knife companies but i won't, that does not bother to reply to my enquiries are telling me they do not want my business. They cannot have it both ways, there are plenty of people and companies that do want my dollar, and i will support them. But thank you for all your help and concern.

[Tsar Bomba]

You do understand the entire operation of maintaining the whole forum, stores, etc. which comprise AAPK is handled by this same "seller" - as essentially a one-man operation - IN ADDITION TO designing, special-ordering and procuring the knives through GEC, then turning those knives around to pack and ship to waiting members across the globe, all to make a unique and high-quality knife available to the users here, right?

Try PMing Bryan through the forum. He's posted on this thread already. Our collective experiences in dealing with Bryan over the years do not track with the implied dismissiveness you seem to be lambasting. It is entirely possible the man simply...missed your email inquiry on the middle of prepping and shipping over 100 knives.

Don't want to come off as ranting but Bryan deserves a little credit and leeway in dealing with a purchase from literally the other side of the planet.

[WillyCamaro]

Well I am starting to lean well over, just about going to fall off the fence...
Thank you for reposting bestgears post Tsar
$105 plus $14-$15 shipping is a VERY good deal on a highly desired GEC. And you are supporting Bryan/AAPK on top of it. I just have to scrape together some more $. Not to much, so should be able to work it up within a day or two. Just hopefully everyone doesn't decide to pick all the rest up...

[cudgee]

You do understand the entire operation of maintaining the whole forum, stores, etc. which comprise AAPK is handled by this same "seller" - as essentially a one-man operation - IN ADDITION TO designing, special-ordering and procuring the knives through GEC, then turning those knives around to pack and ship to waiting members across the globe, all to make a unique and high-quality knife available to the users here, right?

Try PMing Bryan through the forum. He's posted on this thread already. Our collective experiences in dealing with Bryan over the years do not track with the implied dismissiveness you seem to be lambasting. It is entirely possible the man simply...missed your email inquiry on the middle of prepping and shipping over 100 knives.

Don't want to come off as ranting but Bryan deserves a little credit and leeway in dealing with a purchase from literally the other side of the planet.

I am new to the forum and do not know the internal workings of it, untill recently i had no idea who Brian was. I am not having a go at Brian, so can we clear that up straight away, i had no idea he was connected with the selling site. I was under the impression it was a knife seller contracted to sell AAPK collector knives, as i presume all other listed sellers are in some way licensed to sell on this site. So my rant was no way directed at Brian, okay. But now that it has been explained to me, he is obviously busy at the moment and has not had time to get back to me, i fully understand that. I know i am on the other side of the planet, and that is what can make it difficult purchasing cutlery.

[WillyCamaro]

I just went to estimate shipping cost from the listing. Came out $63.48. I think it is quoting UPS rate. USPS First Class International is about the cheapest and best way to ship knives (anything internationally for that matter). I have to ship a knife down to a fellar in Arizona. Canada Post/USPS rates start $7.50 for ground and $10.50 for airmail. Exspresspost is $27.50 and top of the line is $37.50. I guess it goes by how valuable the item is. I think for a pocket knife I can wait a week to week and a half. And I still get tracking/$75 insurance.

[orvet]

You do understand the entire operation of maintaining the whole forum, stores, etc. which comprise AAPK is handled by this same "seller" - as essentially a one-man operation - IN ADDITION TO designing, special-ordering and procuring the knives through GEC, then turning those knives around to pack and ship to waiting members across the globe, all to make a unique and high-quality knife available to the users here, right?

Try PMing Bryan through the forum. He's posted on this thread already. Our collective experiences in dealing with Bryan over the years do not track with the implied dismissiveness you seem to be lambasting. It is entirely possible the man simply...missed your email inquiry on the middle of prepping and shipping over 100 knives.

Don't want to come off as ranting but Bryan deserves a little credit and leeway in dealing with a purchase from literally the other side of the planet.

I am new to the forum and do not know the internal workings of it, untill recently i had no idea who Brian was. I am not having a go at Brian, so can we clear that up straight away, i had no idea he was connected with the selling site. I was under the impression it was a knife seller contracted to sell AAPK collector knives, as i presume all other listed sellers are in some way licensed to sell on this site. So my rant was no way directed at Brian, okay. But now that it has been explained to me, he is obviously busy at the moment and has not had time to get back to me, i fully understand that. I know i am on the other side of the planet, and that is what can make it difficult purchasing cutlery.

Bryan does such an amazing job of running this site that it's hard to believe that he does most all of it by himself. Phil, (Philco), Dimitri (Miller Bro`s) and myself assist Bryan with some of the day-to-day housekeeping and administrative duties. Its really Brian that does the heavy lifting, as if he didn't have enough on his plate already.
We often get people who are new to AAPK about get upset because they don't get an answer to an email in what they consider a reasonable time, and most of the time they are right, anyone else would have answered their email much faster.
There were times many years ago that I would get a little frustrated when I didn't get an answer in what I thought was a timely manner. But I have learned that Bryan reads his emails and usually fixes whatever I had emailed him about even if he doesn't answer my email directly. Now with most people this would really annoy me, but I know Bryan and I understand he has an excellent reason for not answering my email and all the other hundreds of emails he gets every day.
Please read the post I made a couple years ago in which I recount, to the best of my memory, a short biography of Bryan which was posted on the AAPK homepage 10 years ago. viewtopic.php?f=21&t=52851&p=581136&hil ... ic#p581136
If you read a little further in that thread Bryan gives us an update on his condition. I think it will be impressed and touched at the same time.

I also urge any other members who don't know Bryan story to follow the link and read my post. Even better read the whole topic in which I posted the story. Then you will understand why so many of our members are fiercely loyal to AAPK and to Bryan.

[cudgee]

Orvet, i read your post about Brian last week, i do not even know how i stumbled across it, was humbling and impressive reading and well done to you. Up until that point i had never heard of Brian, had no idea who he was and no idea of his AAPK connection. I now realize how busy he, yourself and others must be running this forum, without people like yourself organisations such as this and many voluntary organisations across the world would not exist. So just to be clear i was not having a go at Brian, yourself or anyone else giving their time to run the Forum, which i thought i explained in my first post, i was very disillusioned and confused at what i thought was a completely independent retailer. Thank you for your answer, explanation and post about the AAPK history.

[orvet]

No problems!

[jerryd6818]

I've acted as go between for Grant (Shearer) who lives in NSW Aus, on knives the seller would not ship to Aus. I don't recall it ever costing more than $15 US for shipping but then I always ship the least expensive way available with no insurance. Grant always got his knife and it really didn't take an inordinate long time for him to receive it. Just my experience.