quote:

Originally posted by RxEnergy:
Welcome to the forum!
This is not a 9000 AFO, 9000 model didn't have the safety.
Usually true factory prototypes have R&D etched on the blade rather then PROTYPE, this could be an early R&D version of 9050, but not 9000.

I don't think R&D showed up until late 2006.
I have seen older models say PROTO or PROTOTYPE.
Until the last few years I had only ever seen tree in person outside of Benchmade but more have been creeping out. I also think we will see more as folks need money.

quote:

Originally posted by AccuJohn:
they have lots of older models for sale.... spikes, crawford, emerson etc. It's about the size of a small gift shop, with clothes and stuff in the center and flat cases along 2 walls with the knives in them. All retail price or more. On older stuff they bump up the price quite a bit. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I understand the collectible value, but not so much the part about them bumping up the price. Seems odd to me

Many of the older knives are the property of employees. I've purchased several. They tend to be "current market value". Many you couldn't find anywhere else, like protos of knives that never made production.

You're Proto is very cool and without a doubt legit. It probably shouldn't have left the factory but who knows maybe it was a present to the employee. Did they ask you where you had gotten it?

Just to add alittle to the thread this a GPA. Only version to every have both AlMar and Bechmade logos. These were done for the OKCA Show in Eugene. A couple hundred I believe.

Guy at this years show a one NIB.




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