Sometimes it takes Bob a little time to post here, so I'll just relate what he told me (and several other people here). I assume nothing has changed.
Bob states that there is not enough demand for dedicated trainer knives to make this an option for his small business. He already took a little bit of a bath on left-handed models and other specialty items, so he is leery of doing a production run of trainers. Another thing that makes trainers not sell so well is that, according to Bob, they will cost basically the same amount as a real knife.
If you take a moment to think about it, you can see his point.
1. REKAT has limited manufacturing capabilities. They're not Gerber or Buck or even Spyderco. It takes time and effort (read: $$$, and lots of it) to switch over production from proven-selling knives to make trainers, the sales of which are far from certain.
2. If you want a trainer to do everything the real knife does, the only change in the cost to REKAT to produce it is the decreased costs in material for the blade (using lower grade steel, I'd assume) and to skip the sharpening process. Everything else would cost exactly the same. And the 'gain' from changing those two steps would likely be wiped out by the cost of shutting down a line, retooling, starting back up a line and fixing the INEVITABLE problems that Mr. Murphy tosses in along the way.
I'm sure Bob can clarify/correct me, but thats likely the gist of it.
One thing that MIGHT be an option (Bob?) is to take orders for trainers with the understanding that IT WILL BE A WHILE, and after he reaches the magical number that makes it profitable, then do a run. but even then there are risks...if (for instance) he takes 100 orders and 30 of those guys crap out, Bob will end up eating those costs. I can't blame him for not doing it- hell, I wouldn't if I were him without money down, up front.
I want a carnie trainer, too...and I think I'm just gonna buy a used one and dull it...much as that pains me.
Mike
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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
