RAT/ESEE Pack Kit for 3 and 4. Ideas, etc.

adaman04

adaman04

Joined
Jun 9, 2009
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Have we discussed this in a thread? Anyway....

I was thinking today after seeing the “RAT Pack in West Africa” thread where mckrob put his RC-4 in the pack in place of the 5 or 6.

Since ESEE is getting in to the soft goods market and making some cool products, I think a version of the RAT/ESEE Pack to fit both the 3 and 4 would be pretty sweet. No knife or other gear included with it, so the user could configure it however they like.

-Essentially scaled down RAT Pack maybe 4”x5 ½”
-Zipper closure w/ mesh interior pockets and a large wallet pocket behind them for a bandana, trash bag, etc.
-Couple of elastic loops inside perhaps
-Outside Velcro pocket to fit an Altoid tin, etc.
-MOLLE strap on the back that can double as belt loop
-Maybe a removable belt loop to where it can hang lower like a lot of people like with the standard MOLLE back ESEE offers.
-It might require (2) eyelets for the chicago screw, that way the ride height of the knife inside the pack could be adjusted to accommodate a 3 vs 4, etc.
- The kit could be compatible with a lot of knives really, worst case you might have to drill a hole in the base of your kydex sheath to attach it.

Since I put the paracord sling on my RAT Pack, I’m really digging it. Some of you probably remember my core kit I made with the Maxped EDC organizer. I have really gotten in to basic kits that can be moved from bag to bag to supplement other gear, or can be carried alone as a basic kit.

I understand all the headaches of new products, SKUs, selling at a price people will pay vs not making profit on a product. Not a “boo hoo, make this” thread, just a cool idea I thought might be worth discussing.

Jeff and Mike, I am for affordable hire for the design of this product. I’ll clear my inbox, haha. :D
 
I think the kit is a good size, regardless of the knife. keep the kit, and then all that would be needed to change would be the sleeve for the knife...I'm no expert but a sleeve for the 3 and 4 could almost be the same, so the change would be minimal and the overall price would only change for the difference in the knife chosen. K.I.S.S
 
i like the idea of a kit with the 4 for simple reason that Texas has a 5 inch or under edc carry law...
 
I like the idea too. I don't have a kit but I feel like with a little effort you could probably rig it up to carry the 3 or 4. It would be nice if you could just swap out the stock sheaths/knives depending on what you feel like carrying. I also like the idea of having the security of the stock sheaths and not having to worry about tying off the handle of the blade to keep it in place.
 
Maybe instead of having an integral universal sheath mounted inside the little pack, have a small spine made out of kydex with 1.5 inch spaced holes so that you could bolt or tie the RC3 or RC4 factory sheaths to the spine instead? That would fix the problem of people wanting more retention than am elastic band wrapped around the handle..

I have a perfect picture of it in my head..
 
I'm betting that since the ESEE4 & 6 share a lot of dimensions, the integral would do a fair job of holding a smaller knife in place. Maybe not the -3, since it's thinner stock, though.
OTOH, something similar to French Butcher's Barnacle with a back pocket that would hold a 3 or 4 in a plain folded kydex sheath would be pretty compact and handy. (and a loop for a fire rod on one side & sharpening steel on the other)
 
Yep, before I had pictured a 2” wide x 5” long or so strip of kydex essentially making an “extension” for the other ESEE sheaths. You’d probably need (2) holes to line up because otherwise it would pivot on a single screw. You could always put the sheath where you want it and mark and drill the holes as you choose.

Along those same lines I had the idea of having one of our kydex gurus make a long molded sheath for a 3 or 4. That way the knife snapped in without the shock cord and it could use the existing Chicago screw attachment of the pack.

While we are talking sheath swapping, a small pin with a cotter key to replace the Chicago screw would allow quick changing of the sheaths.

I'd still dig a small version of the kit pouch though. :D
 
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Here's an idea of what I've been toying with.....

72d1rb.jpg
 
Well, IMO the existing kit would work fine, just remove the universal sheath, and in its place, add PALS webbing, to which the RAT of your choice could be added using the MOLLE clips. Obviously, don't include the knife.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Well, IMO the existing kit would work fine, just remove the universal sheath, and in its place, add PALS webbing, to which the RAT of your choice could be added using the MOLLE clips. Obviously, don't include the knife.
Click to expand...

remove the fold over kydex thingy and if you have a molle backing from the ESEE3/4 mount the same way and you have your 3 or 4 in the RAT Pouch.:D
 
adaman04 said:
Here's an idea of what I've been toying with.....

72d1rb.jpg
Click to expand...

the only issue I see is that the more pouches & pockets you add to the little pouch is after you add you gear and close pouch the items are facing each other and poking out the pouch making it harder to close with the ESEE3/4 mounted in there.
Cool pouch but seems hard to close with gear loaded in it. just a thought
 
Agreed. One of the biggest issues with my Maxpedition EDC kit I put together was once you have items on both sides, the bump against eachother and can make the pouch harder to close. When I zip it, it gets like 3" thick. :D

The pocket behind the knife (if it was on there) would have to be for small, flat stuff only. Sharpening card, signal mirror, etc.
 
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