What about lower prices on RC knives?

R.A.T.

Randall's Adventure & Training
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Feb 4, 2004
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OK folks....get ready for more option ideas:

This is not for sure yet but we're thinking about offering the RC-3 without the MOLLE Back like we do the standard version of the RC-4. This would lower the retail cost a little. Instead of coming with the MOLLE back it would come with the boot clip and a set of MOLLE locks.

We would also like your feedback on this possibility: what if you could buy just the knife (any RC knife) with no sheathing. We realize that some folks want to make their own sheaths or have a custom sheath made. This would drastically lower the price of an RC knife. With that said, I'm not sure if some of our dealers would want to stock it that way but we're thinking about all types of end-user oriented options.

None of this is for sure yet but we're interested in your feedback.

Jeff
 
I liked how the RAT 3 came with the boot clip and teclock, those were two good options.
 
What about *only* selling RC knives & sheaths separate? Retailers would stock both knives and sheaths and customers would order knife w/ or w/out sheath.

Yes that would involve retailers keeping track of both knife and sheath stock, but it would make it very easy to track which items were moving (ie equal number of knifes and sheaths or more knives).
 
Anything to lower the price. Displaying the RC 3 alongside the RAT 3, with their respective prices is a hard sell for the RC 3; although a superior knife and sheathing.

Nix on the "no" sheath - First thing the customer asks, after examining the knife, is, "What kind of sheath comes with it?" I have lost many a sale, because a great knife came with a crappy sheath.

Maybe offer a sheath set-up like the RAT 3, with a option to buy the MOLLE sheath. Also the sheath with a belt/boot clip only will probably sell well, although a few customers were impressed with the TecLok.

Thanks for the opportunity to provide input.
 
If we offer the RC-3 with molded sheath, boot clip and TekLok then we're about back to the same price as offering the MOLLE back. TekLoks are expensive.
 
I guess I'll be different. I like the fact that the knife comes with a good sheath and some attachment options.

For fixed blades, having one without a sheath just sucks. I think by offering a sheathed one and a plain one you will get the "What, I have to spend an extra $XX just to get one with a sheath!?" When in reality, they're getting a discount.

I have no idea how much this would affect it, but if you're looking to reduce cost I would look at just including the plain sheath with paracord and maybe some less expensive handle material.
 
Just to be clear on this, we're not talking about ONLY offering a knife with no sheath. If we made this move, if a dealer wanted to buy the same setup as he does now, no problem, but we were thinking about making an option to where the dealer can buy only the knife if he desires. True, this wouldn't work for some dealers, especially those who sell to the public face-to-face, so they would have the choice to continue buying just as it is now. However, the internet dealer who can offer various options may find this "knife only" deal attractive since these type dealers sometimes draw the user who wants to do his own sheathing.
 
I hate TekLoks, but others like them. I remove them from any sheath I get and rig up something less bulky. But it is nice to have options. All I need is the basic sheath. I have paracord and stoppers. Military personnel have other needs. They wear all that heavy Molle gear. I do want SOME kind of decent sheath with the knife. I get weary of having sheaths made for every knife I buy with a crappy sheath or none at all. My two cents.
 
I like the idea of the RC-3 with the basic sheath and boot clip. I would most likely buy it in this configuration if given a choice.

Tom
 
I'll stock them the way you sell them.

I prefer a limited amount of options. The more options=the more places for error--both on my part and the part of the customer.

Here is how the customer error works--They place an order for a RC-4. They looked at the pic of the knife and they didn't read the description that clearly says, this is for the knife only, sheath sold seperately. They wait a couple days to get his knife. it arrives.

He tears open the box and there is a knife and no sheath. Then the customer is angry because he doesn't have everything he needs. He understands that he ordered the wrong thing, but he is frustrated anyway. Then we have to ship twice. (we have seen a little of this with the 4 line as is)

Not everyone is as educated as the forum readers. Simple makes less confusion.
 
I've been eying an RC-3 ever since the W&S thread that Spark started. I would like the knife only option (understand that would be dealer specific) so I could have a leather sheath made.

I think the kydex, and it's like are a very durable, no nonsense option. I just tend to prefer leather.

Millage may vary of course. ;)
 
I would be for it, since I really have no interest in the MOLLE system, as I prefer more of a concealed carry. I would like a more neutral color than the desert color available now.
 
I think the sheath without molle back has some merit if it can bring the market price point $15-20 cheaper. This would also match the offerings of the RC-4 and RC-6 which could be had with or without molle-back attachment.

I think offering the knife without a sheath would be a bad direction to go. RAT and the RC-line is developing an excellent reputation on outstanding sheath options and this is something that clearly sets you guys apart in the production knife market. Why risk that wonderful branding you've developed for yourselves?
 
As long as the complete setup is still available. The system concept is what attracted me. But the quality is what sold me
 
I prefer a good sheath whether it be leather or kydex type to come with my knife. I rarely like to take the time to make one right away to carry it around. After awhile I can custom make or order one if I want. Most of my friends hate knives that don't have sheaths.

Some points: I like the RC4 sheath better than RC3, it just seems to fit better. I have absolutely no use for the Molle attachment. I also will never use the boot attachment. I would prefer a simple belt loop out of cordura that screws on like the RC3 Molle attachment. That way the holes would still be lined up for a tek lok if I wanted. I do not need any of the attachment things that came with the RC4 or RC3. Pretty soon I will make a leather belt loop for the RC4 and then it will be perfect for me. People that actually wear Molle gear must find the current sheath to work well though.
 
I think it would be nice to have an option for a leather sheath made by RAT. If a person could get the leather, that would be great. The just blade idea is good, I think. There are a fare amount of people who have sheaths or make them ect. It's fun to customize your knives and get a personal touch. I personally like how the molle backing lowers the carry height of the knife. Plain kydex usually carries too high for me. I prefer leather most of the time.
 
It'd be nice to have the option to buy the RC-3 with or without the MOLLE back (although I wouldn't buy one without it), but I'm not sure that would be a significant savings (I don't think a $15-20 to be significant on this class of knife).
 
It'd be nice to have the option to buy the RC-3 with or without the MOLLE back (although I wouldn't buy one without it), but I'm not sure that would be a significant savings (I don't think a $15-20 to be significant on this class of knife).

I'm not so sure about that Cpl. I believe most marketting folks will tell you that the $100 mark is a real psychological tipping point. The marketed price of the RC-3s hovers right around the $90-$105. Sliding this down to $70-$85 would make a real difference in many peoples minds and also drop the knife away from several other competitors in the price category.

For example, there very few knives in the Bark River line that range in the $70-85 price point (the PSK being the only exception I know about) and I see some of the Barkie offerings as strong competitors with the RC market. (p.s. I think BRK&T makes excellent knives and I'm not trying to troll a war between RAT and BRK&T, I'm only trying to provide my perception of a market analysis).

Having an option for the RC-3 in the sub-$90 category would distinguish it more from the RC-4 on a price perspective. While us knife nuts get all obsessed with differences in dimensions, thickness and steel types this is lost on 99.99999999% of knife buyers.

I think most folks looking at a website offering will have difficulty distinguishing the differences between the RC-3 and RC-4. The on-line pictures, because of size standardization make them look very similar. Usually in the on-line store summary screens, a bunch of knives from a given manufacture show up as pictures without little information except for the name and price point. The buyer then has to click on the icon to get a more detailed description of the knife. Since the RC-3 and RC-4 look pretty much the same when viewed as little icons and they are about the same price, there is nothing to discriminate them. Ultimately, your marketting here is up to the whims of the buyer as to whether they will look at both knives (for example, they might click on RC-3 and see it is a 3" knife, but wanting a 4" knife move on and never click on the RC-4 icon). Having the RC-3 at a distinctly different price from the RC-4 will provide an immediate discrimination factor that will cue the reader that these are in fact different knives.

BTW - I think the Rat Cutlery website does a great job of demonstrating the differences in sizes of the RC-line through providing pictures of the different offerings aligned against one another.
 
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