RAT knives discontinuing imported folding knife 
After much thought, RAT Knives has decided to discontinue the RAT Model 1 Folder. While the price, design and quality of the folder is exceptional, we have decided to concentrate all of our efforts to U.S. manufacture only. Over the last few years there have been too many American-made knife companies go under with a flood of cheaper imports contributing to that demise. While we firmly believe in Capitalism and that every company has a duty to make a profit, thus a right to have their product manufactured as they wish, we still believe in the American manufacturer and worker and believe that most customers are willing to pay a little more for a quality, American made knife. Maybe we’re wrong but we’re willing to take that chance. Is this going to cost us money to discontinue the folder? Yes. But we have decided to bet our brand and future success in the industry on “American Made.”
At the present time, there are still Model 1 Folders available and in stock. This announcement only serves as notice of the proposed discontinuation.
We appreciate your support.
Jeff Randall
Mike Perrin
-------------------------------------------------------
Now you've hit the nail on the head, sir!
Mike and I have noticed a trend over the past couple of years, not only the trend of American made knife companies going overseas but also alienating a major customer base in doing so. I can't tell you how many walk-ups we had at SHOT that picked up our regular line of knives and praised them, then, without fail they would pick up the folder and put it down. When asked "why?" They would simply tell us while it looks well made and designed, it has a Taiwan stamp on it.
Sure, there are still a lot of American made knives out there but they're are getting to be fewer and fewer high quality American made production knives - in other words affordable quality knives for the average consumer.
We have zero problems with a fair amount of overseas imports by production companies. Nowadays it's required to stay alive in the market. What is increasingly missing from that is a "fair" amount.
I'll make no bones about it, most of our customer base is military, private contractors, LEOs, and other operators. They want a piece of gear that supports them without question and a company that backs them, without question. Most, if not all, that we have worked with and talked to want a U.S. manufactured product. If we make all of our product within the United States then we can offer that since the maufacturing and quality processes reside here. It is VERY difficult and costly to control anything outside the bounds of the U.S. Think about this: why are the Taiwan and Chinese imports, who use to be pieces of shit, now starting to become well-made quality knives? They had to in order to gain the market-share of the demanding American consumer. Now this may sound like a good thing and true Capitalism at work, but be warned. How long do you think that quality and "mr. nice guy " attitude will last once our manufacturing knees have been kicked out from under us? Do these foreign companies owe any allegiance to us as a country, or as a consumer? None, zero, zilch.
Take a look at any "official issue" knife and you will find that it's made in the USA. Now, some of that is probably because of the need to be Berry Amenment compliant but I think the military is smart enough to know that you can never place all your arms developement and procurement in the hands of any other country. To do so would make us nothing more than another banana republic at the mercy of best shyster arms dealer, with the best Monty Hall deal of the moment.
While RAT knives are a mere drop in the bucket of the whole package and will never "change the world," RAT Knives and the philosophy behind it does belong to Mike and myself. We're not interested producing the largest number of knives on the market. However, we do demand to make a profit from our abilities as much as we demand to build a knife and support it 100 percent. In the end, any Soldier, Marine, LEO, or private contractor/operator knows that when they buy a RAT knife they bought a piece of what makes our country the best in the world, as well as supporting a philosophy of true Capitalism (not unfair subsidized trade practice dressed up like Capitalism). As we have always stated, the end user is our most important customer and the barometer that measure whether or not we stay in business. And whether he buys 1 or 1000 of our knives he will always have an English speaking, logical thinking, constantly evolving, Patriotic American who will take care of any problems or concerns he may have.
Once it comes to the point that we can no longer make a profit while staying true to our philosophy, we'll simply quit making knives. And yet another American made company will be gone.
After much thought, RAT Knives has decided to discontinue the RAT Model 1 Folder. While the price, design and quality of the folder is exceptional, we have decided to concentrate all of our efforts to U.S. manufacture only. Over the last few years there have been too many American-made knife companies go under with a flood of cheaper imports contributing to that demise. While we firmly believe in Capitalism and that every company has a duty to make a profit, thus a right to have their product manufactured as they wish, we still believe in the American manufacturer and worker and believe that most customers are willing to pay a little more for a quality, American made knife. Maybe we’re wrong but we’re willing to take that chance. Is this going to cost us money to discontinue the folder? Yes. But we have decided to bet our brand and future success in the industry on “American Made.”
At the present time, there are still Model 1 Folders available and in stock. This announcement only serves as notice of the proposed discontinuation.
We appreciate your support.
Jeff Randall
Mike Perrin
-------------------------------------------------------
Now you've hit the nail on the head, sir!
Mike and I have noticed a trend over the past couple of years, not only the trend of American made knife companies going overseas but also alienating a major customer base in doing so. I can't tell you how many walk-ups we had at SHOT that picked up our regular line of knives and praised them, then, without fail they would pick up the folder and put it down. When asked "why?" They would simply tell us while it looks well made and designed, it has a Taiwan stamp on it.
Sure, there are still a lot of American made knives out there but they're are getting to be fewer and fewer high quality American made production knives - in other words affordable quality knives for the average consumer.
We have zero problems with a fair amount of overseas imports by production companies. Nowadays it's required to stay alive in the market. What is increasingly missing from that is a "fair" amount.
I'll make no bones about it, most of our customer base is military, private contractors, LEOs, and other operators. They want a piece of gear that supports them without question and a company that backs them, without question. Most, if not all, that we have worked with and talked to want a U.S. manufactured product. If we make all of our product within the United States then we can offer that since the maufacturing and quality processes reside here. It is VERY difficult and costly to control anything outside the bounds of the U.S. Think about this: why are the Taiwan and Chinese imports, who use to be pieces of shit, now starting to become well-made quality knives? They had to in order to gain the market-share of the demanding American consumer. Now this may sound like a good thing and true Capitalism at work, but be warned. How long do you think that quality and "mr. nice guy " attitude will last once our manufacturing knees have been kicked out from under us? Do these foreign companies owe any allegiance to us as a country, or as a consumer? None, zero, zilch.
Take a look at any "official issue" knife and you will find that it's made in the USA. Now, some of that is probably because of the need to be Berry Amenment compliant but I think the military is smart enough to know that you can never place all your arms developement and procurement in the hands of any other country. To do so would make us nothing more than another banana republic at the mercy of best shyster arms dealer, with the best Monty Hall deal of the moment.
While RAT knives are a mere drop in the bucket of the whole package and will never "change the world," RAT Knives and the philosophy behind it does belong to Mike and myself. We're not interested producing the largest number of knives on the market. However, we do demand to make a profit from our abilities as much as we demand to build a knife and support it 100 percent. In the end, any Soldier, Marine, LEO, or private contractor/operator knows that when they buy a RAT knife they bought a piece of what makes our country the best in the world, as well as supporting a philosophy of true Capitalism (not unfair subsidized trade practice dressed up like Capitalism). As we have always stated, the end user is our most important customer and the barometer that measure whether or not we stay in business. And whether he buys 1 or 1000 of our knives he will always have an English speaking, logical thinking, constantly evolving, Patriotic American who will take care of any problems or concerns he may have.
Once it comes to the point that we can no longer make a profit while staying true to our philosophy, we'll simply quit making knives. And yet another American made company will be gone.