A special SOG Arcitech will be won by a current American Knife & Tool Institute member during a drawing at the SOG Specialty Knives & Tools booth on Tuesday during the SHOT Show in Las Vegas.
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In the midst of a busy SHOT Show schedule in Las Vegas, members of the AKTI will gather at the SOG booth #425 on Tuesday, January 18thfor a special event.
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SOG spokesperson, R. Lee “Gunny” Ermery will be signing autographs in the SOG booth on Tuesday and will pull the lucky winning name for a special AKTI SOG Arcitech knife at 4:00 p.m.Â
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Individual members who renewed or joined AKTI between May 15, 2010 and December 30, 2010 are eligible to win the special 3-1/2-inch-blade collectible folder generously donated by SOG. The laminated steel blade is etched with “AKTI.”
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“SOG supports AKTI and its efforts to promote knife rights education amongst the industry, our consumers and our legislators. The collaborative efforts that AKTI facilitates are a unique benefit to our industry and have produced outstanding results,” noted Spencer Frazer, SOG President, a member of the AKTI advisory board.
CAS Hanwei reports that its factory in Dalian, Northeast China, sustained significant damage in a fire on March 6th. The damage was limited to buildings, equipment and parts inventory, and no personal injuries were involved. A full assessment of the damage and its effect on product supply is not yet available, but plans are being made to resume production as soon as possible.Â
CAS has stock of most of the products in its current line, but there is likely to be some disruption in the supply of some items, particularly new products. The knife and sword company will be keeping its customers advised about possible shortages and delivery delays as more information becomes available.
This Thursday, Sept. 8, the Public Safety Committee of the Boston City Council will hold a hearing with the intention of licensing the sale of knives in the city of Boston, Knife Rights reported. Below is the official stated purpose of the hearing:
That the appropriate committee of the Boston City Council hold a hearing to examine requiring the sale of knives to be licensed by the appropriate police agency that would monitor, regulate and license businesses selling knives. Representatives from the Boston Police Department, Inspectional Services Department, and other interested parties shall be invited to attend.
The meeting will be at Boston City Hall, Ianella Chambers, 5th Floor on Sept. 8 at 10 a.m.
Along with Knife Rights, Blademag.com urges all Boston area knife enthusiasts to contact the Boston City Council and express their opposition to this measure. According to Knife Rights, Bostonians currently need a license to possess pepper spray. In a year or so this measure could lead to licensing citizens to possess a basic pocketknife.
As noted in the article linked below, existing Boston law already prohibits knives with a blade two inches or longer from being sold to anyone under age 18. A number of stores were fined as a result of a recent sting operation for illegally selling knives to underage people. There is no indication of any factual connection made between violence committed with knives in the city and these retailers, or that licensing would actually help the situation any more than simply enforcing the existing law on the books.
Knife Rights has a representative in Massachusetts who will attend the meeting, but if you live in the area and can attend as well, the stronger the show of opposition to the proposal, the better.
Our knife—make that knives—of the day for Dec. 16 are Jeff Hall’s stylish framelock folders in a choice of blade finishes and plain and partially serrated edges, the serrations being especially dramatic as far as serrations go. The frames feature carbon fiber inlay and skeletonized pocket clips.
The U.S. House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee approved a bill July 9 that would protect legal ivory owners.
“This action is a significant step towards protecting all lawful ivory owners,” observed Rob Mitchell of the Elephant Protection Association. “As this bill progresses , we will continue to provide updates as developments occur.”
Called the FY15 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, the measure will be considered for approval by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee next week.
“This is great news!” exclaimed Sandra Brady, scrimshander and a member of the Elephant Protection Association. “Our efforts are paying off. As a direct result of the Oversight Committee Hearing held June 24, this bill, if approved, would not allow any funds to be used for changes in the ivory laws.
“However, this law is not passed yet and has to be voted on by the Senate, but the verbiage we had hoped for is there. We still have a fight on our hands, and we’ll keep you posted as to how and when and what to do to help this along.”
The bill is in response to the ban on the domestic sale and trade of legally owned ivory by the Obama Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). It includes wording that would prohibit FWS from using any funds to restrict the domestic sale and trade of legally acquired ivory, as well as any further restrictions on its import and export.
The language does NOT prohibit the administration from trying to end poaching and illicit trade, but does protect legal ivory owners and their ivory.
For more information on how you can help fight the government’s attempt to ban the domestic sale and trade of legally acquired ivory, contact the Elephant Protection Association, 1035 W. Bristol Rd., Warminster, PA 18974.
U.S. House takes first steps to protect the rights of legal ivory owners. This ivory-handle 19th-century bowie is from the collection of Bill Simmermacher. (Simmermacher photo)
The battle to stop federal measures that punish law-abiding citizens and do little to address the issue of elephant ivory poaching has entered a new phase.
The ivory battle has entered a new phase, and the deadline for your ivory letter to Fish & Wildlife is April 14. One among many of the problems with the proposed federal regulations is that legal fossil ivory like antique narwhal, such as on Cliff Parker’s folder, may be mistaken by federal officials for elephant ivory and confiscated. (PointSeven photo)
If you are a duly authorized representative of a company with “significant commercial operations and employees,” now is the time to present U.S. Fish & Wildlife with a letter to oppose the pending federal measures, the first round of which reportedly is due to be released sometime this month. However, if you act no later than April 14 and send the letter to FWS, you will be in time to have your voice heard by those who can amend or even stop those measures before they happen.
Simply email the following letter to Doug Ritter of Knife Rights at [email protected], and he will forward it with others to FWS officials expressing concern over the harm the new federal measure would cause, not only to worldwide elephant populations but also to law-abiding citizens who own ivory knives and other ivory products and have owned the very same ones for years, if not decades.
The letter is as follows:
Subject: Ivory Ban Knife Community Letter
My name is (insert your full name) and I am (insert your executive position in the organization or company) of (insert name of your organization or company). As its duly authorized representative, I request that you add our name to the Knife Community letter opposing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed ban on commercial trade in elephant ivory.
(Insert Official Address of your Organization or Company)
(Insert Organization of Company Website)
(Insert your phone number in case of questions)
Regards,
(Insert Your Name)
(Insert Your Title)
(Insert Your Company’s Name)
(Insert Your Mailing Address)
(Insert Your Website Address)
(Insert Your Email Address)
(Insert Your Phone Number)
For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more, stay tuned to blademag.com.
    HallMark Cutlery will launch a new brand, Bad Blood, at the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. The line will consist of a mid-priced offering of tactical folders, fixed blades, and utility pieces.
    The new brand will also include a custom collaboration series from custom maker, Sean Kendrick. His line for HallMark Cutlery will include three folding knife patterns and three fixed blade models, and are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2012.
    Kendrick has been crafting knives professionally since 1998, but knives have been a passion since he was a child. Craft and design come naturally to the self-taught Kendrick. His mother is a talented artist and his father is a master electrician, plumber and mechanic. Sean’s great-grandfather was a blacksmith.
    Kendrick’s style and designs have been inspired by many elements, including music. Sean credits his friends and mentors, knifemakers David Mosier and Mike Franklin, for showing him the “ins and outs” of folding knives. Sean is also a member of the Usual Suspect Network. Kendrick won the award for “Best Tactical Knife” at the 2010 Spirit of Steel Show for his fixed blade “Partisan Hybrid.” His fixed blade version of the “Spiraling Demise” won “Best Tactical / Fighting Knife” at the 2004 Greater Ohio Valley Knife Show.
    For more information contact HallMark Cutlery, PO Box 220, Kodak, Tennessee 37764 866-583-3912 www.hallmarkcutlery.com.