The Freedom to Manufacture

April 12, 2021 is a special day in Ohio. The bill allowing the manufacturing of automatic knives, originally sponsored by Senator Joe Uecker and carried on by others, went into effect that day. 

Prototype Hinderer Automatic, the first legally manufactured auto knife in Ohio

One driving force behind this was Rick Hinderer. Rick makes high quality knives with what he describes as “medical precision.” And it is a long story from the first knife he made to a building filled with state-of-the-art automated mills.

Rick Hinderer in the lobby of his factory

Rick started as a farrier and limited resources caused him to forge his first knife as a retirement gift to a friend. Rick discovered that not only was it fun, but he had a knack for it. He turned the profits back into the business like many entrepreneurs and gained a following. And this following grew partly because of his feelings about warranties.

 “What good does a warranty do if you’re hanging from a cliff and your life-saving tool breaks?” he asked. “It doesn’t do you any good. So, I offer a lifetime warranty because everyone does, but I make my knives so the warranty never needs to be used.” 

This insistence on quality and performance has led him to a point, where despite the price, every knife he makes is already sold before he can finish it. All of his knives are assembled by hand, carefully fitted until each knife is perfect. That is what creates demand! It also has found him favor with the military. He has sent sample knives to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and they like them! 

Rick started with art knives and evolved into tactical knives

So where do automatic knives come in? Previously, in Ohio, you could own and you could carry an automatic knife, but you couldn’t manufacture. Our neighbors in Indiana and West Virginia have that ability. 

 So, what happens if he gets a call from the military for an order of 20 thousand automatics? “I can’t do it here,” Rick explained. “But I’m not saying no to an order that size or from our government either.” It’s a dilemma, and it has a simple but unwanted decision. 

 Located in Wayne County, Hinderer knives is a major source of revenue and tax dollars. He’s created jobs and opportunities in an area that needs a little help. Equally important he likes living in the area. 

Doug Ritter and Todd Rathner from Knife Rights got behind Rick and started recruiting legislators. Some senators and representatives studied the current Ohio laws and realized they were nuts. It took six years to straighten them out. Along the way the bill ran into roadblocks, got sidetracked but with help, the bill finally made it to the Governor’s desk. And Governor DeWine signed it. 6 years is a long time, but it is here now. The law went into effect April 12 2021. 

The law allows the manufacturing of automatic knives in Ohio. And Rick isn’t the only manufacturer who will benefit from this change. Other current and future knife entrepreneurs will also benefit. So will the communities from where men and women will be drawn, polished and turned into masters of their art.  The impact of creating jobs, improving the tax base and giving people the opportunity to become skilled tradesman cannot be under estimated. 

The bill also moves the legal focus off the object and onto the user’s action. This is huge! The law takes the rational view that an object isn’t responsible for breaking the law. The responsibility is shifted to the doer causing harm by breaking the law. Many police officers have long felt this was a more enlightened stance. Now the pen in your pocket is just a pen until you assault someone with it.

The House of Hinderer

 This benefits the knife collector. I’ve been to shows and heard horror stories of displays of expensive, classic fishtail automatics seized by overzealous enforcement agents. Or the customer who now feels relieved because the tool she carries isn’t a reason to be arrested. 

The machinery needed to bring Rick's designs into existence

If you never have been in a modern factory, forget your old stereotypes. The air is clean and the floor sparkling. Men and women work in well illuminated environments, hand-fitting each component together. Anyone who tells you modern knife makers don’t have the quality of the cutlers of the past, is in my opinion, talking out their hats. Hinderer knives are masterpieces of quality and manufacturing. 

Senator Kristina Roegner modeling a sheet of titanium handle cutouts 

Part of the morning was spent showing us the modern tools of knife manufacturing. Water jets using a simple abrasive cut out titanium blanks. Pods of automatic milling machines do 26 different operation with different tools producing 4 blanks each in just 80 minutes. Finished blades are custom laser engraved. But despite modern automated machinery, Rick has his knives sharpened by hand. Machines just can’t seem to do the job right, he insists.

One of the assemblers checks and rechecks all the parts that are custom fitted 

Every component of a Hinderer knife is made on premises. Rick designs everything from the clips on the back to the smallest screw to the beefiest blade. 

Automated machines can improve production and quality but first you have to learn how to use them. To make the screws he wanted, Rick told us about buying a lathe. How do you learn to use a lathe? Mostly by doing and he realized he needed to teach himself. He decided that a pen was a simple enough shape to practice on. And out of perseverance came opportunity. 

At one of the shows in Las Vegas he met a homicide detective who had a need and he hoped Rick could solve it for him. You can’t take weapons into holding cells when you interview people under arrest. That’s common sense, but you’re still in a small room with a man who has nothing to lose. This LV detective was attacked by a suspect and saved by his partner. The detective wanted to know if Rick could make something that would give him an edge. The tactical pen was borne from that request. Rick claims that was the first tactical pen sold and it was his idea. 

Perhaps. Still, it is a great story. 

But the highlight of the day was Rick assembling the first legally manufactured automatic knife in Ohio. It was an unsharpened prototype and I’m sure it will see some changes, but I was there to watch history be made. 

Parts and tools needed to assemble the Hinderer prototype auto  (Rick didn't do the photographers any favors using a black background with silver parts!)

 Now, perhaps it is small h history being made. But in ten years it could be big H history spawning a homegrown statewide industry and creating opportunities for many people. Who knows where it will go? 

The first legally manufactured auto knife in Ohio, the Hinderer prototype automatic

You can find out more about Hinderer Knives at: https://www.rickhindererknives.com/ 

If you love knives and you love the freedom to act responsibly in public, join Knife Rights. I’m a member too. https://kniferights.org/

Switchblade or Automatic

Do you say ‘switchblade’ or ‘automatic knife’?

Sounds like a George Carlin question.  Switchblade is warm and fuzzy.  Automatic is hard and cold.

To me, this is what I consider a switchblade.  It’s a classic Italian stiletto.  It clicks open with a menacing double click.

A classic switchblade what would be carried by the Jets or the Sharks.

This is not an expensive one; I couldn’t find a maker’s mark.  The blade is stamped “rust free” so I assume it’s stainless steel and is too dull to even cleanly open envelopes.  I remember when knives came relatively dull and you put the kind of edge you wanted.  But I don’t want to sharpen it and alter the ‘factory edge’.  It has the classic release button which allows a leaf spring to fire the knife open, a slide safety and a horn handle.  I got it as part of an estate I purchased and kept it because the knife was unlocked by depressing a tab on the knife’s butt. 

But say automatic to me and I got to go with Pro-Tech knives. 

Pro-Tech Knives, LLC is a family knife company owned and founded by Dave Wattenberg.  They have been building high quality American Made knives since 1998.

Pro-Tech produces about 12,000 knives per year and its most famous models are the Godfather, Godson, and the Runt J4.  You’ll see Pro-Techs in the hands of the U.S. Military and law enforcement including the Secret Service and US Marshall's Service.  You’ll also see them in the hands of collectors and anyone demanding high performance from an automatic knife.

(Hint:  Get yourself a collaboration between Pro-Tech and Boker.  It’s a sweet little auto. You will not be disappointed!)

I’ve always wanted a Godfather.  Not any of the variations.  I wanted the Tuxedo.  For years I watched the one with an actual Ivory insert.  But then, when we were still relatively ivory friendly, it was out of my price range.  But the ivory micarta, that was just too powerful of a call.  I went with the black blade to compliment the black and white motif.  I can’t help but think of Dino, Sammy, Frankie and the rest of the Las Vegas rat pack when I see it open.

Pro Tech 's Godfather It's pissy eligant!

It’s a big knife.  Take it down a step and you’ll see the Godson and I found one I liked. Same good lines but I went with Bruce Shaw’s Steampunk copper insert. 

Steampunk?  It is a visited reality in which Jules Verne’s world still exists.  It just matured a little and discovered sexy.

If you needed to cut the mooring line a dirigible and escape in your velociped, this is the knife you need 

Shaw received his art training at Cal-State University at Los Angeles and graduated as a mechanical engineer, and what could be a better background for Steampunk?  He started engraving in 1978 and has been engraving full time since 1984.  The copper plate features engravings of gears and mechanisms of a mechanical watch some of which drive one of his classic skulls.  It was a limited edition and I was just lucky enough to be in the right place.

If you think of the Godfather and Godson as part of a family of knives, then the limited production of their Rockeye Auto PK custom has to be the hippy uncle from the LSD 70s.

Dude, it's time for the Airplane on next!  They follow Cream.

The Rockeye line was designed by Les George.  Les started making knives in 1992 and found a kindred soul in master builder Stan Fujisaka of Kaneohe, Hawaii to show him the ropes.  Sadly, Stan passed away on New Year’s Eve just a few hours before the arrival of the new 2014.  One has to wonder what kind of knife shows they must have in the afterlife. 

Having served in the Marines with a wide variety of jobs, Les has developed well-defined ideas about what how knives and tools should be made for use.  You can see this in the strong blade and handle of the Rockeye line.

The handle was anodized by Peter Kellett, who may be best known for his unique, one of a kind art of amazing designs of metal guitars and Pro-Tech knives.  I was told, but can’t confirm, that only four, maybe eight of these knives were made and again I was at the right place.

If you had a cousin knife from the Deep South, maybe New Orleans or the swamps of Florida, it would be the TR-3 Alligator.  The Tactical Response 3 is a favorite with law enforcement and military.  They are hardworking knives with a 3.5 inch blade, an automatic knife that is slender and fits nicely in the pocket.  But I can almost guarantee none of them are carrying the TR-3 purple alligator.  Artist Peter Kellett returns to marry a purple alligator and a mother of pearl release button to a tactical knife. 

I hear to tell chicken taste like gator.  Where can I get me some?  

I like the style of Pro-Tech knives.  I especially like their custom or ‘arty knives’.  You can go to their website (http://www.protechknives.com/product-category/automatic/) and find some amazing knives.  How about a left-handled Godson in basic black?