SOG Specialty Knives & Tools LLC, in support with The American Knife and Tool Institute (AKTI) opposes U.S. Customs' attempt to classify assisted-opening knives and all one-hand-opening knives as switchblades.

U.S. Customs proposes to bypass Congress and expand the switchblade definition to include all knives that open with one hand. These include multi-tools, traditional pocket knives, one-hand openers, as well as assisted-openers.

Statistics to consider about the knife industry and the possible effects of this ruling:

* U.S. Sporting Knife Industry has a $5.9 Billion Economic Impact on U.S. Economy
* 3,881 direct U.S. Employees at 61 Companies
* 35.6 Million Households Own Pocket Knives; 24.8 Million Own Hunting Knives
* Assisted-opening and one-hand-opening knives are 80 % of All Knives Sold
* 30-40 Million Public Safety, Non-Issue Military, Construction, Recreational Users

Material compiled and provided by AKTI

The majority of Americans who carry and use one-hand-openers every day need them for their jobs. They use them to save lives as well as for scores of recreational activities.

If U.S. Customs succeeds, it could lead to effectively banning all folding knives from interstate commerce.

We're asking you to register your opposition to the U.S. Customs' plan (19 CFR Part 177) to re-classify assisted openers and all folding knives.

You comments must arrive at U.S. Customs no later than June 21, 2009.

19 CFR Part 177
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Office of International Trade, Regulations and Rulings
Attention: Intellectual Property and Restricted Merchandise Branch
Mint Annex, 799 Ninth St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20229

If you don't think your letter will arrive in time, please fax or email a signed copy to us and we will forward it to US Customs on your behalf. Our fax number is (425) 771-6230. Please submit responses to us by noon on Friday, June 19th, 2009.

Please also express your concerns to your state Senators and Representatives.

For more information on this issue, visit:

www.akti.org and www.kniferights.org

Click here for model letters that can be downloaded and personalized with your story:

http://akti.org/legislation/uscustoms.html

or

kniferights.org
Thank you,

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools, LLC