The last few years I have been donating a knife to the Knife Rights group who has then donated it to the NRA/ILA auction at their national conference. This is the Jefferson Bowie, 2015



Knife Rights has donated Freedom's Steel™ IV - The Jefferson Bowie, an extraordinary custom knife collaboration,to the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) in appreciation for their support of Knife Rights' legislative efforts in fighting the Second Front in Defense of the Second Amendment™. Freedom's Steel™ IV was conceived of, and sponsored by, Knife Rights expressly to benefit NRA-ILA. This is the fourth year in a row that Knife Rights has donated a Freedom's Steel™ knife, raising $66,500 the first three years.

Freedom's Steel™ IV - The Jefferson Bowie will be a featured auction item at the NRA-ILA Dinner and Auction to be held at the NRA Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, the evening of April 10, 2015. Proceeds from the sale of Freedom's Steel™ IV will support NRA-ILA efforts to defend the Second Amendment.Click here for information on the NRA-ILA Dinner and Auction

"Knife Rights and the NRA have a common interest in protecting our civil rights and specifically the right to own and use tools appropriate for self-defense. At a time when our Second Amendments rights are under unprecedented assault, we are proud to assist NRA in protecting these rights." said Knife Rights Chairman and Founder Doug Ritter. "We are sincerely grateful for the support provided to us by NRA-ILA as we fight the Second Front in Defense of the Second Amendment."


"Since 1871, the NRA has fought to defend the rights of law-abiding Americans. We are truly grateful for the support of our friends at Knife Rights and their continued contributions to our ongoing efforts to preserve our freedom," said Chris W. Cox, Executive Director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action.”


Ritter noted, "we are indebted to these incredibly talented artisans and companies who contribute their valuable time, talents and materials to support Knife Rights by creating this extraordinary knife." Each craftsman's efforts and every component of Freedom's Steel™ III was donated to Knife Rights to support its efforts to defend and enhance our right to own and carry knives as tools used daily by millions of Americans and at times wielded as an "arm" in self-defense.

The body of the blade has 239 layers, one for each year from 1776 to 2015. The pattern in the body the blade has 21 Xs forged into the steel to formally salute our Constitution and the Second Amendment.

The dramatic on-of-a-kind 12.75-inch Damascus blade of Freedom's Steel™ IV - The Jefferson Bowie was forged by National Living Treasure and American Bladesmith Society Master Bladesmith Jerry Fisk with two distinct patterns to honor our Second Amendment. The pattern on the spine of the blade was first forged with 13 layers of high carbon steel, one layer for each of the original colonies. Fisk then folded that 13-layer billet to 39 layers, the number of the signers of the Constitution. He then twisted the bar to the right (of course) honoring the rights accorded to all Americans that are incorporated into the Bill of Rights.

The histroic wood handle of Freedom's Steel™ IV - The Jefferson Bowie is made from the wood of the "Jefferson Tulip Poplar" tree. This is from the only tree with provenance as being personally planted by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. Fisk carved three flutes into the handle to honor Jefferson as our third President, a framer of the Constitution who was a major force and inspiration for the Bill of Rights that includes the Second Amendment.


"[A] bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse."
-- Thomas Jefferson, December 20, 1787


This historic tree was felled and salvaged by Historical Woods of America in 2008. The beautiful poplar wood is stabilized to last for generations.

The full guard and ferrule of Freedom's Steel™ IV - The Jefferson Bowie has been deeply engraved by Master Engraver Jim Small with scrollwork and leaves representing the birth and renewal of the nation. Small added 24K gold inlays to highlight the exquisite engraving.

Freedom's Steel™ IVis presented in a custom-built black walnut display case by Brookfield Case. It features glass on four sides and the top and a document storage drawer.
- See more at: http://www.kniferights.org/ind...sthash.LFI4ulcn.dpuf
The Historic Thomas Jefferson Wood Handle This Tulip Poplar tree is believed to have been planted by Jefferson himself off the Southwest corner of Monticello. Hollow for many years, it finally died in 2008 and was removed in June of that year by Historical Woods of America. In his Weather Memorandum Book on April 16, 1807, Jefferson noted planting "1. Laurodendron in margin of SW [shrub circle] from the nursery." This is the exact spot that this Poplar tree was growing. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation believes that this is clear evidence that this tree was the only one on the property that was definitely original and planted personally by Jefferson. Tree dating experts confirm the planting date noted by Jefferson as being appropriate for the estimated age of the tree at its death. For many years it was promoted by the Foundation as "America's Millennium Landmark Tree." - See more at: http://www.kniferights.org/ind...sthash.LFI4ulcn.dpuf

Sorry if this took so much space. I do not receive any type of compensation for this knife. I just thought I would share with you that a knife can often have a history or a story behind it that adds to the memories and background.
Hope you like it.