Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. I am writing in hopes that you can provide some information on the Academy of Excellence, specifically regarding past Knives of the Year. I have recently seen pictures of a special set of knives, consisting of one each of the 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 Knives of the Year. All are Benchmades and all are individually numbered “___ out of 100.” On the other side of the blade, all have the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence logo, along with the year, the award won and the model number. They are packaged in what looks to be a gray-felt roll with both the academy and Benchmade logos on the front, along with the words “Special Collection.” I am trying to find out if this is a set issued in conjunction with Benchmade, or if it was done by a third party. Any information you have would be helpful. Wes Thompson Via: russ@shootingindustry.com The Special Collection was manufac- Benchmade Collection tured and issued by Benchmade. Greg Mooney, Benchmade’s president, said, “One of the deterrents to selling them was the set cost about $1,000 retail. The good news is that if one is found in the market, they should be worth quite a bit because of the limited number.” Wes, if you’d like more information, call Benchmade at 1-800-800-7427 or email: info@benchmade.com. Benchmade has been honored eight times in the 10 years the academy has presented the Knife of the Year award. The company is nominated for the 2008 award for the 950 SBK Rift Folding Knife. For more information on the academy, visit www.shootingindustry.com and click on the academy’s logo. I just read “Accelerated Business” (February 2008). Gee, Ruger is actually going to have a gun or two in some of the dealers’ hands before they announce a new product? What a concept! Wonder how much money they spent hiring some marketing specialist to tell them that it would make sense to actually have a gun or two on hand to sell before you start spending thousands of dollars advertising it, when any Joe off the street with a second-grade education could have told then the same thing for free. Of course, just because some of the “top” dealers get a few of them doesn’t mean that the rest of us “normal” dealers still won’t have to wait two years. Donald Lehman, owner Don’s Snowmobile and ATV Repair We agree, it would seem obvious that the concept “would make sense.” To Ruger’s credit, they are the first major firearm manufacturer to break the long-held tradition of announcing and advertising firearms that aren’t ready for delivery. Are they doing it perfectly? No, but they deserve a salute for starting — and being committed to — what we all hope will become the norm. 9 E-mail the Editor russ@shootingindustry.com What A Concept 6 JUNE 2008 Circle No. 209 on Inquiry Card www.shootingindustry.com