Recieved Sept 30th:

Dear Sir:
           I recently returned from an archery elk hunt during the week of Sept. 9th-15th with the "Estes Park Outfitters" in Colorado. I was one of six hunters who was successful in harvesting a bull elk. It was during this week that I also met TOPS Colorado Coordinator, Walt Hesson. During our week long hunt Walt showed us several knives from the TOPS line. Walt and I also exchanged stories of our military "SF" days. I am currently employed with the Billings Police Department, Montana where I have been with our department for the past 21 years in which I have been a detective for the past 11 years.
          On Sept. 14th. of the hunt I was fortunate enough to take a nice 4X4 bull elk with my bow. Shortly after harvesting this fine animal I began the "field dressing" process and Walt Hesson offered me the following knife to complete the task; the TOPS CAT series, model #201. This smaller knife with the 3 inch blade and skeleton handle made the job much easier.
           I would like to once again thank Walt Hesson for this knife and I will continue to use it and report any findings that I may find in the future. Attached is a picture of me with my elk and the TOPS knife.

Sincerely,
Detective Brett Lund

Letter from Den. (on Russian Tank below)
Friday July 21, 2000

Hi Mike,

Some time ago I ordered a couple of Dawn Warrior Knives. You may recall that I asked that one of the knives be etched with the name Michael Ryabco. I am writing to thank you for such a very fine job on both knives and to say the etching was more than I could have hoped for.

You might find interesting the story these fine blades met. The man whose name you etched, Michael Ryabco, is the leader of Russia’s elite Special Rapid Reaction Force for the MVD. It is fully equal in scope to our own Delta Force and is operational throughout Russia to combat terrorism and also deployed to Chesnia for similar reasons. I met Mr. Ryabco through a former team member and mutual friend. He invited me to visit him in Moscow and train along side of his team. An enormous part of their training involves hand-to-hand combat in all related areas. What with Russian strength, principles, combat obstacles and CQC we were in constant training. The use of the knife was very different than anything I had heretofore encountered, wonderfully effective and deceptive in movement and application. This was no Combat Sambo as I expected it to be but a system of ancient fighting skills a few hundred years old and practiced mostly in special units of Russia.

I presented Mr. Ryabco with the Dawn Warrior. He looked at it and hefted it in very knowledgeable ways for a while then began to show it to his team members. Each Spetznaz was highly interested in your entire unit of sheath and blade and several asked me if I could bring them one also on my next visit. So it looks like I’ll be ordering a t least two more. One is for a man named Alexander who is said to be the best sniper in the Army. “Shasba” as they call him told me through an interpreter that he is “a professional and needs a knife with such strong steel and so well made.”

Michael Ryabco and his team of Spetznaz are the real thing. Immensely professional, capable and tough, they know and appreciate fine weaponry and recognize these things when they see and feel them. I cannot tell you in words the effect your blades had on these amazing soldiers but Michael showed me his knife collection and then put his new Dawn Warrior in a place of honor between a 200 year old Russian hunting knife and a large Cossack dagger of unknown age. But, he told me when I asked that it would be operational from now on. I believe him.

-Den

Recieved December 29th, 1999

You Might be a Cop

You might be a cop if.......

...you have the bladder capacity of three people.
...you have ever restrained someone and it wasn't a sexual experience
...you believe that 25% of the people are a waste of protoplasm.
...your idea of a good time is an armed robbery at shift change.
...you request a criminal history check on anyone who seems friendly towards you.
...discussing dismemberment over a gourmet meal seems perfectly normal to you.
You can identify a negative "teeth to tattoo" ratio just by looking at a person.
You find humor in other people's stupidity.
You believe in the aerial spraying of Prozac.
You disbelieve 90% of what you hear and 75% of what you see.
You believe that unspeakable evil will befall you if anyone says,
"Boy, it sure is quiet around here."
You believe chocolate is a food group.
...when someone calls you a prick, you take it as a compliment.
You have ever had to put the phone on hold before you start laughing uncontrollably.
Your diet consists of food that has gone through more processing than a computer can track.
You plan what you're going to have for dinner while loading your sidearm.
You have ever wanted to hold a seminar titled, "Suicide...getting it right the first time."
... your favorite hallucinogen is exhaustion.
... you think that caffeine should be available in IV form
You believe that cells should be equipped with a Valium saltlick.
...you're sure that anyone who says," I only had 2 beers" will blow over 0.15.
You find out a lot about paranoia just by following people around.
You are told to deliver a human jaw in a jar and you find yourself talking to it there on the seat beside you.
You have trouble differentiating between counsel and client.
...people shout, "I didn't do it" when you walk into a room and think they're being hugely funny and original.
You believe strongly in involuntary sterilization.

Columbine Father Speaks Out

This is from the father of a Columbine victim, a non-gun owner.

TESTIMONY OF DARRELL SCOTT FATHER OF 2 VICTIMS OF COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING LITTLETON, CO.,
BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1999 2:00 P.M., 2141 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING.

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil in the heart of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher and the other 11 children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy - it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of that blame lies here in this room. Much of that blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs
Your words are empty air
You've stripped away our heritage
You've outlawed simple prayer

Now gunshots fill our classrooms
And precious children die
You seek for answers everywhere
And ask the question "Why?"

You regulate restrictive laws
Through legislative creed
And yet you fail to understand
That God is what we need!

Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge that third part of our makeup, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreck havoc. Spiritual influences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historic fact.

What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in doing so we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs; politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that continue to erode away our personal and private liberties.

We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers.

The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored. We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God! As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw two friends murdered before his very eyes - he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right!

I challenge every young person in America and around the world to realize that on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School - prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your conscience and denies your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of your who would point you finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before you cast the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain. The young people of this country will not allow that to happen."

Some Additional Facts for Prayer and Thought

Turkey established gun control in 1911. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
The Soviet Union established gun control in 1929. From 1929 to 1953, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938. From 1939 to 1945, 13 million Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, mentally ill people and other mongrelized peoples, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1949 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million "educated people", unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

An Interesting Quote

"This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!"
Adolf Hitler, 1935 in a speech to the Reichstag