Competitors to join forces to uplift American
craft and establish Portland as a destination for knife
enthusiasts
PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 12,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Portland's leading knife
manufacturers proudly join together to announce the establishment
of the Portland Knife Center of Excellence. Five Portland knife
brands– Benchmade, CRKT, Gerber
Gear, Leatherman and STEELPORT Knife Co.– serve as founding
members. With more knife companies headquartered in Portland than any other city in the United States, the Portland Knife Center
of Excellence (PKCoE) aims to establish the Rose City as a
destination that connects and celebrates a passionate knife
community, while building pride in American craft, education and
innovation.
Over 50-percent of knives sold domestically
are manufactured in the Portland Metro area.
Over 50-percent of knives sold domestically are manufactured in
the Portland Metro area, and the region boasts the highest
concentration of knife and hand-tool companies in the country. The
founding members have joined together in an unprecedented show of
collaboration and community building to uplift their shared craft,
supporting both local and global economies with job creation and
demand for high-quality utility products.
In support of the initiative, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, representing the 3rd District
of Oregon, says, "I am proud of
the fact that Portland is America's knife manufacturing center of
excellence. Too few people know that half of America's
highest-quality knives are manufactured right here. Coupled with
our amazing culinary scene is a unique opportunity to showcase some
of the very finest pieces of an emerging story."
"As the founding members, we recognize the significance of our
collective craftsmanship and the legacy of our brands. We represent
more than 200 years of combined experience in knife design and
manufacturing here in Portland,
where the competition is fierce. We've long admired each other's
dedication to excellence and innovation. Now, we are proud to unite
and uphold a spirit of collaboration that will spotlight Portland's
impact on the knife industry," shared Jon deAsis, CEO, Benchmade;
Mark Schreiber, President, CRKT;
Keith Carrato, Vice
President/General Manager, Gerber
Gear; Ben Rivera, CEO,
Leatherman; and Ron Khormaei, Founder and CEO, STEELPORT Knife
Co.
As its first public engagement, the PKCoE will come together on
National Knife Day to host the inaugural Portland Knifemaker
Showcase. Consumers are invited to visit the STEELPORT Knife Co.
Factory on Saturday, August 24 from
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. PST to engage
with PKCoE founding brands. Portland Government officials will
deliver an official proclamation at the event, declaring the date
as the Portland Day of Excellence in Knife Manufacturing. In
addition, event attendees will be able to experience a live knife
forging demonstration, a historical artifacts exhibit showcasing
Portland's knifemaking history, and local food and drink.
Leading up to and during the event, knife enthusiasts are
invited to enter the Ultimate Portland Knifemaker Giveaway
where one winner will be awarded a knife prize package valued at
over $5,000 USD. The prize includes a
STEELPORT Knife Co. 3-Piece Essential Set; a seven-piece Leatherman
tool set and Heritage Sheath, including the recently launched
ARC®, the first multi-tool to designed with a MagnaCut
Steel knife blade; a custom three-piece knife set and Station Knife
from Benchmade; a three-piece CRKT knife set; and a six-piece knife
kit from Gerber Gear. Online entries
are open now and close on August 24,
2024 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Enter
to win and view complete rules at
https://www.pkcoe.org/ultimate-knifemaker-sweepstakes/.
Additional support for the collaborative is being provided by
Evolve, White-Summers, Stack Metallurgical Group, SurfacePrep,
Travel Portland, Travel Oregon, Prosper
Portland, and Oregon State
University.
About Portland Knife Center of Excellence
Portland
Knife Center of Excellence was established in 2024 by five Portland
knife manufacturers– Benchmade, CRKT, Gerber Gear, Leatherman and STEELPORT Knife Co.–
with the shared mission to establish Portland as a destination that
connects and celebrates a passionate knife community, while
building pride in American craft, education and innovation. For
more information, please visit https://www.pkcoe.org/.
MEDIA CONTACT
TURNER | Kim
Rodgers
Kim.Rodgers@turnerpr.com
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SOURCE Leatherman Tool Group