Help us support our troops! [Knives for Soldiers] Update: 1,000 shipped to date and counting!

As some of you know, The group of friends here at Free Republic known as the Hobbit Hole thread, have been contributing to a small project to buy pocketknives and other needed tools for our deployed soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. It started out as care and comfort packages, and grew into pocketknives because we learned that while sweets and snacks were good, there were very practical tools, such as a good pocket knife, that our troops didn’t have unless they purchased them themselves. Handy items that would actually help them do their job.

Since we started we have shipped 700 knives as well as other tools, flashlights, EMT shears, seat belt cutters, and other gadgets to our troops overseas. Please visit our newly updated project blog to read about the rest of the project! The Hobbit Hole project blog

One of our pocketknives, in Iraq

Our project leader, 300winmag, has spent thousands of his own money to meet demand just hoping enough donations would be made to keep him out of the poorhouse. My husband ecurbh and I have sent at least $100 per month, and others in the group have sent more or less, depending on what they can afford. But still demand has outpaced the funds coming in. Requests for these knives continue to pour in at the rate of dozens per week:

July 27, 2005
I recently found out about your organization. It makes me feel really good to know there are people out there who care about us and the equipment we carry. I can’t express the amount of gratitude I felt when I found out about your organization. Many of us are junior enlisted, and just can’t afford a quality knife (which tends to be essential in our environment). I am an infantryman fulfilling a combat medic/shooter role because of civilian paramedic training. I was hoping I could get a few knives for the guys in my team if it isn’t too much of a burden. Check out my blog to see what we have been doing here, we are doing a good job of training the Iraqi soldiers if I may toot my own horn! - Chad in Baghdad

Much of the feedback we get are letters from deployed troops who have seen our knives, and went to our site to see about how to also receive one. (More emails from troops)

We have all donated as much as we can and will continue to regularly, but we have reached a limit on how much we alone can do. We’ve decided to both scale back on the more expensive knives we had tested sending, but also decided to ramp up the project and ask for money from outside the group... To ask fellow FReepers, and all our friends and family if you would consider sending a donation to our cause.

We aren’t official enough to fundraise in any kind of big way, we aren’t an official charity with financial statements and tax benefits, and we don’t want to be. We just want to help out just a little, the men and women that are sacrificing overseas for all of us. If you are reading this post, and agree with our mission, we hope you will help us . There is a donation link at the Hobbit Hole site linked above. We guarantee that every dollar you send will be spent on knives.

- HairOfTheDog, ecurbh, and 300winmag, for The Hobbit Hole.

Afternoon, all! Requests seem to have slowed down a bit lately, which hopefully will allow winmag to catch up on the backlog. By my estimation, there have been over 50 requests emailed through the website since this thread was originally posted, and that doesn't include ones that went to winmag directly! So please don't forget that the need for $$ has not subsided.

I wanted to tell you what a great thing you are doing for the soldiers and Marines stationed over here. I have watched these guys light up when the "Hobbit-Hole" boxes arrive. A little morale booster goes a long way. I know the media will never pick up on this truly PATRIOTIC deed you and your group are doing, but the troops thank you.

Frodo Please support our Hobbit Hole Pocket knives for the troops project.

More requests...

Hello fellow Patriots. I have heard about the very thoughtful program you are doing for deployed/deploying soldiers. As you may be aware, the 183rd is preparing for deployment to Afghanistan this year. We are an Apache Attack Helicopter Battalion and I am in the Quality Assurance Platoon. Inspecting Mechanics work and insuring that the Helicopter is safe for the Pilot to complete his very important mission is my job. To see these wonderful birds take off from the flight-line to keep the freedoms that most people take for granted is a very breathtaking sight. I am very proud to be a part of something so very important, and I am proud of you for your wonderful contributions that you have given fellow soldiers. If it would be possible to receive a Gerber LMF II knife I would be very appreciative.
If I could get one of your beautiful knifes I would really appreciate it thank you very much and from everyone that already recieved knifes they say thank you very much for supporting us.

Frodo Please support our Hobbit Hole Pocket knives for the troops project.

The two Gerber LMF II knives that I purchased were mailed out on Friday to the people in Iraq. Those knives are a work of art and worth every cent!

Considering that the knife can serve several generations, and the important role it has, it's a bargain at any price.

We live in the golden age of steel, where steel can be made with any properties you want, if you are willing to pay the price. And something like the Gerber is first and foremost a source of comfort, because you have confidence it will perform perfectly when and if needed. Peace of mind is priceless, especially in war. That's why the Hobbit Hole does not give away any blades that I would not personally stake my life on.

One interesting factoid of the Gerber LMF II is that the black coating (which I have not yet found out what it is) is almost impervious to ordinary laser engraving. The laser the trophy shop uses easily burns through the epoxy coating on Camillus blades, and fuses it into pits it burns in the steel. This gives a light gray lettering against a black background. It only takes a few second to engrave the logo.

On the other hand, the Gerber factory engraving is done with a much more powerful industrial YAG laser. While the steel is white, the engraving itself is yellow, due to the localized heating of the steel by the laser. We were finally able to engrave the blade by running his laser at maximum power, 1000 dots per inch, for five minutes per blade. The blades were too hot to touch at first, but the results match the factory's YAG laser engraving.

And while the blade is being engraved, the lettering looks like white sparks. Definitely something right out of Lord of the Rings.

A few more requests have come in...

I was just writing you to see about getting one of your knives. I am in the infantry here in Iraq about forty miles west of Kirkuk, and one of my buddies has the BK-3 knife of yours, and it kicks serious ass. Sorry about the language, I don't know how else to put it, but anyway, it is a really great tool for breaching just about anything that can be pryed open. I know that these knives are kind of expensive, but I was wondering if you could send me the BK-3. It is awesome.

I am a SPC here, so I am most all of the grunt work, and things are really heating up for the election. We are in Sunni country, and they are lessed than pleased as you know. At any rate, thank you all so much for your support over here, it is not un-noticed. You guys make an awesome product that is heavy duty enough for the big boys.

And this from one of the guys who already received a knife, and now wants to contribute...

a while back i wrote to you in and requested a knife. i recieved the tac tool and can't begin to tell you how effective it has been over here. as a matter of fact you posted my pic on your website. i'm in with the group of guys who are showing their knives (i have the mohawk).

at any rate i was so pleased with the blade that i'm requesting two more things from you. one i'd like to have the companion knife. i think that it would be a great investment just like the tac tool, and two i'd like you to send me information on how i might make a donation to your wonderful cause. you have helped so many troops over here including myself and i'd like to give back.

haha as i said before i would really love the companion. i wouldnt' know where to look for such a quality blade once i return home. i'm going home soon and it would be great if you could send it there. when you give me the info on making a donation please include if i can pay online or if i should write a check or money order.

And one that came with a pic...

I am writing from Kirkuk, Iraq and just wanted to send my sincere thanks for the knife I received through your organization. It is an excellent knife and I am proud to use it. It makes me feel even better about what I am doing over here to know there are folks like you back home. I attached a picture of me and my buddy getting ready to go out on patrol NW of Kirkuk. Once again, thank you very much. Keep up the good work.

And back on the subject of contributions, when we say we need continued donations, we really do mean it. That is the only way we can keep this project going.

Frodo Please support our Hobbit Hole Pocket knives for the troops project.

And back on the subject of contributions, when we say we need continued donations, we really do mean it. That is the only way we can keep this project going.

Pinging to our humble cause, I know there are many great causes right now, but if you can consider our 'pocketknives for the troops' project, described in the thread and summed up in the troop replies above, please consider it! We need your help to keep going! :~D

We are currently in contact with a wife would like for us to take on her husband's platoon that is packing up to head out to Iraq in a month. We'd sure like to send them off as prepared as possible. :~D

Frodo Please support our Hobbit Hole Pocket knives for the troops project.

The Hobbit Hole has always been given full credit for the two knives that I sent to Iraq. You are the people that made this possible!

From an email received from Iraq today:

I got your package today. Wow it was great thank you. My two soldiers loved the knives. I believed they will be sending thank you cards, they were caught off guard by the gift. I didn't tell them it was coming. They asked about your address. They are really good young soldier who will certainly put the knives to good use.

One of the soldiers just got his US citizenship in Baghdad! That was great! It is nice to see that the government is expediting citizenship for these outstanding young people who serve. More importantly these guys are dedicated. In the War on terrorism the military needs soldiers who will stay and it looks like they will stay and serve.

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