| 2017 Ultimate Steel™ Knives, Guns & More Spectacular! | Close Window  |
 |
Custom Ray Rybar Trump All American Bowie donated by Ray Rybar
(Retail value: $15,000)
Click on photos for higher resolution images.
The Story of the Trump All American Bowie
Because of the importance of the work Knife Rights does, I knew this knife had to be something special. What came to mind for me were things like, God, Country and the Constitution. I wanted this special knife to represent these things.
When my clients commission a piece from me I begin with an idea then plan what will go into my home-made steel to achieve the outcome I am looking for. For this steel, I wanted it to represent "Country" and "All American." Over the next year, I collected materials from across the United States.
I collected some hematite (iron ore) from the banks of Peters Creek and Jacobs Creek in Southwestern Pennsylvania at a spot where a very early stone iron furnace can still be seen. Also near this spot, at the junction of Piney Fork Creek and Peters Creek, once stood a black powder mill. When I was in Alabama I found some magnetite (another iron ore) in an area not far from the Birmingham Steel Mill and the Civil War era Tannehill Iron Furnace. From just south of Tucson, Arizona, I found some meteorites and a little southeast of my home in Camp Verde, Arizona, I hand-picked a small amount of manganese from Bloody Basin.
I smelted the ores I had collected with a bit of manganese added to each in order to help ease forging of the steel. The carbon content was adjusted and the tedious process of turning the blobs of smelted ore into good solid steel bars began.
Once the bars were completed, the layering began. Since the nickel content was minimal it was necessary to utilize the "San-Mai" method. San-Mai is a Japanese term that indicates three or triplet. In the application of this blade the San-Mai concept consists of a solid high carbon steel core (also made by me) with sides of pattern layered material known as Damascus. This process gives a hard core for the cutting edge and a softer spine to make it more durable.
I deliberately manipulated the Damascus to create open panels for etching the famous quote from acclaimed actor and former NRA President Charlton Heston, "...from my cold dead hands." Charlton Heston was a staunch and outspoken supporter of our Second Amendment and the freedoms it preserves. The other side is etched with, "ALL AMERICAN BOWIE."
I chose several meaningful Mosaic Damascus pieces I had previously created for the blade; the Cross, the Stars and Stripes, a Pistol and a Skull. The Cross mosaic is made up of 357 separate pieces. It is in this blade to represent the Biblical G_D of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob first and foremost. The Stars and Stripes represent our Republic, Constitution and Bill of Rights. The Pistol mosaic represents the historic means by which we, as Americans, have the right to protect our freedoms. The last mosaic, a skull, represents the outcome of giving up any of the rights we have been given by G_D, by our Constitution and by our Bill of Rights.
The process by which these mosaics were added to this blade is known as plugging. Close examination will show that each mosaic goes all the way through the blade.
The perfect handle for the All American Bowie had to be elk. Since there are elk all around my home and each year they shed their antlers, this renewable resource was collected locally. The two worked pins that secure the elk antler handle to the blade are Sterling Silver, along with the worked Sterling Silver collars above and below the Damscus "S" guard. These symbolize the first Americans on the continent. Many, mostly Navajo and Apache, are my neighbors today. I smelted the Silver from ore gathered on Mingus Mountain in Arizona. The Eagle carved into the elk handle represents strength, courage and freedom, the key attributes of the American people.
The project was finally completed during the week of Donald Trump's Presidential inauguration, consequently, I named it the "Trump All American Bowie." I am honored to present this piece to Knife Rights in support of their mission.
Blade Length: 13.25"
Blade Style: Bowie
Blade Steel: Smith-made San-Mai Damascus with Mosaic Damascus Plugs
Blade Thickness: 0.625"
Overall Length: 19.5"
Handle: Elk with Silver, Damascus "S" Guard
Retail Value: $15,000
Email: Ray Rybar
About Ray Rybar
Ray has been forging steel for over forty years. He has been smelting his own iron and steel for over twenty years. He has been collecting and smelting his own copper and silver ore for more than ten years.
Ray is one of less than one hundred and fifty Master Smiths registered worldwide by the American Bladesmith Society. The American Bladesmith Society is the accepted world standard for forging excellence. Queen Elizabeth's armorer, James Jackson, came to the United States in 2001 to test for the coveted American Bladesmith Master Stamp. Both Mr. Jackson and Ray Rybar were successful that year.
Ray's work is collected not only domestically, but also worldwide. He has been the recipient of Best Art Award at the BLADE Show International Cutlery Exposition once and recipient of the Best Damascus Award twice. He was honored with the prestigious Moran Award in 2015. Ray has received many other awards, which are too numerous to mention.
Ray is also an accomplished teacher and has taught classes at Touchstone Center for the Crafts in Pennsylvania, the Bill Moran School for Bladesmithing in Arkansas, The Tannehill Ironworks in Alabama, Pieh Tool Company in Arizona and one on one classes in his own shop located in Camp Verde Arizona.
His work can be seen published between the covers of Art of the Knife by Joe Kertzman and Spirit of the Sword by Steve Shackelford as well as numerous monthly publications.
As an Artist blacksmith, I direct my primary effort to cutlery but not exclusively. I am most known for bold Damascus patterns, and more recently, near impossibly intricate mosaics.
The Inspiration for my most sought after works comes from scripture and is centered on Biblical themes. I conduct my business under the premise that if art is your master, it will become your idol. If it is your servant, it will become your ministry.
| |
|
Eligibility Prize winners must be U.S. residents at least 18 years of age who have made one or more qualifying contribution of at least $20 each to Knife Rights, Inc. ("KR") during the eligibility period or who have submitted an entry in accordance with the published rules. Winners of firearms, suppressors or knives must not be prohibited from owning or possessing them under applicable laws. Rules Offer void where prohibited. No more than three (3) prizes will be awarded to any one person in each of the Early Bird Bonus Drawing and Main Drawing. No more than one (1) prize will be awarded to any one person in the Tail End Drawing, if held. A Tail End Drawing is not guaranteed to be held. You can donate as often as you like, but each donation is separate and independent from previous donations and will only entitle you to the number of entries specified at the donation level you have selected at the time of each donation. Each donation must include full name, donation amount, address and phone number to be valid. Winners need not be physically present at the drawing to win. Firearms and suppressors will not be shipped directly to winners, but rather to Federal Firearms Licensees ("FFLs") specified by winners (or selected by KR or Hill Country Class 3 LLC d.b.a. Silencer Shop (Silencer Shop), in KR's and Silencer Shop's sole discretion). Winners can only take possession of firearms and suppressors from the FFLs. Optional suppressor included with some firearms prizes can be excluded if the winner is ineligible for any reason or prefers not to become subject to the requirements of the National Firearms Act (NFA). Current wait times for NFA transfers conducted by the BATFE are nine to twelve months and could be longer. KR is not responsible for tracking such wait times. Winner is responsible for compliance with the NFA and all state and local laws governing the possession of NFA items in the winner's jurisdiction. Neither KR, nor KR Affiliates (as defined below), nor their successors or assigns, nor the supplier of the suppressor prize, are responsible for failure to complete delivery of such prize for any reason, including without limitation the prize winner's failure to comply with any legal requirements. Declining to accept a suppressor prize, or failure to satisfy the legal requirements for a firearms or suppressor prize selected, forfeits any claim to that firearm or suppressor prize and no replacement, alternative prize, or cash equivalent will be provided. Automatic knives will not be shipped directly to winners unless a legal recipient under 15 U.S.C. §§ 1241-1245 and 18 U.S.C. § 1716(g), but rather to an authorized dealer in eligible winner's state from which winner can claim prize. Some prizes are subject to additional limitations that are included in prize description. Claim to prizes is not transferrable with the exception that delivery of a suppressor prize can be received by a trust of which the winner is a responsible person qualified to receive an NFA item. The odds of winning vary based on the number of donations and amounts donated. Winners will be drawn on or after August 1, 2017, for the Main Drawing. Early Bird winners will be drawn on or after May 8, 2017. If held, Tail End Drawing winners will be drawn on or after August 1, 2017, immediately prior to the Main Drawing. A minimum of the first 75 winners drawn in both the Early Bird and Main Drawings, and the first 5 winners in the Tail End Drawing, if held, will have first choice of prizes available after any prior winner(s) have selected, in the order in which such winners were drawn ("Winner's Choice"). At KR's option, additional Winner's Choice prizes may be awarded. Accordingly, the final posting of winners may take up to 180 days post drawing. Winners must comply with all applicable legal requirements prior to taking possession of firearms, suppressors or knives. Winners are solely responsible for determination of legality. If for any reason winners cannot comply, prizes will be held for 30 days and then will be forfeited and returned to KR. Winners of firearms are responsible for shipping charges, transfer fees to FFLs and any other applicable fees and may be required to prepay such expenses by valid credit card or other method to be determined in KR's sole discretion. NFA prizes (silencers/suppressors) will be transferred via the "Powered By Silencer Shop" dealer network. Winner will not incur any additional charges unless exceptions are made. Exceptions include but are not limited to: changing SOT dealers after paperwork is filed, changing registration type, facilitating a dealer outside of the "Powered By Silencer Shop" dealer network. In most cases, Silencer Shop will handle the transfer from start to user receipt and will require contact with the winner to insure registration information is valid and complete. If communication cannot be facilitated between Silencer Shop and the winner, NFA Prizes will be held for 30 days before return transfer to the manufacturer is initiated. All prizes other than firearms will be shipped at KR's expense via a shipping method of KR's choice, signature required at KR's option, to the addresses provided by winners, insured. If delivery is not completed on original shipment, regardless of fault, winner is responsible for any redelivery charges. Winners are hereby warned not to sign for delivery without the package in hand and undamaged. Winners who do not respond to a delivery notice, regardless of reason, are responsible for any redelivery charges. Winners of prizes after the Winner's Choice prizes are selected will be sent their prizes without prior notification to the address provided. It is donor's responsibility to notify KR of any change in address. KR is not responsible for lost, damaged, stolen or undelivered prizes, regardless of cause, and winners agree to look solely to insurance with regard to same. KR is not responsible for reimbursement of any insurance deductible, which may be in an amount of up to $500. Risk of loss or damage is solely with winners. KR will attempt to notify all Winner's Choice winners using the contact information supplied. It is donor's responsibility to notify KR of any change in contact information. Any prize not claimed by a Winner's Choice winner within 48 hours from KR's first attempt to notify the winner will be forfeited and all other winners drawn will move up one place in priority. If a Winner's Choice winner that does not respond within the 48 hours later contacts KR, they will be offered the choice of prizes then currently available if within the Winner's Choice draws, after the current notified winner selects a prize. All entries and donations are non-refundable and will become the sole property of KR once submitted. Acceptance of a prize constitutes winners' permission for KR to use winner's name and likeness for KR promotional purposes without additional consideration. If payment of any donation is rejected, denied, returned for insufficient funds, refunded for any reason or otherwise not made, and the responsible party does not subsequently make full payment plus processing fees of $25.00 that clears no later than 7 (seven) days prior to drawing, the entries related to that donation will be removed from the drawing. Winners of "Early Bird" prizes are eligible for (and their winning ticket will be automatically entered in) the Main Drawing. If held, winners of "Tail End" prizes are eligible for (and their winning ticket will be automatically entered in) the Main Drawing. Once an individual winner has been selected as a prize winner in the Main Drawing, that winning ticket is removed from subsequent drawings. There is no cash substitution for any prizes. Winners Choice winners will be notified using the contact information supplied and informed how to claim prizes. Only those named as the entrant on a valid winning entry form are eligible to claim a prize, and such persons may be required to provide proof of identification acceptable to KR in KR's sole discretion. KR shall not be liable for failure of notification arising from incorrect or illegible contact information supplied, or email or voice mail induced failures, or failure of entrants to respond to communications (or failure of KR to actually receive such responses regardless of cause) within 48 hours of KR's first attempt to notify the winners. KR's obligation is limited to making good faith efforts to notify winners. Once all winners are drawn and notified, names of winners (given name initial and surname) will be posted at the Knife Rights Ultimate Steel web site: www.KnifeRights.org/UltimateSteel. All prize winners are subject to applicable drawing procedures, restrictions, rules, directives, applicable laws and regulations, and are solely responsible for all applicable taxes, fees, assessments and charges relating to the prizes. Your participation in this fundraiser (including without limitation the act of submitting a donation and/or winning a prize) signifies and is conditioned upon your acknowledgement, agreement, covenant, representation and warranty to KR, based on good and valuable consideration, receipt of which you acknowledge, that (i) KR, its officers, directors, affiliates, professionals, personnel, representatives and members, together with Silencer Shop and its officers, directors, affiliates, professionals, personnel and representatives (collectively, "KR Affiliates") shall have no liability whatsoever in connection with this fundraiser, the prizes (or their acceptance, possession, use, or misuse), or anything arising out of or relating thereto; (ii) you waive and release any and all claims you may now or ever have against KR Affiliates; and (iii) you will not make any claims against KR affiliates and shall be estopped from so doing. KR makes no claim regarding the actual value of any prize and is not responsible for the accuracy of any value estimate provided by prize donors or anyone else. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price listed for production items which may be purchasable for a lower price. KR does not guarantee the accuracy of the prize descriptions published. Prizes are in as-is condition. KR makes no warranty as to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, suitability or condition of the prizes. Prizes donated by individuals may have been previously used. Prizes incorporating Mammoth, Mastodon, or Fossil Walrus ivory, tooth or tusk (and/or other materials that may become prohibited or regulated) are prohibited from being claimed by residents of some states, including but not limited to New York, New Jersey, California, Oregon and Hawaii. Prizes subject to change without notice. Production prizes may be substituted with prizes of equal or greater value prior to prize selection. Some prizes were not received by KR prior to the start of the fundraiser and KR is not responsible for the failure of any prize donor to fulfill the obligation to deliver the prize by the drawing date. If a winner chooses to accept a prize for future delivery, KR shall be deemed to have fulfilled its prize delivery obligation to that winner and KR shall not have further responsibility for prize delivery thereafter. A donation is not required to be entered in the drawing. To enter without making a financial donation, send a postcard with your name, phone number, email and address to: Knife Rights 2017 Ultimate Steel, PO Box 657, Gilbert, AZ 85299. Your postcard must be received no later than July 31, 2017 to be considered a valid entry. Only one postcard per person is allowed. KR is not responsible for undelivered or illegible postcards. Knife Rights is a 501(c)(4) exempt organization. Donations to Knife Rights are not tax deductible charitable contributions. Check with your tax professional for additional information. |
Return to Donation Form