Elite Bladesmith Justin Gingrich Designs New Afghan(TM) Knife for the Ontario Knife Company(R) and the Nine Time Academy Award Nominated Movie The Hurt Locker

FRANKLINVILLE, N.Y., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- If anyone knows the ins and outs of surviving the most challenging conditions, its Ontario Knife Company's elite knife designer and former military veteran Justin Gingrich.  Having served 10 years in active duty for such honored units as the 3rd Ranger Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, and the Ranger Training Brigade (among the many other hands-on military positions), Gingrich is no stranger to creating survival tools that excel where others fail.

Best known for his design of the incredibly tough and versatile Ontario Knife Company Ranger™ Series of knives, Gingrich has set his sights on adding yet another cutting-edge masterpiece to his register of serious survival knives that'll cut through the toughest jobs in a wide range of conditions — the new Ontario Knife Company Ranger Series Afghan™ Knife.  Constructed from 5160 carbon steel and featuring a black texture powder coated blade — this no-nonsense fixed blade knife can tackle any job avid outdoorsmen face in the field.  

The Ontario Knife Company Ranger Series Afghan also features an easy-to-grip tan Micarta handle and an overall length of 10" with a 5" long blade that is .25" thick.  Plus, it comes complete with a MOLLE compatible black nylon sheath with edge protecting hard plastic insert and a roomy utility pouch.

Gingrich's unique designs have not only caught the attention of military personnel and outdoor enthusiasts of every stripe, technical advisors for the suspenseful war movie, The Hurt Locker, (starring Jeremy Renner, Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes), leaned on his expertise to design a blade for the movie that was as bold and brave as the real warriors who carried it — the Afghan knife.  The film recently nabbed nine academy award nominations and is in top running for taking home an Oscar for "Best Picture" this March (challenging box office blockbusters such as Avatar and Inglourious Basterds).  The Ontario Knife Company Ranger Series Afghan knife was carried by Fiennes' character (Lead Team Contractor) in the film.  

Not only did the Afghan knife give a superior performance on the set, along with an autographed photo of the movie's lead actor Jeremy Renner, it was auctioned off to the highest bidder after the movie wrapped. Ontario Knife Company donated the money raised to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing full scholarship grants and educational and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations personnel who have died in operational or training missions.

Founded in 1889, Ontario Knife Company is a U.S. owned and operated organization that continually stays on the forefront of knife designs and cutting-edge technology.  Ontario's military supply roots go deep into its history, as the company has been supplying quality cutlery to the U.S. Military since WWI, beginning with its famous 18 inch Machete.  Today, the company consistently develops new knife designs that allow military personnel to have the products they need in order to get their jobs done both in and out of the battlefield.  In addition to being a major supplier to the U.S. Armed Forces, Ontario Knife teams with a nationwide network of distributors/dealers to market its products to many diverse consumer and niche markets including the tactical/military, hunting, outdoors and cutlery industries.  Worldwide sales activity encompasses more than 28 countries, and continues to grow.

For more information about Ontario Knife Company, contact: P.O. Box 145-26, Empire Street, Franklinville, NY 14737 • Telephone: (800) 222-5233 • Or visit the company's website at www.ontarioknife.com.  Ontario Knife Company is a subsidiary of Servotronics, Inc., listed as SVT on the American Stock Exchange (Amex^®).

SOURCE Ontario Knife Company