The Pen That Destroys an AK47
Cross Celebrates the Next Stage of Its Partnership with Fonderie 47 to Help Drive Peace Through Reducing Access to Assault Rifles in War-Struck Areas
PROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A brand of peace since its founding in 1846, A.T. CROSS is thrilled to announce the continuation of its partnership with social good company Fonderie 47 through the launch of the Peerless Fonderie 47 Collector's-Edition Rollerball Pen.
Fonderie 47 transforms AK47s from war torn regions of Africa into luxurious and beautiful accessories. Fonderie 47, which was founded by Cross "Mark Maker" Peter Thum, has been responsible for the removal of more than 55,000 assault rifles from circulation in Africa. This special-edition rollerball pen supports Fonderie 47's mission to stop gun violence in war-torn regions of Africa by reducing the supply of available assault rifles. With this aim, each Peerless Fonderie 47 Collector's-Edition Rollerball Pen purchased funds the destruction of one more assault rifle in Africa.
"In the last 20 years, wars on the African continent have resulted in the loss of millions of lives. The widespread availability of assault rifles has played a significant role in these ongoing tragedies," said Peter Thum, Founder and CEO, Fonderie 47. This fall we are happy to partner with CROSS again to help bring an end to violence with the release of the collector's edition of the Peerless Fonderie 47."
On the heels of a successful limited edition collaboration in 2015, CROSS and Fonderie 47 worked closely together to evolve the aesthetic of the pen to reflect design elements of the weapon itself. Each pen features black PVD plating with 23KT gold-plated appointments, a disk of blackened steel from a melted-down AK47 gun embedded in its cap and the unique serial number of the gun that was destroyed to create the writing instrument.
The Peerless Fonderie 47 Collector's-Edition Rollerball Pen funds the destruction of one more AK47. Carry, use, and display it as a symbol of hope and change.
The creation of these noble collector's pieces came as a result of the tireless efforts of the Fonderie 47 team, who spent a year and a half in conflict zones in Africa negotiating to safely and legally obtain confiscated assault weapons. Once secured, the guns were melted down by a local blacksmith and then the team transported them back to the US.
The next phase of the project took root in Brooklyn, NY, where they built a forge and engaged an American blacksmith to remake the gun steel into new ingots from which the signature Fonderie 47 pieces for the pens could be created.
The fine writing instrument craftsmen at CROSS used the blackened AK47 gunmetal to create the fine details of the recycled steel Fonderie 47 logo which is inset into the cap of this new edition to the Peerless collection, the finest writing instrument ever created by CROSS.
The CROSS Peerless Fonderie 47 Collector's-Edition Rollerball Pen, priced at $350, is available for purchase at select retailers and on www.Cross.com.
About CROSS
The story of the CROSS brand begins in 1846 when artisan Richard Cross, in partnership with his son Alonzo Townsend Cross, revolutionized fine writing instruments. Their early mark of entrepreneurial excellence included tools refined through more than 100 patents and accented by the spoils of the California gold rush. Still positioned to set the bar for what it means to symbolize achievement, human potential and usable luxury, CROSS seeks to provide those possessing extraordinary vision and a strong entrepreneurial spirit with the tools needed to make their mark.
About Fonderie 47
Fonderie 47 was founded in 2009 with the goal of stopping gun violence in Africa's most war-torn places by reducing the number of assault weapons in Africa. 'Fonderie' is French for foundry (the place for the melting and casting of metal), and '47' represents the year that the AK47 was introduced. Founder Peter Thum met boys armed with assault rifles, and the victims of these weapons, while developing clean water projects in east Africa and realized the enormous problem the availability of these weapons cause. Thum decided to transform these tools of devastation into things that were beautiful and opposite in nature that would inspire change and fund the destruction of weapons.
Inspired by this mission, Fonderie 47 has created high-end jewelry, limited edition mechanical Swiss watches, accessories and objects -- made from AK47 steel, precious metals and jewels -- with some of the world's best designers and jewelers. Each Fonderie 47 piece incorporates metal from a destroyed AK47 and bears the serial number of a destroyed gun. The purchase of every Fonderie 47 piece funds the destruction of a specific number of guns in Africa.
Working with the Nobel Prize winning NGO Mines Advisory Group, to date Fonderie 47 already has funded the destruction of over 55,000 assault rifles in war zones in Africa.
Media Contact:
Cynthia Patnode
MFA Ltd.
212-561-7492
[email protected]
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Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160906/404679
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SOURCE A.T. CROSS
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