In a move the signals the continuing resurgence of Remington, the company has entered into a licensing partnership with Smokey Mountain Knife Works (SMKW) to develop and distribute a new version of its classic Bullet Knife. The 2021 Prospector model is the latest in a long line of enthusiast favorites, one that traces its lineage back to the original model in 1922 and underscores a fresh dedication to honoring the legendary brand under Vista Outdoor ownership.
The Bullet Knife Series has been a favorite among the label’s fans, collectors and sportsmen since its introduction. Remington first entered the cutlery market after World War I, a move to avoid layoffs and idled machinery as orders for firearms slowed. Its first knife models hit the market in 1920, after which the line grew to include hundreds of versions. Demand was so great that some estimate at production’s height nearly 10,000 came out of the factory each day.
The company ended in-house manufacturing during World War II, when its firearm expertise was needed to produce guns. Remington brand knives made since then, including subsequent Bullet models, have largely been the licensed products of acknowledged experts in the craft.
“This knife has it all: nostalgia, functionality and quality,” said Danny Evans, Remington’s director of licensed products, when asked about the 2021 Prospector. “SMKW has a longstanding relationship with Remington in licensed products. It was a natural fit to build on our partnership with SMKW and their long tradition with the Bullet Knife series.”
“The most important fact about the Bullet Knife is that it has always been USA made,” said SMKW Founder Kevin Pipes. “We partner with the finest knife craftsman in the country to produce our knives, including Great Eastern Cutlery who is making this year’s Bullet Knife. The overwhelmingly positive comments attest to the knife’s quality and collectability. You can’t go wrong making an investment in the Prospector.”
