I want to post briefly on this as I was involved in some of the posts on other forums on this issue. It is real easy to see whiich ones they were I use the same handle on several different gun and knife forums.
To Paul Davidson who I am going to quote and reply to. This is in no way a challenge to what you are saying but your post was the best summary of the different issues at question here. So I am going to quote and reply as a way to organize thoughts.
Paul Davidson said:
Wow...
:barf:
.....It seems we have two knife making "camps" that are both helmed by a person that may have misrepresented their military service. I have seen no real evidence to back up either side. Can everybody agree with that?
Well as I see it Mick's being a ranger has been questioned by a group on another forum. There has been some stuff aparently printed where the info could not have been correct based on timing involving Mick serving time. Serving time is something he has not denied but something which for obvious reasons he would not want to advertise. There are some allegations that Mick was not a Ranger but that is a case of people stating he lied and calling him out to prove different. The burden of proof should be on the shoulders of the accusers.
Now the other company head posted on a thread that he was a professional soldier. When questioned on that he said his stating FIVE years (spelled out) was a typo for 2 years. You wont see this becasue he has edited it out now. When asked about his 5 years as a professional soldier he asked the thread author where they got that information, he had some egg on his face when the poster linked to Kevin's own words. Keven went on to explain that he had a job selling tactical equipment to LEO and military personel and doing some training. I'm not sure how that makes one a soldier.... So yes at least one of the knife making camp owners has in fact lied about their career as a soldier.
I did get myself banned on that forum for calling BS on the stated reason behind all of this being that they simply wanted to clear up the military record issue. I still call BS on that as I am sure most peopel reading the threads will as well.
Paul Davidson said:
They both hate each other for reasons that probably aren't even being adressed here. Reasons that go back long before this fiasco. Right?
That seems to clearly be the case in this instance. Though Kevin says there is nothing there because Strider is no competition to him etc... It is all about his military record remember? Becasue stating you are a soldier based on the fact that you sold handcuffs to LEO's gives you the right to stand in righteous indignation over a mis stated military record.
Paul Davidson said:
There is a company that makes pseudomilitary nylon gear mixed into this, and I still don't understand what their beef is with Strider. Maybe if I bother to read the TF threads I may, but I doubt it.?
Symbols about this boycott was how I stumbled into all this mess in the first place. There were posts that the owner of Maxpedition was involved in emailing out the "evidence" that had been uncovered in this investigation (witch hunt). This drew some heated responses on another forum USN. The owner posted that he had called and explained the situation and that it was all a misunderstanding and had been cleared up. This was contradicted by Josh from the Strider shop. All I can figure is that the guy was lying to try and prevent losing a lot of business from a group of very loyal customers. After his lying about correcting things was exposed he quickly stopped posting to that forum.
The emails sent were reportedly to collectors about concern that their collections would become devalued if some of this information were to be revealed. ( From what I have read I did not receive the emails) These emials were the ones that contained personal information such as names, addresses etc of Micks children. This does not sit well with me being a father! Business is buusinbess but a man's family is COMPLETELY off limits! Ummmmm I trhought this was all about a military record.
Paul Davidson said:
For the record, I don't own a Strider, Mad Dog, or Maxpedition product. This BS isn't keeping me from buying any of the above, but it sure isn't making me want to run out and purchase any either. Bad blood=bad publicity=bad business.
I don't own a knife from either camp myselfr. Though I will admit that I am more inclined to support Strider after this simply so that the people who started the email smear campaign do not see the payoff they desired in spreading this information in a behind the scenes email attack campaign. One thing is for sure.... At this level there are a lot of choices out there that can be made. We all have the rights to spend our money as we see fit. As stated above my inclination is to thumb my nose at people who indtended to damage somone else in the business through truly underhanded and malicious means by supporting that individual's business. I don't expect anyone else to agree with that but I also don't feel I should have to defend that decision either.
I do own a Maxpedition fatboy that I have used for over a year. I will however not buy anything else from that company as the owner has shown a serious lack of honor and I have witnessed him trying to lie his way out of this bad situation on another forum. When he was called on it he stopped posting and went to the forum run by the other camp in this entire episode. (personal note, I don't think the 18 or so members on that forum are going to be a huge boost in sales numbers for you guys.)
I learned some info about Mick that I did not know in all this, that is not a big surprise as I don't personally know Mick and would not expect to know personal details about his life. (I know more now that I probably have a right to.)
Truth be known he was not a kid when these events took place and he has not stated that as the case, but some supporters have alluded to this. I was surprised by the situation but he has openly stated yes it did occur, he paid his due and has gone on with his life. He has built a successful company and is a strong supporter of our men in uniform. For that he should be congratulated and respected.
Those are the facts of the situiation as I see them.
