Sportsman Channel’s new show Amazing America with Sarah Palin is red hot, but the latest episode had even more fire to it thanks to Palin herself. Before it aired, the former Alaska governor posted on her Facebook page, “You know, an AR-15 makes a great gift – what more says, “I love you”?” Predictably, that drove the gun grabbers wild even before this latest installment of Red, Wild, and Blue programming hit the small screen.
Field host Benny Spies headed to Connecticut to meet Stag Arms founder Mark Malkowski. Stag Arms produces the first commercially available AR-15 for left-handed shooters. “This is the kind of creative entrepreneurship that makes industry so powerful in our nation,” Palin said. Malkowski’s story is one of family. He grew up in a factory, working with his dad for years. Now he’s the boss at his own shop.
Spies toured the factory floor at Stag Arms to see the whole process unfold. From raw material to an American made quality firearm, we got to take it all in. In the assembly room we learn that an AR-15 is made up of around 110 parts. Constructing each one takes time and careful, precise attention to detail.
“Because of it’s lightness and accuracy the AR is rapidly becoming America’s most popular gun… and it’s a lot of fun to shoot,” said Palin.
Spies proved that when he took part in some target shooting with Malkowski. Before the shooting though, Spies helped put one of the guns together. Then the boys had at it. Malkowski, using a lefty AR nailed his target four times. Spies showed us yet again that along with his great humor he is quite the shot, also connecting four times.
The segment leaves the viewer wanting to get out there and have some fun with these incredible firearms. It also serves as another great example of just how fortunate we are to live in a country that cherishes our right to bear arms.
In the second half of the program, field host Mark Christopher Lawrence spent the day in Tennessee with the guys from Mohr Knives. Rick Mohr and his son Tom make some of the best knives in America. “As people we all want to create a legacy to pass down to the next generation,” Palin said.
The potency of their products is unquestioned as we learned right away. Tom Mohr jammed a knife in the side of a truck and cut his hand. He was unexpectedly on the shelf, giving Lawrence even more to do during his visit.
Rick Mohr showed us how he collects his raw materials from junk piles. To make their knives, the Mohr’s recycle leaf spring, sawmill blades, band saws, rasp, and files.
Lawrence got to cut the metal for his own knife and toil with 2000 degrees of heat. Lawrence also spilt the metal, forged it, and formed it. The final process of forming the knife reminded the funny man of his toenails getting worked on. Rick Mohr stepped in to help with the finishing touches.
Tom Mohr returned with four stitches in his hand, just in time to show Lawrence how to harden the knife. Then the knife was polished to perfection. A long, thoughtful process that produced a useful, sharp instrument. Lawrence demonstrated that by shaving hair right off his arm.
After a hard day of work, the Mohrs and Lawrence enjoyed a friendly game of hatchet throwing! Who needs board games or basketball?
“That spirit of workmanship and the passing down of skill and honor in one’s work is what our forefathers have passed down to us here in America,” Palin said. Both Stag Arms and Mohr Knives exemplify this.
Amazing America with Sarah Palin airs Thursdays at 8pm ET on Sportsman Channel.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.