The first-ever presidential visit to Mikov, which took place as part of President-elect Petr Pavel’s tour of the Ústí nad Labem Region, was an opportunity to familiarize the future head of state with both the product line of the largest Czech cutlery manufacturer and the challenges facing the industry in the Šluknov Hook region.
“Although our company, of course, manufactures the entire range of cutlery products, the general showed the greatest interest in knives and edged weapons associated with the military,” said Bedřich Jetelina, the company’s communications director. “First and foremost was the UTON paratrooper knife, which was part of his equipment back when he was a platoon commander, but of course also army sabers and knives from the War Veteran Project dedicated to foreign military missions.”
After familiarizing himself with the company’s product range, Petr Pavel praised the fact that the company had already raised over 350,000 CZK for the Military Solidarity Fund—a fund he personally helped establish—through the War Veteran Project. According to him, this confirms the viability and significance of helping people who lost their loved ones or their own health while serving their country.
During his tour of Mikov’s facilities, Petr Pavel observed the pressing and grinding of blades for the Predator and Rybička knives, the continuous hardening furnace, and the tool shop, where machining centers are used not only to produce Pocket knives but also components for the bayonet of the BREN 2 automatic rifle, which Mikov manufactures under license from the Colt CZ Group.
After the tour of the company and a group photo with the employees, Petr Pavel left for a meeting with residents in Česká Kamenice.