On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, Mikova’s sales director, Martin David, presented Brigadier General Lenka Šmerdová, chairwoman of the Military Solidarity Fund committee, with a symbolic check in the amount of 35,000 Kč.
The funds raised went toward a special edition of the UTON knife in the so-called “rescue version” with a red handle, a project spearheaded by Major Martin Kutil, Chief of the Rescue and Airborne Service Department at the Training Command – Military Academy in Vyškov.
Exactly 155 of these special knives were produced—a number representing the emergency medical services’ phone number. The knives were sold to members of the Czech Army, making this, in the truest sense of the word, an initiative where soldiers helped soldiers.
“My professional career is closely linked to the emergency medical services. For every paramedic, it’s important to have clearly color-coded parts of their tools and equipment so they can grab them quickly. That’s why I came up with the idea of making the knife’s handle red. Moreover, supporting the Military Solidarity Fund through the sale of the knife was more than significant,” explained Major Kutil.
In 2019, the Military Solidarity Fund began a partnership with Mikov, which, as part of the “War Veteran” project, releases a combat knife inspired by a foreign operation every year. This unique project was officially launched on July 25, 2019, when a limited series of 200 M-1917 officer’s knives—the personal weapon of war hero General Josef Bílý—was released. This edition raised 100,000 CZK for the Military Solidarity Fund. For every additional new knife sold, 300 CZK will go to the Military Solidarity Fund.
This year, a special “STORM” edition dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Gulf War will be introduced. Major Roman Hippík, an army expert and knife designer, is the driving force behind the “War Veteran” project’s knives.