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Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence
2003 Awards Reception
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Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence director Randy Moldé and Shooting Industry magazine editor Russ Thurman hosted the 12th annual Awards reception at the Matrix in Orlando, Fla.
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2003 Shooting Industry Award
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Robert Morrison, Taurus
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"I think this may be the highlight of my career."
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"I’d like to ask you one thing, continue your fight against the senseless lawsuits. I ask you to continue your belief in the freedoms that we enjoy and the liberty that we’ve given everybody in this world.”
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2003 Accessory of the Year
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2003 Specialty Product of the Year
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2003 High-Tech Product of the Year
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Derek McDonald, SureFire
A2 Aviator microprocessor controlled “smart flashlight”
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"We’re proud of the
men and women both here in the U.S.
and abroad that
use our lights
on a daily basis
to protect
our way of life,
their safety and the
safety of our families."
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"Our lights are currently in use in caves and bunkers in Afghanistan and Iraq. We’re proud of that fact, we take it seriously and we’re proud of the men and women both here in the U.S. and abroad that use our lights on a daily basis to protect our way of life, their safety and the safety of our families. Those people are what drive us, who give us our daily motivation and to them we promise to continue to make our greatest effort to provide them with the finest illumination tools so they can do their job safely and return at the end of the day.”
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Leupold Clearly Focused On Eighth Award
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"This is very much and honor. It is wonderful just to be nominated for this award and particularly sweet to receive it. We’ve won before but believe me it never gets old."
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Benchmade Captures Sixth Consecutive Knife of the Year Award
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"Each year we look at the competition within the knife industry. This gets tougher and tougher and drives us harder and harder. This year we were looking back at the first award we received back in 1998 for Knife of the Year and this year it wouldn’t have even been one of the finalists. This really helps to drive the industry and keep products going."
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2003 Ammunition of the Year
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Winchester Loads Ninth Ammunition of the Year Award
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"The development of the Super Short Magnum has been a logical extension but it’s been very challenging. I’d also like to congratulate the Academy. Their recognition gives the industry, gives us incentive. We really get stimulated by these rewards. We hope to add to this string."
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Giant Handgun Earns Industry's Biggest Honor
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"I couldn’t stand up here with a good conscious without mentioning Herb Belin. Herb is the father of the Model 500 Smith & Wesson. I’d like to thank the Academy and congratulate the other nominees. We’re very proud to win this as we continue to try to regain our position in the marketplace and we really appreciate this."
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"Savage is an old line company having been in business for over 100 years, like a lot of companies it’s been through a lot of different phases in its life cycle. One of which was bankruptcy in the late 1980’s. It took us years to reclaim our place in the industry. Our latest phase is that we’ve become a very innovative company as the AccuTrigger suggests. I think historically when you look back it will probably be one of the most important innovations that the company has ever had."
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Joe Cunniffe, Benelli
Super Black Eagle with SteadyGrip
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"Products like this, come together
when you get five
or six guys in one office and say,
'what do you
think?' "
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"This is how this gun came about and I’d like to thank the Academy for the generosity of this award. As our good friend from SureFire had said they had products out there being used in Iraq when they turn the lights on, we have the M10-14 which has turned out the Iraqies lights."
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2003 Distributor of the Year
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Robert Steger, RSR Group
"Always the bridesmaid, never the bride."
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2003 Manufacturer of the Year
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Albert F. Kasper, Savage Arms
"Wow, twice in one night, that’s pretty good. I guess Savage is back."
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