(Note: I was casually familiar with Sniper, and no one in the outdoor space can be oblivious enough to not know Mossy Oak. When Sniper’s marketing team reached out to me, I was excited to learn more about the company and what they are doing. Proudly American, and Veteran-staffed)
A Kansas City Original
Sniper Bladeworks was founded in 2009 in a North Kansas City garage by Lance Abernathy, whose background spans security, law enforcement and SWAT, where he served as a sniper and tactical team leader. A lifelong knife collector and enthusiast with an affinity for hog hunting in Oklahoma and plains game in Africa, Lance draws on all of those experiences in his knife making. His aggressive designs and signature “overbuilt” knives, built around a pioneering ergonomic “pistol grip” handle, quickly earned acclaim in Blade Magazine and on Discovery Channel’s “Man, Woman, Wild,” and rose to the top of the custom knifemaking game. His blades were embraced by law enforcement, servicemen and blue-collar professionals who need tools built to last.
After the passing of Lance’s father, Gary, the company went quiet. Sniper honors Gary to this day by featuring his “lucky #5” throughout the brand, including the shell-casing “555” center-pivot screw design on its knives.
In 2020, Lance partnered with CEO Adam Pener, a national security expert turned entrepreneur, to relaunch the brand with precision-manufactured versions of five of Lance’s iconic designs. The “Signature Reload” relaunch campaign became one of the highest-grossing knife Kickstarters ever, a Top 1% campaign globally, and the entire run of more than 2,000 knives sold out within months of delivery. Since then, Sniper has sold more than 4,000 knives (over $1M at MSRP) through its site and a network of more than 100 retailers.
Sniper’s knives are made from premium S35VN steel, U.S. and Japanese sourced only, by the same manufacturing partner that produces for CRKT, Cold Steel and other leading U.S. brands. From day one, Pener set one policy: no Chinese-made anything, not steel, not parts, not even a screw. In 2025, the company officially moved its headquarters back to Kansas City.
Today, Sniper serves a national community of law enforcement, military, outdoors enthusiasts, tradespeople and other hard-working Americans, with a simple strategy: unmatched price-to-performance, standout design and dealer-first service. When Sniper hires, it hires veterans.
The collection dresses three of Sniper’s flagship designs in Mossy Oak’s heritage Original Bottomland pattern. Each knife is individually signed and numbered by Lance Abernathy, a mark reserved exclusively for backers of the campaign. The knives will carry the signature and serial numbering only through the Kickstarter; they will never be sold that way at retail.
SKINNER
Sniper’s high-velocity everyday workhorse, reimagined in Original Bottomland.MAMU
The mid-size icon that helped define the brand’s ergonomic “pistol grip” handle.TOG
The full-size fixed blade, overbuilt in the Sniper tradition.THE COLLECTION
All three knives with matching serial numbers, for collectors who want the set.Campaign at a Glance
- Launch: September 7, 2026, on Kickstarter
- Duration: Approximately 30 days
- Models: SKINNER, MAMU, TOG, plus the matched-serial Collection
- Pattern: Mossy Oak Original Bottomland
- Exclusive: Every knife signed and numbered by Lance Abernathy, Kickstarter only
- Early Bird: 24-hour launch window, limited-time pricing
- Delivery: By May 31, 2027
- Materials: Premium S35VN steel, U.S. and Japanese sourced only. No Chinese-made steel, parts or screws, ever.
- Licensing: Sniper Bladeworks is an officially licensed partner of Haas Outdoors Inc., home of Mossy Oak
Backers who pledge within the first 24 hours receive limited early-bird pricing. Full pricing will be published on the campaign page at launch. All rewards are committed for delivery by May 31, 2027.
“From a design standpoint, Mossy Oak is one of the most authentic and respected names in the outdoors. Being able to work with their patterns is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and we’re proud to bring that heritage into our designs.”
— Lance Abernathy, Founder and Chief Designer“We’re thrilled to be working with Mossy Oak. They’re an iconic brand with deep roots in hunting and the outdoors, and this partnership is a meaningful alignment for Sniper Bladeworks.”
— Adam Pener, CEO
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