The American Knife and Tool Institute unveiled its new Legislative Action Plan at the 2001 S.H.O.T. Show in New Orleans. The annual trade gathering also marked the third anniversary of AKTI.

In a legal decision that effectively reverses decades of legal sales of automatic knives in the State of Florida, the Fourth District Court of Appeal has effectively banned the manufacture, sale or possession of automatic or switchblade knives in the state.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden held a town-hall style meeting with employees and toured the facilities of Benchmade Knife Co. He later met with Benchmade President Les de Asis and other executives from AKTI member companies in Oregon.

Thanks to an earlier presentation by AKTI, U.S. legislators intervened with the Customs Service to call off a sweeping product seizure that had lasted some 16 days and threatened the future of Columbia River Knife and Tool Company in Wilsonville, Oregon.