Shell Casing Pens Made For Those Who Serve
If Charlie Thompson had his way, every military person serving in Iraq and Afghanistan would have one of his Freedom Pens tucked into their uniform. The pens are made by Thompson and other volunteers using shell casings saved from military target ranges. What started as a way to honor his son, Jacob, who was killed in 2007 while serving in Iraq, has turned into a much greater mission.
Thompson started making the pens in October 2007, and passed the 9,000 mark earlier this summer.
The North Mankato, Minn., man at first made pens out of purpleheart wood after Jacob was wounded and received a Purple Heart medal. After Jacob was killed, a friend showed him how to make a rifle shell pen and he sent them to Jacob’s former team members.
The soldiers love them. They’re symbolic of their service for freedom, and with each pen Thompson sends a note of gratitude for the soldier’s personal sacrifice.
In the beginning, Thompson spent about $4 per pen, buying .308 casings, 7 mm slimline pen kits. Now he gets the casings free from military bases and companies give him a break on the pen kits, which has reduced the cost to about $3 per pen. He’s never asked for money, but has been given about $1,500 in donations over the years. Most important to him is the volunteer help he started receiving from Operation Minnesota Nice groups when he had requests for large orders. Between Minnesota and Florida, he has 65 to 70 volunteer helpers. Thompson has made military contacts to get the pens to soldiers and will help anyone interested in the Freedom Pen project. He would love to see it go nationwide, and he will share his 17-step process.
Steps include: knocking out the primer, drilling 7 mm holes in the shells’ bases, securing the brass tubes of the pen kits with rubber heat shrink tubing, gluing, turning the shells on the lathe to sand and polish and wax. The pens open and close by twisting the two shells in each pen.
At 70, Thompson has had surgery for arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. He admits the work is sometimes painful.
“Talking to the guys that go over there and fight for our freedom, that little pain is nothing compared to what they are going through,” Thompson says.
He would love to talk to anyone interested in supporting Freedom Pens through contributions or by gearing up to make them.
“I encourage as many people to copy this design. I have no secrets,” Thompson says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Charlie Thompson, 601 Cornelia St., North Mankato, Minn. 56003 (ph 850 630-4360; bcjjjt@aol.com).
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Shell Casing Pens Made For Those Who Serve AG WORLD If Charlie Thompson had his way every military person serving in Iraq and Afghanistan would have one of his Freedom Pens tucked into their uniform The pens are made by Thompson and other volunteers using shell casings saved from military target ranges What started as a way to honor his son Jacob who was killed in 2007 while serving in Iraq has turned into a much greater mission Thompson started making the pens in October 2007 and passed the 9 000 mark earlier this summer The North Mankato Minn man at first made pens out of purpleheart wood after Jacob was wounded and received a Purple Heart medal After Jacob was killed a friend showed him how to make a rifle shell pen and he sent them to Jacob’s former team members The soldiers love them They’re symbolic of their service for freedom and with each pen Thompson sends a note of gratitude for the soldier’s personal sacrifice In the beginning Thompson spent about $4 per pen buying 308 casings 7 mm slimline pen kits Now he gets the casings free from military bases and companies give him a break on the pen kits which has reduced the cost to about $3 per pen He’s never asked for money but has been given about $1 500 in donations over the years Most important to him is the volunteer help he started receiving from Operation Minnesota Nice groups when he had requests for large orders Between Minnesota and Florida he has 65 to 70 volunteer helpers Thompson has made military contacts to get the pens to soldiers and will help anyone interested in the Freedom Pen project He would love to see it go nationwide and he will share his 17-step process Steps include: knocking out the primer drilling 7 mm holes in the shells’ bases securing the brass tubes of the pen kits with rubber heat shrink tubing gluing turning the shells on the lathe to sand and polish and wax The pens open and close by twisting the two shells in each pen At 70 Thompson has had surgery for arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome He admits the work is sometimes painful “Talking to the guys that go over there and fight for our freedom that little pain is nothing compared to what they are going through ” Thompson says He would love to talk to anyone interested in supporting Freedom Pens through contributions or by gearing up to make them “I encourage as many people to copy this design I have no secrets ” Thompson says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Charlie Thompson 601 Cornelia St North Mankato Minn 56003 ph 850 630-4360; bcjjjt@aol com
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