american values

Generational Ambition

My great-great-grandparents were both born and raised in Bavaria, Germany. In 1875, at the age of 22, my great-great-grandfather, Joseph Hakert Sr., immigrated to the United States with his parents and siblings, arriving through the Port of Baltimore. Two years later, in 1877, my great-great-grandmother, Franziska Augustin, then 21, also immigrated with her family, landing in New York Harbor.

By coincidence – or perhaps fate – both families independently chose to settle in Hinckley, Minnesota, unaware of each other’s journey. It was there that Joseph and Franziska eventually met, married, and began building their family. Their first child Frances Clara Hakert, my great-grandmother, was born in Hinckley, Minnesota on October 26, 1884.

Under the Homestead Act of 1862, any American willing to live on and cultivate 160 acres for five years could earn legal ownership of that land – an incentive designed to push settlement and opportunity Westward. My Great Grandmother Frances embraced that challenge without hesitation.

In the Spring of 1911, at just 26 years old, she set out alone and traveled nearly 900 miles to stake a homestead claim in Lavina, Montana – determined to secure her piece of the American Dream. Along the way she faced every hardship the frontier could offer. Upon arrival – having found the spot she believed held her future – she staked her 160-acre claim. She built a one room cabin by hand and began the long, demanding process of proving up the land.

Two and a half years later on October 28th 1913, while back in Hinckley, MN she married the man who would become my great-grandfather, the two knowing each-other since childhood. They continued life in Lavina, MT, Drawing timber from the Big Snowy Mountains nearly 50 miles to the north to build a cabin suitable for the start of a family, and in 1914 they welcomed their first Daughter Bernice, my Grandmother, into this world.

In 1915, after hearing of land claims opening in Wyoming, they moved just outside Buffalo, Wyoming, and together they staked claims and expanded their homestead. By 1918, Frances’ parents, Joseph and Franziska, along with their 11 other children, had each staked homesteads used primarily as dry grazing land southeast of Buffalo, Wyoming.

When local hay became difficult to source, they undertook a remarkable effort – returning to their farm in Minnesota to harvest and bale hay, load it into boxcars, and ship it back to Wyoming to feed their livestock. After that ordeal, they faced a choice: return to their farm in Minnesota or fully commit to life in the West. They chose the latter. On May 21, 1920, my great-great-grandfather purchased the Klondike Ranch as a hay base – still proudly held by our family to this day. The Klondike Ranch was honored in 2021 by the State of Wyoming with the Centennial Farm and Ranch award, recognizing it as one of the few held in the same family for over 100 years.

If it weren’t for my ancestors resolve and adventurous spirit they passed down through the generations, I wouldn’t be who, or where I am today.

Klondike Ranch Cabins, Circa 1920-1930
A Roof Rafter From the Homestead Cabin of Frances Clara, 5 miles North of Lavina, MT

why we are here

In early 2002, I had a simple idea: deliver a quality product to the people who needed it, and do it faster, more efficiently, and with better service than anyone else. Not long after, I met someone from the ATK network whose guidance helped me take that idea and build the company that would ultimately shape the next chapter of my life.

Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of working with people from all areas of this industry — From Government, other Defense Contractors and Private Security, to Law Enforcement, Executive Protection, and eventually with the civilian market beginning in 2012.

Early on, we made a decision to hold ourselves to a higher manufacturing standard. Turning that vision into reality took risk, discipline, and the support of a very small group of people who believed in us from the beginning. Their trust and willingness to give us an opportunity is something I’ll never take for granted.

Like any business built over time, we’ve experienced both successes and setbacks. What carried us through was the ability to adapt, stay disciplined, and keep moving forward when challenges came unexpectedly.

Recently, life slowed down a bit, and we decided to focus more on projects we genuinely enjoy building.

The Slide Cutter is the first of those projects — created with the goal of offering something useful, well-made, and accessible to everyday firearm owners. At its core, it’s about helping people get more out of their equipment while maintaining the same standards of quality, precision, and service we’ve always believed in.

Part of our success comes from the relationships we’ve built along the way. From industry partners and suppliers to trusted professionals and long-time friends, these connections have opened doors and given us the opportunity to grow into the company we are today. Because of those relationships, we’re able to offer the products, capabilities, and services our customers rely on. We’re proud of where we’ve come from, grateful for the people who have supported us, and committed to paying that forward with the same trust and integrity that got us here.

Giving Back

Real success is not just what you build for yourself, but what you are able to give back to others. We believe that strong communities are built by people willing to invest in the next generation through guidance, opportunity, support, and leading by example.

This mindset was not only instilled in me through my childhood upbringing… None of this would have been possible without people who were willing to take a chance on me early on, offer guidance, and open doors when they didn’t have to. Because of that, we believe strongly in doing the same for others whenever we have the opportunity.

As this company grows, giving back will remain an important part of what we do. A portion of the profits from this venture will be donated to charitable organizations and causes that make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. While there are already several organizations we intend to support, we are always looking to learn about others doing genuine good in their communities.

If you know of, have worked with, or operate a registered 501(c)(3) organization focused on helping others, feel free to reach out to us. We believe that real change happens when good people work together toward something bigger than themselves.

Owner-Operated

As a family-run business, We’ve invested in modern multi-axis CNC machines to deliver precise, consistent results with quality and attention to detail. Every part that comes through the shop is handled with care from start to finish. Fast turnaround without compromising accuracy

Take a moment to see what we can offer you.

what the other guy bought

The Most Popular Selections

This is one of the rare cases where you should definitely do it, because all your friends are doing it.  If you are on the fence about which direction to go, consider checking out our Blog posts.  There you can find a brief summary of data points, and even a few of The Slide Cutter’s personal opinions.