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They don’t call it the giving season for nothing. From elaborate gear and gadgets to simply taking the time to gift the priceless act of selflessness for those who’ve continued to stick by your side through thick and thin, these are the thank you moments. The times when we hang our personal grievances up to dry for the benefit of others. For as much as we like to tell ourselves otherwise throughout the other 10 months of the year, the truth is we’re all in this together. And together we must remain. So what better way to prove your attention to detail and appreciation for the patriot in your life than with good ol’ fashioned American heritage.
Built right here in the USA with American hands, what follows is just that — quality gifts for the holiday season that pay tribute to our pastime, our perseverance, and our continued breadth in the world of manufacturing. America is alive and well folks, no matter how you slice it or where your political beliefs may lie, we’ve never not been great. In fact, we’re just getting started. Here’s some tangible evidence of that fact.
Pillbox Shark Bat
Painted to honor the art on Vintage warplanes known for their countless miles logged to keep our country safe, the Pillbox Shark Bat is one fine piece of Americana. Not to mention such noble intentions adorn a key piece of equipment from our pastime. Each bat is constructed from solid ash wood, measures in at 34-inches, and finished with a clear coat of urethane. A handsome piece of memorabilia for the mantle.
Liberty Bottleworks Special Ops Water Bottle
Built right here in the USA from 100 percent recycled aluminum, Liberty’s Special Ops water bottle hosts BPA-free materials and a PureShield Liner for a healthy and clean opposition to bare metal.
Shinola Baseball
Yet another piece of tribute memorabilia to America’s pastime, Shinola’s premium leather baseballs are certainly something worth displaying come Spring Training. They also host a waxed linen thread and come available in several colorways as well.
Grovemade Brass Key Ring
Built from a block of solid brass, this majestically-designed key ring from Grovemade is nearly indestructible yet easy to sport from day to day. It’ll hook with ease to a belt loop — allowing for a user-friendly experience — and certainly prove its value come Miller Time thanks to a built-in bottle opener.
Fisher Space Pen
Fisher as quite the history in the realm of space exploration. This Space Pen, for instance, was originally used the Apollo 7 mission back in 1968 and since then has been used on every single manned NASA mission to this day. And why not? Each pen a chrome-plated brass construction, handy pocket clip, their PR4 pressurized cartridge to function in zero-gravity, and a medium point for reliable penmanship.
Craighill Desk Knife
Part utility part design aesthetic, this Japanese-inspired desk knife is made mimic the hold and feel of a writing utensil but with the slicing prowess of a well-built pocket knife. Each Deck Knife also hosts a stainless steel construction and weighs just 4.5 ounces.
Maxx & Unicorn Rectangle Valet Tray
Keep that EDC safe and organized on the nightstand come nightfall with a little help from this American walnut valet tray. Each piece from Maxx & Unicorn also comes with a smartphone section and a charge cable slot, a low-sheen varnish finish, and modest 10oz weight.
American Bench Craft Hemingway Journal
Keep your ideas from vanishing back into the depths of the mind. This journal can help. It hosts premium full-grain vegetable-tanned leather, metal rivets, and an internal cover stash pocket for loose papers.
Peak LED Eiger Flashlight
Designed with commercial use in mind but made available for you and me, the Eiger Flashlight is a compact keyring-compatible LED piece of everyday carry that’s both shock and water resistant, features a fine copper construction, and a twist switch operation.
Birdwell 808 Limited Edition Board Shorts
It may be getting cold out there but that doesn’t mean a pair of American-made board shorts shouldn’t be on the gift list this year. And with a lifetime guarantee, a classic cut from four-way stretch nylon, and an overall lighter, softer and more mobile build than previous iterations, this pair of 808 Limited Edition Board Shorts from Birdwell is a no-brainer through and through.
Buck Mason Slim Jean
Comfortable stretch jeans with the weight of Raw Indigo Denim? Yes, please. Thankfully, Buck Mason has this covered in spades with this pair of sleek and slim black jeans. An obvious pick for the holiday season — because there’s nothing more American than jeans you know.
Chrome Industries Citizen Messenger Bag
For the urban commuter, this 1050D abrasion-resistant nylon messenger bag is just the thing to keep any and all work items locked and loaded for the week. It hosts an 18oz weatherproof truck tarpaulin liner, reflective straps, daisy chain attachment loops, and a 17-inch laptop sleeve.
Benchmade 580 BK Barrage Knife
It’s easy to trust a knife designed by the likes of Warren Osbourne. Add Benchmade’s American principles into to equation and you have this here Barrage Knife. Its hosts a 154CM steel drop-point plain edge blade, Valox handle scales, an AXIS Assist assisted opening and a lifetime guarantee.
Freenote Cloth Parker Tee
Nothing says thanks like a versatile standard button-down tee. Freenote Cloth offers just the thing too — complete with a utility pocket & pen insert, custom Corozo belt buttons, 100 percent cotton construction and a modern fit.
Woolrich Freedom Throw Blanket
Honoring Old Glory in an excellent fashion, the Freedom Throw Blanket from Woolrich is woven in their American woolen mill and measures in at 60-inches wide by 72-inches in length. Keep it on deck for those warm summer nights or fall camping trips. You’ll be glad you did.
Silver Piston Hobo Nickel Zippo Lighter
Working to improve an iconic American classic is a tough task to undertake. Silver Piston managed to come out unscathed from that arduous process with something great to show for themselves. Take this Hobo Nickel Zippo Lighter for instance. Each piece is authentically brushed, hosts a unique oxidized finish, and a soldered-on hand-carved hobo nickel for good measure.
Best Made American Felling Axe
Complete with a 4lb Dayton pattern head, this Felling Axe could quite possibly boast one of the most iconic American axe head designs. Not to mention each piece is forged from 5160 alloy steel and comes available in several classic finishes.
Filson Waterproof Leather Trucker Wallet
There’s only one place where you’ll find this Filson Leather Trucker Wallet. That’s because this is an exclusive collaboration piece from the iconic brand. And believe us, all the rugged and durable qualities we’ve come to know and love about the brand are present here — including a waterproof construction, custom-finished YKK Filson snap buttons, and a custom solid sand casted brass chain lanyard with a Filson key ring and snap shackle.
Pelican Elite Cooler
Perfect for the overland excursion or simply the backyard barbecue, the 30Qt Elite Cooler from Pelican is about as rugged as you can get in this department. In addition to extreme ice retention, each cooler features a freezer-grade seal, press & pull latches, integrated cup holders and even a built-in bottle opener.
Defy Bucktown Backpack
Named after Chicago’s northern neighborhood where these bags are handmade, each Bucktown Backpack hosts a Martexin original waxed canvas exterior, 1000D Cordura interior, water-resistant YKK zippers, 23 liters of storage capacity, and a padded computer pouch. Not bad for a daily commuter bag.
Baxter of California Blue Steel Straight Razor
If you’re going to opt for a straight razor lifestyle, best opt for premium quality. Fortunately, this straight razor from Baxter of California is proudly built by Hart Steel skilled craftsmen and features a matte black handle, blue steel blade, and an overall water-resistant construction (naturally).
Iron & Resin Scout Jacket
Tough on the outside yet soft on the inside, this three season Scout Jacket from Iron & Resin is a rugged piece of outerwear that fits like a dream and keeps you warm while riding thanks to a striped flannel blanket liner.
State Optical Elston Sunglasses
Here’s the thing about sunglasses. Manufacturing-wise it’s easy to cut corners to save a buck or two. Which is why, unfortunately, there are so few American made sunglasses brands out there. Not in Chicago, however, because this is where State Optical set up shop to manufacture exceptional USA-made sunnies for folks who bleed red, white and blue. This pair is just one item from their extensive collection, ranging from all sizes and shapes. We trust you’ll find a gift worth giving here.
Nick’s Robert Suede Roughout Boots
Handsome, durable, versatile. This pair of Roughout Boots hosts 6oz Chromexcel American leather uppers tanned in Chicago by the Horween tannery, Vibram western soles, hand-carved leather arches, welted construction for resoling down the road, and a 6-inch height for ankle support.
Weiss American Issued Field Watch
Very few watches are made in the USA. Weiss, knowing this unfortunate reality, decided to tip the scales in their favor with this American Issues Field Watch. Here, not only is the watch itself assembled in their Los Angeles workshop but the very movement within the timepiece — their CAL 1003 to be exact — is also manufactured and assembled right here on American soil.
The 20 Best American Made Clothing Bands
Looking for something style specific? Not a problem. Just take a scroll through this list of the 20 best made in America clothing brands and see for yourself.
