Dowell, Harsey and Fogg join the ranks of other greats.
Custom knifemakers T.M. “Ted” Dowell and William “Bill” Harsey Jr. and ABS master smith Don Fogg have been voted the 2024 inductees into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame®.
The three were elected by a vote of sitting members of the Cutlery Hall of Fame and a panel of industry authorities, the latter assembled by BLADE® Magazine. The vote was finalized April 25.
The trio will be inducted formally in a special ceremony during the 43rd Annual BLADE Show June 7-9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The ceremony will be held Saturday, June 8, at 8 a.m. in the Kennesaw Room of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel, the host hotel of the BLADE Show. For ceremony ticket information, visit [email protected].
Dowell was one of the founding members who established The Knifemakers’ Guild, the grandaddy of all modern knifemaker organizations, in 1970. Along with fellow Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Bob Loveless, Dowell wrote the Guild’s original bylaws. Ted was Guild president in 1975 and coordinated the organization’s first custom-knives-only-no-guns show. He helped Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Phil Lobred establish the Art Knife Invitational in the early 1980s. Lobred credited Dowell with making the first modern integral knife, a design Ted introduced in 1972 in his basic hunting knives and which eventually evolved into some of the most ornate of integral art knives. Integral knives in general turned into a category of their own and remain popular to this day. Ted passed away in 2012.
Fogg and Murad Sayen formed a partnership called ‘Kemal’ in 1980. Kemal created some of the best art knives ever, including one pictured in Esquire Magazine. The accompanying article helped bring the beauty of art knives to the world. In 1981, Bill Moran and Fogg received the first ABS master smith ratings. In 2006 Don was inducted into the ABS Hall of Fame. He long has shared his vast knowledge. He revealed the art of Samurai and Viking sword making and developed the W’s damascus pattern. He shared the drawings of his best gas forge and his gas heat treat oven for swords. He built one of the first 20-ton hydraulic forging presses for making damascus. Today the press is as popular as a power hammer. He also was instrumental in starting the ABS bladesmithing school in Auburn, Maine.
Harsey has made and designed knives for 38 years, during which time he has been one of the most prolific and recognizable names in the industry, working behind the scenes and designing for Al Mar Knives, Beretta, Chris Reeve Knives, CRKT, Gerber, Ruger and Spartan Blades. He worked and consulted with and designed for Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Col. Rex Applegate, including the British SAS Collaboration Knife. Bill designed the U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret Knife, aka The Yarborough, for Chris Reeve Knives, a serialized version of which was presented to each graduate of the Special Forces Qualification Course. He also designed the official knife of the Canadian Special Forces and the U.S. Navy SEAL Silver Trident knife, and worked on the Neil Roberts knife project.
The elections bring to 74 the number of members in the Cutlery Hall of Fame, the world’s only shrine to the giants of the entire knife industry.
Follow these simple rules and you’re sure to have a great show.
If you’re among the throng of thousands going to the BLADE Show June 7-9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, here are a few tips on how to make the world’s largest, most important knife event work for you:
What To Wear
If in doubt “go dark”—any one or more of black shirt, blue jeans or black hat. While tactical doesn’t rule the way it once did, black remains the color of choice among many knife fans. Whatever color you choose, wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes. If you want to overdo it, clip a knife to every pocket.
Comfortable shoes that provide full support against walking on concrete all weekend are an absolute must. Some bring two pair of such shoes. Bring a small backpack for snacks, a small plastic water bottle, etc. If you go outside for the BLADE University classes or free seminars, a ballcap helps protect against a June Georgia sun that has fried thousands of BLADE Show patron scalps over the years.
Party Proof Yourself
If you join the revelry and revel too much in The Pit (page 24), the lobby bar of the host Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel, take some kind of headache relief before bedtime to reduce the dreaded post-Pit hangover. And, if you stay in the Waverly, bring some earplugs. The Pit can get raucous even into the wee hours and the noise can carry up to the hotel rooms, including the top floor.
Show Etiquette
Try to avoid walking fast and making sudden stops and U-turns in the exhibitor halls. Thousands of knife fans like you are moving, too, often closer to each other than they should. Any abrupt moves can result in collisions, so take it slow and easy. You’ll see more knives that way, too.
Never ask a maker how long it took him/her to make a specific knife. It’s natural to be amazed at some of the fabulous works of art and to be curious about how long it took to make one, but many makers bristle at the question. It’s not as important to know why they resent the query so much as the fact that they do, so don’t ask.
Don’t interrupt a maker/customer conversation. Patiently wait your turn or come back later when the maker is free to talk.
Ask the maker before you pick up a knife. If it’s a folder, it doesn’t hurt to ask permission to open it. The maker may want to open it for you. If a multi-blade folder, don’t open it so two or more blades are open at once. This puts undue pressure on one or more of the backsprings. It’s also a good way to cut yourself if you’re not careful. If you’re wanting to see what kind of clearance there is between opening/closing blades, ask the maker to demonstrate it for you. And when you finish examining the knife, return it the way it was handed to you—carefully, whether open or closed.
While it may seem courteous to wipe the blades off before returning knives to the makers, don’t. Let the makers do it instead. They are fully equipped to do so and are going to check the knife for any spots you may miss anyhow. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bring a chamois for your own purposes. However, if there’s any wiping down of their knives to be done, let the makers do it.
Don’t use a loupe/magnifying glass to examine a custom knife. It’s a good way to make the maker mad. There are going to be imperfections on custom knives—if not, they’re probably not custom—so some minute imperfections are to be expected.
After you finish talking to the maker and are ready to leave, even if you intend to return to his/her table, don’t say, “I’ll be back.” Chances are you won’t. It also implies you’ll be back to buy a knife when you may have no intention whatsoever of doing so. Don’t be an “I’ll Be Backer!”
One thing to be sure to do: have fun. If you’re going, see you there!
Four outstanding smiths will have gems coming across the block.
The annual auction of American Bladesmith Society knives to support the continuing programs of the ABS is a highlight of the BLADE Show, and 2024 will be another memorable year when the hammer comes down at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.
Once again, ABS master smith Brion Tomberlin is handling the logistics of the pre-auction process. He has brought together a roster of four outstanding ABS bladesmiths for this year’s event, and his appreciation of the ABS and what it means is reflected in his recent years of dedication to the auction.
“The ABS means so much to everyone involved and to the legacy and future of bladesmithing,” Brion commented. “It has developed so many bladesmiths through the years and helped to carry on the traditions and methods that have been used for generations. At the same time, it has brought along a younger group that will help keep interest in the forge alive and prospering.”
Jonathan Caruso holds the trophy and the knife he used to win the Arkansas Knife Guild Chopping Competition in Pickles Gap, Arkansas, in 2023.
Long Clip-Point
Jonathan Caruso of Conway, Arkansas, has been an ABS member for nine years now and earned his ABS journeyman smith rating at BLADE Show ’22. He will provide a long clip-point hunter with a single guard for the auction and to showcase his talent. “I chose this style of knife for the purpose of use,” he commented. “Although the knife was designed to be eye-catching, all my knives are created to be used for the tasks they were created for, which in this case is a functional hunting knife.”
Caruso adds that his goal with his ABS contribution knife is to deliver form and function with “a nice appeal, much like an evening gown or a cocktail dress.” He has added the flair and visual appeal of a hamon—essentially the line of demarcation where the hardened cutting edge and the softer spine converge on the blade—using a technique he learned from ABS master smith Jim Crowell. “It’s a process dubbed a ‘flame-painted hamon,’” Jonathan explained. “Instead of using the traditional clay method to create the hamon, I use an oxyacetylene torch to heat the cutting edge before hardening. I chose this method because I wanted to incorporate what I’ve learned from a very well-known master smith who has taught me a wealth of knowledge about bladesmithing and the history of the ABS.”
Caruso’s clip-point hunter features a 6-inch blade of W2 tool steel, sculpted guard of 416 stainless steel with vulcanized red and black spacers, and a handle of stabilized black walnut from Knife & Gun Finishing Supplies. Overall length: 11 inches.
“I chose the W2 to get a more definitive differentially heat-treated appeal,” Jonathan noted, “and the black walnut handle because it draws the eyes in to look at its stunning details. I feel like the handle material was waiting for such a knife and such an occasion as the ABS auction to be used. The black walnut handle material was purchased from Iron Dungeon Forge at BLADE Show Texas in 2023. I finally made it over to their table late on the afternoon of the first day and couldn’t believe that this beautiful piece hadn’t been bought yet.”
ABS master smith Steve Dunn
Chairman’s Trapper
Current ABS chairman Steve Dunn has been a member of the Society since 1990, two years after he began making knives as a hobby. He became an ABS master smith in 1994 and has taught at the ABS schools regularly. He joined the organization’s board of directors in 2003 and has been a committed servant of the ABS for 34 years.
“Each year the ABS has an auction at the BLADE Show to raise money for our schools for education of the forged blade,” he remarked. “I was asked to make the master smith folder this year, and I chose to make a traditional slipjoint. The reason I chose the slipjoint is that most everyone carries some kind of pocketknife—mostly slipjoints, I would think.”
Dunn’s contribution to this year’s ABS auction is a single-blade trapper with a 3-inch blade of twisted W’s pattern damascus. The damascus is a combination of 1075 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels. The bolster sports American-style scrollwork with 24k-gold inlay. The scales are sambar stag. Closed length: 3.75 inches. “The reason I chose this blade steel is that the two components contrast well together and for the edge-holding ability they offer,” Steve said.
Dagger Hamon
For James Rodebaugh, who joined the ABS in 1999 and received the Society’s master smith designation in 2004, the ABS is a worthy recipient of the contributions from its members to the auction each year. “Number one, the ABS is largely responsible for the high level of bladesmithing in the world today and the award winners that are recognized at the BLADE Shows in Texas and Atlanta. The ABS is always well represented when the winners are named in these shows, overwhelmingly so.”
Rodebaugh became a member of the ABS board of directors in 2014, and he sees the organization as continuing to build a future for the art of bladesmithing. Meanwhile, he is pleased to help out with the auction. “The ABS has given a lot to the knifemaking world,” he observed, “and this is my way of giving back in general.”
For the auction, James has chosen a dagger with an 8-inch blade of W2 tool steel that’s about an inch across at its widest point. The frame handle construction will feature domed silver pins and Tasmanian blackwood. James expects the overall length to be between 12 and 13 inches. An added feature is the clayed hamon.
“I don’t see many people doing a dagger with a hamon,” Rodebaugh opined, “and that used to be one of my signature things until I got away from it. I was originally going to go with damascus, but we see a lot of that, and with the finishing aspect of the work it is harder to do a properly finished carbon steel blade with a hamon than it is to etch a piece of damascus. Plus, I just like the look of the hamon. Also, the W2 steel shows a lot of action on the hamon, and it has a fairly short time and temperature curve so that the edge will harden and the thicker portion will stay soft, which gives you definition and activity on the hamon.”
Coffin Bowie
As French ABS journeyman smith Nicolas Dartus noted, “For me, the coffin bowie is a typical American knife, and I love it.” His rendition for the ABS Auction offers 320-layers of damascus, a giraffe bone handle and a leather sheath. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven knife image)
ABS journeyman smith Nicolas Dartus began forging in his shop in eastern France in 2014, joined the ABS in 2016, and received the Society’s journeyman designation at BLADE Show ’19. He is working toward his master smith goal today, and he says that it is an honor to have one of his knives included in the prestigious ABS auction.
“For the auction, I’m making a coffin bowie,” Nicolas said. “For me, the coffin bowie is a typical American knife and I love it. Of course, my eye is a French eye, and I don’t have an American interpretation for this creation, but it is my vision! I think individuals have their own styles of knives. Of course, the ABS is an American society, but its members come from all over the world with different cultures and design ideas.”
Nicolas plans to make the knife with a blade of 320-layer damascus forged from 1075 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels. The handle will be giraffe bone and the piece will be accompanied by a leather sheath. “I’ll make the knife the traditional way,” he offered. “For me, working with the ABS is a great adventure.”
When these wonderful examples of modern bladesmithing come up for sale, the bidding is liable to be as heated as any forge. Those who go home with one of these beauties will not only have the satisfaction of ownership, but also in knowing they have directly assisted the ABS, providing support for the society’s ongoing mission of excellence.
Observe all nine and your collecting pursuit can be most satisfying.
I have watched the custom knife market for 40 years with more than idle curiosity. The universal mantra of collectors regarding their collections is I buy what I like. At the outset, it seems a simple statement. The real question is, what does the collector collect and why?
The best thing about a collection is that it is yours. You decide what knives enter and which ones leave. Often, it is a combination of the design/style, material(s) and maker. Then again, it can be knives with a singular attribute that make up the collection. I have also found that the mantra of the collector is invoked when part of his or her collection is difficult to sell or trade.
TIP #1
Collecting and investing are not the same. Assembling a collection is done primarily for the pure joy of it. The search and subsequent acquisition of each knife only fuels your desire to increase/improve your collection.
One of the great things about custom knives is getting what you want. Custom knives can be made to your specifications, not knives that are merely one of a hundred thousand. Investing in custom knives is done for the specific reason to re-sell for a profit. Buy what you like because you may have it for a long time, whether that is your intention or not.
The author kept pages of notes in his copy of KNIVES ’86 that he bought in 1985. It became a blueprint for his knife collecting and then later for his business, including which knives he liked, questions to ask the makers and so on.
TIP #2
Do your research before you buy. I started doing research early on as a collector. I still enjoy looking at the KNIVES ’86 I got in the fall of 1985. In my copy of the book are pages of notes that became a blueprint for my collecting and then later for my business as a purveyor of custom knives, including which knives I liked, questions to ask the makers, etc. I then contacted the makers for their catalogs or just called them to get the information on each. Considering several factors or knife-buying skills listed here allowed me to identify and get the five knives I wanted at the 1986 BLADE Show. Today, the Internet saves a lot of time when researching knives.
TIP #3
Decide the direction of your knife collection (at least for this week). Determining a direction for your collection will be easier if you can master Tips 1 and 2. Doing your research before attending a show or placing the order will save you from a custom knife collector’s worst enemy—buyer’s remorse.
TIP #4
Buy the very best knife you can afford. This is an important concept to understand, as this will help you look past what many of us consider the most important factor: price. Price is not the most important factor, cost is. Price is what you are willing to pay for a custom knife. Cost is the hidden part of the price equation for not knowing if the knife is priced correctly for the maker’s position in the market. Overpaying for a knife will become an issue should you choose to sell or trade the knife.
A critical reason for mastering Tips 1 through 4 is that they will enable you to determine which knife is the best for you for the amount of money in your budget. Sometimes it is more prudent to take the money you would spend on two knives and buy only one. When considering buying a knife, always employ Tip #1 and consider the short- and long-term costs of the purchase.
TIP #5
The truth changes. This applies to many things in life, including the knives in your collection. Enlightenment can be a double-edged sword. You will begin to evaluate your collection as you gain expertise in custom knives. Mistakes that were invisible to you before now catch your eye. This expertise, however, is now helping you select better-made knives.
The author got the five knives he wanted at the 1986 BLADE Show. Scenes from the show, clockwise from top left: winning makers in the custom knife judging; Hubert Lawell’s collection of 500 pearl-handle whittlers; Jimmy Lile at his table; Bill Adams and Jim Cargill; Mr. and Mrs. G.T. Williams; Dr. Eiler Cook’s seminar; Jim Small’s seminar; and W.D. Pease at his table. Adams, Lawell and Lile are all members of the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame®.
Knife publications, without a doubt, will influence the custom knife buyer by putting a knife on the cover or doing a big spread on a knife or knives. A feature or cover can create immediate demand for a maker’s work. You need to understand how this publicity will affect that maker’s short- and long-term pricing.
Because of the ability to disseminate information quickly, the Internet influences trends and fads. Social media creates the buzz with the latest photos of a particular maker’s work or a style of knives. Often the buzz influences buyers to act quicker than usual. This information can create a short-term inflated demand for the maker’s work. At the same time, it can drive up aftermarket prices to stupid levels. Those of you who bought the so-called tactical folders of the last decade know that what I like to call the Hype Cycle can be a double-edged sword. Collectors must pay attention to the buzz as it can have a long-term effect on their collections. My experience has shown me that the buzz is a poor shortcut for actual research.
KNIFE IQ
Try to determine the direction of your collection as early as possible with the understanding that you are not committed to this direction for an extended time. The reasoning behind this determination will help your focus, saving you both time and money. Once you have identified the direction you would like your collection to take, start your research. Raising your knife IQ prevents you from passing on a quality knife due to your failure to recognize the knife’s worth. Conversely, you could purchase a knife that you may trade or sell one day only to find that you overpaid for it.
The FOUR F’s
“Tactical movie knives have been and remain very collectible,” the author observed. BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Jimmy Lile started the category with the Rambo knife. “This knife is responsible for my becoming a custom knife collector,” the author maintained. The 9-inch blade is bead-blasted 440C stainless steel. The cord-wrapped hollow handle has an aluminum buttcap. Guard: stainless steel. Lile passed away in 1991. (image courtesy of Jack Lucarelli)
Doing your knife research will increase your knife IQ. Increasing your knife IQ will help you get the best value for your money and enable you to confidently add knives to your collection. The building blocks of this research are the Four F’s: Fit, Finish, Flow and Function.
Fit: how does the knife fit together? Are there gaps between the blade and the guard? Are the scales flush with the tang? These are examples of some of the areas to examine.
Finish: I look for consistency and degree of difficulty. No matter what type of finish, is it consistent from the tip to the end of the knife with no spots, scratches or other inconsistencies? The degree of difficulty comes in the form of the type of finish. A mirror finish is much more complex than a tumble or bead blast finish. I give bonus points for two-tone finishes, such as a mirror finish on the hollow of the blade and satin for the flat of the blade.
Flow: Does the knife transition smoothly from one end to the other? Uneven grinds, blocky guards and poor ergonomics detract from the flow of the knife.
Function: Is the knife designed and built to complete the task it is supposed to accomplish? Will the knife do what the design intends it to do? While there is always room for improvement on standard designs, the maker should temper those changes and base them on reality. Often the designs border on or move into the fantasy realm.
Spending time on your favorite social media platform and reading knife magazines like BLADE® can help your knife IQ. However, nothing can replace attending a knife show and putting the knife in your hand, allowing you to apply what you have learned about the Four F’s. You can calibrate your eyes to the sometimes-subtle differences between knives in the same category.
Conclusion
“Some collectors look for entry-level ABS master smith knives,” the author stated. “Utility hunters such as this one by ABS master smith Jim Crowell are a perfect example of that collectible category.” Jim’s forged drop point hunter has a 5-inch blade of W2 tool steel with hamon and a black Micarta® handle. Overall length: 9.75 inches. Jim’s custom leather sheath completes the outfit.
Buy what you like, enjoy what you have and welcome to the hunt for the next piece of your collection.
Idaho eliminates more restrictive local ordinances, while Washington outlaws knives on public transit.
Idaho became the 14th state to enact knife law preemption while Washington state banned knives on public transport in recent knife legislative developments, according to Knife Rights.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed SB 544 that makes it illegal to possess any knife at a “transit station,” including bus, train and trolley stops. The measure goes into effect June 6. “As such,” Knife Rights reported, “unless you manage to board and get off public transport somewhere other than a ‘transit station,’ it will be impossible to legally carry a knife on public transit.” According to Knife Rights, Second Amendment lawsuits that eventually will impact SB 544 are in various stages of litigation in the Ninth Circuit, which includes Washington state, and also nationwide, including a number of Knife Rights’ cases. Some of the cases likely will wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
As for the good news in Idaho, knife law preemption goes into effect July 1. Signed into law by Idaho Governor Brad Little on March 29, the measure eliminates local ordinances more restrictive than state laws that confuse or entrap law-abiding citizens traveling in or through the state. Thanks to knife law preemption, citizens can expect consistent enforcement of state knife laws everywhere within Idaho. Idaho joins Alaska, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin among states covered by knife law preemption. For more information, contact kniferights.org.
Cargill’s impacted the knife industry in nearly every facet.
Bobby Lynn “Bob” Cargill, custom knifemaker, a president of the National Knife Collectors Association board of directors, and founder of Cargill Knives and Cripple Creek Cutlery, passed away January 3. Of Old Fort, Tennessee, he was 81.
Using old car springs for material, Cargill made his first knife when he was 10. He went full time in his mid-30’s circa 1975 making knives via the stock removal method, including folders, some fancy, lockbacks and multi-blades. He used 440C, 154CM, D2 and other steels for blades, and mother-of-pearl, stag, bone, Micarta®, ivory and wood for handles.
He joined the Guild in 1979. “What I enjoy most is the completed knife,” he was quoted as saying in Knifemakers: An Official Directory of the Knifemakers Guild, “because it is rewarding to see a design on paper developed … If I can’t deliver a knife that I’m proud of and make you a little bit happier and proud to collect my knives, then I don’t want your money.”
Cargill had his right leg amputated below the knee as a result of a car accident. However, instead of letting it hold him back, he used it as inspiration for the name of Cripple Creek Cutlery. Founded in 1981 in Lockport, Illinois, Cripple Creek specialized in slipjoints in classic patterns and natural handle materials.
Consisting mostly of slipjoints—they were called pocketknives back then—club knives were big in the late 1970s and throughout the ’80s, and Cripple Creek was among a number of companies that provided knives for knife clubs nationwide, companies that included Case, Queen, Hen & Rooster, A.G. Russell, Fight’n Rooster, KA-BAR, Boker, Schrade and others. Among the knife clubs Cripple Creek made club knives for included the Western Reserve Cutlery Association, Allegheny Mountain Knife Collectors Association, Central Kentucky Knife Club, Badger Knife Club, the Northeast Cutlery Collectors Association and others. He was active in the American Edge Collectors Association. Cripple Creek also made limited-edition slipjoints for Knife World in the early 1980s when BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Houston Price owned the magazine. Knife World is now known as Knife Magazine. Bob also made club knives under the Cargill Knives mark for such knife clubs as the Soy Knife Collectors Club.
Bob sold Cripple Creek in 1993 and it operated under Blackjack Knives in Effingham, Illinois, until 1995. He was on the Guild’s “knifemaker emeritus” list at the time of his passing. He is survived by his three children, nine grandchildren, several great grandchildren, two sisters and a brother.
Fixed-blade hunter finds its roots a knife gifted to CRKT’s founder.
CRKT is 30 years old this year, but who’s counting candles? Apparently, the company, because it’s commemorating the milestone with the release of a little something. And what better way for an outdoorsy brand from Oregan to mark an anniversary than with a hunting knife—a dang slick-looking one at that.
Shake hands with the Soldotna.
Designed by renowned craftsman, guide and all-around outdoorsman Russ Kommer the knife is a bit of a team effort. With the Soldotna, CRKT partnered with the master blacksmiths at Vegas Forge in Nevada to make the blade’s Damascus steel and worked with TOPS Knives in Idaho to manufacture the knife. It comes with a full-grain leather sheath with a belt loop and stud closer, which is hand-made in Idaho. Yet, the design itself is pure Kommer.
The Soldotna’s roots lie in a custom knife the maker and backwoodsman created for CRKT founder Rod Bremer. As the story goes, it was a gift for Bremer’s grandson who had a particularly special hunt planned. The name of the knife, interestingly, comes from an Alaskan town near the Kenai River where Kommer and Bremer would angle for king salmon together.
In addition to the limited edition, CRKT is offering a carbon steel version with a tan canvas Micarta handle.
As for the knife itself, it’s designed as a do-all hunting knife boasting a 3.5-inch drop-point blade, with a flat grind. It has enough belly for skinning detail but is svelte enough—particularly at the point—to handle more fine jobs in the field.
Ergonomics take the front seat in this extremely manageable knife, with a slight palm swell in the walnut handle to ensure it fills the hand. Furthermore, there’s a slight curvature near the finger guard, a safety feature that locks the knife in hand and prevents slipping. Well thought out, to say the least.
CRKT is only doing a limited run of the damascus Soldotna, with only 200 pieces up for sale. One of these beauties will set you back $500. However, if you don’t have that sort of change floating around your couch cushions, CRKT is offering a Cerakoted carbon steel Soldotna at a much more affordable $200. Note, the carbon steel model has the same specs as the Damascus, except in steel and handle material, which is tan canvas Micarta.
