CRKT Forged By War Program

Here at Pro Tool Reviews, our primary coverage of knives tends to focus on everyday carry folders, utility blades, and multi‑tools—the kind of cutting instruments that tradespeople clip to their pockets and use to open packages, strip wire, and cut drywall. We do not typically venture into the tactical and defensive knife market, not because we lack interest, but because our core audience is the professional builder, remodeler, and contractor who needs a blade for work, not for combat. But occasionally, a product line emerges that transcends categories, that speaks to something deeper than specifications and steel types, and that deserves attention regardless of whether it fits neatly into our editorial niche. The CRKT Forged By War Program is exactly such a line. It consists of two fixed‑blade knives—the Sangrador and the Clever Girl—and one tactical axe, the Birler. Each was designed by a military veteran. Each supports a veterans' charity through a 10% donation of profits. And each carries with it the weight of real‑world combat experience, translated into steel and G‑10 by designers who have faced situations that most of us can only imagine.

The Forged By War series is, at its core, about giving back. The designers—Darrin Sirois (U.S. Army), Austin McGlaun (U.S. Army), and Elmer Rousch (U.S. Air Force)—chose charities that resonated with their own experiences and values. Sirois, a Special Operations veteran with tours spanning Panama, Desert Storm, the Balkans, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, selected Purple Heart Homes, an organization dedicated to providing housing solutions for service‑connected disabled veterans. McGlaun, who served in Iraq, chose the Green Beret Foundation, which supports Green Berets and their families through casualty support, family programs, and transition assistance. Rousch, a Vietnam veteran and blacksmith, also selected the Green Beret Foundation. These are not abstract gestures; the 10% profit donation is a direct financial pipeline from the sale of each knife to the organization it supports. When you buy a Sangrador or a Clever Girl, you are not just acquiring a tool—you are contributing to the well‑being of the men and women who have served.

The Sangrador: A 5.5‑Inch Dual‑Edged Dagger With a Latin Name and a Special Ops Pedigree

The Sangrador—Spanish for "bleeder"—is a fixed‑blade knife designed by Darrin Sirois, whose combat experience across multiple theaters gave him a very clear idea of what a fighting knife should be. The blade is a 5.5‑inch dagger profile, dual‑edged for versatility in both forward and reverse grips, and forged from SK5 carbon steel with a black powder coat finish that reduces reflectivity and resists corrosion. SK5 is a Japanese carbon steel similar to the American 1080, offering high toughness and ease of sharpening at the cost of requiring diligent maintenance to prevent rust—a trade‑off that is acceptable for a knife designed for environments where edge retention and durability are paramount. The blade hardness is 54‑56 HRC, which is relatively soft by modern EDC standards but ideal for a knife that may need to absorb impact without chipping. The handle is G‑10, textured for secure grip in wet or gloved conditions, and the knife comes with a MOLLE‑compatible nylon sheath with a polypropylene insert for secure carry. At $150 MSRP, the Sangrador is positioned as a serious tool for serious users—military personnel, law enforcement officers, and prepared citizens who want a dedicated defensive blade designed by someone who has used one in anger.

The Clever Girl: An Upswept Fighter With a Glass‑Reinforced Nylon Handle and a Philosophy of Speed

Austin McGlaun, the designer behind the Clever Girl, brings a philosophy to knife fighting that is both practical and sobering: in a confrontation, you want something you can grab quickly, use if absolutely necessary, and then go home to your family. The Clever Girl is built around that principle. The blade is a 4.6‑inch upswept profile, also forged from SK5 steel with a black powder coat finish, and sharpened to a plain edge that is optimized for slashing cuts. The handle is injection‑molded, glass‑reinforced nylon—a material that is lighter than G‑10, sufficiently tough, and capable of being formed into the complex, ergonomic shapes that McGlaun specified. The handle is textured with a pattern that provides excellent grip, and the overall knife is lighter than the Sangrador at 6.3 ounces, making it easier to carry and deploy quickly. The sheath is glass‑reinforced nylon, MOLLE‑compatible, and designed for rapid access. The Clever Girl is named with a nod to the velociraptors of Jurassic Park—a predator that is fast, intelligent, and lethal—and the name suits the knife's character. At $125 MSRP, it is the more affordable of the two fixed blades, and its emphasis on speed and accessibility makes it a logical choice for a defensive tool that may need to be drawn under stress.

The Birler: A 1055 Carbon Steel Tactical Axe With a Hickory Handle and a Vietnam Vet's Touch

The Birler tactical pack axe is the outlier of the Forged By War series, and it is also the most personal. Designed by Elmer Rousch, a blacksmith and Vietnam veteran, the Birler is forged from 1055 carbon steel—a tough, forgiving alloy that has been used for axes, hatchets, and large chopping blades for generations. The blade is 5.165 inches long and finished with a silver‑clear coating that gives it a traditional, almost frontier appearance. The handle is Tennessee hickory, a wood that has been used for axe handles since before the United States was a country, prized for its combination of strength, shock absorption, and availability. The overall length is 16 inches, and the weight is a manageable 10.3 ounces—light enough to carry in a pack, heavy enough to deliver effective chopping force. The Birler is not a felling axe; it is a tool for breaching doors, breaking down obstacles, clearing shooting lanes, and processing firewood at a campsite. It is the kind of tool that a soldier might carry on a long‑range patrol, where every ounce counts and multi‑functionality is essential. At $89.99 MSRP, it is the most affordable item in the series, and it reflects Rousch's blacksmithing background in its traditional materials and construction. The Green Beret Foundation receives 10% of profits from each Birler sold.

CRKT Forged By War Series Specifications

Model	Designer	Blade Steel	Blade Length	Overall Length	Handle	Price
Sangrador	Darrin Sirois	SK5 Carbon	5.54 in.	10.5 in.	G‑10	$150
Clever Girl	Austin McGlaun	SK5 Carbon	4.6 in.	10.125 in.	Glass‑Reinforced Nylon	$125
Birler (Axe)	Elmer Rousch	1055 Carbon	5.165 in.	16 in.	Tennessee Hickory	$89.99

Conclusion: Carry With Purpose

The CRKT Forged By War Program is a rare example of a product line that serves multiple purposes simultaneously. The knives and axe are functional, well‑designed tools that reflect the real‑world experience of their creators. The designs are not fantasy pieces or marketing exercises; they are the distilled knowledge of men who have served in combat, translated into steel by a manufacturer with the production capability to bring them to market at accessible prices. And the charitable component ensures that every purchase supports the veteran community directly—not through vague promises of future donations, but through a structured, transparent profit‑sharing arrangement. For the knife collector, the tactical enthusiast, the veteran, or the citizen who simply wants to support a worthy cause while acquiring a capable tool, the Forged By War series is an easy recommendation. It is a line of knives with purpose, and that purpose is worthy of respect.