Veterans Day is a time to recognize the men and women who have served in our armed forces. There are plenty of companies in the knife and outdoor industry that show their support for veterans, but Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) has taken a somewhat different approach. For the past decade, its Forged by War program has been putting veterans’ experience to work designing knives and tools, while raising money for charities that support fellow veterans.

The program celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2026, and in that time it’s generated more than half a million dollars in charitable contributions. That’s a pretty impressive accomplishment, especially considering CRKT hasn’t traditionally gone out of its way to promote that side of the program.

How Forged by War Got Started

The idea behind Forged by War grew out of a knife-making class Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical taught at Fort Bragg. Johnson had been contacted by his friend Ashton Naylor, then a colonel at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, about teaching a class on making knives and tomahawks. Johnson and some of his RMJ Tactical crew traveled to Fort Bragg and taught the class to Special Forces cadre at Range 37.

Over the following months and years, Johnson continued receiving photos of knives the soldiers had made. He was impressed by their designs, which tended to be simple and effective. These were guys who knew what they wanted from a knife based on their own military experience, and their designs reflected that.

Johnson was already working with CRKT as a designer and saw an opportunity to bring some of those knives to a wider audience. Many of the veteran makers were operating small shops, producing limited numbers of custom knives. Some, like Michael Rodriguez, weren’t even selling most of their work, instead giving knives to deploying servicemen or donating them to charity.

CRKT embraced the concept and launched Forged by War in 2016. The veterans work with CRKT to put their designs into production and receive commissions for their work. On top of that, 10% of CRKT’s net profits from the program go to veterans’ charities selected by the designers. It allowed the veterans to get their designs into more hands while supporting organizations that help their fellow servicemen and women.

Knives Designed by Those Who Served

The original Forged by War lineup consisted of three very different tools. Army veteran Austin McGlaun designed the Clever Girl, a fixed-blade tactical knife, while retired Army Special Operations veteran Darrin Sirois came up with the Sangrador, a double-edged dagger. Vietnam veteran and blacksmith Elmer Roush rounded out the group with the Birler, a compact axe. It was an interesting mix right from the beginning, and one that showed CRKT wasn’t trying to make every knife in the program fit the same mold.

Since then, Forged by War has expanded to include quite a few different knives and tools. Some are clearly intended for tactical applications, while others are geared more toward everyday use or outdoor work. In CRKT’s video on the program, one of the veteran designers explains how military experience influenced his approach. Having served in Rangers, Special Forces, and Special Operations, he knew how he wanted a knife to fit on his gear, how it should feel in his hand, and what it needed to accomplish. That sort of firsthand knowledge is what makes the Forged by War designs interesting.

One of the more interesting stories behind a Forged by War design is that of Jeremy Valdez and his Septimo folder. Valdez served in Special Forces and was involved in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2009. During the aftermath, he found that his folding knife wasn’t particularly well suited to cutting straps and helping free soldiers from the wreckage. That experience stayed with him and eventually influenced the design of the Septimo. CRKT later expanded the concept with the Septimo Multi-Tool.

Former Green Beret Michael Rodriguez is another veteran who has worked with CRKT through the program. His Xolotl design has appeared in several versions, including a fixed blade and a folder. One of the newer additions is the American-made Xolotl OTF automatic, which features a double-edged MagnaCut blade and an aluminum handle. The handle has 21 sculpted ribs, representing Rodriguez’s 21 years of military service. It’s a small detail, but one that gives some insight into the thought behind the design.

There are plenty of other designs in the Forged by War lineup worth looking at as well. What I find interesting is that they aren’t all trying to accomplish the same thing. The knives are practical designs from people who have actually used cutting tools in demanding circumstances, although that doesn’t necessarily mean every one of them is intended for military use.

Giving Back to the Veteran Community

The knives are the most visible part of Forged by War, but the charitable contributions have added up to a substantial amount over the past ten years. CRKT recently provided updated figures showing $533,866 in donations to veterans’ charities, including payments scheduled for the end of October 2026. The company has also donated another $20,000 directly to the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, separate from the normal Forged by War profit-sharing arrangement. That brings the total to nearly $554,000.

The Green Beret Foundation has received the largest share, with just over $310,000 in contributions. The organization provides assistance to Special Forces soldiers, veterans, and their families. Purple Heart Homes has received approximately $140,000 and works to address veterans’ housing needs through home repairs, accessibility modifications, and other assistance. Another $60,000 has gone to the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, including CRKT’s additional direct donations. The foundation is working to establish a national memorial honoring those who served during the Global War on Terrorism.

Those dollar figures are impressive, but it’s also worth looking at what the organizations actually do with the money. CRKT has previously shared an example of the Green Beret Foundation helping provide a wheelchair for the child of a Special Forces soldier after insurance wouldn’t cover it. Purple Heart Homes has also helped veterans with home repairs and accessibility improvements that allow them to remain in their homes. Those are the sorts of things that don’t always get much attention but can make a real difference to the people receiving the assistance.

Ten Years of Forged by War

I’ve always liked the idea behind Forged by War. Rather than just putting a military logo on an existing knife and donating a portion of the sales, CRKT actually works with veterans to develop new products. The designers get an opportunity to put their experience to use, and the charities they select benefit from the knives being sold.

It’s also worth remembering that the program started with veterans working with Ryan Johnson in his shop, long before any of these knives made it into CRKT’s catalog. What began as a way to give those veterans something productive and creative to work on has grown into a program that’s been around for a full decade.

With more than half a million dollars donated to veterans’ organizations, it’s certainly accomplished something worthwhile along the way. That’s a pretty good story to recognize this Veterans Day.

You can learn more about the program and see the current lineup of knives and tools on CRKT’s Forged by War page.