5 from the Grinder: Courage Crawford (Goathammer Forge)

Welcome to another exciting edition of 5 from the Grinder, KNIFE Magazine’s online, quick-hit interview series.

My first contact with Courage Crawford came by accident. Courage is the proprietor of Goathammer Forge, which it turns out is easy to mistake for Goat n Hammer, the blacksmith/knifemaking business founded by my buddy Mark Hopper. I am not the only one to make this mistake. That said, this happy accident put me in contact with Courage, and allowed me to check out some really nice work which I am excited to share with you.

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Please introduce yourself and let us know what led you to making/designing knives

I’ve held a lifelong affinity for knives and edged tools.
It was probably inevitable that I happened across a situation that allowed me to see if I was compatible with crafting them myself. Turns out I garner profound fulfillment from that and have been enriching the relationship ever since, a bit over 20 years now.

What knifemaker(s) or designer(s) have had the biggest influence on you? Do you have any mentors?

I suppose Jody Samson probably made a fundamental impression on my young mind with the Conan’s Atlantean realized in film.
Soon after beginning learning in earnest I came to appreciate the dedication and substance of smiths like Don Fogg , and the wild stuff that Tai Goo was doing. I had the fortune to spend some limited time with some talented and generous craftsmen, but largely my learning and production is solitary.

What is your favorite knife pattern or style from history?

I like historical patterns, time and function refine away all the indulgences. Then we can re invent the indulgences for the time.
My heritage has some influence here too, the Scottish dirk , and the Seax are sensible and handsome in my opinion.
A concave profile and sheepsfoot, I find most versatile and striking for smaller blade shapes.
I suppose my favorite would have to be the Wharncliffe

What is the next big thing in knifemaking? / What direction do you see the industry going?

The community is full of passionate driven innovative artists. I dont know how to predict what it is that they are going to come up with, that is going to fracture and reshape the industry next, but whatever it is, its inevitable.
I hope to see more enclaves form locally, and that knowledge and skill is made available for more to learn and hone. I do see that happening with places like Kilroys in Colorado Springs, its fantastic what he’s done.

Is there a knife from your lineup that you feel best exhibits who you are as a knifemaker/designer in terms of design elements, aesthetic or techniques used?

Probably the seax, the construction lets me apply the most techniques that I prefer at once. I can do that with other blade profiles but it seems to all come together the most happily within a large seax.

What is your EDC and why?

I carry the second blade that I forged mostly, A 52100 Wharncliffe with purple heart and bronze furniture.
Out and about I carry a small 2 or 3 inch (overall) blade from a 52100 bearing or a tang cutoff of 1095 or D2. Lots of those little knives happen and usually wind up dwelling in one pocket or another.