First Look: CRKT Du Hoc Knife

After discovering that his uncle was awarded a Silver Star for heroic actions at Pointe Du Hoc during the D-Day landings in WWII, knife designer and military veteran Austin McGlaun was moved to design an all-new blade to honor his uncle's service. The result was the CRKT Du Hoc Knife.

“He was such a quiet professional,” McGlaun said of his uncle. “I never knew anything about his war service until our local paper did a story about him when he turned 80.”

To create this monster karambit-style blade, McGlaun teamed up with RMJ Tactical's Ryan Johnson. The fixed-blade design is built with a recurved blade paired with a thumb ring. Designed as part of CRKT's Forged By War program, which aids military veterans in bringing their blade designs to life, the concept created by McGlaun was brought to life by the RMJ Tactical team.

Made from SK 5 carbon steel infused with extra manganese in order to enhance durability and edge-retention and completed with a powder-coated finish, the blade measures 5 inches in overall length, providing blade enthusiasts with an ideal personal-defense option for daily carry. The thumb ring is incorporated into a handle made from G10, a fiberglass-laminate material that's impervious to weather and withstands wear.

The blade measures 0.2 inch thick, and the overall length of the CRKT Du Hoc Knife is 9.625 inches. Overall weight of the blade itself is 9.3 ounces. The karambit-style knife is paired with a sheath made from glass-reinforced Nylon, which is purpose-built to secure this particular blade. The sheath is designed to provide easy access from a number of popular carry positions, all while keeping the blade secured into place during daily carry.

The CRKT Du Hoc Knife retails at a suggested price of $135.