Charles Sauer was born in Japan in 1960. His parents were stationed there attached to the U.S. Army. The Sauer family eventually settled onto a ranch in Texas and it soon became a way of life. Hauling hay, digging postholes, raising cattle and training horses were just a few of his many responsibilities. Charles graduated from High School in Meridian, Texas then attended college and played Trumpet professionally for many years.

After a stint in the Army and breaking his back, he decided to go back to college once again. He earned his BS in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. During this time he became active in the Black Powder Era Pre-1835 Rendezvous and saw his first Blacksmith hammering out a knife from an old coal forge. He became fascinated with the idea of being able to make his own knives. With minor tools and no previous knowledge of the craft, stock removal was his beginning method. Charles learned the basics through trial and error and extensive research.

After moving to Montana in 1996, Charles gradually turned the knife making into a full time endeavor. He shut down five other business enterprises, married his multitalented wife and partner, Schari. They bought a home in Kalispell, Montana, outfitted a professionally equipped shop and decided to make their dreams a reality.

Charles now hand forges his steel, makes Damascus, and does all of his own heat treating to insure quality. He uses a wide variety of handle materials from stabilized hardwoods to exotic fossilized Mammoth tusk and extinct Stellar Sea Cow bone. Charles makes high end users for the working man, ladies’ knives, and now features knives in many configurations. His standards are Bird & Trout, Hunter, Utility, Gentleman’s knives, and large Bowies or Camp Knives. Every knife becomes a unique work of art. He now crafts the highest quality knives sought out by discriminating collectors.

Charles donates his knives to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and various other worthy causes. He is a member of the Professional Knifemakers Association, American Bladesmith Society, and the Montana Knifemakers Association.