Mike Franklin is an award-winning custom knifemaker and Knifemakers' Guild member whose company, HAWG! Knives, is located in Aberdeen, Ohio. His slogan, Knives With An Attitude certainly demonstrates his personal approach. His first CRKT design was the popular and most unusual Serengeti Hunter three-knife system. His CRKT Side Hawg family is equally surprising, a group of minimal and functional single-side knives made of high-carbon stainless steel with Zytel® sheath plates and carabiner lanyards.

The original Side Hawg 1 was skeletonized with CNC-chamfered edges with a deeply curved modified drop point blade. The new Side Hawg 2 is a bit longer at 5.50", with a 2.375" drop point blade and a single-side textured Zytel® scale. It's more of a daily work knife with a longer handle for better grip and a more versatile blade. All three Sheath Plates are constructed of lightweight black Zytel® with stainless steel posts and saddle clips. Each Side Hawg is securely held by placing its locator hole over the post, and then rotating the knife down into the saddle clip. The precision fit of the knife's flat-ground side, plus a molded security ridge, effectively seal the cutting edge to the frame. A carabiner and swivelling nylon strap allow you to attach the Side Hawgs to D-rings, belts, or belt loops, so you won't lose them whether you are running through the brush or running a river.