Charlie Rakestraw

Georgia

Charlie Rakestraw, a native of Jefferson, Georgia, has a natural talent and love for the art of knife making. All of his work is custom made and each knife and leather sheath are one of a kind. 

  Charlie began making knives over 35 years ago. His first knife was made from half of an old carpenter's draw knife he found discarded.  He turned the blade into a hunting knife on a pedal powered rock grinder.  Its handle was made out of a deer antler.  Charlie gave the knife to a friend as a gift.  A few years later as he got better at making knives, his friend gave aCharlie the knife back which he still has to this day. His second knife was made out of chicken gizzard splitter blade discarded by a local poulty plant.  Along the way he realized the need for knife sheaths and got into leather making. 

  All of Charlies knives are made from recycled high carbonn steel which he plasma cuts free hand.  The handles are made of scraps of exotic woods given to im from friends who make wood products or deer antlers he finds in the woods after the deer shed them.  There have been numerous articles written about Charlies art over the years, including a National Georgraphic Travler article identifying Charlie as one of the " Best Folf Artist In America".  His knives and folk art are sold internanationally.