Sonny Cauthen Bladesmith Extraordinaire 

At various non-profit raffles around town, especially at veteran non-profits, you might have seen one of Sonny Cauthen’s creations.  As a Texas National Guard veteran and member of the Dripping Springs American Legion, he often donates his creations to help them raise money. 

His knives are things of beauty, and much coveted by local knife collectors for their workmanship. With top notch materials, the knives have inherent value even before Cauthen’s magic hands go to work on them. But to this veteran, and retired union pipefitter, working with knives came about by happenstance.

It all began when he accompanied a relative to a gun show. “Ray Weston, who was married to my cousin, was going to a gun show. I hadn’t been to one,” Cauthen said. “I saw Texas knife makers [for the first time]. I was a pipefitter and used to working with iron. All the parts and the pieces looked interesting.”

“The first one I made was a flop, it was not pretty. Roy kept telling me ‘just keep doing it’ and I developed skills…now I’m mentoring people.”

As for making the knife handles, he was interested in making a new gunstock for a rifle he had. “Instead of doing rifle stock, I’ve been doing knife stock.” There are all kinds of different styles, from horn to special wood.  

As for the blade, “I like American steel. I find a supplier who shapes (the blades) as only American people can do them. I can keep the cost down on them… working with metal is a skill.”

But he also does custom Bar-be-que utensils. “the price varies, some wood can cost as much as a car or pickup.” He’s found a good lumberyard in Luling. They process the wood by placing it in a kiln for 10 weeks, until all the moisture is out, even the  scraps of wood can be costly.

For example, Arizona Mesquite Burl can go for $60 for a knife’s handle. Other woods such as California Buckeye Burl, and Brazilian Cherry are also hard to obtain. But the handles are not just limited to wood. “Sheep horn, red stag, elk, water buffalo and camel bone is just like a taxidermist works.”

As a Dripping native, Dripping Springs charities hold a special place in his heart. Cauthen is a 1961 graduate of Dripping Springs High School and has many fond memories of growing up here. “I played all sports…football, baseball, basketball, and I ran a little track,” he said.  He and his wife Joan have been married for 55 years.

“I remember when U.S. 290 went down Mercer Street. I was in the new high school the first year it was open, which is now the Administration Building,” Cauthen said.

But now in his retirement job he sells his knives at gun and knife shows. He’s also started to realize just how much people love his knives.

He donated one of his knives to the Knights of Columbus Hill Country Sporting Clay Competition & Charity Fundraiser (formerly the Hill Country Shoot Out) and it became the top prize. The event raises money for a variety of veteran causes, including the Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

When asked if he has made any custom knives for famous clients, he demurs--“They’re all famous.” 

He tries to make 8 to12 knives a year, and his knives can be found at Founder’s Day, and shows in Goliad, San Antonio, Seguin, Taylor, Hutto. He has also sold knives all across the U.S. For more information on his knives or his next show, call Sonny Cauthen at (512) 922-2600.

Cauthen served in The Texas Army National Guard from 1964 to 1970 in HQ, HQ, 36^th Division, and 3/22^nd Aviation. He is a member of DS American Legion Post 290.