The Shepherd stands its ground when trouble circles—quietly powerful, always prepared. Compact, capable, and built for the outdoors, it’s the blade you can trust to help you keep what matters.
TOTAL LENGTH 9.125”
BLADE LENGTH 3.875”
THICKNESS 0.188”
WEIGHT 9.2 oz
ROCKWELL HARDNESS 63-64
A hamon (刃文) is the visible, flame-hardened temper line on a traditionally crafted blade, marking the boundary between the hardened cutting edge and the softer, more flexible spine. Originally developed by ancient Japanese swordmakers, our modern hamon represents decades of Dawson blademaking mastery, our own custom techniques, and the finest time-honored steels.
The Dawson hamon is the visual representation of an elite, differentially-hardened heat treatment inspired by the master swordsmiths of ancient Japan. The dark area along the edge is the hardest (Rockwell C 63-64) part of the blade, and the lighter area on the flat and spine is tempered much softer (Rockwell C 20-25). This produces a superior blade with exceptional lateral strength, edge sharpness and retention, and impact shock resistance.
This legendary heat treatment is available exclusively by selecting the Hamon - differential heat treat Blade option.
Originally developed for use in commercial electric and aerospace applications, American-made G10 is renowned for its extreme toughness and durability. Our G10 handles are ergonomically designed, lightly textured and feature our signature Topographic contouring for a comfortable, secure grip no matter the conditions.
Dawson utilizes both time-tested and technologically advanced steels for their knives, leveraging more than 50 years of expertise to develop custom heat-treats that emphasize the strengths of each one. Trust Dawson steel to deliver where it counts—with exceptional strength, impact resistance, sharpness and edge retention.
The Shepherd stands its ground when trouble circles—quietly powerful, always prepared. Compact, capable, and built for the outdoors, it’s the blade you can trust to help you keep what matters.
TOTAL LENGTH 9.125”
BLADE LENGTH 3.875”
THICKNESS 0.188”
WEIGHT 9.2 oz
ROCKWELL HARDNESS 63-64
A hamon (刃文) is the visible, flame-hardened temper line on a traditionally crafted blade, marking the boundary between the hardened cutting edge and the softer, more flexible spine. Originally developed by ancient Japanese swordmakers, our modern hamon represents decades of Dawson blademaking mastery, our own custom techniques, and the finest time-honored steels.
The Dawson hamon is the visual representation of an elite, differentially-hardened heat treatment inspired by the master swordsmiths of ancient Japan. The dark area along the edge is the hardest (Rockwell C 63-64) part of the blade, and the lighter area on the flat and spine is tempered much softer (Rockwell C 20-25). This produces a superior blade with exceptional lateral strength, edge sharpness and retention, and impact shock resistance.
This legendary heat treatment is available exclusively by selecting the Hamon - differential heat treat Blade option.
Originally developed for use in commercial electric and aerospace applications, American-made G10 is renowned for its extreme toughness and durability. Our G10 handles are ergonomically designed, lightly textured and feature our signature Topographic contouring for a comfortable, secure grip no matter the conditions.
Dawson utilizes both time-tested and technologically advanced steels for their knives, leveraging more than 50 years of expertise to develop custom heat-treats that emphasize the strengths of each one. Trust Dawson steel to deliver where it counts—with exceptional strength, impact resistance, sharpness and edge retention.
