Get ready to bid! The American Knife and Tool Institute is gearing up for its most important annual fundraiser, the Free to Carry online auction, running from Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, 2026.
From factory favorites, collectible prototypes, and one-of-a-kind custom knives, Free to Carry auctions off a wide variety of knives and tools, along with other outdoor gear, destinations, and assorted goods.
“Free to Carry is AKTI’s biggest fundraising event of the year,” said Mark Schreiber, President of CRKT and president of AKTI. “It’s a great opportunity for participants to pick up exceptional knives and gear at great prices while supporting AKTI’s work to promote clear, consistent, and responsible knife use and laws across the country.”
AKTI will share details on how to register to bid as the auction catalog fills. Items are already coming in from Buck, Gerber, A.G. Russell, We Buy Knife Collections, SOG, Cold Steel, and Giant Mouse.
Companies, collectors, or custom knifemakers interested in contributing items to the Free to Carry 2026 auction are encouraged to visit this page for forms or contact us at akti@akti.org.
Chris Reeve Knives is the official 2026 Free to Carry Auction sponsor, with additional support coming from AKTI’s 2026 Contributing Sponsors: American Outdoor Brands, Boker, Buck, CRKT, GSM Outdoors, Lansky Sharpeners, and Supporting Sponsor Case.