About Sanctuary Tactical….Our History and Passion

Sanctuary Knives started out as a hobby for me, I am creative by nature and need to find outlets for that creativity. I started leather crafting when at 12 years old I discovered a Tandy Leather Shop near my cousin’s house in Chicago Heights, Illinois.

I was already a woodworker, tinkerer, and maker at that age, getting into my dad’s workshop and using his tools to create, paint, destroy, and rebuild. So, leather craft just became another outlet for that creativity.  I made wallets, key chains and other leather items that I gave away to my family and friends as gifts, honing my carving and tooling skills with each piece I completed.

Several of my friends who have a passion for shooting and firearms asked me to make them custom holsters for rare pistols that they could not find holsters for, that turned into custom handmade holsters to order.

In 2015 I start watching Forged in Fire on the Discovery Channel and realized quickly that the idea of creating tools that others could pass down to their family for generations intrigued me. Leather and wood could be heirlooms and if taken care of would last several generations, but steel could be forever. So, I started experimenting with blade making!

I am not technically a Bladesmith because I do not forge my blades in fire, instead I use a process called Stock Removal. I take high quality steel blanks forged by a steel manufacturer and I then cut the blade from that to make a high-quality knife. Steel making is a science and requires technical skills that take years to learn and master. Although I have the passion and understanding for it,  I do not have the time or tools needed to create the quality steel I need for my knives; therefore, stock removal is much more effective for my style of knife making.

In 2020, our insurance careers took a turn during Covid when our company offered to let us take early retirement, both Pennie and I decided it was a good idea and took the opportunity! Too young to actually retire we decided we didn’t want to work for someone else so we took my knife and holster hobby on the road and for two years we hit the Gun Show promoter circuit selling knives, holsters and tactical gear on the road.  Eventually Pennie got tired of hotel rooms and working weekends so we decided to look for a more stationary opportunity. With the help of some very good friends who were retiring FFLs we opened Sanctuary Tactical in Cave Creek AZ on June 15th 2022.

Selling guns and tactical gear is not like selling knives and holsters, we had to learn new skills while also applying our sales and customer service knowledge to make it all work. With the help of out twin sons, Giovanni and Cristiano we have been building our firearms business and creating great friends and awesome relationships. We look forward to continuing our success in Cave Creek and possibly taking it to another level…only time will tell what God has in store for us. All we know is that we are blessed and have a lot to be grateful for.  We look forward to your patronage and helping us stay in business for many years to come! 

Regards,

Tony S Montagnino
Owner/Designer/Buyer

Sanctuary Knives & Holsters LLC dba Sanctuary Tactical
Your Guns Store in Cave Creek Arizona.

38252 N Jacqueline Dr. Suite C
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
623-251-0455