All of us on this earth have probably received a plaque or congratulations-type-gift at some point. Whether it was on your little league baseball team or from your unit when your time as a slayer ended, you probably received something in recognition for your efforts. This was probably some tacky looking thing that was made in some trophy shop and it ended up in a box somewhere in your storage space. Savage Tactical has revamped and brought life into the plaque business, and it doesn’t stop there. Craig Bohlman is the owner and craftsman behind Savage Tactical. Craig is a 3rd Battalion Ranger who served with the 75th Ranger Regiment from 2011-2017. He has been involved in the construction field for over 15 years, and his expertise shows in his work. I was lucky enough to receive one of his plaques recently.
When I asked Craig what inspired him to start Savage Tactical, he answered in true Ranger fashion: “I always wanted to have my own business so I started Savage Tactical back in 2015 when I kept seeing basic cookie cutter military/civilian plaques and awards that were just boring. I ventured into doing apparel as well. The designs and the things I create are of my own thoughts and ideas. I seek to bring quality craftsmanship where I don’t give a shit about people’s feelings, and I think “outside the box”. I don’t want to be remembered as someone who just did the same ole shit. I want to be remembered as someone who did it his way, someone Savage.” – Craig Bohlman, Owner of Savage Tactical
I think the main thing that separates Rangers from the rest of the military is an impeccable attention to detail. Craig has extended that into every piece that he makes. If you look on the Savage Tactical Facebook page, most of his projects tend to be Ranger oriented. After talking to Craig, I can assure you that he is open to any project military or civilian and will truly make it a customized experience for the customer. One of his customers told me, “He was extremely approachable throughout the design process and gave me updates every step of the way. He was very receptive to any changes I wanted to have made as well. Overall, it was a great experience and I would recommend him to anyone.”
My interest was piqued after seeing photos of some of his work. This isn’t your standard “tacticool super hooah” run of the mill artwork. His projects are very Americana/tasteful and would look great in any room of the house. He seems to be able to build just about anything, and the stuff he builds is just plain cool. Some of his projects have included not only plaques, but corn hole boards and even a full-blown bar that looks awesome. The sky is the limit with this guy. As mentioned earlier, he also started a clothing line that has some badass t-shirts and has done some runs of morale patches as well.
You could say wood work is a family business because his wife also does some awesome projects and has her own business as well (Scrapwood is the name). Craig doesn’t take short cuts with his builds and is 100% with the customer every step of the way. His project prices vary based on the builds, but they are extremely affordable. If you’re in need of some fine woodwork or some new threads, check Savage Tactical out on Facebook or Instagram. And if you need to get a gift for the lady for spending too much on gear this year, go ahead and give his wife’s business a look as well.
Author – Tim M. is an Army Ranger who has served in Afghanistan and is currently a K9 handler for ARSOF. In his free time he enjoys shooting, working out and hitting the trails with the dog.
