diff --git a/crudkit/dsl.py b/crudkit/dsl.py
index 5a4e5b8..3953a83 100644
--- a/crudkit/dsl.py
+++ b/crudkit/dsl.py
@@ -74,6 +74,17 @@ def _related_predicate(Model, path_parts, op_key, value):
     # wrap at this hop using the *attribute*, not the RelationshipProperty
     return attr.any(pred) if rel.uselist else attr.has(pred)
 
+def split_sort_tokens(tokens):
+    simple, dotted = [], []
+    for tok in (tokens or []):
+        if not tok:
+            continue
+        key = tok.lstrip("-")
+        if ":" in key:
+            key = key.split(":", 1)[0]
+        (dotted if "." in key else simple).append(tok)
+    return simple, dotted
+
 def build_query(Model, spec: QuerySpec, eager_policy=None):
     stmt = select(Model)
 
@@ -102,11 +113,25 @@ def build_query(Model, spec: QuerySpec, eager_policy=None):
             continue
         stmt = stmt.where(FILTER_OPS[op_key](col, val) if op_key else (col == val))
 
-    # order_by
-    for key in spec.order_by:
-        desc_ = key.startswith("-")
-        col = getattr(Model, key[1:] if desc_ else key)
-        stmt = stmt.order_by(desc(col) if desc_ else asc(col))
+    simple_sorts, _ = split_sort_tokens(spec.order_by)
+
+    for token in simple_sorts:
+        direction = "asc"
+        key = token
+        if token.startswith("-"):
+            direction = "desc"
+            key = token[1:]
+        if ":" in key:
+            key, d = key.rsplit(":", 1)
+            direction = "desc" if d.lower().startswith("d") else "asc"
+
+        if "." in key:
+            continue
+
+        col = getattr(Model, key, None)
+        if col is None:
+            continue
+        stmt = stmt.order_by(desc(col) if direction == "desc" else asc(col))
 
     if not spec.order_by and spec.page and spec.per_page:
         pk_cols = inspect(Model).primary_key
diff --git a/crudkit/html/ui_fragments.py b/crudkit/html/ui_fragments.py
index c5de214..c2da1da 100644
--- a/crudkit/html/ui_fragments.py
+++ b/crudkit/html/ui_fragments.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from flask import Blueprint, request, render_template, abort, make_response
 from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import scoped_session
 from sqlalchemy.inspection import inspect
+from sqlalchemy.sql.elements import UnaryExpression
 from sqlalchemy.sql.sqltypes import Integer, Boolean, Date, DateTime, Float, Numeric
 
 from ..dsl import QuerySpec
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ def make_fragments_blueprint(db_session_factory, registry: Dict[str, Any], *, na
         page = request.args.get("page", type=int) or 1
         per_page = request.args.get("per_page", type=int) or 20
 
-        expand = _collect_expand_from_paths(fields)
+        expand = _collect_expand_from_paths(fields + ([sort.split(":")[0]] if sort else []))
         spec = QuerySpec(filters=filters, order_by=[sort] if sort else [], page=page, per_page=per_page, expand=expand)
         s = session(); svc = CrudService(s, default_eager_policy)
         rows, _ = svc.list(Model, spec)
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ def make_fragments_blueprint(db_session_factory, registry: Dict[str, Any], *, na
         sort = request.args.get("sort")
         fields_csv = request.args.get("fields_csv") or "id,name"
         fields = _paths_from_csv(fields_csv)
-        expand = _collect_expand_from_paths(fields)
+        expand = _collect_expand_from_paths(fields + ([sort.split(":")[0]] if sort else []))
 
         spec = QuerySpec(filters=filters, order_by=[sort] if sort else [], page=page, per_page=per_page, expand=expand)
         s = session(); svc = CrudService(s, default_eager_policy)
diff --git a/crudkit/service.py b/crudkit/service.py
index 1950d06..a62ae18 100644
--- a/crudkit/service.py
+++ b/crudkit/service.py
@@ -1,10 +1,93 @@
-from sqlalchemy import func
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from sqlalchemy import func, asc
 from sqlalchemy.exc import IntegrityError
-from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session, aliased
+from sqlalchemy.inspection import inspect
+from sqlalchemy.sql.elements import UnaryExpression
 
-from .dsl import QuerySpec, build_query
+from .dsl import QuerySpec, build_query, split_sort_tokens
 from .eager import default_eager_policy
 
+def _dedup_order_by(ordering):
+    seen = set()
+    result = []
+    for ob in ordering:
+        col = ob.element if isinstance(ob, UnaryExpression) else ob
+        key = f"{col}-{getattr(ob, 'modifier', '')}-{getattr(ob, 'operator', '')}"
+        if key in seen:
+            continue
+        seen.add(key)
+        result.append(ob)
+    return result
+
+def _parse_sort_token(token: str):
+    token = token.strip()
+    direction = "asc"
+    if token.startswith('-'):
+        direction = "desc"
+        token = token[1:]
+    if ":" in token:
+        key, dirpart = token.rsplit(":", 1)
+        direction = "desc" if dirpart.lower().startswith("d") else "asc"
+        return key, direction
+    return token, direction
+
+def _apply_dotted_ordering(stmt, Model, sort_tokens):
+    """
+    stmt: a select(Model) statement
+    sort_tokens: list[str] like ["owner.identifier", "-brand.name"]
+    Returns: (stmt, alias_cache)
+    """
+    mapper = inspect(Model)
+    alias_cache = {}  # maps a path like "owner" or "brand" to its alias
+
+    for tok in sort_tokens:
+        path, direction = _parse_sort_token(tok)
+        parts = [p for p in path.split(".") if p]
+        if not parts:
+            continue
+
+        entity = Model
+        current_mapper = mapper
+        alias_path = []
+
+        # Walk relationships for all but the last part
+        for rel_name in parts[:-1]:
+            rel = current_mapper.relationships.get(rel_name)
+            if rel is None:
+                # invalid sort key; skip quietly or raise
+                # raise ValueError(f"Unknown relationship {current_mapper.class_.__name__}.{rel_name}")
+                entity = None
+                break
+
+            alias_path.append(rel_name)
+            key = ".".join(alias_path)
+
+            if key in alias_cache:
+                entity_alias = alias_cache[key]
+            else:
+                # build an alias and join
+                entity_alias = aliased(rel.mapper.class_)
+                stmt = stmt.outerjoin(entity_alias, getattr(entity, rel.key))
+                alias_cache[key] = entity_alias
+
+            entity = entity_alias
+            current_mapper = inspect(rel.mapper.class_)
+
+        if entity is None:
+            continue
+
+        col_name = parts[-1]
+        # Validate final column
+        if col_name not in current_mapper.columns:
+            # raise ValueError(f"Unknown column {current_mapper.class_.__name__}.{col_name}")
+            continue
+
+        col = getattr(entity, col_name) if entity is not Model else getattr(Model, col_name)
+        stmt = stmt.order_by(col.desc() if direction == "desc" else col.asc())
+
+    return stmt
+
 class CrudService:
     def __init__(self, session: Session, eager_policy=default_eager_policy):
         self.s = session
@@ -25,10 +108,44 @@ class CrudService:
 
     def list(self, Model, spec: QuerySpec):
         stmt = build_query(Model, spec, self.eager_policy)
-        count_stmt = stmt.with_only_columns(func.count()).order_by(None)
-        total = self.s.execute(count_stmt).scalar_one()
+
+        simple_sorts, dotted_sorts = split_sort_tokens(spec.order_by)
+        if dotted_sorts:
+            stmt = _apply_dotted_ordering(stmt, Model, dotted_sorts)
+
+        # count query
+        pk = getattr(Model, "id")  # adjust if not 'id'
+        count_base = stmt.with_only_columns(sa.distinct(pk)).order_by(None)
+        total = self.s.execute(
+            sa.select(sa.func.count()).select_from(count_base.subquery())
+        ).scalar_one()
+
         if spec.page and spec.per_page:
-            stmt = stmt.limit(spec.per_page).offset((spec.page - 1) * spec.per_page)
+            offset = (spec.page - 1) * spec.per_page
+            stmt = stmt.limit(spec.per_page).offset(offset)
+
+        # ---- ORDER BY handling ----
+        mapper = inspect(Model)
+        pk_cols = mapper.primary_key
+
+        # Gather all clauses added so far
+        ordering = list(stmt._order_by_clauses)
+
+        # Append pk tie-breakers if not already present
+        existing_cols = {
+            str(ob.element if isinstance(ob, UnaryExpression) else ob)
+            for ob in ordering
+        }
+        for c in pk_cols:
+            if str(c) not in existing_cols:
+                ordering.append(asc(c))
+
+        # Dedup *before* applying
+        ordering = _dedup_order_by(ordering)
+
+        # Now wipe old order_bys and set once
+        stmt = stmt.order_by(None).order_by(*ordering)
+
         rows = self.s.execute(stmt).scalars().all()
         return rows, total
 
diff --git a/inventory/models/inventory.py b/inventory/models/inventory.py
index 5ea2154..4bc812e 100644
--- a/inventory/models/inventory.py
+++ b/inventory/models/inventory.py
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .users import User
 
 from crudkit import CrudMixin
-from sqlalchemy import Boolean, ForeignKey, Identity, Index, Integer, Unicode, DateTime, text
+from sqlalchemy import Boolean, ForeignKey, Identity, Index, Integer, Unicode, DateTime, text, cast, func
+from sqlalchemy.ext.hybrid import hybrid_property
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Mapped, mapped_column, relationship
 import datetime
 
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ class Inventory(db.Model, ImageAttachable, CrudMixin):
 
         return f"<Inventory({', '.join(parts)})>"
 
-    @property
+    @hybrid_property
     def identifier(self) -> str:
         if self.name:
             return f"Name: {self.name}"
@@ -97,6 +98,15 @@ class Inventory(db.Model, ImageAttachable, CrudMixin):
         else:
             return f"ID: {self.id}"
 
+    @identifier.expression
+    def identifier(cls):
+        return func.coalesce(
+            cls.name,
+            cls.barcode,
+            cls.serial,
+            cast(cls.id, Unicode)
+        )
+
     def serialize(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         return {
             'id': self.id,
diff --git a/inventory/models/users.py b/inventory/models/users.py
index 325d9df..274615e 100644
--- a/inventory/models/users.py
+++ b/inventory/models/users.py
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .image import Image
 
 from crudkit import CrudMixin
-from sqlalchemy import Boolean, ForeignKey, Identity, Integer, Unicode, text
+from sqlalchemy import Boolean, ForeignKey, Identity, Integer, Unicode, text, func
+from sqlalchemy.ext.hybrid import hybrid_property
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Mapped, mapped_column, relationship
 
 from . import db
@@ -35,10 +36,18 @@ class User(db.Model, ImageAttachable, CrudMixin):
     ui_eagerload = tuple()
     ui_order_cols = ('first_name', 'last_name',)
 
-    @property
+    @hybrid_property
     def identifier(self) -> str:
         return f"{self.first_name or ''} {self.last_name or ''}{', ' + (''.join(word[0].upper() for word in self.title.split())) if self.title else ''}".strip()
 
+    @identifier.expression
+    def identifier(cls):
+        return func.concat(
+            func.coalesce(cls.first_name, ''),
+            ' ',
+            func.coalesce(cls.last_name, '')
+        )
+
     def __init__(self, first_name: Optional[str] = None, last_name: Optional[str] = None,
                     title: Optional[str] = None,location_id: Optional[int] = None,
                     supervisor_id: Optional[int] = None, staff: Optional[bool] = False,
diff --git a/inventory/templates/fragments/_table_fragment.html b/inventory/templates/fragments/_table_fragment.html
index d72cb21..ff84d69 100644
--- a/inventory/templates/fragments/_table_fragment.html
+++ b/inventory/templates/fragments/_table_fragment.html
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@
 {% macro dynamic_table(id, headers=none, fields=none, entry_route=None, title=None, page=1, per_page=15, offset=0,
 refresh_url=none, model=none, sort=none) %}
 <!-- Table Fragment -->
-
 {% if title %}
 <label for="datatable-{{ id|default('table')|replace(' ', '-')|lower }}" class="form-label">{{ title }}</label>
 {% endif %}