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FAQ: Why should I 'wet-fit' a sheath to my knife?

Why take the time to wet-fit your sheath to your knife? We can think of three reasons. You have a general-purpose sheath. A general-purpose sheath (one designed to fit a number of different ...

FAQ: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a double-bevel (compound) grind?

What it is: A double-bevel grind, also known as a "compound grind," can, in overall profile, incorporate virtually any other grind -- flat, hollow, convex -- with the addition of a secondary V-bev ...

FAQ: What are the advantages and disadvantages of different grinds?

Over the years we've handled and used thousands of knives. Because we know the hows and whys of various grinds, we understand the strengths and weaknesses of different profiles -- in short, we kno ...

FAQ: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a convex grind?

What it is: On a convex grind, the sharp edge is produced by symmetric, gently curved surfaces. Where the curvature begins (high or low on the blade) can produce a full convex, a saber convex o ...

FAQ: I see that some knives are 'spring-assisted' -- is that the same thing as a switchblade?

No -- at least not to people who know something about knives. In the simplest terms, an automatic knife, or "switchblade," allows a person to open it without touching the blade itself. Usuall ...

FAQ: Which are the better kitchen knives -- German or Japanese?

We get this question a lot, and we'll admit to being a little surprised at how often we're asked to pick one type of kitchen knife over the other. Like many things in life, there is no ...

FAQ: What's G-10?

G-10, sometimes called Garolite, is an industrial laminate similar to Micarta, produced by applying heat and pressure to layers of fiberglass which are impregnated with epoxy or other resin ...

FAQ: Can I sharpen my knives on a bench grinder or an electric knife sharpener?

In a word... NO!Sure, it takes friction to sharpen steel, and an abrasive wheel spun by an electric motor will definitely produce friction -- but at a speed that also generates excessive heat and qui ...

FAQ: What is Kirinite?

Kirinite is a next-generation acrylic, billed to be as tough as the more-familiar Corian. Knifemakers like Kirinite because it's easy to shape using conventional woodworking tools.

EDC: Northwoods Presidential

If ever there was a knife that typifies "Sunday-go-to-meeting," it's our brand-new Northwoods Presidential.Because this is Sunday, it's classy, of course. And it's slim -- really slim.Made exclu ...

Poetry in Steel: Bark River's Camp & Trail

The other day, we were listening to a radio interview with one of our favorite celebrities as he traced the strange and circuitous path that led to his current fame. (We're not going to name him, but ...

What's Micarta? What's G-10? Which is stronger?

Micarta is an industrial laminate, originally used in electrical and decorative applications, produced by applying heat and pressure to layers of fibrous materials -- such as linen, burlap, can ...

FAQ: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a flat grind?

What it is: A flat grind is a single, symmetric V-bevel -- the blade tapers from a particular height on the blade and ends at the cutting edge. A flat grind that begins at the blade's spine is cal ...

FAQ: Is there a folding knife that's as strong as a fixed blade?

In a word: No. There's no such think as a folding knife with a locking mechanism that makes it the equivalent of a fixed blade. It just doesn't exist. You should never subject a folding kni ...

FAQ: Why does KnivesShipFree charge a restocking fee?

I hate restocking fees.I hate them as a consumer, and I hate them as a merchant.Because I don't like charging anyone a restocking fee, KnivesShipFree has an excellent return policy. If you don't lik ...

Spyderco Chicago

In some U.S. cities, as well as in many other countries, there are laws prohibiting the carry of knives with blades longer than two inches.Yes, it's silly. It's also a fact of modern life.One company ...

FAQ: Can I exchange my new knife's right-handed sheath for one that's left-handed?

Generally speaking, the sheaths that ship with most of the fixed-blade knives we offer are right-handed -- left-handed versions simply aren't available.Bark River is an exception to that rule.The ...

FAQ: Is a knife labeled 'collectible' too fragile to be used?

No -- not the ones sold by KnivesShipFree, anyway. A number of factors affect a knife's value to collectors. A "new and unused" knife, generally speaking, would bring a higher price at resale ...

FAQ: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a hollow grind?

What it is: A hollow grind features symmetric, concave surfaces ending in a thin, extremely sharp edge. A hollow grind doesn't produce a very strong edge, and therefore generally isn't suitable ...

How-To: Changing the position of a pocket clip

Changing the position of a pocket clip Many modern folders produced by Benchmade, Zero Tolerance, Kershaw and others provide multiple positions for the pocket clip, allowing either left- or r ...