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    Carpe Gladium(Post)

    It's now or never: Carpe Gladium* We have a prediction. We predict that you're going to read this post and surmise that it's some sort of sneaky sales pitch, nothing but

    Interview: Chris Reeve(Post)

    Back in 2009 and 2010, KnivesShipFree published a monthly newsletter called From the Edge. One of its recurring features was an interview with a knifemaker or industry executive. We thought you'd b

    FAQ: What's a "working edge"?(Post)

    If you sharpen your own knives, you're a step ahead of most people. If you don't, it's time you learned -- there's plenty of information right here on KnivesShipFree, like our Knife Sharpening page

    FAQ: What's a 'tang'?(Post)

    On a fixed-blade knife, the "tang" extends behind the blade -- it's essentially a continuation of the blade component, forming the foundation for the knife's handle. A "full tang" is exactly what

    In praise of the 'gentleman's knife'(Post)

    Once upon a time, every gentleman carried a pocketknife -- everywhere he went, every single day. He didn't have one knife for the office, another for household chores and another for Sunday

    FAQ Is there really a difference between a $20 knife and a $200 knife?(Post)

    In a word, "Yes." As with most things in life, you get what you pay for, and knives are no different.So what do you get when you spend more on a knife?You get better engineering and design. You get be

    What's Happening at Bark River 11/19/15 Transcript(Post)

    Thursday 11/19 A lot of stuff coming up. From a couple of weeks ago we have the 1909 Michigan Bowies. They are a recreation of Marble’s Trailmaker The Michigan Bowie is a recreation of a M

    ​Lessons from George and Horace: The Sheath Knife(Post)

    As we said in our last post, we can learn much from the "trio" of woodcraft tools carried by George Washington Sears (a.k.a. "Nessmuk") and Horace Kephart. Most of us, however, are more familiar wi

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

    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

    Canal Street Cannitler(Post)

    If you're anything like us, you cringe when you hear the word "hybrid." Merging two or more perfectly good concepts into a new product rarely works well.Canal Street's three-blade "Cannitler" is a wel

    FAQ: Is it ok to clean my hunting knife in a dishwasher?(Post)

    NO. Knifemakers cringe when someone asks this question. Think about it -- your home dishwasher uses heat, pressure and semi-caustic chemicals to take the food off of your dishes -- none of that

    ​Special delivery: The Bark River Springbok(Post)

    The best reason to own a particular knife, as far as we're concerned, is because it works. It doesn't need to be pretty, and it doesn't need to be rare or collectible -- it simply needs to perform.Onc

    FAQ: If a knife's description says 'bone,' what kind of 'bone' is it?(Post)

    Unless it says otherwise, "bone" means "cattle bone" -- specifically, the shin bone of a cow (or steer, or bull).Cattle bone has been used in knife handles for centuries. It's consistent, easy to work

    FAQ: What's this 'FRN' handle material?(Post)

    "FRN" (fiberglass-reinforced nylon), sometimes called "GFN" (glass-filled nylon), is a high-strength plastic especially well-suited to the handles of folding knives.Specifically, FRN is a nylon pol

    FAQ: When should I give my kids their first expensive knife?(Post)

    You'll have to judge that by your kid. One of my girls got a Bark River as her first knife, for instance, while another started with a $20 knife until I saw that she was responsible enough for a bette

    FAQ: What knife-safety rules do you recommend for kids?(Post)

    This is one of those things that you will have to figure out. To give you some food for thought, however, I did this video covering the basic rules that I put on my own kids. No silliness.Treat every

    FAQ: What are the advantages of a 'recurve' edge?(Post)

    The cutting edge of a conventional knife blade (unless it's a simple straight-edge) has a single curve that begins at the point and ends where it merges into a straight section of the edge. A

    Review: Great Eastern #54 Tidioute 'Big Moose'(Post)

    (This article originally appeared on WoodsMonkey.com. Used with permission.) by Tom Lindsay There seems to be quite a demand for fixed-blade knives that mimic the one depicted by George Washing

    FAQ: What knife would you recommend for the Zombie Apocalypse?(Post)

    Exactly how you prepare to meet The Undead is entirely your business. A knife, however, will be essential to your survival. We recommend that you buy the largest knife you possibly can. And t

    This week at Bark River: September 22, 2015(Post)

    We're really enjoying showing you what's happening at Bark River Knives each week. This time Jim Stewart reveals the brand-new American Knife Company "Compact Forest Knife" in various stages of pro