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    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: October 8, 2015(Post)

    In this week's visit to Bark River Knives, production honcho Jim Stewart focuses on one particular knife -- the Essential. This run is being done in CPM 20CV, one of Jim's favorite steels.We get so

    Knifemaker profile: A visit with Lon Humphrey(Post)

    When bladesmith Lon Humphrey invited us to visit his shop, he didn't have to ask us twice. We knew his work, of course -- old-school tools, hand-forged and hand-finished -- but we couldn't wa

    How-To: Modifying a coated knife to strike a firesteel(Post)

    Modifying a coated knife to strike a firesteel A firesteel requires a sharp striker. It's possible to use your knife’s blade to make sparks fly, of course, but that can create a dull spot y

    How-To: Choosing & caring for leather sheaths(Post)

    Choosing & caring for leather sheaths With all of the sheath options available today, there's still nothing quite like leather. Natural hide remains a popular choice of knife owners, from life-lo

    FAQ: What's the strongest lock on a folding knife?(Post)

    Our answer to that question depends on why you're asking. For example, if you're looking for a folding knife with a lock that makes it the equivalent of a fixed blade, the answer is simple:

    FAQ: Can I sharpen a V-bevel knife on a leather hone or strop?(Post)

    Yes!We use a leather hone to maintain all types of knives. Whether the grind is convex, hollow, flat or Scandi, a leather hone will maintain the edge beautifully.The leather "gives," conforming to the

    Poetry in Steel: Bark River's Camp & Trail(Post)

    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

    FAQ: What's the best way to 'wet fit' a sheath?(Post)

    We get a lot of basic, practical questions. One we get quite often is about fitting sheaths. We designed many of our general-purpose sheaths to fit a number of different knives, and to fit the

    Escanaba or Bust: An update on our move(Post)

    Well, here we are at the midpoint -- it's been about a month since we announced that KnivesShipFree will be leaving Hillsboro, Oregon for new digs in Escanaba, Michigan, and that move will happe

    ​The Lanyard Conundrum: Tether or not?(Post)

    There it is.It's staring back at you, that hole in the handle of your knife, and you're not sure what (if anything) you're supposed to do with it.Oh, you know what it is alright. It's a "lanyard hole,

    The Best Bushcrafting Knife? (Post)

    A Review of Bark River Knives: Bushcrafter When it comes to bushcraft/survival knives, how much is enough? How do you make sure your knife will be up to the task? Here’s a product from Bark River Kn

    FAQ: "What is the best blade steel?"(Post)

    Question: "What is the best blade steel?" With so many aspects of a steel's performance dependent on subjective and personal preferences, this question is going to be difficult to answer fully. H

    New Benchmade 484 - Nakamura(Post)

    The new Benchmade 484 Nakamura didn't impress me when I saw the initial photos.  In fact, I didn't even order very many. When I went to SHOT, however, they put it in my hand and everything changed.  P

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

    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-beve

    This week at Bark River: September 10, 2015(Post)

    We're pleased to present the premiere of what we expect will be a regular feature here on KnivesShipFree.com -- a behind-the-scenes look at what's happening at Bark River Knives. (After all, sinc

    FAQ: How old should my kids be before they get their first knife?(Post)

    That can be a little tricky. Because each kid is different, the real answer is that you are the only one who knows. You have to gauge their level of responsibility—it's your call.That said, most kids

    FAQ: My sheath has a firesteel loop -- what size firesteel will fit?(Post)

    The loop on sheaths from Bark River Knives, as well as the loops found on KSF Leather sheaths, will accommodate a 3/8" firesteel. These firesteels will fit: KnivesShipFree Custom Firesteels K

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

    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 call

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

    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 knif