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

    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

    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

    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 onĀ KnivesShipFree.com -- a behind-the-scenes look at what's happening atĀ 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 thatĀ 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: 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

    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: What's the best way to clean a leather sheath?(Post)

    At the end of a hunt or a camping trip, a leather sheath is bound to be in need of cleaning.Ā Sharpshooter Sheath Systems' Reid Hyken has produced high-quality sheaths for the likes ofĀ Bark River Knive

    This week at Bark River: September 28, 2015(Post)

    This morning we caught up with a coffee-deprived Jim Stewart for a quick peek inside Bark River's current production. A lot of folks have been asking about the upcoming Bark River version of Marb

    FAQ: What's the best knife for a 'Bug-Out Bag'?(Post)

    We're hearing this question a lot more often these days, as "prepping" becomes more popular. And while it may sound like the age-old search for the perfect survival knife, it's not quite the sa

    FAQ: What does 'RC' or 'HRC' mean in a knife's specifications?(Post)

    Those abbreviations indicate the relative hardness of the knife's steel, as measured on the "Rockwell scale." And while we could spend a lot of time drilling into the metallurgical details of Rockwell

    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: My knife has a V-bevel -- what are my sharpening options?(Post)

    Generally speaking, there are two types of sharpening systems for V-bevel edges: freehand and guided. We'll take a look at each here, with some examples.Freehand sharpeningFreehand sharpeningĀ is the t

    What's the best place to buy firesteels?(Post)

    The best place to buy firesteels and other fire-making tools is KnivesShipFree, and here's why: We stock a great selection of fire-making tools, including firesteels from Light My Fire, cust

    Benchmade Griptillian the New Buck 110?(Post)

    Classic Folders, Old & NewIf there's a knife "hall of fame" (and maybe there is), its honorees aren't chosen by a board of directors or some highfalutin committee. No, the blades that stand the test o

    3 Ways to Bring an Old Pocketknife Back to Life(Post)

    3 Ways to Bring an Old Pocketknife Back to Life Sometimes we love a pocketknife so much that we neglect it -- seriously, a knife can become such a natural part of our day-to-day life that we forg

    How-To: Wet-fitting a sheath to your knife(Post)

    Wet-fitting a sheath to your knife The problem with getting a leather sheath to form to a knife is the waiting -- break-in can take a while. But c'mon, who has the patience to wait for leat

    Benchmade 585 Mini-Barrage(Post)

    Each of us chooses our EDC knives for different reasons -- utility, convenience, elegance, ease-of-maintenance, and so on. Usually it's a combination of factors that draws us to favor a particular bla