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    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

    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

    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's a 'coffin' handle?(Post)

    A "coffin" handle is a traditional style of knife handle that resembles, in its shape, a burial coffin.Its distinctive pommel has three sides, or faces. A coffin handle tapers toward its forward end,

    ​Essential skills: "Poor Man's Fatwood"(Post)

    Essential skills: "Poor Man's Fatwood" On KnivesShipFree.com we've devoted an entire section to "fire making," and for good reason -- it's one of those skills that everyone should learn and pract

    FAQ: My folding knife has a pocket clip, but I don't use it -- is it okay to remove it?(Post)

    Yes. Removing the pocket clip -- like those found on folding knives from Benchmade, Zero Tolerance, Spyderco, Kershaw and other makers -- won't affect the function of the knife.You'll need the proper

    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

    3 Things That Cut Better with a Serrated Edge(Post)

    3 Things That Cut Better with a Serrated Edge Serrated edges, physically speaking, have a couple of advantages over plain edges. On blades of similar size, the scalloped profile essentially incre

    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

    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

    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: 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: Why should I 'wet-fit' a sheath to my knife?(Post)

    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: How should I care for a leather sheath?(Post)

    Once you've fitted your prized knife with high-quality "pants," what's the best way to take care of the hide?Sharpshooter Sheath Systems' Reid Hyken has produced high-quality sheaths for the likes of 

    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

    What Factors Should I Consider When Choosing a Survival Knife?(Post)

    The one thing that we are sure of is that in today's uncertain times, owning a survival knife is more important than it ever was in the past. With everything from unemployment hikes to the impending

    FAQ: How do I choose a good leather sheath?(Post)

    What makes a good leather sheath? Sharpshooter Sheath Systems' Reid Hyken has produced high-quality sheaths for the likes of Bark River Knives and Benchmade, and he knows a thing or two about leather,

    FAQ: Can I change the position of the pocket clip on my folding knife?(Post)

    Yes, if your knife is allows for it. Some (but not all) modern folding knives -- like those from Benchmade, Zero Tolerance, Spyderco, Kershaw and other makers -- accommodate more than one p

    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