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    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: 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

    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

    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: 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. Sharpshooter Sheath Systems' Reid Hyken has produced high-quality sheaths for the likes of 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

    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

    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 sharpening is the t

    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

    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

    How-To: Adjusting the pivot on a folding knife(Post)

    Adjusting the pivot on a folding knife On many modern folding knives (like those produced by Benchmade, Zero Tolerance, Kershaw and others) you'll find an adjustable pivot. You can loosen or t

    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

    3 Good Reasons to Always Carry a Knife(Post)

    3 Good Reasons to Always Carry a Knife With a nod to Gibbs' Rule #9 -- "Never go anywhere without a knife" -- we humbly present three good reasons to always carry a knife. 1. Emergencies hap

    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