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    FAQ: What's the purpose of a 'sharpening steel'? How often should I use it?(Post)

    A "sharpening steel" (more accurately, "honing steel") is used to realign the very fine "micro edge" of a kitchen knife. Gently drawing the blade across the rod at a shallow angle realigns the edge.

    Benchmade's Griptilian: 21st Century Classic(Post)

    When considering whether or not a modern knife has achieved "classic" status, there are many contenders. We could have a healthy debate about which (if any) belong in the pockets of Everyman. In our o

    3 Bad Things About Giving a Kid a Knife(Post)

    3 Bad Things About Giving a Kid a KnifeBy now you know how we feel about kids and knives -- they belong together. We firmly believe that it's our responsibility as adults to introduce the young peo

    FAQ: What's the best way to keep my knife from rusting?(Post)

    That's an easy one: Use your knife and stop worrying about it.Seriously.Yes, all steels can rust -- even stainless steel. But if you're actually using your knife, taking it out of your pocket (or shea

    ​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,

    Bark River Knives: Aurora(Post)

    We asked Mike Stewart what he thought of the Aurora.  This is what he said.The Aurora is a dedicated bushcraft knife. The point is is at the center of the blade It is a finer point for drilling throug

    A Review of the Bark River Adventurer Neck Knife(Post)

    The Adventurer Neck Knife is a relatively new offering from Bark River, and so far it's been very well received. Those who have tried it, like it -- a lot. If there's one thing that gives

    Interview: Andy Roy(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

    This week at Bark River: October 13, 2015(Post)

    Today our friend Jim Stewart took a break from his duties as Bark River Knives' production chief to give us an up-close look at the soon-to-be-released competition knife.Jim confides that this limited

    FAQ: How long is the break-in period on a new folding knife?(Post)

    There's no single answer to this question. Each knife is different. If the pivot on your brand-new knife -- whether it's a traditional pocketknife or a modern folder -- feels stiff or gritty, tha

    Bark River Knives: Gunny(Post)

    I asked Mike Stewart of Bark River Knives about the Gunny, this is what he said.The Bark River Gunny is the second most popular knife model.It is a smaller version of the most popular model, the Bravo

    FAQ: How difficult is sharpening? Is it hard to learn?(Post)

    Relax -- sharpening isn't some mysterious black art.Oh, we know it can be frustrating at first. We've seen lots of people get discouraged and give up just when they're on the verge of mastering it. An

    3 Ways to Customize Your Modern Folding Knife(Post)

    3 Ways to Customize Your Modern Folding Knife The way we look at it, you own a knife the moment you buy it -- but it doesn't become your own until you've lived with it for a while. Over time

    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

    FAQ: Why should I learn to sharpen my own knives?(Post)

    Before we answer that question, let's start with why it's important to have a knife that's actually sharp.Obviously, a sharp knife is better at doing what it's designed to do -- cut. It's more efficie

    How-To: Replacing Benchmade Griptilian Handle Scales(Post)

    Replacing Benchmade Griptilian Handle Scales Note: According to Benchmade's warranty policy, "[The Benchmade Lifetime Warranty] does not cover...disassembly of any knife by any person other than

    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

    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

    How to turn your ESEE knife into a firesteel striker(Post)

    A firesteel requires a sharp striker. It's possible to use your knife’s sharpened edge to get sparks flying, of course, but doing that even a few times creates a dull spot you’ll have to touch up late

    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