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    How do Traditional Slipjoints Compare to Modern Tactical Folders?(Post)

    A lot of people are buying traditional knives, but are disappointed with what are perceived as flaws. I am not sure it is a fair comparison. Let me explain.  Well, Let me do it in a video. &nb ...

    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 th ...

    FAQ: I see that some knives are 'spring-assisted' -- is that the same thing as a switchblade?(Post)

    No -- at least not to people who know something about knives. In the simplest terms, an automatic knife, or "switchblade," allows a person to open it without touching the blade itself. Usuall ...

    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 effici ...

    ​Special delivery: The Bark River Springbok(Post)

    The best reason to own a particular knife, as far as we're concerned, is because it works. It doesn't need to be pretty, and it doesn't need to be rare or collectible -- it simply needs to perform.On ...

    FAQ: Why are good knives so expensive?(Post)

    As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.And what do you get when you spend a little more for a knife?You get better engineering and design -- a knife that'll do what it's meant to do and hold up ...

    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 everyt ...

    FAQ: How do I choose the right sharpening tools?(Post)

    The first step is determining whether your knife's edge is a V-bevel or convex. (See the illustration.)The edge on most knives is a V-bevel (we're including the chisel grind in this category, since i ...

    Bark River Knives: Gameskeeper 2(Post)

    We asked Mike Stewart about the Gameskeeper 2 and this is what he said,The Bark River Knives: Gameskeeper 2 is the same as the Gameskeeper except it has a longer blade. There are no other ...

    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. A ...

    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 limite ...

    Bark River Knives: Liten Bror(Post)

    We asked Mike Stewart of Bark River Knives about their Liten Bror Bushcraft Knife:The Liten Bror is actually the “Little Brother” of the Aurora. It is a smaller version with all of the features of t ...

    ​What's the best place to buy Benchmade Knives?(Post)

    The best place to buy a Benchmade knife is KnivesShipFree, of course. Here's why: We have a complete selection of Benchmade models, including special editions. Because we ship f ...

    What's the best place to buy Ken Onion kitchen knives?(Post)

    Of course, the best place to buy Ken Onion kitchen knives is KnivesShipFree, and here's why: We have a wide selection of Ken Onion models, including lots of hard-to-find patterns.

    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, cus ...

    FAQ: Are spring-assist mechanisms reliable?(Post)

    Absolutely. The brands we offer featuring a spring-assist -- Benchmade, Kershaw and Zero Tolerance -- have mechanisms that are well-engineered, solidly built and durable. For t ...

    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 st ...

    ​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 ...

    Interview: Mike Stewart(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 ...

    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.