Bench Notes

What is a choil on a knife, and what does it do?
A sharpening choil and a finger choil look alike and do very different jobs. How to tell them apart, why one isn't a finger rest, and when a knife needs either. Read more...
Two mornings at the bench: what actually happens in our knife making class in Montana
Two mornings at the bench: what actually happens in our knife making class in Montana
Coffee at 8, a shop tour, and by noon the next day you walk out with a knife you made. What happens across two mornings at our bench, and who... Read more...
Can You Put a Knife in the Dishwasher? Here's Why We Don't Recommend It
Can You Put a Knife in the Dishwasher? Here's Why We Don't Recommend It
One cycle won't ruin a knife, but the dishwasher is hard on the edge, the steel and the handle. What actually happens in there, and how we wash ours instead. Read more...
Carbon Steel vs. Stainless Steel: Which Knife Is Right for You?
Carbon Steel vs. Stainless Steel: Which Knife Is Right for You?
Carbon or stainless? Start with what you'll do with the knife. Why the heat treat and grind matter more than the label, plus four carbon steels worth knowing. Read more...
Worn brown leather knife sheath beside a handmade knife on a workbench, with a soft brush and cloth
How to care for a leather knife sheath so it lasts as long as the knife
Every sheath we sell is made in our shop. Here's how to clean it, dry it, condition it without overdoing it, and why your knife should be stored outside it. Read more...
Carbon steel knife on a workbench beside a cleaning rag and a bottle of mineral oil
How to remove rust from a knife, and why we leave the patina
Patina belongs on a carbon steel knife. Rust doesn't. How to tell them apart, how to take rust off without hurting the finish, and how to put a knife away... Read more...
A field knife setting on a belt sharpening device with an angle indicator.
The best sharpening angle, and how we actually sharpen
There's no single best sharpening angle. Ours run 17 to 22 degrees per side. Here's why, how we sharpen, and how to keep it up at home Read more...
Fixed blade vs folding knife, and how they live in harmony
Fixed blade vs folding knife, and how they live in harmony
We carry folders every day and build fixed blades for a living. Here's where each one earns its place, and why the two get along better than people think. Read more...
Handmade hunting knife on a wooden table next to a cleaning rag, a bottle of oil and a glass of whiskey
Use it hard. Take care of it when you sit down.
You shouldn't have to baby a knife after every use. Here's the care routine that fits in one sitting, over a cigar, a whiskey or a cup of coffee. Read more...
Convex, flat and scandi grinds, what actually changes in your hand
Convex, flat and scandi grinds, what actually changes in your hand
We're primarily a hollow grind shop that flat grinds its kitchen knives. Here's what each grind does, what hollow gives up, and how to pick one. Read more...
The best hunting knife shape, from field dressing to camp
The best hunting knife shape, from field dressing to camp
When someone asks us what to carry into the field this season, we usually point them to the Whitetail Skinner. That answer has less to do with the name on... Read more...
Picture of a Caping Knife with a belly fit for purpose
The Belly of a Knife: How Much Curve Is Enough?
What belly means on a blade, why more curve isn't automatically better, and the trappers who told us our Mountain Skinner needed more of it. Read more...
Why blade thickness matters, and where we landed
Why blade thickness matters, and where we landed
We build knives for a lifetime of hard use, not a spec sheet. Here’s why blade thickness matters. Read more...
Drop Point vs. Clip Point, which one belongs on your belt?
Drop Point vs. Clip Point, which one belongs on your belt?
Drop point against clip point, which one belongs on your belt? Walk into any knife shop, or spend five minutes looking at fixed blades online, and you will run into... Read more...
The Complete Guide to Knife Blade Shapes and Geometry
The Complete Guide to Knife Blade Shapes and Geometry
The knife industry loves talking about steel. And for good reason: steel is nameable, specifiable, measurable to the third decimal place. A steel's hardness, carbide structure, and composition can be... Read more...
The Complete Knife Steel Guide: MagnaCut, AEB-L, 14C28N, D2, S35VN, and More
The Complete Knife Steel Guide: MagnaCut, AEB-L, 14C28N, D2, S35VN, and More
Every knife description throws a wall of alphanumeric steel names at you. Most people nod and move on. This guide explains what those names actually mean, and why it matters... Read more...