{"id":789,"date":"2020-04-14T13:49:52","date_gmt":"2020-04-14T13:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northwestoutlet.com\/blog\/?p=789"},"modified":"2022-01-06T11:59:14","modified_gmt":"2022-01-06T11:59:14","slug":"best-hunting-knife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northwestoutlet.com\/blog\/best-hunting-knife\/","title":{"rendered":"Hunting Knives Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

A hunting knife is a mandatory hunter’s tool. The trusty blade has been with us for thousands of years; it’s more of a tool for field work and building traps than a weapon. A knife is an essential camping companion that helps you whittle wood and make kindling, split branches and prepare your game meat. Choosing the best\u00a0 hunting knife to take on so many demanding tasks can be overwhelming. Hopefully,this guide will help you make the right decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Hunting knives are not like kitchen knives; they’re made out of tougher, more corrosion-resistant steel like stainless steel or even titanium. They also have a different, more robust design that makes them good for doing little chores around the camp. They’re also specifically designed to help you with preparing your game, and have a well-defined purpose that makes them a unique tool on your toolbelt.<\/p>\n

Now, a good knife is a versatile tool, but unless you’re using a multitool or a Swiss Army Knife, you shouldn’t misuse your knife for camp tasks that don’t involve piercing or slicing something. It’s strongly recommended to bring other tools<\/a> for other jobs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Best Knives for Any Hunter<\/h2><\/div>

Picking the \u201cbest of\u201d anything is not easy, especially if it\u2019s something that mostly depends on personal preference. Best hunting knife is one of those items. Ask a hundred different people what is their favorite blade to take on a hunting trip, you will get a hundred different answers.<\/p>\n

There is a lot of choices and it obviously depends on what you\u2019re going after, whether it\u2019s a big game like moose, or you are hunting smaller game such as rabbits and so forth. We have tried to made a list that includes some of the best knives from several categories, as well as good old all-around classics, like Buck knives<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1. Buck Knives 110 – Best Folding Hunting Knife<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The folding knife is also known as a Jackknife; it was popularized by sailors about 400 years ago, but was used for thousands of years. What the folder loses in durability and robustness, they make up for it in being very portable and easy to pack, as there is no need to bring an extra sheath to put a folder into.<\/p>\n

One of the legendary\u00a0folding knives is Buck Knives 110 Folding Hunter<\/strong>,\u00a0created in 1963, and\u00a0still one of America’s best-selling knives. Classic folding design has a clip point blade made of 420HC steel hardened by a heat treat process pioneered by industry famous, Paul Bos.\u00a0The crescent tip makes the blade thinner with a sharper point, which provides good control for detail work and cutting in tight places.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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2. Benchmade 15200ORG Altitude – Most Lightweight Knife<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Built to be super lightweight, weighing only 1.67 oz, 15200ORG Altitude<\/strong> is very simple, but incredibly functional and durable hunting knife. It features CPM-S90V steel blade and unique carbon fiber micro inlays for dexterity and control you usually don\u2019t get in skeletonized knives. It also has some jimping down the spine of a blade and on the handle.<\/p>\n

This is not a heavy-duty large game hunting knife, but it is an excellent choice for everyday use and a hunter who counts every ounce. You can also use it for a meal-prep, or as a backup bushcraft type of blade.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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3. Buck 105 Pathfinder – All-Around Fixed Blade Knife<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Buck Pathfinder 105<\/strong> is another proof that this company has absolutely perfected this classic hunting and skinning knife design. This is a very good all purpose hunting knife, with overall length of 9, and a 5\u201d long blade made out of 420HC steel. It also features a hollow ground edge, which works very well when performing general outdoor cutting tasks, like cutting twine and rope. The handle is composed of black Phenolic fitted with an aluminum finger guard and buck hat.<\/p>\n

The Buck Pathfinder is and impressive hunting knife with robust design and sturdy construction, and while it cannot be used for hard chopping or batoning, it can pretty much be used for any other outdoor chore.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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4. Rapala Fish ‘n’ Fillet Knife 7″ – Best Knife for Fishing<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>

A hunting fillet knife is really similar to your regular kitchen fillet knife and has a similar purpose. Fillet knives are precise, they’re generally used for filleting\/deboning fish and fowl, and deboning carcasses. You shouldn’t use fillet knives for bigger game like deer to field-dress (other knives do that better), but any fisherman knows<\/a> how important having a good fillet is.<\/p>\n

Rapala Fillet Knives<\/strong>, made by Marttiini, are a gold standard of fishing knives, and they come in different sizes, from 6\u201dto 9\u201d. These knives are extra sharp, and they also come with a little hand sharpener to touch it up. Progressively tapered, flexible, full-tang blade of European stainless steel that takes and holds an ultra-sharp edge is securely anchored in legendary engraved birch handle.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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5. Buck 393 Omni Hunter\u00a0Gut<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Hook \u2013 Best Skinning Knife<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>

A gut hook is a small hook at the end of the blade that helps you remove the skin of an animal. The skinning knife is often called a “guthook knife”, but you can skin game with other knives too.\u00a0The gut hook practically “unzips” the carcass and lets you field dress in no time. This type of knife is also very good at cutting ropes or other material.
\nBuck 393 Omni Hunter<\/strong> is a great skinning knife. The guthook works great and the shape of this knife does most of the work when skinning a big game animal. The 4″ 420HC stainless steel blade holds an edge really well while dressing, and the curved handle features grip ridges for easy handling. If you pick Buck Omni Hunter as your go-to field knife, you will not be disappointed<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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All You Need to Know About Hunting Knives<\/h2><\/div>

How to Sharpen a Hunting Knife<\/h3><\/div>

Properly sharpening your knives keeps them usable and reliable. Before you grab your best, newest hunting knife, practice sharpening your old kitchen knives. Get a whetstone or a knife sharpening kit and sharpen away. After sharpening the blade, hone it by using an old leather belt or a ceramic rod.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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After you bring your kitchen knifes to a razor sharp cut, you’re ready to sharpen and maintain your own knife. If you’re feeling unsure about sharpening your own knife, there’s no shame to send it off to a professional knife sharpening service. For your own personal knives, it’s almost impossible to ruin the knife and sharpening your own knives is a nice skill to have. Don’t be scared to experiment.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Here are few tips how to keep your knife sharp and in great condition for a long time:<\/p>\n

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  1. Regularly sharpen you knife. A dull blade could get you hurt. A portable camping knife sharpener<\/li>\n
  2. Never let a wet knife go unattended. Whenever you use a knife, always at least wipe it down after use. Use mineral oil before you store your knife somewhere for a while.<\/li>\n
  3. You can use vegetable oil instead of mineral oil, it’s fine stopgap solution for about 3 days but it will go rancid and make your knife sticky.<\/li>\n
  4. Fully clean your folding knives by disassembling them and cleaning each part. You can find guides on Youtube<\/a> on how to disassemble most knives.<\/li>\n
  5. After you disassemble your folding knife, apply machine lubricant to the folding mechanism. After you assemble the knife, wipe off any excess oil.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

    Anatomy of a Knife<\/h3><\/div>
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    1. Blade<\/strong> – Made out of hardened or stainless steel or titanium.<\/li>\n
    2. Sharp Edge<\/strong> – The cutting edge of the knife, usually sharpened to a 30 or 40 degree angle.<\/li>\n
    3. Point<\/strong> – The sharpest point of the knife. There are several popular point designs, like drop point, tanto, etc.<\/li>\n
    4. Hand Guard<\/strong> – a small piece of protruding metal or a specially designed groove in the knife’s grip. It keeps your hand from slipping and cutting yourself on the blade.<\/li>\n
    5. Grip<\/strong> – Ergonomic grip that fits in your hand. Usually made out of no slip lightweight polymer or wood.<\/li>\n
    6. The Butt or Pommel<\/strong> – The rear end of the knife, usually called the butt or the pommel. Do not use it to hammer something.<\/li>\n
    7. Sheath<\/strong> – Sheath for the knife made out of leather, plastic, metal or polymer. It’ll keep the knife safe from the elements.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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      Fixed Blade vs. Folding Knives<\/h3><\/div>

      Which one’s better? In short, fixed blade knives are naturally more durable, have one less fail point and easier to clean. Most hunters will use fixed blade knives.<\/p>\n

      Folding knives are both lighter and easier to carry, and some heavy duty modern folders have very robust and safe locking mechanisms. Both knife types bring different benefits and drawbacks to the table, it’s up to the hunter’s personal preference. Both knife types work, and that’s what really matters.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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      Is it legal to hunt with a knife?<\/h3><\/div>

      While rules and laws may vary by state and location, most hunters with hunters permits and game tags can take down game with a knife. Primitive weapons like bows, spears and knives have a lot laxer rules compared to firearms.<\/p>\n

      Hunters often have to deliver the final blow to wounded game with a knife, but be very careful as this is a very dangerous maneuver. Most of the time, knives are used in a camp kitchen or for skinning and field dressing wild game. Hunting with a spear or knife alone is a very dangerous activity (hunting on your own is risky in its own way). Most people who hunt with knives actually hunt with boars with dogs, tire the boar out and then close in for the killing blow.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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      It’s extremely rare for someone to hunt with just the knife, except when hunting hogs with dogs. The dogs take the game down and hold it down, and the hunter stabs the hog in the lungs. People have been hog hunting with throwing knives, but it is very hard to do. Tony Cascarella took down a 275 lbs boar with three throwing knives back in 1976<\/a>, and that record still stands.<\/p>\n

      Most of the time, a knife is used to put a trapped rabbit, bird or other small trapped game out of their misery, kill a severely wounded animal or used to prepare fish. While trapping an animal is the obviously most efficient hunting choice, most states and laws forbid using traps. Hunting these days is mostly a sport and has a lot of rules, and a general idea of fairness towards game.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

      Hunting Knife Shapes<\/h2><\/div>

      Despite countless hunters arguing on countless forums, there is no one best knife shape. That’s just like asking what the best car is; the bottom line is that different cars are made for different purposes. Some hunting knives are general purpose, while others are very similar to your kitchen fillet knife. It’s important to use the best knife for the job, depending on what you’re hunting.<\/p>\n

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      For Ducks and Fowl<\/h3>\n

      A thin, flexible and narrow knife blade with a drop point or a sharp point is the best choice for ducks and other birds like pheasants. You can also use fillet knives. Technically, regular hunting knives could also work, but they’re not as precise, flexible and easy to use with fowl, so it’s a much better idea to have a specialized duck knife rather than using a regular, thick hunting knife.<\/p>\n

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      For Deer, Wild Hogs and Big Game<\/h3>\n

      Your regular hunting knife is a great choice for deer, wild hogs and big game; even if it has a thick blade, it’s precise enough to cut the joints and debone a carcass. Drop point knives or knives with a gut hook are your optimal choices here; other points are too narrow.<\/p>\n

      Fillet knives and narrow blade knives aren’t the best choice here, because big game has a lot of tendons, meat and bones that will strain the flexible blade.<\/p>\n

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      For Fish<\/h3>\n

      This is the easiest question; fillet knives are the best fishing knife to fillet and debone fish. Other narrow knives are also a good choice, but nothing beats a fillet knife. Regular, thick hunting knives aren’t really great at cleaning fish. You can still fillet fish with a thick knife, but it’s very frustrating and time-consuming.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

      General Hunting Knife Safety Tips<\/h2><\/div>