On the cutting edge

How does one choose the right hunting knife?

Hunting knives are available in a wide variety of styles, each best suited for a different task. Selecting the right one requires an examination of the different blade types, blade materials, handle construction and more.
Hunting knives are available in a wide variety of styles, each best suited for a different task. Selecting the right one requires an examination of the different blade types, blade materials, handle construction and more.

When I was 12, my grandmother gave me my late grandfather’s hunting knife. I was just learning to hunt, and that knife became one of my biggest treasures. It hung from my belt everywhere I went. For 35 years, I used it for everything from skinning game to whittling. Recently, I gave the knife to my youngest son. It has been his constant companion as well.

Hunting knives are important utensils, but they have value extending beyond their usefulness in the field. They are keepsakes, too, passed along from generation to generation. That’s why, when buying a hunting knife, we want our purchase to be a wise one. A quality knife will perform valuable tasks when we’re hunting and last many years. Before purchasing one, consider these things.

Purpose

First, ask yourself, “How do I intend to use this knife?” If you’re looking for a knife that will perform one specific task well — skinning a deer, for example, or cutting branches around your hunting stand — you may want a specialty knife. On the other hand, if you buy a specialty knife to use as a multipurpose tool for backcountry camping, it probably won’t perform many tasks for which you need it. Start the selection process by choosing a design best suited for the chores the knife is intended to handle.

Size

There’s something macho about wielding a big knife like Rambo. But knives with huge blades have no real practical use for hunters. When you realize this, the size of the knife you choose will come down to personal preference and practical considerations. If you need a knife only for cleaning small game, you’ll want something small, lightweight and pocket-sized. If you’re hunting elk, something bigger and sturdier will be useful for quartering the animal and packing it out. You get the idea.

Fixed or folding blade

Hunting knives have fixed blades or folding blades.

Fixed-blade knives are stronger and more useful for heavy-duty work because blade material runs through the handle. They’re easier to clean than folding knives and more durable and reliable because they have no moving parts.

Folding knives aren’t as strong as fixed blades but allow convenient carry in a pocket and are good knives for everyday uses. Mechanisms on many allow convenient one-handed opening. They are, however, more difficult to clean because the blade channel collects blood, tissue, etc.

Blade design

Hunting knives have three main blade designs: drop-point, clip-point and skinning.

For big-game hunting, consider a drop point, which features a thick, curved blade stronger than other types. It’s excellent for skinning animals because you can use the entire edge, not just the point. In a pinch, a drop-point also can be used instead of a saw or hatchet for splitting ribs and pelvis bones.

The clip-point blade is thinner, flatter and has a more defined point than the drop-point. It can be used for the same tasks but is less efficient for skinning, splitting and gutting. However, the clip-point knife is a good choice for hunters who plan to use the knife for purposes other than just hunting.

Skinning knives are designed specifically for skinning medium to large game. The highly sweeping blade is made to effortlessly separate flesh from skin. Also, a good skinner can do most other game-cleaning chores, as well as clip-point and drop-point designs.

Some knives come with interchangeable blades, allowing the user to swap one blade for another when different blade types are needed for particular tasks.

Blade material

The type of steel used in the blade is another important consideration. This determines how well you can sharpen your knife, how well it will hold its edge after sharpening and how well it will hold up to years of use. The best blade materials exhibit high edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance and wear resistance.

The following types are among the best for hunting knives:

• S30V: This high-end, high-vanadium steel offers an exceptional combination of toughness, wear resistance and rust resistance. S30V blades are a little hard to sharpen but retain an edge much better than most blades made with other materials.

• 154CM: This high-carbon stainless steel has a high-wear resistance, and its hardness allows it to retain an edge very well. It is one of the more brittle stainless steels, however, and in general works best on smaller blades.

• VG-10: This high-wear stainless steel is in the same class as 154CM but offers superior corrosion resistance and extended edge retention.

• 420HC: This medium-carbon stainless steel is extremely corrosion resistant but has a lower hardness than the other types, making it much easier to sharpen. Edge stability is in the midrange.

Handles

Wood, leather and bone handles are very functional and often more aesthetically pleasing, but these materials lack durability and can be difficult to grip firmly when wet with blood or water. Synthetic materials such as Zytel, Kraton and ABS, which offer a good combination of sure grip and economy, are excellent options. Synthetics are also lightweight and virtually unbreakable.

For safety’s sake, the handle of a hunting knife should also have a finger stop, contour or other guard at the junction of the handle and blade that stops the user’s hand from sliding forward on the blade.

Final thoughts

Choosing the correct hunting knife has more to do with personal preference than anything else. But by incorporating the information above into your decision-making process, you can be certain the knife you buy is the very best for you and your needs.

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