Choosing a Hunting Knife

Knives are an essential part of any hunter's equipment and choosing the right knife for the job is important when it comes time to properly decompose an animal. The blade styles vary and some are great choices for versatile use while others are for specific tasks. You will need to decide which blade is best for your needs. Some hunters tend to rely on one knife while others use separate blades for different jobs. There is also the consideration of fixed blades in relation to the files. Like many pieces of hunting equipment, it's always a good idea to invest in quality craftsmanship that will last longer than buying a cheap knife made with inferior steel. With a good maintenance, a good knife gives strong and sure shots for life.

The right knife will not only make your field treatment easier, it will also make it safer. Dull blades, too short or too long blades, and inexpensive folding knives with defective locking mechanisms are common examples of knife problems that can lead to injury. Once, I quartered an elk with an inadequate multi-tool blade and it was a long and miserable experience that led to some minor injuries and punctures that could have been much worse.

I started using mainly folding hunting knives for their space-saving convenience. More recently, I discovered folding knife blades, sharp as razors. Cutting capabilities of the scalpels were impressive, but the blades often broke when separating heavy joints. Not to mention their disposable nature did not sit well with me. There is something to be said for a craft tool that lasts long enough to be transmitted, which has led me to fixed blade knives. I appreciate the fit and feel of a well-made fixed blade hunting knife with no moving parts, nothing to break and handling them is safer.

Hunting Blade Styles

Drop Point

As the name suggests, this blade style has a slightly downward sloping curve. The blade itself is deep and strong; making it one of the most commonly used hunting knife styles. It works well in the field for skinning, evisceration, and casing and has the strength to cut tendons and separate large patellae. Benchmade Steep Country is the ideal choice for a versatile hunting knife for the big game hunter.

Boning blade

Benchmade's Saddle Mountain hunter is our favorite knife for small game but is also ideal for big game hunting in the field. Its boning blade is thin and shallow with a sharp, narrow point. It is an excellent tool to clean muscle from bone or to cut large muscle groups into smaller pieces when boning an animal. Boning blades are also good tools for cleaning birds and small game. They even work well for threading or cleaning the fish.

Clip Point

Clip-point blades more often on folding knives. A kind of hybrid, clip points, a more inclined drop point and a point, plus a base with a shallower blade radius like a skinning knife. They are both robust and responsive, making them a good choice for hunting, fishing, camp tasks and daily use. With a knife like the Bench Crooked River attachment point made, you'll be ready for anything.