A Buyer's Guide to Hunting Knives

Hunting knives are an important part of any hunter's set up. Contrary to what some people think, a knife is not a good place to scrimp. Your knife will be the most valuable tool that you have once your game is on the ground. There are many different kinds of knives available, and they span many price ranges. You can get a good knife for around $40, or you can get an excellent knife for $200. Look at Cabela's website, and you will find knives that push $1000! Most people will not want to spend that much on a hunting knife, because the extra expense is often brought on by "flash" rather than "function". When you are looking for a hunting knife, here are a few things to consider:

1. Price. Unless you are particularly hard on your hunting equipment, or prone to losing things such as knives, you should think of your hunting knife as an investment. This is not a yearly purchase. In fact, if you buy a good quality knife, you will be using it for many years to come. I used my first knife, a Case Mako, for about 16 years, before the wood grip separated from the handle. I am currently on year number 5 for my current knife, and I expect to use it for another 15 at least. If you care for your knife, and you have bought a good quality knife, it will last you for many years of service. I recommend Buck knives, as they are of good quality, and reasonably priced. You can look at their website to get an idea of what different models will sell for. Make sure to shop around, as most places will sell these knives for a considerable discount off of retail. I currently use the Buck Woodsman, and I upgraded to the Cocobolo handle. It currently retails on Buck's website for $82. You can find it for around $50 online. Once you have found the knife that you like, be sure to shop around for the best price. This is an item that is safe to buy online, as it will never need adjusting, and will be warranted from the factory if you have any problems.

2. Size. The size of your knife will really come down to personal preference. There are any number of blade lengths available, so you will have to consider what you are hunting, and how much knife you will really need. If you need a knife only for cleaning rabbits, you will want something on the small side. However, if you are hunting elk, you will want something bigger. Some people just like to have more than enough knife to make sure that they don't end up with too little knife. You have to find a knife that you are comfortable with using. My knife has a 4 inch blade, and that is plenty for a deer hunting knife. You may need a little larger knife if you are going to hunt larger animals such as elk or moose. If you have a knife with too much blade, it will only get in the way when you are trying to eviscerate your smaller game animals, such as deer or antelope.

3. Blade material. Blade material is important because it determines how well you can sharpen your knife, and how well it will hold its edge once you have sharpened it. You also want a material that will be resistant to rust. The best blade steel is S30V, which is a high vanadium steel. This blade is a little harder to sharpen, but it will retain a great edge. Next is 154CM steel, which has high carbon content. This makes the steel harder than some of the softer steels, which again makes it retain its edge very well. Next is 420HC steel, which is a stainless steel. It is highly resistant to rusting, and is very easy to sharpen. It does not hold its edge quite as long as the other two, but because it is easy to sharpen, this is not a real problem. The knife I use is made from this steel, and I have not had any problems with it. In fact, I am very happy with its performance.

5. Folding versus fixed blade. This characteristic comes down to preference. Fixed blade knives are a bit more convenient, because you don't have to worry about getting them folded up when you are cleaning your game. They also tend to be a bit sturdier, because there are no moving parts. However, they are also typically longer in the sheath. That can become a problem when using a climbing tree stand, as it can get caught on the side of the stand when climbing the tree if it is too long. I also have had some trouble with it catching in my safety belt, and becoming uncomfortable. This can be adjusted, but it is an inconvenience when climbing the tree. Folding knives, being more compact, are less likely to interfere with these activities. You do have to be more careful with folding blade knives. Any time you have to unfold, and fold your knife, you are dealing with a blade sharp enough to cut you very badly. This is a particular hazard when you are folding it up after field dressing your game. Typically you will still have some blood on your hands, or on the knife, which will make it slippery. Make sure you handle it carefully, or else you will have a nasty cut, and probably be far from a hospital!

6. Point style. Again, this characteristic will come down to your own preference. There are three styles that are generally available in a hunting knife. All three styles are available on both folding and fixed blade knives. The first is a clip point blade. This is the style that I have used for over 20 years, and it has served me well. This style has a slightly upturned point, which works very well for field dressing deer. The drop point knife has a more rounded spine, and it "drops" to the point, rather than curving up slightly. The gut hook knife is typically a drop point knife, with a "gut-hook" on the spine. This is like having two knives in one. The gut hook is designed to open the body cavity without perforating the stomach or intestines. This can be a very valuable tool, if you are unable to open the cavity without punching into these organs. Anyone who has accidentally perforated the stomach of a deer when field dressing will know this tool will spare you a very unpleasant situation! This edge is certainly not necessary, but it can be helpful!

7. Sheath. Your sheath is the least important criteria for your new knife. Many knives come with a nylon sheath, while others come with a leather sheath. I would not allow the sheath to determine whether you will buy a knife or not. I prefer a leather sheath, just because I like the way they look. But, if the knife I want comes in a nylon sheath, I will buy it. You do want a sheath that latches the knife in. I have seen some sheaths that hold the knife, but have no way of securing it. These are unsafe, as any number of things could cause the knife to be pulled from the sheath, and cause a serious injury.

These suggestions will help you buy the perfect knife for you. I recommend checking out Buck's website. There you will find hundreds of different hunting knives. You can examine all the features available, and choose a knife that has all the characteristics that you are looking for.