Like most sporting goods, hunting knives can range from cheap junk to high-quality, precision instruments. Before you buy a hunting knife, it's important that you understand the differences between them and that you also know what types of knives work best for you. This hunting knife buying guide will help you learn how to buy hunting knives that will serve you well for years to come.
Before you look at the different types of blades and handles, the first choice to make is whether you want a knife that has a fixed blade or a blade that folds. A fixed blade knife requires a sheath in order to carry it safely while a folding knife can be kept in your pocket or clipped to your belt or jacket. Many hunters prefer fixed blade knives because they are typically stronger than folding knives, but if you prefer the convenience of a folding knife, you have many to choose from.
Once you've decided on a fixed blade or folding knife, you'll need to determine what type of blade will work best for you.
There is no standard hunting knife blade design. As a matter of fact, many variations exist, but three primary types of blades are available for hunting knives: the drop point blade, the clip point blade and the skinning blade. Let's take a look at the differences.
Drop point blade
A hunting knife with a drop point blade is the best choice for big game hunters. This blade is long and curved and generally made from exceptionally thick steel.
Knives with a drop point blade are excellent for cutting the skin off of an animal because the entire length of the blade can be used rather than just the point. Because of this, an animal can be quickly skinned and gutted with minimal damage to the meat. Because of the thickness of the blade, it can also be used to split bones in the animal's rib cage and pelvis if a saw or hatchet is not handy.
Clip point blade
Hunting knives with clip point blades are well-suited for both hunting and general use. They have thinner blades than drop point knives and more well-defined points.
While clip point knives can perform all the tasks that drop point knives do, they are not as efficient or as quick. These knives can also be used for work knives when not being used for hunting, so they are the perfect choice for those who only hunt occasionally but wish to have an all-purpose knife at hand all the time.
Skinning blade
The third type of hunting knife blade is the skinning blade. A knife with a skinning blade is designed strictly for removal of the skin of game animals.
The skinning blade is generally long and sweeping, allowing for effortless separation of flesh from skin. Often, hunting knives with skinning blades also feature gut hooks. A gut hook is designed to cut into the animal without puncturing any of the entrails, which could impair the quality of the meat. Gut hooks can also be purchased separately if your hunting knife doesn't have one.
Regardless of the type of blade you choose, it's important that the steel it is made from is high quality. Blade manufacturers rate their blades on the Rockwell C Scale, which measures the blade's ideal hardness. A blade with a low rating means the metal is soft and may flex or bend too much. One with a high rating may mean the blade is too stiff and could break under heavy pressure or when twisted too vigorously. A middle rating, which on the Rockwell scale would be in the mid-50s, is generally considered ideal for most hunting applications. Other factors that are related to the quality of blade material include how well it sharpens, how long it will hold its edge and how long it will hold up under regular use. Here are some of the most popular materials for producing knife blades:
S30V: This steel is made with vanadium, which offers exceptional combination of toughness, wear resistance and rust resistance. Blades made from S30V steel are somewhat difficult to sharpen, but they hold their edge better than many other types of steel. S30V steel is considered "high-end" in hunting knives.
154-CM: Made from stainless steel with high carbon content, 154-CM steel is highly wear resistant and retains its edge very well. It is somewhat brittle, however, and because of that, it is used more often for smaller blades.
VG-10: Another type of steel that features high-wear capability, VG-10 steel is similar to 154-CM steel, but has superior corrosion resistance and also has greater edge holding capabilities.
420HC: While 420HC has a lower hardness rating that the other steels, it is also extremely corrosion resistant. The medium-hardness stainless steel is also easy to sharpen.
Handles are important for several reasons, and handle shapes and materials can make the difference between a comfortable hunting companion and another discarded item in your junk drawer.
Traditional hunting knife handles are made from wood, leather or bone. These handles have worked well for many years, are durable and can be ornate and beautiful. If you're an avid hunter, however, you might want to consider handles made from contemporary materials like rubber and composites. These handles are generally lighter, more durable and have greater gripping power when wet from blood or water. Remember, a firm grip on your knife handle can be the difference between a successful hunting trip and a trip to the hospital, so choose a grip for what it does, not how it looks.
Why do some knives have serrations along part of the blade?
When a section of the blade has serrations or teeth, like on a saw, it is there for rough cutting or ripping. A blade with this feature can be used for tough chores like splitting the rib cage or pelvis of a game animal and is a handy feature to look for.
What is a caping knife?
A caping knife is another type of hunting knife. The purpose of a caping knife is to separate the torso of the game animal from the body in order to have it mounted by a taxidermist. Many trophy animals have been made unmountable by hunters using the wrong knife to prepare the animal. Caping knives are generally small with very sharp blades. Caping an animal takes skill, so it's a good idea to practice on smaller animals before you attempt it on a real trophy kill.
Many knives have a groove running along the blade. What is it for?
This is called a blood groove, and while the name may give you the wrong idea, the purpose of it is to strengthen the blade. The groove gives the blade two "spines" rather than just one, allowing it to be lighter, yet stiffer than it would be without the groove. The longer your knife blade, the more important having a blood groove is.
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