To enjoy the proper hunting experience, there are a number of different things that you need to have on you to ensure that all goes as planned. Having your weapon on you is obviously the most important part of the hunt, but having things like the right blind or the right chair can make the difference between a great time and a simply okay time.
Having a hunting knife on you is particularly important simply because of all the things that the hunting knife can do. Its versatility alone makes it a must-have on any hunting trip so making sure that you have the proper hunting knife can really elevate any hunting experience – whether it be carving through some foliage or opening up your MRE to get some nutrients.
Here is a list of the ten best hunting knives available on the market and the reasons why they can make a hunting trip all the better.
KA-BAR Becker BK2 Companion Fixed Blade Knife
This comes with a hard shell black nylon sheath so that you can carry it with you anywhere and everywhere with minimal issues. The full tang is heavy-duty, allowing the knife to work for everything from camping chores to breaking down an animal with ease.
Great for everything from dicing up camp side vegetables to splitting out kindling to the skinning game, this knife has so many uses that you would have to use it for years to find them all. The comfortable, balanced grip gives you stability when doing these activities so you never have to worry about dropping it.
Pros:
- Sturdy black coating
- High quality
- Great survival knife
- Full tang
- Razor-sharp
Cons:
- The handle has no gripper
- Sheath isn’t very good
Gerber Strong-arm Fixed Blade
This Gerber Strong-arm Fixed Blade has a rubber grip for the ultimate handling; you will never drop this knife thanks to that sturdy, durable rubber grip. Has a tang with a lanyard hole for easy hands-free carrying as well as a striking pommel.
The blade itself is 9 ¾” in length and it has a black finish stainless standard edge blade that is deceptively sharp and great for many different uses. The construction is highly durable thanks to the glass-filled nylon handle that has the rubber grip over it.
Pros:
- Great for survival scenarios
- Made of carbon steel
- Well-designed
- Easy to sharpen
- Great price point
- Sharp out of the box
- Full tang
Cons:
- Sheath quality
Havalon Piranta Z Folding Blade Skinning Knife
This is one of the more sleek options on the list due to the narrow 2 ¾” blades that are meant for skinning that day’s hunt or haul. The blade is also shorter than most at just 7 ¼” but is great for getting into those tough areas far more smoothly than with a larger hunting knife.
The long and wide-grip hand makes for an enhanced level of control and rarely requires sharpening; you can just snap on a new blade when the old one wears down. Extremely popular with taxidermist due to its sharp precision; this is the best knife available for skinning animals of any size as accurately as possible each time.
Pros:
- Easy to change blades
- Called “best skinning knife”
- Has extra blades
- Super sharp blade
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Made for right-handed people
- Blade can be difficult to change
Buck Knives 119 Special Fixed Blade Knife
You would be hard-pressed to find a hunting knife as sharp as this one. It has a 6″ clip point steel blade that has both excellent strength and edge retention. Also has corrosion resistance so that it lasts for a good long time. Great for detail work, cutting in tight places and piercing as well.
The grip is a traditional black phenolic handle that has palm swells for a more comfortable overall grip. It has the perfect combination of balance and aesthetic quality and the 119 is an American classic that has lasted over generations. Has a leather sheath with a snap fastener for convenience in carrying as well so that you can take it anywhere on a belt loop.
Pros:
Beautiful construction
- Full tang
- High quality
- Sharp out of the box
- Fixed blade
Cons:
- Durability
Gerber Myth Fixed Blade Pro Knife
Built with a full tang high-carbon stainless steel blade that is anchored by a rubberized handle for great grip stability and capability. The overall length is 8.5″ make it compact enough to store in your pockets with no hassle and the 3.75″ blade length is surprising with the number of things that it can get done.
With a slim and lightweight design, you can store this anywhere and the gut hook tip and small, sharp blade makes it a great choice for quickly and safely dressing game. It also has a built-in carbide sharpener so that you can keep your knife as sharp as possible even on the go.
Pros:
- Good for field dressing
- Carbide sharpener
- Gut hook
- Razor-sharp
- Good grip
Cons:
- Carbide sharpener doesn’t always work
- Durability
Cold Steel 49HSF Mini Tac Skinner
Small but firm black faux G-10 handle makes for a great grip despite its relatively small size. The edge of the blade is serrated for quick and easy cutting capability and it is made from highly durable stainless steel. The long, curved cutting edge has a sharp point and can cut through just about anything.
Comes with a plastic sheath that has both lanyard and belt clip so that you can take it anywhere with you with maximum convenience. The grip is very secure and resists twisting and rolling so that you rarely drop it or lose control of the blade. This blade is as tough and rough as it gets, ready to stand up to just about anything.
Pros:
- Sharp blade out of the box
- Great price
- Strong handle
- Good sheath
Cons:
- Small size
- A little too thin
- Some had a plain edge out of the box
Buck Knives 124 Frontiersman Fixed Blade Knife
This knife has a full tang construction with a finger guard and deep choil that helps make it one of the best overall options for those serious hunters out there that value quality knives. The grip is also completely safe and secures thanks to a black micarta handle that has palm swells and curves for the most comfortable of grips.
With a protective leather sheath, you can carry this knife with you anywhere and it has an integrated belt loop that lets you carry it safely and securely on your belt loop.
Pros:
- Thick full tang
- Big knife
- Holds an edge
- Micarta scales for gripping
Cons:
- Durability
- Difficult to hold
ESEE EESLSP-BRK Laser Strike
At 10″ in length, it is a perfect size: not too big, not too small. Constructed of 4 7/8″ black texture powder coating, this steel blade has a thumb ridge and is built to stand up to heavy usage. There is a lanyard hole in the handle to allow for hands-free carrying and the molded sheath has a clip plate so you can attach it to your belt or your boot.
The sturdy construction means that it will hold up for a long time and it is great for breaking down games or for everyday usage. It even comes with an ESEE survival card as well. The Canvas Micarta handles have a divot that can be used for the socket for the fire bow drill method as well.
Pros:
- Easy to use belt clip
- Great fit and finish
- Very sharp
- Great spearpoint
- High-quality sheath
Cons:
- Might get different design decal
Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter
This is an ideal hunting knife because it is capable of countless tasks in the field. It is a simplistic style but the function is unmatched. It is also constructed of American-made CPM-S30V steel for first-rate edge retention and resistance to corrosion. Breaking down the game has never been easier thanks to the wide blade radius, making it a breeze like never before.
It also has superior tactical use thanks to the fixed, full-tang blade construction. This provides stability like never before when in use and the leather belt loop makes for easier access than ever before. It has a slim profile and design so that you don’t even know it’s there when you use it.
Pros:
- Stability and durability
- Great for breaking down game
- High quality
- Super sharp
Cons:
- The leather sheath has issues with durability
The Buck Knives 1691BKG is one of the best ones I’ve bought. Rarely had to sharpen it, but the sheathe could be improved upon. Love it and will reccommend it.
Being a hunter myself for more than a decade, I have to say this is a great post.Those knives you mention are top class. If I had to pick one , I would go with the Leather Sheath. I already own 2 Leather Sheath knives and they are just awesome. Good read.
Can you use just one type of blade shape for hunting?
It depends, blade shapes are designed for a specific purpose such as skinning an animal or piercing. There is no one size fits all, and for this reason some choose to bring multiple types with them.
The elk ridge hunting knife’s handles were a little bit too narrow. It does have a rather nice blade but the sheath could be better. I think the sheath was way too tight for the knife.
IMO, the blade shape doesn’t really matter. As long as its pointy, sharp, and comfortable, then its good enough for me. It all boils down to personal preference, I think.
Couldn’t ask for a better knife. The griptilian 551 fits good in the pocket. Razor sharp edge. A high quality knife for a price that wouldn’t empty your pockets.
i must agree. it has served me well for quite some time.
What’s the blade length on the outdoor edge razor-lite folding knife? And what kind of handle is it?
The Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite EDC Folding Knife features a double molded Grivory® with rubberized TPR inserts. The blade length is 3.5 inches or 8.9 centimeters. Glad to help!
The piranta z is probably one of the best blades I have. While the blades are really sharp, they are also flexible and hard to change (had to use pliers). Its not a good idea to use it for prying or digging anything substantial, but it is sharp enough for skinning and quartering out meat.
Bought one myself a few years ago. Never regretted it since. And the replacement blades are cheap, about 10 dollars a dozen.
How thick is the blade on the SOG specialty knives & tools huntspoint fixed blade? And is sheath included?
The blade is 0.13″ thick and it does come with a belt loop sheath.
Great! Bought it about 3 weeks ago!
Always glad to help!
Bought it last year and I would recommend it. Its the besxt knife I’ve ever owned.
So, it really is that good. Been reading around for quite some time and I’ve arrived to the conclusion that the SOG specialty knives are some of the finest.
The Piranta-Z blades are just too sharp to ever touch. Just be very careful.
Have you ever cut yourself?
I have. I was trying to get the tenderloins and my finger slid up over the blade.
I also have the same opinion, the piranta z is an amazing product. Skinned quite a few deers with it. Haven’t had to sharpen it and the replacement blades are a good inclusion.
Where is the elk ridge made? I know its an American brand but is it like most things today?
It is an American brand but made in China. It does still feature a 440 stainless steel blade.
The Piranta Z is the sharpest blade for field dressing and skinning. Best skinner I have ever had. Great knives!!
I agree! I’ve cut myself once and I don’t want a repeat. Been very careful whenever I’m using them.
Where can I buy replacement blades? The nearby shop doesn’t stock them.
You could buy it online.
Is the sheath on the Buck Knives 0691BKG sturdy?
I think so. Its lined with plastic, not quite sure what it is. But as far as I can tell, its very sturdy and durable.
I love the Buck Knives 0119 special fixed blade. Great price and a very nice fixed blade knife!
The Griptilian 551 dulls faster than I’d like.
The Piranta Z is good value. Changing blades is easy. Also great for detail of capping out buck head.
The CRKT’s have always been a good value for the money and the K700KXP is no different. Great design and very well made!
The sheath on the 0691BKG looks good and does the job extremely well but the belt loop is a little on the small side.
Don’t have one but I do have the Griptilian 551, it features a grip texture molded handle and it fits nicely into the hollow of my hand.
The gut hook on the 0691BKG is a nice addition to an already excellent knife. This knife makes field dressing game so much easier.
Do I need to sharpen the Elk Ridge 2 Set upon purchase or is it already sharp?
Bought on 2 years ago and it was sharp when I recieved it.