Looking for the best knife? From the best fixed-blade hunting knife to the best multi-purpose hunting knife, you’ll find all the features you’re looking for for your next trip out. Whether you’re on the hunt for a lightweight and modern tool or a beautiful classic that’s been getting the job done for a hundred years, the knife you need is on this list.
Scroll down if you know what you’re looking for, or check out the answers to these common hunting knife questions.
There are a lot of knives on the market. These aren’t your mom’s traditional kitchen knives, though. These hardy tools are made for preparing your game to be transported and eventually eaten. From gutting and skinning the animal to deboning and butchering it, actually killing the animal is only the beginning. To get your prize kill from the ground to your dinner table, you’ll need knives made for the job.
Are hunting knives worth it? What makes the knives on this list different? Anyone who hunts knows that a good knife is one of the most vital pieces of your hunting toolkit. From comfort and safety features to toughness and precision, knife quality isn’t something you want to gamble on if you want to get the job done right, safely, and as easily as possible.
And without further ado, the five best knives for every purpose.
The 3.6-inch fixed blade is made of high-carbon steel that’s easy to sharpen but maintains toughness. With a lifetime warranty, these so-called “basic” knives are made to last. One extra feature that shouldn’t be overlooked (and not present on all the hunting knives on this list) is the rubber handle’s finger guard. No matter what kind of pushing, tugging, and slicing you’re doing with this knife, you can be sure it won’t be your fingers that get to experience this knife’s surprising sharpness.
Owners of the Morakniv Craftline Basic 511 often force a patina on the blade and love how easy it is to do. While the high-carbon steel is more susceptible to rust than a lower-carbon knife, Basic 511 owners force a patina to protect their knife from rust, while still enjoying the higher-carbon steel’s unique strength in creating sparks.
The Gerber Gear Vital Big Game Folder knife’s unique design makes swapping blades an event of a matter of seconds. Coming with a variety of blades to swap out, this knife is a great one-and-done hunting knife. Plus, with a quiet carry hard case, you have easy storage and access for new and used blades while on the hunt.
With a long (3.75 inches), extra sharp blade, this knife is designed for big game hunting. A functional safety feature hunters love is the design of the handle. Bright orange with grippy rubber lining, this knife won’t slip no matter how messy things get.
Designed in part by the legendary Randy Newberg, Gerber’s Randy Newberg DTS Hunting Knife is made to be used. While no knife can be a true all-in-one, this dual-blade knife definitely does a lot.
Unlike the first Gerber knife on this list, this all-in-one knife doesn’t require blade switching. Instead, this foldable tool has two knives built into one. You can quickly go from processing big game meat with the rust-resistant 440C primary steel blade to tearing through tough tendons and joints with the D2 Steel tendon tool, equipped with a tough serrated edge that can preserve the quality of your primary blade.
This stainless steel folding knife will remain rust-free for the entirety of its long life. Hunters love the incredible sharpness of these blades and prefer to use this knife for small game and fowl.
With 12 additional #60A blades included, one of the top features on the Havalon Piranta-Z is the quick and easy blade-changing ability. When daylight is rapidly disappearing, you don’t want to waste time sharpening your blade. This knife makes processing clean and quick so you can get the job done fast. With the included blade-changing tool, it’s an easy and safe process.
Each of the super-sharp blades is 2.25 inches long, for a 7.25-inch knife.
The Buck 113 Ranger is one of the best fixed-blade hunting knives specially designed for skinning game. This knife is made in America and is a long-time favorite for a reason. Everyone loves this knife. Probably even your grandpa. These knives have been around since 1902 and have offered a lifetime warranty since then. This deer-skinning knife features a genuine ebony handle that’s as romantic as it is comfortable, so if you’re looking for a functional and stylish knife to pass on to your kids or grandkids, this knife will make the cut.
While, as the name implies, this knife is a particular favorite among deer hunters, everyone from hog skinners to fish filleters loves this knife.
The three-and-an-eighth-inch drop-point skinner blade features an ultra-sharp 420HC steel edge that’s easy to sharpen, a curved belly for smooth cuts, and comes with a genuine leather sheath.
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