How to Choose a Hunting Knife

Hunting season is almost here and now is the time to buy that new gear you have been wanting - have you decided on a new knife? Is there such a thing as the "perfect hunting knife?" Probably not. But there are many knives on the market that will fill the bill nicely.

But why would you want to listen to me talk about hunting knives. Well, a little about me. I have been an avid hunter for the past 50 years and have hunted big and small game everywhere from Alaska to Florida, Europe and the Pacific. I have hunted, dressed and butchered dove-squirrel-rabbit-turkey-raccoon-fox-coyote-waterfowl-javalina-mule deer-whitetail deer-antelope in the US lower 48, waterfowl-ptarmigan-snowshoe hare-moose-caribou-brown bear in Alaska, waterfowl-wood pigeons-rabbits in the UK, and wild pigs/boar in Guam.

So, how would I choose the best hunting knife for me? First, determine what kind of hunting activities you want to do and whether I. Will you be hunting waterfowl, small game, large game, or a combination of them all? Generally, the larger the game, the larger the knife - but that doesn't mean that a good sharp smaller knife won't work just fine.

Once you determine the kind of hunting you are interested in, you need to ask yourself a few additional questions. Do you want a knife just for hunting? Do you want to carry your knife when you are not hunting?

Now that we have these questions answered, lets talk turkey.

BIG GAME HUNTER: If you are a big game hunter and want a knife specifically for dressing big game, you should consider a fixed blade knife. By definition, these knives are permanently open so they are generally stronger and more reliable. Because the blade is always open, they normally come with a sheath for safe carrying.

But just deciding on a fixed blade knife is not enough - now we have to determine the blade style best suited for your purpose. If this knife is to be strictly used for big game hunting, I recommend a "drop point" blade - a strong curved blade ideal for skinning large animals. This heavy blade design can also be used for gutting, butchering and splitting the pelvis and rib cage. Finally, you may consider a knife with a "gut hook" especially designed for opening the abdomen when field dressing your game.

If you opt for a knife without a gut hook, you may consider a knife with a "clip point" blade - these blades are usually thinner and have a more pointed blade. This would be better for opening the abdomen of your game without cutting too deep and penetrating the intestine.

SMALL GAME HUNTER: If your quarry is small game, anything goes, you can choose a smaller fixed blade knife, a folder, or pocketknife. Personally, I have always opted for a folding knife with a clip point blade (my favorite is my classic Buck Folding Hunter). However, to add flexibility, you may consider a multi-blade pocketknife - the Case Mini Trapper has both a clip point blade and a "spey" blade ideal for skinning small game.

OCCASIONAL HUNTER: For the occasional hunter who hunts "whatever is in season, " I recommend a good mid-size folding knife. My favorite has always been the Buck Ranger (112BRS). This classic knife is small enough to effectively deal with small game, but sturdy enough to be just as useful in field dressing/butchering large game. Mine has been my primary knife throughout my hunting career-including, antelope hunting in Wyoming, deer hunting in Utah, Caribou and Brown Bear hunting in Alaska, boar hunting in Guam, and a myriad of small game hunting around the world.

FOR THE HUNTER WHO WANTS TO CARRY A KNIFE DAILY: If you only want one knife to carry for everything, I recommend a multi-blade pocketknife - like the Case "Stockman" or "Trapper" series. I also recommend you check your local knife carry laws - usually knives with blades 3 inches or less are legal - BUT remember all knives are prohibited from many locations including courthouses, some government building, airports, etc. NOTE: I prefer the venerable pocketknife over a folding knife because the former is carried in a pocket while folding knives are usually carried in a sheath visible to all.

IMPORTANT COMMENT: No matter what type or size knife you have, it will not do the job unless it is good and sharp. A knife can lose its edge while dressing the animal, so you need to have a good knife sharpener with you to keep the knife sharp from start to finish. It is not uncommon for a hunter to stop several times while dressing game to sharpen his/her knife. Also, in general, the more expensive the knife, the longer it will hold its edge - but this also means these harder blades take longer to sharpen - so there is some tradeoff here.

SUMMARY: There are literally thousands of knives on the market, so you must prioritize your needs and choose the one (two or even three) that best fill those needs. It is possible to choose one knife for multiple purposes, but most outdoors people have at least 2 with them when they go out. To learn more about knives available go to my web site www.PocketKnivesPro.com and search on various knives by type, blade type, or brand. HAPPY SHOPPING AND HAPPY HUNTING.

Larry Clark is President of Clark Unlimited, Inc, a Florida based family owned internet marketing firm which focuses on providing quality products and world-class service at highly competitive discount prices. He is the founder of the website www.PocketKnivesPro.com - providing a wide variety of pocketknives, folding and fixed blade knives, as well as multi-purpose tools and sharpening tools from major manufacturers such as Buck, Case, Gerber, Kershaw, Leatherman and Victorinox.

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