Best Fixed Blade Hunting Knives

A fixed blade hunting knife is probably the most utilitarian for a hunter that will field dress an animal. The fixed blade helps with the overall sturdiness of the blade, it will never snap closed while you’re working with it. When working with larger animals, consider a heavier blade like a drop point blade that is sufficient to cut through heavy hides. When butchering in the field, several hunting blades will help you with the task. Field dressing an animal usually requires cutting the animal’s throat, removal of the guts and hanging to let the blood out. If the animal is butchered in the field, usually the skin is removed, the head saved potentially for mounting, and the meat cut and wrapped into portable portions, usually by the cooking style i.e. steaks, roasts. A wider blade will help chop. A serrated edge will help saw through bones. A gut hook can help remove the animal’s guts, but may require special tools to aid sharpening it. Special blades help remove the skin. All of the following blades come with a sheath.

Note: My husband and many men prefer the more compact folding knives, many of which lock open.

Best Clip Point Blade Hunting Knives

Clip point blade hunting knives are the most utilitarian and work best with smaller animals when hunting.

USMC Fighting Knife

Black epoxy coated high carbon steel, blade length 7″. The coating aids in durability in the field. Cost $72.95

SOG Northwest Ranger Hunting Knife

Slip proof handle, 440A Power Coated Stainless Steel 5.” Partially serrated Blade. Cost 79.77

Best Drop Point Blade Hunting Knives

Drop point blade hunting knives are used when hunting larger animals where sturdiness is needed when field dressing the animal.

Boker Integral Drop Point Hunting Knife

Riveted Palisander wood handle, 440C Stainless Steel Blade, Cost $158.00

Master Hunter Hunting Knife by Cold Steel

Blade length 4.75″, handle same. VG1 Steel Blade. Cost $101.95

Best Drop Point Blade Hunting Knives with Gut Hooks

A gut hook on a hunting knife can help remove the guts without spoiling the meat of the animal when butchering.

Case Gut Hook Hunting Knife

Made of surgical steel, blade length 4″. Comes with 90 Manufacturer Warranty. Cost $106.20

Buck Alpha Gut Hook Hunting Knife

Rosewood handle, ATS-34 Steel blade. Cost $89.97

Best Skinning Hunting Knives

A skinning knife is a special purpose hunting knife that can make the job of skin removal quick and easy.

Moran Drop Point Skinning Knife from Spyderco

Made of VG-10 Stainless steel, it has a rubbery handle that helps prevent slips. Comes with 90 day Manufacturer Warranty. Cost $86.95.

Browning Featherweight Skinner with Gut Hook

Zytel handle with AUS-8A Stainless Steel Blade, Cost $68.77

Best Serrated Edge Hunting Knives

Serrated edge hunting knives help saw through bones when butchering an animal in the field. Very few people do this and many times the serrated edge makes it tougher to sharpen the knife.

Cabela’s Alaska Guide Serrated Edge Gut Hook Hunting Knife

Rubberized handle with brass butt and guard, made of SV30 Steel, Cost $94.99

Chances are that unless you are the most avid hunter and spend weeks in the field living off the land, the clip point hunting knives are the most useful hunting knives to purchase. Whichever you buy, I hope this guide of the best in terms of steel blade, price, and user rating that you find a hunting knife targeted to your needs.

Sources:

[1] http://www.huntingblades.com/chhukn.html

[2] Mark Burnett, The Survivor Manual

Reference:

• stainlesshouseware.com/SteelHistory.htm