Best Folding Hunting Knives

A folding blade hunting knife is probably the most convenient all around hunting knife for hunters because of the reduced size and the easier ability to carry the blade. The down side is that if a folding hunting knife is carried in the pocket rather than the sheath that fixed blades are carried in, chance increase that the knife will be lost. The answer has been to add holes to the handle to reduce weight, but also to make the knife more portable.

Typically hunters need to field dress an animal, meaning cut the animal’s throat, remove the guts and hang the animal to let the blood out. If the animal is butchered in the field, a heavier hunting knife is required. Tasks involved include removing the skin, saving the head for mounting, and cutting the meat 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.

Best Clip Point Blade Folding Hunting Knives

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

Buck Alpha Hunter Folding Clip Point Hunting Knife
Rubberized handle, 420HC blade, thumb stud allows for one handed opening, Cost $85.00

Buck Ranger Folding Clip Point Hunting Knife

Woodgrain Handle, 420HC Steel blade, Cost $73.00

Best Drop Point Blade Folding Hunting Knives

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

Tres Cronor Folding Drop Point Hunting Knife

Cocobolo handle, 6.5″ VG-10 blade, front lock. Cost $202.00

Ultimate Hunter Plain Blade from Cold Steel

Thermorun Handle, AUS-8A blade, 8.5″, 90 day warranty. Cost $89.95

Best Drop Point Blade Folding 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.

Buck Alpha Folding Guthook

Rosewood Handles, 8.5, with blade 154CM Steel, Weight 1lb, Cost $110.00

Best Skinning Folding Hunting Knives

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

Browning Stag Folding Skinner

Sambar Stag Handle with silver rivets, 3.5″ AUS-8A steel blade, Cost $138.00

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.

Alaska Guide Hunting Knife from Buck

Made of S30V steel 8.5″ blade, 7 oz. blade. Cost $175.00

Spyderco 63GP3 Chinook III

Black G10 Handle, S30V Stainless Steel blade, 8″ overall, strongest lockback, Cost $150 with serrated edge $3 more.

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.

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

[2] Mark Burnett, The Survivor Manual

[3] http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/community/product_features/buyers_guide/pages/hardgoods/hunting_shooting/pf_ross_knife_guide.html