How To Choose Hunting Knife

Written by:

Dr. Braide Honest

Updated:

April 4, 2022

Noblie Custom Knives / Knife Blog / How To Choose Hunting Knife

Contents

1 Blade Length
2 Blade Material
3 Quality Indicators
4 It’s All About The Shape
5 Types of Handle

Whether you’re an experienced hunter or just gearing up for your first trip into the wild, choosing the right hunting knife is essential. It’s not just a tool—it’s an extension of your skill and preparation. The right knife can make all the difference when field dressing game, building shelter, or even preparing meals around a campfire. But with so many options on the market, picking the perfect hunting knife can feel overwhelming.

From fixed blades to folding knives, drop points to clip points, understanding what suits your needs best requires a bit of research. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to choose a hunting knife that matches your style, game preferences, and environment. Let’s make sure you’re ready for whatever the wild throws your way.

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Blade Length

A hunting knife is designed to solve non-standard tasks, so shortened models are not very functional, and an excessively long product is not very convenient. The optimal length is considered to be from 100 to 120 mm, but in order to carve carcasses, a cloth should be used, the length of which reaches 15 cm. It is necessary to pay attention to the weight — it is inconvenient to carry too heavy models.

Blade Material

Many advertisements call for the purchase of hunting devices, in the blade of which there is Damascus steel. This statement is true for fans of aggressive cutting, but such metal requires care. The composition of good steel includes a large amount of carbon.

Some novice hunters try to choose a knife with a very hard blade, but practice shows that such a blade is quite fragile. Therefore, experienced hunters prefer products with a blade that has a good balance of hardness and viscosity, because such knives are more versatile in use and easier to sharpen, which is relevant in the field.

Quality Indicators

There is a special ruler for determining the percentage of carbon in steel (HRC). Products from elite manufacturers are equipped with a special marking that indicates these parameters.

Good quality steel starts with an index of 60 or more on the Rockwell HRC scale. Anything below the 60 mark is not of the best quality. Sometimes, special alloying components are added to steel, for example, chromium. This makes the knives more resistant to corrosion damage, and sharpening them becomes easier and easier.

It’s All About The Shape

A lot also depends on the shape of the blade. Experienced hunters practically do not use straight knives, preferring a curved shape. Due to the fact that knives of this configuration increase the area of the working surface, it is much easier to work with them. Of the disadvantages, we can note not very strong.

In order for the blade to have good cutting characteristics, it is made in the form of a thin wedge or an isosceles triangle. But with this form, it is not possible to make the product strong enough. And it wears off quickly under intense loads. Therefore, the blades of hunting knives are sharpened at a small angle (no more than 35 degrees). With this form, the productivity of the knife increases several times. And you can carve the carcass without often resorting to sharpening.

Many models of knives are equipped with a small saw on the butt, such knives are good for cutting horns. But they must be made of high-quality steel for good work.

Types of Handle

Wood has always been considered the best material for a knife handle. This handle is lightweight, durable, non-slip, you can choose the size for any palm. If the knife is a gift and will not be used for real hunting, then bone or pearl handles will be a good option. The form is only straight. This will make it easy to cope with cutting any materials. Finger depressions are not necessary at all — there are some difficulties if you have to change your hand often during work.

Also, the handles are divided into 2 types:

Mounted — have a narrow canvas, well fixed in the handle. Such knives are light in weight, but not particularly durable;
Riveted — A more durable design allows you to operate the knives for a long time and intensively. They are weighty, but this is their only drawback.

A good hunting knife does not need additional accessories. Durability, good quality, convenient use — these qualities should be the main ones when choosing.