Every hunter should have a knife on hand. Whatever tools you plan to use for hunting, a good knife will help you break down and field dress whatever you catch. If you're looking for dependable hunting knives for sale, we have plenty of high-quality options. There are numerous factors to consider when selecting the best hunting knife. Today, we'll look at a few factors that we recommend our customers consider when looking for the best hunting knife for their needs.

The Fundamentals

Before you even look at our various hunting knives for sale, you should understand what characteristics all hunting knives should share. While folding knives have their uses, they cannot withstand the same level of abuse as fixed blade hunting knives. We recommend a fixed blade hunting knife as your primary hunting knife, though having a folding knife in your hunting kit is always a good idea. On a hunting trip, there is no such thing as being overly prepared.

Typically, all hunting knives must perform the same set of tasks. Hunters will be required to skin game, field dress game, and occasionally break down larger game animals. This may necessitate cutting through tough cartilage and muscle around joints. When you need to make some of these more difficult cuts, a fixed blade knife made of high-quality steel will come in handy.

How Do You Go Hunting?

The type of hunting knife you bring will be heavily influenced by the game you are after. You won't need a large blade to break down a rabbit, but you might want a smaller blade on hand to perform delicate cuts while dressing a deer or other big game animal. This means that when it comes to finding a dependable hunting knife, size isn't everything.

A good general purpose survival knife may have a blade as long as 6 inches, but a hunting knife will rarely be longer than 4 inches. A larger blade may be a good choice if you plan on getting one general purpose knife for both hunting and camping. Because hunting knives will have to deal with some messy tasks on a regular basis, you will want a knife that gives you a lot of control while you work.

Blade Material

The next thing to think about is the material of your hunting knife. A quality knife requires quality steel, and there are several options available when you browse our selection of hunting knives for sale. Steel comes in a variety of forms, including carbon steel and stainless steel alloys. Each of these steel types has distinct advantages.

Carbon Steel

High carbon steel alloys will be one of the most popular choices for hunting knives. This steel alloy is rigid and strong due to its high carbon content. Carbon steel knives also have the advantage of easily taking and holding a razor sharp edge. This means that hunters will need to sharpen their knives less frequently. Carbon steel knives must be maintained to avoid corrosion, but rust on a steel hunting knife usually requires some serious neglect. Clear coated and powder coated knives are popular, and these coatings help to provide an extra layer of oxidation protection.

Stainless Steel

Consider stainless steel knives as well. Stainless steel alloys, as the name suggests, are intended to resist corrosion. This is accomplished by using specific levels of elements such as chromium, which aid in the formation of protective films on the surface of your steel. While stainless steel blades are great for corrosion resistance and hold a good cutting edge, they have their own set of maintenance requirements. Stainless steel takes a little longer to sharpen, and the edge does not typically last as long as a high carbon steel blade's edge.

Knife Design

Once you've decided what qualities you want in your steel, it's time to consider the design of your knife. We have a large selection of hunting knives in various blade shapes and sizes for sale. Much of the reasoning for selecting a different blade design will be personal preference, but there are some practical issues to consider when determining which knife style will be the best fit for you.

Drop Point

Because of its versatility, the drop point is one of the most common blade designs. A drop point knife's spine curves slightly downward to meet the tip. Drop point knives have a well-defined point and a nice wide belly for slicing cuts as a result of this. Drop point knives offer a lot of control over the point for piercing cuts.

Spear Point

A spear point knife is usually symmetrical or nearly so. Typically, only one edge is sharpened, preserving the thick and sturdy spine required for powerful cuts. They also have a nice, sharp point that is ideal for piercing while keeping a slicing belly. Spear point knives are an excellent choice for hunters looking for a knife that can be used both around the campsite and on the hunting grounds.

Clip Point

The clip point knife is a traditional hunting knife design. These knives have a straight spine that curves down to meet a tip with a slight upward point. While a clip point blade's thick and sturdy blade is ideal for tough campsite chores and the tip is ideal for piercing or fine tasks, these knives are not always the best choice for hunting. The smaller belly of most clip point knives limits their slicing ability.

Finding Your Next Hunting Knife

We hope that this brief overview will assist you in selecting the best knife for your next hunting trip. If you need any more assistance narrowing down your options, our store has plenty of great hunting knives for sale in the "Hunting Knives" category. You can also create your own custom hunting knife package using our exclusive Knife Builder tool. If you have any questions about any of the knives we carry, please contact one of our knife experts by emailing sales@theknifeconnection.com. We are always happy to assist our customers in locating the best knives for their specific needs.