Choosing Hunting Knives
Filed Under Clip Point Bench Knife, Fixed Blade Drop Point Knives, Fixed Blade Hunting Knives, Folding Hunting Knives, Gut Hook |
Finding the hunting knife that’s best for you can seem difficult, and if you make the wrong decision, you’re left with an expensive gadget that winds up at the bottom of a drawer or in a box in the garage. To make the right choice, you need to first assess your personal needs. In this article, we’ll look at some of the basic features of Hunting Knives and help you match yourself with your new knife!
Choosing a Blade: Drop Point, Clip Point, and Skinning Blades
Different types of game require different types of blades. If you plan to hunt mostly big game, consider the drop point hunting knife. This type of knife sports a thick, carved blade that is usually stronger than the other types. It is excellent for skinning an animal; you can use the entire edge, not just the point. This makes the job of skinning easier, faster, and results in less meat lost.
Although a saw, hatchet, or ax is better for tasks like splitting the rib cage and gutting, the drop point can be used, making it a valuable backup tool in the field.
In contrast to the drop point blade, the clip point is thinner, flatter, and has a well-defined point. It can be used for all of the same tasks as the drop point, but it is not as efficient at skinning, splitting and gutting. However, the clip point blade, which more resembles a generic work knife is a good choice for the hunter who plans on using his or her knife for other purposes than just hunting.
As its name suggests, the skinning knife is designed specifically for the task of skinning. It is a particularly useful tool for the big game hunter. The sweeping blade of a skinning knife will make fast work of butchering. The skinning knife can also stand in for the drop point or clip point in other field tasks, though it will not perform them quite as well or as efficiently chores as well as the clip point and drop point designs.
Gut Hook or Not?
In addition to the blade style, a hunting knife may have a hook incorporated into the blade or stock. This is called a gut hook, and is used to cut open the abdomen after an incision is made with the blade. The hook reduces the risk of contaminated the meat with the contents of the gut. They provided added security in this way, but if you are confident in your field skills, you may not feel the need to find a knife with this feature.
Some hunters find that the hook is an inconvenience because it is difficult to sharpen, and therefore is no longer used after a time, or must be sharpened carefully to avoid damage to the rest of the knife. If you do decide a gut hook is a desirable feature, you may want to buy a separate gut hook tool.
Blade Type: Fixed or Folding?
There are always tradeoffs when choosing a knife, and the first one we’ll examine is the fixed blade vs. the folding blade. A fixed blade knife is permanently “open,” like a kitchen knife. It usually comes with a sheath of leather, kevlar, or some other material that allows for safe handling and carrying. Folding Hunting Knives have blades that closes into the handle, like a pocket or “swiss army” knife.
Fixed blade knives are generally stronger than folding ones, and the lack of moving parts makes fixed blade knives more durable and reliable. However, folding knives are smaller, and so they can be more conveniently carried in a pocket, on a belt sheath, or otherwise stowed when not in use.
This also makes them a good choice when you plan to carry the knife for use outside of hunting trips. If you are planning to use your knife only for hunting, the strength, durability, and reliability of a fixed blade makes it a good choice.
If size and convenience are an issue, you may want to consider the folding style.
Don’t Forget the Handle
Many hunters spend so much time on the blade, they forget to consider the handle.
Traditional wood, leather and bone are beautiful and will function well in most conditions, but the newer composites will help a hunter maintain his or her grip even when the handle becomes slick with blood or in adverse weather. The added safety should be considered before making a final choice.
In the end, a knife is a very personal tool, and there is no right choice, only the one that best fits your needs. Choose carefully and you’ll have years of happy hunting!
[tags]Folding Hunting Knives, Fixed Blade Hunting Knives, Gut Hook, Fixed Blade Drop Point Knives, Clip Point Bench Knife[/tags]
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