| Is there such a thing as the "perfect hunting | | | | pointed blade. This would be better for opening |
| knife?" Probably not. But there are many knives | | | | the abdomen of your game without cutting too |
| on the market that will fill the bill nicely. | | | | deep and penetrating the intestine. |
| But why would you want to listen to me talk | | | | SMALL GAME HUNTER: If your quarry is small |
| about hunting knives. Well, a little about me. I have | | | | game, anything goes, you can choose a smaller |
| been an avid hunter for the past 50 years and | | | | fixed blade knife, a folder, or pocketknife. |
| have hunted big and small game everywhere | | | | Personally, I have always opted for a folding knife |
| from Alaska to Florida, Europe and the Pacific. I | | | | with a clip point blade (my favorite is my classic |
| have hunted, dressed and butchered | | | | Buck Folding Hunter). However, to add flexibility, |
| erfowl-javalina-mule deer-whitetail deer-antelope in | | | | you may consider a multi-blade pocketknife - the |
| the US lower 48, waterfowl-ptarmigan-snowshoe | | | | Case Mini Trapper has both a clip point blade and |
| hare-moose-caribou-brown bear in Alaska, | | | | a "spey" blade ideal for skinning small game. |
| waterfowl-wood pigeons-rabbits in the UK, and | | | | OCCASIONAL HUNTER: For the occasional hunter |
| wild pigs/boar in Guam. | | | | who hunts "whatever is in season," I recommend |
| So, how would I choose the best hunting knife for | | | | a good mid-size folding knife. My favorite has |
| me? First, determine what kind of hunting | | | | always been the Buck Ranger (112BRS). This |
| activities you want to do and whether I. Will you | | | | classic knife is small enough to effectively deal |
| be hunting waterfowl, small game, large game, or | | | | with small game, but sturdy enough to be just as |
| a combination of them all? Generally, the larger | | | | useful in field dressing/butchering large game. Mine |
| the game, the larger the knife - but that doesn't | | | | has been my primary knife throughout my |
| mean that a good sharp smaller knife won't work | | | | hunting career-including, antelope hunting in |
| just fine. | | | | Wyoming, deer hunting in Utah, Caribou and |
| Once you determine the kind of hunting you are | | | | Brown Bear hunting in Alaska, boar hunting in |
| interested in, you need to ask yourself a few | | | | Guam, and a myriad of small game hunting around |
| additional questions. Do you want a knife just for | | | | the world. |
| hunting? Do you want to carry your knife when | | | | FOR THE HUNTER WHO WANTS TO CARRY A |
| you are not hunting? | | | | KNIFE DAILY: If you only want one knife to carry |
| Now that we have these questions answered, | | | | for everything, I recommend a multi-blade |
| lets talk turkey. | | | | pocketknife - like the Case "Stockman" or |
| BIG GAME HUNTER: If you are a big game hunter | | | | "Trapper" series. I also recommend you check |
| and want a knife specifically for dressing big | | | | your local knife carry laws - usually knives with |
| game, you should consider a fixed blade knife. By | | | | blades 3 inches or less are legal - BUT remember |
| definition, these knives are permanently open so | | | | all knives are prohibited from many locations |
| they are generally stronger and more reliable. | | | | including courthouses, some government building, |
| Because the blade is always open, they normally | | | | airports, etc. NOTE: I prefer the venerable |
| come with a sheath for safe carrying. | | | | pocketknife over a folding knife because the |
| But just deciding on a fixed blade knife is not | | | | former is carried in a pocket while folding knives |
| enough - now we have to determine the blade | | | | are usually carried in a sheath visible to all. |
| style best suited for your purpose. If this knife is | | | | IMPORTANT COMMENT: No matter what type or |
| to be strictly used for big game hunting, I | | | | size knife you have, it will not do the job unless it |
| recommend a "drop point" blade - a strong | | | | is good and sharp. A knife can lose its edge while |
| curved blade ideal for skinning large animals. This | | | | dressing the animal, so you need to have a good |
| heavy blade design can also be used for gutting, | | | | knife sharpener with you to keep the knife sharp |
| butchering and splitting the pelvis and rib cage. | | | | from start to finish. It is not uncommon for a |
| Finally, you may consider a knife with a "gut hook" | | | | hunter to stop several times while dressing game |
| especially designed for opening the abdomen | | | | to sharpen his/her knife. Also, in general, the |
| when field dressing your game. | | | | more expensive the knife, the longer it will hold its |
| If you opt for a knife without a gut hook, you | | | | edge - but this also means these harder blades |
| may consider a knife with a "clip point" blade - | | | | take longer to sharpen - so there is some |
| these blades are usually thinner and have a more | | | | tradeoff here. |