11 Best Hunting Knife Reviews – Top Picks Only

When you are out in the woods, your hunter’s kit is all you have to rely on for survival. 

For cutting wild shrubs out of the way, and even using a sharp blade to prepare your hunt, you need the best hunting knife!

A knife is a multi-purpose weapon or tool that is used to cut wild vegetation to make way through the woods and can also be an instrumental hunting gear.

We tested all of the available hunting knives from multiple companies—Here are the top 10 hunting knife reviews.

Hopefully, you’ll get closer to the perfect gear without getting confused in a sea of options!

Latest Update: Recently, tried these 2 hunting knives—The quality is amazing

Buck 119 Review

Gerber Strongarm Review

1: Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife, Serrated Edge

As we picked the Gerber Bear Grylls knife, the biggest surprise was that its light! Now that you have taken that in, the lightweight knife has a serrated edge. 

We have to admit: this is the ‘edge’ for this knife. This knife comes in a nylon sheath, is mildew resistant and military-grade, with a high-carbon stainless steel drop point blade.

 It is safe to say that the Gerber Bear Grylls is the ultimate modern hunting knife that can be your companion for a long time! 

The grip is good, and even if you have clammy hands like mine, you can maintain the hold well.

The knife has a stainless steel pommel at the base to work as a hammer. If you thought this was enough, the knife comes with a fire starter, which functions as the ferrocerium rod is locked into the sheath of the knife.

 The striker notch is incorporated into the back of the knife blade. This sturdy knife is a complete hunting tool with a textured rubber grip so that you can hold on to it firmly!

Yes, we recommend this knife, but you must decide the best pick for you after getting to know all the options!

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2: Marble’s Anniversary Ideal Hunting Knife

Here’s another lightweight hunting knife that looks like an exhibit from a crime site, but hey! Looks can be deceiving. 

We liked the grip as well as the sharp edge, which was smooth and slightly on the thicker side. The Anniversary Ideal knife has an A2 steel blade with a stacked leather handle. 

A real hunter’s weapon, this knife comes with a leather sheath. We liked the leather sheath also, as it completes the ‘hunter look.’ Full tang, fuller groove defines this knife as an excellent tool to carry along. 

Apart from cutting ropes and stems, this knife can carve your kill for a perfect hunter’s meal!

This knife is 10.38inches long and is sharp, stylish, and just like how you imagined hunter tools to look like.

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3: KA-BAR Becker BK2 Campanion Fixed Blade Knife

For all old and new campers and hunters, there is always a must-have tool that remains an essential item in the survival kit. 

While a knife is the best lightweight weapon that comes in handy in multiple ways. 

The Becker BK2 is a real ‘companion’ that can be used for cutting, chopping, and making a way to find a perfect hunting spot! Campers will find it most useful tools too! As you hold the Becker BK2, it becomes a sharp hand.

 The grip is good enough to help you carve meat, cut ropes, and it doesn’t stress your wrist.

The Becker BK2 hunting knife is short, sturdy, and comes in a hard plastic sheath. You will be reaching out for it more than you imagine. From setting up camp to preparing your hunt for a meal, this knife is more than just a camping and hunting tool; it is a necessity!

Once you hold the knife, press the spot on the back of the sheath to release the blade. This feature adds a safety feature to this tool and is locked in place so that it doesn’t fall out. 

This safety feature ensures that you don’t get hurt or accidentally cut something. The Becker BK2 comes with a 5.5-inch flat blade and an overall length of 10.5 inches. If you are a beginner in hunting, consider reading the archery safety rules here. 

There is a glass-filled nylon sheath to keep the edge safe and sharp. Costing under $100 for all this, the Becker BK2 knife is a perfect lightweight tool for both hunting and camping endeavors!

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4: Buck Knives 124 Frontiersman Fixed Blade Knife with Leather Sheath

The classic look for a knife that will remind you of all the famous hunters from your favorite adventure movies! As you pull it out from the original leather sheath, you will look and feel like a hero! We have to admit; we posed with this one!

The straight back Bowie 420HC steel blade hunting knife is an excellent camping and hunting equipment. It is reliable, with a secure grip, to allow easy usage.

The Buck Knives 124 knife has a traditional dagger look, which makes it an attractive item in the hunter’s pack! However, it is not just the deadly look; the razor-sharp blade is an ideal companion that can make your camping and hunting adventures more fun!

This convenient carry hunting knife comes with a snap fastener and a high-quality protective leather sheath—the grip. 

There is an integrated belt loop that helps carry the knife safely. You will find this knife an excellent addition as it is a long-lasting and low-maintenance steel knife for years to come.

The most attractive feature of this knife is its manufacturer. Buck knives are a reliable name and come with a lifetime warranty. Moreover, your Buck Knife is designed by years of experience and is built to last.

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5: D.H Russell Folding Lockback

When a Czech knife-maker and a Canadian cutlery maker combine, the result has to be a fierce, sharp-blade knife that looks beautiful! 

For the wild hunting of mountains and the predictable kill of the planes, D.H. Russell Folding Lockback is the right pick for all!

If you are an Indiana Jones fan, we are sure you will love this knife! The folding knife is sleek, smart, and knows what it is meant to do! 

The D.H Russell is a beautiful knife, and it was pretty easy to fold it up, an excellent feature to add safety to the tool. Other attributes of this knife include a plain edge blade of stainless steel. 

The knife comes with a rosewood handle, which was a pleasant sight, and makes it easy to use! 

A genuine leather cover is included in the knife pack so that you can carry it around safely and look like a hunter who means business!

The D.H Russell is not a very big knife and will only be as long as your hand if you are average-height like me. The exact length measures only 8.75 inches in length.

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6: Benchmade-Hidden Canyon Hunter Compact Fixed Hunting Knife

Many hunters feel this knife is underrated as it does the job as well as the most popular knives.

Honestly, after holding and using various knives, we found the Benchmade-Hidden Canyon Hunter knife shorter, but equally sharp! 

The blade on this knife is made from CPM S30V steel, which resists rust and does not require regular sharpening. You can cut, hunt, kill, and skin with this knife. 

Quite often, the Benchmade is considered the right blade for seasoned hunters as it may be tricky to sharpen. This knife is hard, sturdy, and long-lasting as the sharpness remains for the season after season.

Now, you will not need multiple tools as the Benchmade is reliable in every way. This short knife has a broad blade and a stabilized wood handle. The handle is a durable composite material and stands against harsh environments and elements.

With a satin finish blade, full tang, and fixed blade construction gives this knife added stability. It comes with a Lanyard hole for versatile carry options, and the leather belt loop makes it easy to carry around. 

The Benchmade hunting knife is compact and very light to carry. This light, yet heavy worker is indeed the right choice for all kinds of hunting and camping trips!

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7: ESEE 5P Black Tactical Survival Knife with Sheath

When you are packing your hunting equipment, you will always look for a knife that meets all needs.

From pitching stumps to making way through trees, you can rely on the ESSE 5P knife. Any tough survival kit calls for a sturdy knife, and ESSE 5P fits this description well. 

This knife is a handy and reliable partner with a durable and sharp blade. With a secure deployment mechanism, you can rule the jungle when you are out to hunt!

We have to admit that when you first hold this knife, you will feel that it can only be gripped better if you hold it like a dagger! Ready to stab someone!

However, once you get accustomed to the Micarta handle material, it is easy to handle. You might require some time to get acquainted with the handle, but then, every good thing requires some effort. 

With an overall length of 11 inches and a blade of 5.25 inches, this knife comes in a black finish of high carbon steel construction. For a long-lasting sharp blade, the ESSE 5P is a good purchase for your hunting kit.

As the name implies, the survival knife works wonders as a helper in the woods. You will like the sharpness and the firm grip too!

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8: Buck Knives 119 Special Fixed Blade Knife with Leather Sheath

With hardly any imperfections, this old-timer knife remains useful and competitive after the introduction of many newer models and brands. 

We liked the old look of this knife, which somehow makes it look more dependable. However, if you are a new hunter who wants modern-looking equipment, you can try other options.

Surprisingly stout, with a blade of only six inches, made with 420HC steel blade that has corrosion resistance and remains sharp for long. 

The comfortable grip has swells that ensure a firm hold and look beautifully intense! The overall length of the knife is 10.5 inches.

The phenolic extra-hard plastic handle gives a stark combination with the silver blade-a true classic!

The Buck Knives 119 is not just any knife for the kit. You will love the traditional hunter look with a leather sheath that keeps the blade safe.

However, this knife also has a nylon sheath option that is becoming more common nowadays. The Buck knives remain an icon, and for all those hunting aficionados, this knife is a must-buy to complete your rugged look.

The guard and butt of the knife are of aluminum, which gives a decent outline to the black handle, accentuating the contrast.

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9: Gerber Vital Big Game Folder. Tool-less Exchangeable Blade Hunting Knife

Here’s your small-sized camping tool. We mention this immediately after the traditional knife, as we feel it might provide you with contrast.

The Gerber Vital knife is light, easy to hold, but it might break if you use it on a bigger or stronger object. Elks and moose are too thick for this slim blade that breaks if torqued hard. 

Hunters who use this knife have broken at least one blade! For smaller animals or cutting softer objects, the Gerber Vital is the right choice. This knife is an ideal firm-grip tool for fishing, birds, and game hunting. 

You can replace the blades and keep this as an essential in the hunting survival kit, as this knife can be an excellent deboning knife. 

As compared to its bigger and thicker competitors, the Gerber Vital hunting knife is petite to look at, but it is comparable to the sturdiest and biggest knife! Having said that, we genuinely believe the appearance of a hunting knife might not appeal to everyone in the same way. 

Some of you might think it looks more like a paper cutter, considering the handle!

The orange and black handle is of sturdy plastic, which has bristles to support a good grip. With the push of a button, you can change blades and work through big games.

You can use the hard case of the hunting knife to keep spare blades, and this is not the only convenience! The sheath for this knife can keep both the knife and the hardcover. 

The knife is eleven inches long, with a sleek blade of 3.75 inches.

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10: CRKT Hunt’N Fisch Fixed Blade Knife with Sheath: Gentleman’s Hunting Knife

The name says for gentlemen; we say it is for those who take hunting seriously! This knife was a little heavier than a few discussed above. However, severe work requires some weight.

The CRKT Hunt’N Fisch is a perfect pick for hunters who like to go for all kinds of the hunt. Fishing, game, and even deer hunting calls for a knife that maintains a firm grip no matter how tough your prey is. 

The multi-colored G10 handle ensures good hold while the blade shows no mercy to any object! The Idaho-born knife is an excellent buy at $69.50, especially since it will last years and years!

If you compare the Hunt’N Fisch knife with other CRKT knives, it is an old school. However, hunting requires old school, and this sharp knife will prove a faithful companion.

 The company gives a lifetime warranty, which further ensures that you will not be letting this hunting knife go!

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11: Gerber Myth Fixed Blade Pro Knife

If hunting knives could be angry, they would look like this knife! The full tang, high-carbon stainless steel blade with a hook is some serious business!

This knife was probably the only one that I hesitated to hold! The gutting hook looks a little overwhelming, but once you understand how important it is, you will love this knife! It seems to be for people who know how to use a knife and an ax!

The dual-lock sheath comes with a blade sharpener, and a rubber handle ensures a good grip too.

The Gerber Myth Pro hunting Knife is an excellent tool for all outdoor adventures. Camping, hunting, and fishing- all your activities become smooth with this sharp-edge knife. 

The price of $49.17 is not only reasonable but will often make you want to pat yourself on the back. 

The light yet sturdy knife was designed by professional hunters, which makes it an excellent choice for not only cutting ropes or wild vegetation but will dress the game for mealtime! The sheath with the sharpener has a dual-lock system that keeps your knife safe and easy to carry during travel.

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The complete buying guide

Uses of Hunting Knife:

A knife is an essential hunting tool as it is used at every stage. It covers all steps from making way to your hunting sight, setting up camp, to hunting and eventually skinning and preparing meat! A hunting knife is a weapon that has made it through every age, and remains a necessity!

Before you buy your vital knife, here’s a detail of what you will need it for! The hunting knife is used for a variety of tasks on your hunting or camping trips. Apart from using it to cut the stems of trees to make way, a knife can be used for the following purposes:

• Gutting: An essential step in preparing the game, gutting involves removing the internal organs and cleaning the membranes. Hunters often use this knife to prepare meat for preservation. When dressing larger prey, gutting becomes one of the first steps of preparing a game. The gut hook simplifies this process and makes it easier to clean the meat perfectly.

• Skinning: Removing skin seems easy, but it requires not just a sharp blade, but good grip too! Without tearing the muscle, or tissue, hunters need to run the knife in a balanced move to separate the skin only. A short, thin, and curved blade with a sharp point is your typical hunting knife that can help skin the prey.

• Butchering: Cutting through the meat to prepare smaller portions for a pleasant camping meal, or for outdoor cooking adventures after hunting requires necessary skills if you have a good knife. The hunting knife is used for butchering meat and cutting the muscle in a balanced and clean cut.

• Deboning: Removing bones from raw meat can be a challenge for newbies, but a good hunting knife can help significantly. One of the many purposes of a hunting knife is to debone the prey.

• Decapping: Removing the neck and head of larger animals like deer, or antelope can be challenging. A hunting knife is the only tool that can pull you through this step! After all, you would want a decently cut trophy, not a rough chop!

• Camping activities: An efficient knife can help with cutting ropes, setting up camping stations, and even pinning pegs. Your camping kit must have a sharp knife that is sturdy and can help with basic camping chores.

• Hunting: As the name says it, knives are an effective weapon.

Did you stop to reread the last use? We say knives are for hunting, as they can be your weapon to hunt down prey. 

Some lightweight knives can be used as a dagger to stab or throw at the game. Your hunting knife can perform all these duties, and that is why you must not compromise on buying the most suitable one for the type of hunting you prefer!

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Hunting Knife Types:

A hunting knife can be of various types also. Before you set out to buy it, read up on the different types, so you know what to pick. 

Depending on the shape of the blade, various knives have been classified as hunting, caping, skinning, bowie, and camping knife. 

You don’t have to buy a specific knife for every job but choose one that suits your style of hunting the most! For example, if you are hunting hares, you can choose a knife that is good for decapping, skinning, and butchering. 

This will require a sharper and longer blade. The short and thin blade knife will not complement your hunting adventures.

Fixed blade or the folding knife?

Folding blades tend to be more ‘hunter’ attire, as we have grown up seeing in wild adventure movies. However, the best type of knife for you depends on your hunting endeavors.

 A folding blade is more comfortable and safer to carry. It can be a useful tool for all types of chores, like cutting, untying, and other camping and hunting work. However, if you are hunting larger prey, a fixed and long blade can be used for decapitating, skinning, and butchering meat.

The benefit of folding knives is that you can carry them in your pocket, safely and without risks of getting injured. 

Apart from portability, some folding knives tend to have a smaller blade, which is easily manageable while doing some hunting chores. Fixed blades are stronger and can be used for heavy hunting work.

 A fixed blade knife may be easier to clean and sharpen than a folding knife.

A fixed blade knife requires a sheath, and cannot be pocketed. You have to carry this hunting tool in your belt or your hunting backpack kit.

The ideal size of a knife for my hunting trips

As we mentioned earlier, a larger knife can be useful for preparing game. The type of prey determines the perfect size for your hunting knife.

 If you are out hunting larger animals like deers, moose or elks, a knife blade of between four to six inches. Similarly, for camping and hunting smaller prey, a short knife of the 3.5-inch blade will not only be portable but will do the job well.

Keep in mind; that much of the selection of hunting knives depends upon personal preference. While we may guide you about the right tool for a specific job, you can choose a knife that feels like an extension of your hand!

Blade points

A hunting knife can have three types of points; a clip point, drop point, or skinning point.

A drop point means that your knife blade has a curve downwards. This type of blade is suitable for working on large game. The same tip works well for gutting and butchering as well.

A clip point is ideal for small work such as cutting as it has a thin and flat tip. You can keep this knife for general hunting chores, and not preparing your prey for preserving or a meal.

A skinning knife is a specialty. You can skin your prey clean, and effectively in a shorter time. The tip is curved and pointing sharply, to make way deep into the prey, without tearing a muscle.

Hunting knives materials

You can find knife blades in many materials. Various kinds of stainless steel and carbon-steel blades are available. You can pick a knife that suits you best, according to the material that fits your requirements.

The VG-10 is a high wear resistance steel, which is also corrosion-resistant. This material blade is ideal for rough hunting terrain and big prey.

The 154CM is thinner than VG-10 but has high wear resistance. Hunters will not need to sharpen these blades frequently.

420HC is medium-carbon stainless steel, which allows easier sharpening and cleaning. Corrosion resistance and medium edge retention are highlighted qualities of this blade.

S30V is rust and wear-resistant. This high wear knife is a basic knife that has low maintenance.

High price, high quality?

Just like everything else, a good knife will cost more than an ordinary knife. 

Hunting knives are a specialty item, and therefore as you choose a knife of better material and longevity, the price will be more. An $80 knife will be better than a $10 knife. 

The blade material, point definition, and sturdy handle designs that last several seasons will cost you more but will be your companion for a more extended period too!

Conclusion

Our trials of different hunting knives were an effort to provide insight into collecting the best tools before you plan a hunting trip. We have explained all aspects of a hunting knife so that you can pick the right knife for your hunting needs! When you buy the perfect knife, share your feedback as that may help many hunters decide upon a more efficient and compatible knife for future trips.  

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