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Many beginner hunters buy knives, thinking that they are hunting, only to find out later that they have purchased the wrong knife. So, what is considered a hunting knife?
A hunter without a hunting knife is like a soldier on the battlefield without a riffle. A hunting knife is an essential hunting tool. From skinning an animal to cutting its meat, a hunting knife is a must-have tool for a hunter.
What is Considered a Hunting Knife?
A hunting knife is designed for various hunting tasks – to skin, chop and field dressing. A hunting knife is highly reliable and super strong. It can perform a multitude of hunting jobs. For instance, as a fire starter, spearhead, cut soft materials with ease, skinning and boning, and prepare food in the wild.
A hunting knife also has a super sharp blade that can perform various tasks with ease. Hunting knives are available in different sizes, but a vast majority of them are smaller in size. However, the ideal size of a hunting knife depends on your hunting game. For instance, a small hunting game requires a small and lightweight knife, while a large hunting game like hunting elk or deer requires a larger and tougher hunting knife with sturdier blades.
A hunting knife has a grippy handle that provides comfort and stability when cutting, boning, or skinning the animals. Most hunting knives have middles-sized handles because they give the best comfort to the hunter. Their blades are made of carbon steel or stainless steel that are incredibly strong and remain sharp for a long time.
What is the Difference Between a Hunting Knife and a Kitchen Knife?
Kitchen knives are made of thinner steel because they perform lighter duties like cutting meat, veggies, fruits that don’t require much effort.
On the other hand, hunting knives are made of heavier steel that stands up to use that will easily bend or break a kitchen knife.
Hunting knives are designed for cutting, skinning, and boning and typically have a single sharpened edge. The blade of a hunting knife has straight and curved sections. The straight part of the blade is used for cutting meat, while the curved part of the blade is used for skinning.
Types of Hunting Knives
Camping Knife
This is the most basic hunting knife. Camp knife is used for many tasks, including cutting small branches, lighting firewood, skinning bark, and more.
Bowie Knife
This type of hunting knife is sharp on both sides at the tip. This means you can easily cut from both directions. Many hunters widely use it due to its ability to perform a multitude of hunting tasks. With this hunting knife, you can pierce and cut almost anything.
Buck Knife
This knife has been around since early 1960, and it is well known for its excellent performance and sturdy blade.
Boning Knife
As the name suggests, a boning knife is used to remove meat from the animal’s bones. It is slim, a feature that enables it to move easily between the bones’ tight spaces to get maximum meat out.
Skinning Knife
As its name suggests, skinning knives are used to remove animal skin. It has a sharp tip and razor-sharp blades for easy skinning. The tip of the blade is slightly curved for easy skinning of the animal without tearing the hide.
Caping Knife
A Caping knife is used by hunters who want to hang their hunt in the form of a trophy. The caping knife helps to slice the animals in a manner where the neck is kept intact. This knife can also be used for other hunting tasks.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hunting Knife
The hunting knife that you purchase will determine whether your hunting will be excellent or awful. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the right hunting knife that suits your hunting needs. Below are important factors to consider when selecting a hunting knife.
Strength
Strength refers to the ability of the knife to withstand cutting forces without bending or breaking. A hunting knife without adequate strength can break and bend when subjected to strong forces. When buying a hunting knife, it is recommended that you purchase one that is made of a sturdy blade. The most recommended material for blade includes stainless steel and carbon steel. They are incredibly strong and deliver excellent performance. They are also easy to sharpen and remain sharp for a long time.
Fixed or Folding Blade
Another important factor to consider when buying a hunting knife is whether to buy one with a fixed or folding blade. Both types of blades have pros and cons. For instance, folding blade hunting knives are compact thus easy to carry around. On the other hand, fixed blade hunting knives are versatile, meaning they can perform more hunting tasks than hunting knives with a folding blade. A folding blade is ideal for a casual hunter, while a fixed blade is perfect for a professional hunter.
Blade Shape
Hunting knives are available in many different types of blades. However, the most common types of blades include:
Drop Point Blade – hunting knives with this type of blade is ideal for skinning and cleaning. The drop point feature helps to lower the chance of puncturing the hide.
Clip Point Blade – This type of blade is straighter than drop point, and it is mainly used for camping and hunting chores.
Skinner Blade – This type of blade curves up from the handle and is used to skin game animals quickly. You can use this blade for other chores as well.
Handle
The last thing you want is to buy a knife that is difficult to hold. Therefore, it is important to check the handle’s shape and texture before you make a purchase. A hunting knife is sharp and could easily injure yourself if it accidentally slips from your hand. According to experts, medium-sized handles are the best for hunting knives. The handle should also provide a non-slip texture to provide much-needed grip while working.
Final Thoughts
A hunting knife is a knife that has been specially designed for hunting. These knives are robust and versatile. They can perform tasks that ordinary knives cannot. A hunting knife is a knife designed for hunting; this includes but is not limited to cutting the meat, skinning, and boning. But to get the best result, choose a hunting knife that will meet your needs.