| g the right hunting knife can be a difficult challenge. If | | | | other game cleaning chores as well as the clip point |
| you choose wrong you end up with a paperweight | | | | and drop point designs. |
| that is more likely to be in your "junk drawer" than | | | | GUT HOOK |
| on your hip when you need it. First ask yourself a | | | | Many of the hunting knives you will see will come |
| few questions: What type of hunting do you do? Do | | | | with a gut hook. The gut hook is used by making a |
| you go after big game or small? Do you trophy hunt | | | | small incision with the main blade, then by using the |
| or are you a meat hunter? What is the largest animal | | | | hook to cut open the abdomen. The hook prevents |
| you envision using the knife on? The smallest? How | | | | the hunter from "punching" the animal and possibly |
| often do you hunt, are you looking for a knife you | | | | affecting the quality of the meat. They do work, it is |
| can carry when you're not hunting? Seems like a lot | | | | a strictly a personal preference as to the need for |
| of questions but if you don't know what you want | | | | one. In the event that you do want the added |
| the hunting knife for you will never choose the | | | | security that the gut hook provides, they are very |
| correct one for your personal preferences! | | | | similar in price to non-gut hook knives. |
| FOLDING VS FIXED BLADE | | | | One thing to consider before purchasing a hunting |
| Lets start with the two basic knife styles: fixed blade | | | | knife with a gut hook design is the occasional need |
| and folding. Fixed Blade knives is just that, meaning | | | | to sharpen the hook. The actual cutting part of the |
| the blade is designed permanently fixed in the open | | | | gut hook is enclosed in a "hook" machined into the |
| position. Due to this design, this style of knife comes | | | | top of the blade. You can't sharpen this area with a |
| with a sheath, that allows for carrying in a safe | | | | regular flat stone, so you will need to eventually |
| manner. These knives are typically stronger than | | | | purchase a round file. Because manufacturers use |
| folding knives, because the blade's material runs | | | | hooks of different sizes I recommend waiting until |
| through the center of the handle. | | | | you get your knife, then go to your local hardware |
| FIXED BLADE HUNTING KNIFE | | | | store and purchase a high quality, fine grit, round file |
| There are generally no moving parts with a fixed | | | | closely matching the shape and size of your knife. |
| blade so they are very reliable, one exception in the | | | | Please note, that unlike the main blade of your new |
| SOG Hunter Revolver which technically is a moving | | | | hunting knife, the gut hook is only sharpened on one |
| fixed blade that happens to have two knives in one | | | | side not two. Don't sharpen the flat side, you will ruin |
| handle. Gerber, Case, Kershaw, and several other | | | | the knife! |
| knife manufacturers also produce hunting knives that | | | | Another alternative to purchasing a hunting knife with |
| allow the user to swap out blades quickly and easily. | | | | a built in gut hook is to purchase a separate unit. |
| Folding knives have a pivot point and lock mechanism, | | | | Gerber offers a relatively inexpensive, easily |
| which allows the blade to close into the handle. These | | | | transported unit, which has the added feature of |
| are excellent for the occasional hunter, whom may | | | | having easily replaced blades, that negates the need |
| also want a knife for everyday use. Folding knives | | | | for sharpening. Using standard utility blades, the blade |
| are naturally, by design, not as strong as fixed blade | | | | is easily replaced at the beginning of each season and |
| knives. However, they are much easier to carry in a | | | | is ready when needed. |
| pocket or in a small sheath on the belt. | | | | THE HANDLE |
| If you are looking for a dedicated hunting knife, I | | | | Many hunters put a lot of thought into the blade |
| personally would go with a good quality fixed blade. If | | | | design of their hunting knife, but very little thought |
| on the other hand, you are only going to use it on | | | | into the handle's material. The classic wood, leather, |
| the occasional hunt, go with a folding knife. They will | | | | or bone handles are very functional and appealing to |
| provide you with an knife for multiple uses, rather | | | | the eye. However, don't overlook the newer handle |
| than just hunting. | | | | materials, although not as appealing to the eye as the |
| THE BLADE DESIGN | | | | classic materials, rubber and the other composite |
| The next issue is blade style; this is where you really | | | | materials merit a look. The newer handle materials, |
| have some decisions to make! The three main | | | | offer greatly enhanced control in adverse conditions. |
| hunting blade designs are the drop point, clip point | | | | Even a little blood on the handle of a hunting knife |
| and skinning designs. | | | | can lead to a trip to the emergency room. Rubber |
| DROP POINT KNIVES | | | | and composite grips afford the hunter an added |
| The drop point hunting knife is an excellent design for | | | | degree of safety. |
| the big game hunter. This design generally features a | | | | OTHER CONSIDERATIONS |
| robust, curved blade of relatively thick steel. These | | | | Another nice addition, is serrations, they add to the |
| features allow the user to cut the skin off the animal | | | | blades "rough cutting" ability and generally only take |
| using the entire edge of the knife, rather than just | | | | up a small portion of the blade. Serrations allow the |
| the point. This allows for quick skinning and very little | | | | knife to do some really tough chores like splitting the |
| damage to the meat. The design of the drop point, | | | | rib cage or pelvis. |
| also allows for other field cleaning tasks such as | | | | A knife that is overlooked is the Capping Knife, used |
| gutting and the splitting of the rib cage and pelvis, | | | | for capping big game animals for mounting. When |
| although a saw or hatchet is the preferred tool for | | | | preparing a trophy for the taxidermist, it is important |
| the latter to tasks. | | | | that the hide is preserved for a neck or shoulder |
| CLIP POINT KNIVES | | | | mount. Some beautiful trophy animals have been |
| The other main hunting blade design is the clip point | | | | ruined by a hunters using the wrong knife to prepare |
| hunting knife. The Clip Point has a thinner blade than | | | | the animal. Capping knifes are dedicated to this task. |
| the Drop Point and has a much more defined point. | | | | They are relatively small knives with very fine blades. |
| The flatter blade is more utilitarian and will fit the | | | | A note about capping is in order, do not wait until |
| needs of the majority of hunters, especially those | | | | you have a 225 lbs. 12 point buck down to attempt |
| wishing to use the knife as a general duty work knife | | | | capping for the first time! Practice on smaller animals |
| and not as a dedicated hunting knife. The clip point | | | | before you do it on your trophy! It would be a |
| blade design will perform all of the tasks the drop | | | | shame to have to go to an antler or skull mount |
| point will, only not as efficiently. For the occasional | | | | instead of a shoulder mount, because you messed |
| hunter this is the perfect design. | | | | up. Capping is not hard, but to do it well you need to |
| SKINNING | | | | practice! |
| Skinning knife is designed to aid in the removal of the | | | | FINAL THOUGHTS |
| skin of big game animals. They tend to have highly | | | | Choosing the correct hunting knife has more to do |
| sweeping blades that are designed to effortlessly | | | | with personal preference than anything else. By |
| separate the flesh from skin. A dedicated skinning | | | | making an informed decision, you can guarantee that |
| knife can be a real time saver for those big game | | | | the knife you chose is the very best hunting knife |
| hunters that do the butchering themselves. An added | | | | for you and your needs. |
| bonus is that the skinning knife can do most of the | | | | Thanks for the look and happy hunting! |