Greetings, Fellow Hunter! Since you are reading this article, I’ll assume that you are in the market for a hunting knife; in fact you’re looking for some tips to help you choose the best hunting knife you can.

While it may not be as important as your gun or ammunition, a hunting knife is still an important piece of gear. Take a little extra time to research and make the best choice!

There are at least 4 major factors you’ll need to consider when choosing a hunting knife. They are:

• Fixed blade or folding blade?
• Blade shape
• Blade steel
• Other design elements

Before we cover those factors, though, you need to decide what you will use your hunting knife for. Decide exactly what you will expect of it:

• Skinning game?
• Trimming shooting lanes?
• Need to be strongly resistant to corrosion?
• Killing game?

Once you have decided what you need your knife to do, you can go over the 4 major factors and determine what the best hunting knife for you looks like.

Factor 1: Fixed blade or folding blade?

Choosing between fixed and folding blade should not be hard - just choose what benefits are most important to you. Fixed blade knives are stronger, faster to access, and easier to clean. Folding knives are more compact and easier to conceal.

If you plan on skinning and/or gutting animals with your knife, you should almost certainly choose a fixed blade knife. Trying to clean a folding blade knife with blood and guts in the mechanism is not easy.

For most hunters, a fixed blade knife will probably be the best choice.

Factor 2: Blade shape

There are 3 primary blade shapes used for hunting knives:

Skinner - This blade has a round, blunt shape - it is suitable primarily for skinning and gutting game. Its shape makes it difficult to accidentally damage the skin or meat of an animal. A good example of this shape is the Buck Skinner Knife.

Drop Point - This blade has a point that combines ease of skinning with more general purpose usage as well. A good example of this shape is the Gerber Big Rock Knife.

Clip Point - This blade shape is the most general purpose of the three styles. If you plan on doing alot of skinning with your knife, this is probably not the best choice. A good example of this blade shape is the Ka-bar Black Fighting Knife.

Factor 3: Blade steel

The steel used in creating a knife’s blade is very important. This determines many qualities, such as sharpness, ability to hold an edge, and corrosion resistance. Each type of steel has advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the steels used:

420HC - Good edge holding and corrosion resistance, when properly treated (as Buck Knives does).

44O-A/B/C - Stainless Steel. Good corrosion resistance, acceptable edge-holding abilities with proper heat treating.

AUS-6/8/10 - Japanese equivalent of 440 steel. About the same, but a little tougher.

Factor 4: Other design elements

There are a variety of other features that you may want or need in a knife, such as:

• Non-slip handle?
• Sheath?
• Guard?
• Gut Hook?

Conclusion:

If you decide exactly what you need your knife to do, then go through the factors outlined in this article, you should be able to easily choose the best hunting knife for your uses.

Click here to browse our hunting knives.

If you need help selecting a hunting knife, please call us at 800-651-2521.

The Cold Steel Bushman Knife is a large survival knife designed to hold up under a variety of conditions and perform any task required.

I own the bowie blade version of the Bushman Knife - it just has a different shaped blade. In my opinion, the Cold Steel Bushman is an amazing knife for the money.

Cold Steel Bushman Pros:

One-piece construction with some spring in the steel makes the knife very tough. Pretty much unbreakable for practical purposes.

Sharp, tough blade holds up even to abuse such as digging, prying, and hammering.

Large blade useful for digging, hacking, chopping, mowing, etc, but still usable for finer tasks such as skinning. (Though it would not be my first choice for skinning a squirrel, the Bushman would serve the purpose if needed.)

Special handle allows knife to be used as a spear.

Cold Steel Bushman Cons:

The sheath gets the job done, but it’s not the best sheath I’ve seen. But for the price, one can’t really complain.

The blade is made of SK-5 steel, the Japanese equivalent of 1080 high carbon steel. This steel helps give the knife its superior properties, but the downside is that it is not highly rust resistant.

The knife is rather bulky and unattractive for everyday use. For a survival knife, though, it fits the ticket.

Conclusion - great knife, superb price!

Click here to buy the Cold Steel Bushman Survival Knife.

Click here to watch a video review and demonstration of the Bushman Survival Knife.

If you like to hunt, camp, fish, or other outdoors activities, you know what it means to survive in the cold and deal with the elements. Perhaps you’ve been in a “survival situation” and the only reason you made it out alive was because you were able to jump in your truck and head back to your luxurious life of comfort.

What if you were stuck in the wilderness, though? What if you got lost in the middle of nowhere? How long would you last? Could you survive in the wilderness?

Here are some basic survival supplies to keep on hand, plus some wilderness survival tips. Keep more in the back of your truck or whatever vehicle you normally use on outdoor trips.

#1: Keep a source of light on hand. A flashlight is one example, but candles are great too. But remember, such a resource needs replenishment. Flashlights need additional batteries (rechargeable ones won’t help if you have no power source!) and candles require a lighter or matches. Keep the extra batteries and lighters or matches in your kit. Your best bet is a solar powered flashlight as well, but matches/lighters can come in handy for other reasons (like starting a fire) so keep those on hand regardless.

#2: Keep extra blankets and clothing ready; you never know when it will get cold or when you might get wet. Store everything in a waterproof bag. There are space bags and waterproof bags that can keep your supplies from being degraded by the elements. This is essential.

#3: A first-aid kit is essential. Off-the-shelf kits are good, so buy one of those. However, they might not have enough supplies for a long period of time (and buying multiples from the store would become expensive). After buying one first-aid kit, note what it contains and buy large amounts of each supply from a discount or dollar store, and keep them in a small box. Label it First Aid in case you or anyone else needs it and forgets what’s inside. Even basic toiletries like tissue, soap, shampoo, etc. can be good to include.

#4: Non-perishable food and a way to open it (like canned goods and a can opener) will be crucial. Avoid boxed items or other products that might be tainted by insects or weather, in time. Don’t forget water. Rinse used plastic milk jugs thoroughly, and refill with tap water.

#5 Keep a universal army knife in your kit. You might want to include a larger knife and some heavy-grade scissors.

A universal global phone of some sort, GPS device (or at least a cell phone) is important as well. Being able to phone for help would be very important. Bring extra batteries!

Wilderness survival is nothing to laugh at - if you are ever stuck in the wilderness, you’ll be glad if you took the time to prepare yourself for the possibility beforehand. Incidentally, you can also attend a wilderness college / school and learn skills that will help you survive in the wild.

With the vast variety of knives on the market, it can be difficult to know which knife you need. Choosing a knife is not hard, though, if you know what you’re looking at.

Step One: What Will You Use The Knife For?

When preparing to buy a knife, the first question to ask yourself is: what you are going to use it for?

For example, is this going to be a blade you’ll use to cut open packages, to cut through string or rope, and other normal daily uses such as these?

Are you a knife collector? If so, you may be in the market for unique or specially made knives.

Are you going to use your knife for basic survival or in a situation involving the armed forces? A high grade knife might be in order, as it could save your life in certain situations such as these!

Will the knife you purchase be used for cutting your catch after fishing or hunting? Some knives are made specifically for this usage.

Is your application more related to basic outdoor activities such as camping, mountain climbing, hiking, etc? Your budget may be a factor, as the sharpness and long-term durability these types of knives may not be as critical as some other purposes. That may vary on how often you engage in such activity as well.

Step Two: Fixed Blade Or Folding Blade?

A primary feature that you should think about is whether you need a fixed-blade or whether a folding knife would suit your purpose.

A fixed-blade can be very reliable and can be used immediately. There is no folding mechanism to break or malfunction, but they are not as compact.

Folding knives have a blade that locks in place, are typically safer and easier to carry, and can offer better dependability. Some are simple enough to open with one hand using a blade-hole, thumb-stud or other similar feature.

Step Three: What Materials Should The Knife Be Manufactured Using?

First, look at the materials out of which the handle is manufactured. You want a good strong grip no matter what your application will be. Comfort could be a factor, so look for a knife that fits the size and shape of your hands and will not be a strain or cause cramping after any potentially long periods of use.

You might also consider if its handle is weather-proof or not. This could be an issue if your application will take place primarily outdoors.

Finally, you will want to be sure that the handle is appealing aesthetically. If this will be your primary knife, this becomes an even more crucial factor to consider as you’ll be looking at this knife a lot (and perhaps showing it off to friends or colleagues).

Secondly, the blade itself needs to be made of material capable of: preserving its edge after extended use, defending against corrosion, and being simple to re-sharpen. There are several blades at a range of price points which will offer such benefits at varying degrees.

Final Consideration: The Warranty

The last thing to consider is what type of warranty is offered. Depending on the dollar investment made, you may want to be sure the manufacturer will back up their product should it ever stop working at peak performance or in the manner in which is intended and/or promised.

Conclusion

Follow these tips, and you will be well on your way to choosing the knife that is what you need. If you need any help choosing a knife, please don’t hesitate to contact us.