Best Hunting Knife 2023

Jul 30, 2023

Why should you buy a hunting knife instead of a pocket knife? Because if you’re skinning an animal or cutting up meat, you might need something a little bigger than a compact folding blade that fits in the palm of your hand. And yet, while a hunting knife may be bigger and heavier than its smaller counterpart, this cutting tool still features a sharp blade, tacky handle and durable construction. Most hunters will tell you you shouldn’t be in the field without one, but the trouble comes when trying to source the best hunting knife because, realistically, you’ve got lots of options to choose from. That said, there’s a blade in this world that’s well-suited for your needs, and we’re here to help you find it.

Skin, gut, bone and prepare in the field with one of the best hunting knives.

Your hunting knife should primarily aid you while working in the field, but it should also come in handy for camping, hiking and even survival. So what should you look for in a knife that can complete so many tasks? Well, it should hold an edge and be easy to sharpen; it should offer a comfortable, confident grip; it should be able to meet the demands of the job, from cracking bone to cutting through hide; and in spite of what you’ve seen on TV, it doesn’t have to be a big, heavy-duty weapon for some sort of stealthy assault (after all, the animal is already dead).

Below, you’ll find an assortment of hunting knives that adopt these essential qualities, each one built for a specific person or purpose.

Benchmade

Materials: S30V, stabilized wood | Blade length: 4.2 inches | Style: Drop-point fixed blade

In a way, the fact that Cabela’s refers to it as a “clip-point blade” while Benchmade calls it a “drop-point” illustrates the versatility of the Saddle Mount Skinner. The clip-point style provides the knife with a sharper tip for stabbing through thick hide, while the drop-point makes the blade a bit thicker, which is perfect for prying and heavy pressure. By blending these styles, you’re left with a hunting knife capable of working its way through a multitude of tasks, which is why it wins us over.

If you’re surprised to find a fixed blade atop this list, you shouldn’t be. Folding knives feature a hinge, an obvious point of weakness that you don’t need in a hunting knife if you can help it. The fixed-blade style also makes it easier to clean the knife—you won’t spend time digging dirt and grime out of nooks and crannies. Built with S30V steel that’s wear and corrosion resistant, Benchmade finishes the knife with a large wood handle that’s easy to grip.

Looking for something a bit more refined? Benchmade also crafts the Saddle Mountain Skinner with S90V steel and a Richlite/G10 handle, though the nicer materials will run you anywhere from $50 to $80 more.

Amazon

Materials: 420HC, phenolic, aluminum | Blade length: 6 inches | Style: Clip-point fixed blade

Unlike everyday hunting knives that are subject to everyday tasks, a premium blade that costs hundreds or even thousands of dollars becomes more than just a tool—its elevated cost serves a reason to handle it with extra care, but maybe that’s not what you’re after.

If you need a knife you can use and abuse without worry, the 119 Special from Buck Knives should serve you well to the tune of only $75. Invented in 1942, this clip-point blade’s 80-plus years of history serve as proof that it just works, and sometimes that’s all you need. The sharp point makes it easier to pierce or stab, and the six-inch blade length allows you to work with larger animals like deer, elk and moose.

Buck Knives builds the 119 Special with 420HC steel, which is a bit more budget-friendly than other steels on this list, but it still holds an edge decently well and offers plenty of strength, minimizing the odds that you’ll break the tip. And the aluminum guard at the base of the blade adds a touch of safety to the design.

Montana Knife Company

Materials: 521000 high carbon ball-bearing steel, paracord | Blade length: 3.75 inches | Style: Standard fixed blade

Named after the pronghorn antelope—the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemipshere—MKC’s fixed-blade Speedgoat takes every opportunity to shed weight, going so far as to ditch the traditional handle in favor of 550 paracord. But just how light is it exactly? Well, at 1.7 ounces, it weighs a little less than a regulation tennis ball or a couple of AA batteries. Whether it’s on your hip or in your pack, you probably won’t notice it’s there.

But if that lack of heft has you concerned that the Speedgoat isn’t up for serious tasks, fear not: The high carbon ball-bearing steel used from tip to base offers toughness, edge retention and easy sharpening with a stone. And it’s parkerized (covered in a phosphate coating) to minimize rust and glare.

Funny enough, you’re paying a bit more here for less knife, but it’s worth noting that MKC will clean, sharpen, repair and reshape your blades whenever necessary. And if you need to use the paracord handle in an emergency (maybe you need to lace up a boot or create a tourniquet), they’ll also rewrap the handle, free of charge.

Amazon

Materials: 60A stainless steel, ABS plastic | Blade length: 2.75 inches | Style: Drop-point folding blade

It comes as no surprise that hunting knives get dull fast, especially when you consider all the matter they’re tasked with cutting. While a dull blade isn’t a dealbreaker, there are moments when you need a sharp edge for caping, skinning or field dressing, especially if you’d like to keep the hide or the organs intact. Rather than stop and sharpen your knife every time it loses an edge, Havalon built a knife with replaceable blades, the Piranta, to ensure you’re always ready to slive and dice.

Small and lightweight, the Piranta features a 60A steel blade that resembles a surgeon’s scalpel and measures 2.75 inches in length, which is just long enough for most needs. It’s completed with a stain-resistant, plastic orange handle that’s grippy and features a liner lock (indeed, this is a folding knife).

But what’s most important here is the 12 additional blades that ship with the knife, so you’ll never find yourself working your way through an animal with anything less than a sharp edge. Additional blades cost next to nothing, and the knife’s open back makes it easy to clean when you get home.

Amazon

Materials: 420HC, ebony | Blade length: 3.75 inches | Style: Clip-point folding blade

One again, Buck Knives makes the cut, but this time we’re highlighting perhaps its most famous blade, the 110 Hunter. Small and simple, this compact folder features the same 420HC steel found on the aforementioned 119 Special, and brass bolsters pair with dark ebony scales to give it something of a classic look.

The clip-point blade is designed to penetrate thick hides and slice with ease, though you might consider a fixed blade knife if you’re hunting larger game. At 4.8 inches when closed, it takes up less space in your pocket than a wallet, and it weighs about as much as a softball at 7.2 ounces. Once the blade is deployed, it’s fixed in place until you’re ready to put it away, and Buck’s lifetime guarantee ensures the 110 Hunter will stick around for quite some time.

Gerber

Materials: Stainless steel, rubber nylon | Blade length: 3.62 inches | Style: Drop-point fixed blade

Gut hooks are a polarizing feature—some hunters love them, others could do without them. But no matter where you stand on the subject, Gerber makes a solid hunting knife-gut hook combo by way of the Moment. The full tang, fixed-blade construction features a sizable hook on the tip of the blade to process your game quickly and efficiently, which is key when time is of the essence.

Beyond the hook, Gerber finishes the blade with a glass bead coating to minimize glare and fingerprints, and the molded rubber handle, while not the fanciest material in the world, offers solid grip and long-term durability. At the base you’ll find a lanyard hole to ensure the knife is by your side at all times, but the included nylon sheath should also keep it safe and within reach.

In our quest to discover the best hunting knives on the market, we leveraged our extensive familiarity with traditional blades to find those that meet the specific needs of hunters. Delving into each knife's specifications, we scrutinized a plethora of data to separate the wheat from the chaff, poring over materials, blade styles, steels and more. But we didn’t stop there; we also combed through a trove of user reviews and recommendations, curated from authoritative hunting forums. This meticulous blend of expertise and collective wisdom allowed us to crown a selection of the best hunting knives that embody precision, durability and an affinity for the craft.