Having a knife in your hand is as natural as anything else you do if you are an avid sportsman. When it is a good quality knife you are holding, the feeling of it in your hand is everything you expect. The way it balances its weight, the heft and smooth feel of the metal, the way your hand wraps around the comfortable grip and then when you see the gleam from the blade you know you are holding the right tool for the job, quickly and easily. Hunting knives are crafted for different purposes and are available in numerous sizes and styles. Prior to purchasing one, you should arm yourself with facts and knowledge about what is available versus what you need.
Finding the perfect hunting knife can be a daunting task for some, a challenge for others and even overwhelming if you are a customer who is not sure exactly what you are looking for. However, with a little bit of thought prior to embarking on your quest for the right knife, it can be a simple job. First, think about your exact needs requiring a knife, how often would you use a hunting knife? Do you really want one you can comfortably carry with you even when you are not actually hunting? With those questions also think about the game you will be hunting for, what will be the average size? Do you hunt for the meat or do you hunt for the sporting trophies? Thinking about all of those questions will help you make your decision about which size, style or hunting knife design that would suit your needs the best. Buying the wrong knife will only be a cause of frustration for you, waste your money, and be what collects dust on your shelf instead of that beautiful trophy.
A hunting knife is typically constructed in two basic styles; the folding knife is one style and the fixed blade knife is the other. As the fixed blade knife is permanently open, it normally comes with a sheath for your protection. Typically the fixed blade knife is stronger than a folding knife type stemming from the way the blade’s shaft is built into the handle. Some quality crafted knives with a fixed blade are built with a secondary knife stored in its handle giving the user the option to switch blades; however they typically have no moving parts which leads them to be more reliable and have more stability than a folding model. Choosing a fixed blade knife is a good choice for a survival knife.
If you are an occasional hunter who also carries a knife frequently for different purposes, a folding knife would be an excellent choice for you. Similar to a typical pocket knife, the folding hunting knife blades are constructed to fold back into the handle on a pivot, locking into place. This makes a folding knife easy to carry in a pocket on in a small sheath on your belt.
Regarding the blade designs, fundamentally there are three; the drop point, the skinning and the clip point blade. For big game hunters, the drop point knife is a great choice, it features a hefty, curved blade made of thick steel for fast and easy cleaning and skinning in the field. Having a more defined point, with a thinner, flatter blade is the clip point knife, able to handle most hunters’ needs particularly if not always used for hunting. The design is a sweeping blade for the skinning knife, making the flesh easy to separate from the skin on large game. This knife preforms the cleaning duties as well as the others. Other features on some knives include a gut hook, used for precision work in the abdominal area and have serrations to handle the tough jobs like splitting ribs.
When searching for those perfect knives do not overlook the function of the handle. Typically the leather, wood and bone handles all have a sharp appearance while useful; however newer materials are offering the users a safer grip with improved control. Taking the time to think about all the options available including safety features, comfort, the intended use and your own personal preferences is the best way to find that perfect knife.
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