Thread: Anatomy of a Hunting Knife ?

Hi Hunters,
New guy here, researching gear.
I want to get some info on exactly what features a hunting knife needs. Like how is a hunting knife specifically different from a chefs knife, a paring knife etc. What does it need?

I'm keen on getting into the detail, so any thoughts, links you have as a primer for this topic, I'd love to hear.
Cheers

For me small enough to be handy in the tight areas but with enough length to cut the arse out. Drop point for me so I don't get the point hung up anywhere.

Basically any of the images that come up would do me

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=dr...w=1920&bih=994

got to have good handle preferably with slight bulge etc between handle and blade to prevent slipping . that said the svord peasant folders are my go to as steel is just great,the other one is again a folder that is take off of gerber gaiter as handle fits my hand so well.
mercator folders will do all you ever need.

Take a look at the thread, show us your knives?

Steel choice is important, sure there was a good thread explaining pros and cons not too long ago.

Personally it depends where i'm going, if I'm going to be carrying the animal out whole then a little folder does the job, if I'm doing more direction I'll take a bigger knife. Another thing to consider is doyou know how to sharpen a knife? If not then you better get learning!! And no point buying a really expensive knife and buggering it learning how to sharpen it.

Theres a few folks on here who make knives, maybe try having a chat with them and they could make a custom job for ya

I'd recommend a Mora companion as a great starting knife. Only 30-40 bucks good steel ok shape great to learn to sharpen on. That's what I started with. Oh wait I'm still using it.

the Bacho in the plastic orange sheath is the same knife WillB at down to 1/4 of the price,but have to agree they great wee tools,we have one in each vechile.

Ok, I'll toss my 2cents in...first off its different from a chefs knife in that it's generally a lot smaller, a good chef knife is usually between 8 and 10 inches mine are between 21 cm and 26 cm., a hunting knife could be smaller, depends on what you want a hunting knife to do though.
A hunting knife could be a skinning knife, if so it could be upswept, like the yanks like to remove the anus but still have a good curve or it could be a drop point, this means the tip drops down, I like this sort more as the tip is a lot stronger (easier to make too!).
But a hunting knife could also have more utilitarian duties too, like preparing food or gathering kindling, making the camp better (chopping off all the branches around the campsite that are at eye height).

Some like a folding knife, the advantage is that they tend to be light (not necessarily cheaper) and take up little room, I prefer full tang knives as they are stronger, no lock to ever fail and generally can be accessed with one hand. Easier to clean as well.

Length varies hugely, the classic loveless drop point had a blade about 3.75 inches and a handle about 4.25, although some were longer. A typical Svord curved skinner has a blade about 5.75 inches and a handle around 4.25. The smaller the knife is the easier it is for cutting when you have your arm buried in an animals insides whilst gutting, but the more cuts you have to make when butchering the meat.

Then there is the grind, a saber grind is very strong but will offer some resistance as you cut, a full flat is less strong but will offer less resistance, there are other grinds too.

Handles should be positive so your hand does not slip onto the blade, but also comfortable, you don't want blisters if you end up doing a lot of cutting, and if you go for a non folder then a good sheath is also important.

I make custom knives, and am happy to make you something or sell you one I have made up, but I am pretty slow, there are other here who also make knives, a good knife should be something you end up passing on to your kids so it's worth paying for something good, but it's also good to learn on a cheap knockabout for sharpening and the like.

Shelley

Honestly you can butcher an animal with about anything.
You don't need alot of features, just a sharp edge and a pointy bit haha

Get a bahco for 15 bucks or whatever then use it a bit and see what you like, learn to sharpen ect.

Alot of preferences in a hunting blade are just aesthetic. I like classic blades with a slight up sweep in the blade for no other reason than I think it looks nice.

Yep ditto on the bacho as a first knife. I would suggest grinding / filing the tip rounder to prevent holing the gut bag and bladder etc as you will also hopefully be learning to gut animals and not just slice salami back at camp

Hey Nick do you remember that antler from the Boyd. Here it is

From one Newb to another I'd go with the bahco, think farmlands are selling them for about $12. For that price you can buy two, one to use and one to practice your sharpening skills.

I have lots to say and little time sorry, all i will say is (having made a shit pile of custom sheaths) is there are some weird and wonderful "hunting" knives out there, custom is the way to go if you have the dollars, remember like all things you get what you pay for, there are also heaps of non custom knives to choose from, again you get what you pay for. I think the best thing is to look at what type of hunting you are going top do, pig hunters use different knives to deer hunters etc. Have a look at the "Show Us Ya Knife" thread, there are some gd ones on here

Hamish

Originally Posted by johnd

Yep ditto on the bacho as a first knife. I would suggest grinding / filing the tip rounder to prevent holing the gut bag and bladder etc as you will also hopefully be learning to gut animals and not just slice salami back at camp

Hey Nick do you remember that antler from the Boyd. Here it is


Attachment 69752

Yeahp absolutely @johnd, looks great. Certainly has a bit more character than the original orange handle!
The shape of the piece looks pretty ergonomic too.

I have been making a few knives, will have a crack at a stag antler handle when I get my hands on some. Have a few days in the harkness coming up in a couple of weeks so hopefully find/shoot something with a couple knife handles on its head.

As has been said anything will do the job, whitetail doe and all I had was a Gerber micro.... Glad it wasn't a red

what ever you get you have to keep it with you... i know that sounds dumb but having a wee pocket knive that lives in your pocket is great, sure your not going to stick a pig but you can gut and cut up an animal, i have a mecator german made not a cheap knock off so it cost $50 its small and light but big enough to do the job and holds an edge, i can gut a deer cut the arse end off and back straps out ( and head off if its a stag ) and not even think of sharping it, i would buy one of these in the mean time till you decide what you really want and even when you get another knife keep it in your pocket anyway just as a back up.