Best Hunting Knife of 2019: Complete Reviews with Comparison

The Tactical Bowie hunting knife is an excellent knife to use for outdoor survival and hunting. The knife is crafted by the Defender Xtreme brand, and this is one of their large tactical military combat knives. You can easily use it for other tasks, but this is meant to be a knife that packs a punch.

Product Highlights

The Defender Xtreme Tactical Bowie has a total length of 7.5 inches and a blade length of 4 inches. It’s crafted from stainless steel and has a double saw edge spine. The handle has a knurled grip and fits comfortably into your hand without slipping out.

The weight of this blade is a solid 12 ounces, so it’s not the lightest of hunting knives. It comes with a hard composite sheath which has an easy open system and a belt hanging system.

The knife is made of high quality stainless steel, so you won’t have to worry about a flimsy blade. The grip on the handle is also very sturdy, which means you won’t have to deal with the blade sliding out of your hands when cutting. There is also a double saw edge spine, which can be extremely useful in some situations.

What I don’t like about the knife is that it is very bulky and heavy. When you’re hunting, you’re not going to want to carry around such a heavy knife, especially if you’re packing other gear. While I’m sure that the blade is extremely effective, do not buy this unless you’re aware of how the weight is going to impact you on the trip.

If you’re into hunting, you’re probably well aware that there are many types of hunting knives. But, can you confidently say that you know what each one does? If you’re unsure about what types of hunting knives are available on today’s market, keep reading.

Bowie Knife

A bowie knife is a large fighting knife that has a clip point blade. It’s used for hunting and killing prey and works well for the average hunter.

Camping Knife

A camping knife is designed to help you create an animal trophy. The design has an upturned point on a very small blade, this comes in handy when you’re trying to preserve other parts of the animal, such as the head. They specialize in camping, but they can be useful for other small tasks.

Skinning Knife

A skinning knife helps when you’re trying to skin an animal without tearing the hide. It is typically designed with a short blade that curves slightly upward. They are razor sharp and can easily stay super sharp even after multiple uses.

Boning Knife

A boning knife is another type of hunting knife that as a specific function. It’s used for removing meat from the carcass of an animal. It’s designed with a narrow blade that is flexible.

Buck Knife

A buck knife is a large folding knife which is designed to be helpful when hunting. It’s designed to have clip points, making the tip of the blade perfect for puncturing.

Hunting Knife

A hunting knife is specifically created to help kill an animal. These are not very common, as most hunters do not kill the animals with a knife anymore. It’s designed with a sharp double edge blade and a non-slip grip.

Depending on what your specific needs are, a general rule of thumb is to choose a blade between three to six inches.

The reason for this is because any knife that is longer than that, the blade will start to become unwieldy when performing cuts that need precision. This means that you’ll cut places where you don’t want to be cut, essentially ruining whatever you’re working on. If you choose too short a knife, you risk the chances of it slipping and not maintaining a certain leverage.

When it comes to choosing which type of material makes the best blade, you’re going to want to know your stuff. Everyone knows that a blade crafted from bad material can be what makes or breaks a knife.

Each material is going to have its pros and cons, so be sure to fully understand which will suit your own personal needs as a hunter. Below is a quick summary of the different types of blade materials.

Stainless Steel Blades

Stainless steel blades are going to be the most common blades you’ll see on the market. They are popular because they have increased durability and have resistance to corrosion.

Stainless steel blades are crafted from metal alloys which are usually composed of chromium, nickel, iron, carbon, and molybdenum. The downside to steel blades are that they stain very easily and aren’t as sharp as ceramic or carbon knives.

Carbon Steel Blades

Carbon steel blades are some of the sharpest blades on the market. They are much easier to sharpen than stainless steel blades and they are usually a lot lighter in weight.

This material is great for survival, hunting, and normal tasks. The downside to carbon steel is that they are highly susceptible to corrosion and rust and can easily become discolored.

Titanium Blades

If you’re looking for a very durable and heavy duty blade, titanium-crafted blades maybe for you. They are rust resistant and are usually dark or silver in coloring. They are not as sharp as other blade materials; however, they make really good diving, pocket, and bomb defusing knives.

Ceramic Blades

Ceramic blades are non-metallic, solid and are resistant to corrosion. The issue with these blades is that they don’t stay sharp over their lifespan, and they are extremely hard to sharpen. If you’re planning on getting a ceramic blade, expect to have to replace it every now and then.

Plastic Blades

Lastly, plastic blades are crafted from plastic and are meant to be disposed of after one use. They can come in handy when you’re in a pickle and don’t have an actual knife on you, however, they won’t really work for hunting or cutting anything hard.

Another crucial factor you’ll want to look into when choosing a knife is the handle. There is no use using a well-crafted blade if the handle does not have a grip. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing with a knife, a good handle is essential.

Handles that have ridges, bumps, or even indentations for your fingers are going to be the best. When using a hunting knife, if the handles do not have a good grip, you could risk the knife coming loose in your hands, which could be very dangerous.

Weight

You may not think that the weight of the blade matters, however, this is untrue. The weight of a blade is extremely critical to what type of task you are completing. When trying to skin or butcher, you’re going to want a lightweight knife, as this will give you the most control and precision.

Heavier and thicker knives will be better for hunting, gutting, and other tasks that don’t require as much control. As a good rule of thumb, never plan to get a knife that is over 8 ounces.

The steel of a blade can literally make or break a knife. Steel is literally the essence of any blade and determines how well the knife will function after an extended period of time.

Steels are usually a mix of alloy, carbon, and iron, and often have other materials included. Choosing a steel will highly be dependent on which properties you wouldn’t mind giving up, as each has their own pros and cons.

D2, Crucible CPM, O1, CPM 3V, and M4 are usually the sturdiest steels you can find on the market; however, you’ll be sacrificing on the lifespan of your blade. They are often harder to sharpen as well.

A carbon steel is used in most survival and military grade knives. They are rough and have enhanced toughness and durability. They are relatively easy to sharpen; however, the issue is that they are more prone to corrosion and rusting. The most popular of all the carbon steels that you’ll usually find is steel 1095.

Stainless steel is going to be the most common steel you’ll find on the market. It’s relatively cheap to acquire and provides a decent performance. You’ll usually find these steel types: 154M, AUS, 400, VG, MoV, CTS, Sandvik, and Crucible SxxV.

These steels are usually balanced in durability and sharpness; however, they also are susceptible to corrosion and rust. If you’d like to keep that from happening you can always invest in a stainless steel blade that has added chromium, as this will help prevent rust and erosion.

A good hunting knife will be a hunting knife that is catered to your personal needs. Simply put, you can easily buy other appliances that have the same function, like a vacuum; however, you may need a vacuum that can clean up pet hairs.

Knives work similar to other tools, as they specialize in other needs such as skinning, gutting, puncturing, etc. So, to narrow down what makes a good hunting knife, we will discuss a few important factors that all knives should have.

A good hunting knife will have a good blade. This means that it will be crafted from a high-quality steel and is coated with chromium or other chemical finishes that can help prevent it from building up rust or corrosion over its lifespan. These blades will often be thick enough to hold its shape against cutting tough materials such as wood or bones.

Hunting knives also need to have a good grip. If you get a blade without a good grip you could almost kiss the knife goodbye as it will be useless. There’s nothing worse than picking up a blade and trying to use it, only for it to slip out of your hands anytime you try and cut something.

This could also be extremely dangerous, as if the blade is super sharp it could slip and cut you or someone else. A good grip should have ridges, finger indentations, or be covered by some sort of rubber mold.

A gut hook is a main essential for every hunter planning on cutting into their wild-caught game. This tool is extremely useful for skinning and will help you clean out your game without puncturing vital organs, thus ruining the carcass. If you’re a new owner of a gut hook, you may be wondering how you’re going to sharpen one.

The first thing you will need is a round ceramic sharpening rod, a diamond-coated sharpening rod or a chainsaw file. These are usually inexpensive, and you can find them in almost any supply or hardware stores. Simply run the blade up and down rod, remembering to pay special attention to the angle of the knife's blade.

Sharpen around the hook on both sides and then you’re done. It’s that simple. If you’re still having trouble or don’t have the time to sharpen your knives, some companies will actually sharpen your knives for you upon request.

Gerber offers a limited lifetime warranty only for its North American customers. If you happen to live outside the US, they offer a 25-year limited warranty. The warranty does not cover damaged products due to sharpening, misuse, wear and tear, accidental damage, or any commercial use.

Folding knives can be more susceptible to gunk and dirt because there are more nooks and crannies in a folding knife then there is in a fixed blade knife.

Cleaning a folding knife doesn’t have to be complicated, as it is very easy as long as you have the proper soap, lubricant, and cleaning tools. To clean your folding knife, you will need soap, toothbrush, Q-tips, lubricant, water, and paper towels.

You’ll want to make sure to focus on cleaning the pivot of the knife and all of the locked surfaces. Use warm soapy water and wash the knife with the bristles of a toothbrush.

The nooks and crannies in the handle and lock area are going to have a lot of hidden dirt, so make sure to let soapy water run down there to wash away anything that could cause your knife damage.

Never leave your knife submerged in water, as this could actually cause the coating on your knife to become damaged. After you’re done washing out the dirt, make sure to lubricate the hinge of the knife, as this can sometimes become worn out over time. Lastly, always make sure your knife is dry before you put it away.

As you can see, there are plenty of good ways to select a knife that is perfect for you and your needs as a hunter. A good blade will make all the difference in the world.

The one blade we would highly recommend as being the best hunting knife of 2018 is the Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite. This blade is lightweight, crafted from high-quality materials, and comes with replaceable blades. We hope that this guide has enlightened you.