Are you planning to go on hunting?
Do you own a strong, reliable knife?
Types
A hunting knife is an extremely important tool for general purpose as well as for survival in the wilderness. There are basically two types of knives and both have their own pros & cons:
Folding
Folding knives are good for general hunting purposes because their strength is low as compared to fixed knives. There are two types of folding knives i.e. longbacks and pocket knives. Folding knives are preferred when you need to carry it around a lot because fixed knives are dangerous to carry around. Always buy a folding knife after looking at the locking mechanism of the blade because cheap folding knives are not made to last long. Always go for a thick blade, gripping handle and sharp lockback folder knife. If the blade is serrated, then it becomes more versatile as it gets easier to cut tendons and cartilage.
Fixed
Fixed knives are the best because they are stronger, they are cheaper and more reliable as compared to a folding knife. Even though, they are considered to be less versatile, if you frequently go on hunting trips, then a solid fixed blade knife might be the best option for you because it is good for regular, heavy duty jobs. It is easier to clean fixed knives than folding knives because of the simple fact that none of its parts move, while dust and small pieces of flesh gets accumulated in the joints of a folding knife.
The three types of hunting blades i.e. clip point, drop point and skinning blade, out of which clip point blade is considered to be one of the most versatile ones, while the other two are niche knives.
Consider And Buy
The following are some of the basic considerations to find a good hunting knife:
Always go for a full tang design, which simply means the blade and the handle are made up of one single piece of steel; making it stronger and unbreakable. Partial tang design knives are prone to failure because of it’s weak joints.
Pay keen attention to the steel used in the manufacturing of the blade because there are usually two materials used to make hunting knives i.e. stainless steel and carbon steel. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, which gave birth to a third type of material i.e. a combination of both, carbon stainless steel, which has the benefits of the other two types. It is rather expensive, but totally worth it. A carbon steel knife is cheaper, rugged and easy to sharpen, but is very prone to rusting. A stainless steel knife is the best choice for you, if you have a higher budget for blades. They are harder to sharpen and also loses their edge soon, still are the most popular choices of blades for hunters.
Always go for a comfortable handle to grip, even under wet conditions, so that it doesn’t deteriorate in humid conditions. Even though leather handles look cooler, stay away from them. The material of the grip also needs to be strong to avoid breakage in times of need. Bone and wooden handles are fragile and becomes slippery in wet conditions. Synthetic materials like nylon, polymer or rubbery plastic etcetera are the best choice for knife handles because they are sturdy, strong and feel heavy in the hand; giving the grip, a hunter needs.
Don’t Hesitate To Spend
A high quality knife lasts longer and requires less sharpening than a regular knife. It is always wise to choose a high quality knife which fits your hands because a hunting trip is a dangerous time to be in, with a broken knife with a thin blade or a slipper handle. It might come to life and death, then money won’t matter enough. There are many places where you can buy hunting knives for sale in UK, USA, Africa and other parts of the world, especially the internet, where companies have amazing offers and discounts for all knife enthusiasts.
Choose the best! Be the best!