Making the Cut: What Knife is best for you this Season?
Making the Cut: What Knife is best for you this Season?
By Aaron Stonehocker
When it comes to hunting, there is no shortage of age-old debates that hunters like to dive into: archery vs. firearms, meat hunter vs. horn hunters, fixed blade vs. expandable broadheads, 6.5 Creedmoor vs. B-52 bomber to name a few.
One debate that seems to come up less often, but I would argue is actually worth looking into, is which knife are you choosing to tackle the dirty work of field dressing that big (or small) buck you just tagged?
Hunting knives have come a long way over the last several years, and there are some really “Hip” options to choose from if you are looking to hang up that 17th generation Buck Knife that your great – great – great – grandaddy bought for $0.50 back in the day. Let’s take a look at three main knife styles: replaceable blade, fixed blade, and folding blade to help you make an informed decision on which knife will be best for your after-kill workload this coming season.
Replaceable Blade Knives
These are essentially the 6.5 Creedmoor of the knife world in that they are fairly new to the market and are taking the industry by storm, but haven’t totally swayed the die-hard, old-school hunters to make the switch from their “old trusty” knives from generations past. I am a huge fan of them after using them for a few seasons, however like the 6.5 Creedmoor, there are some pros and cons to this style:
Pros: Replaceable blade knives are super convenient in that you don’t have to carry a sharpening kit around with you in the field, nor do you have to even think about sharpening your blade prior to the season. These knives come with several replacement razor sharp blades right out of the box, so when you run into a dull blade in the field, you simply remove the dull blade and replace it with a new one on the fly. Replaceable blade knives are typically lighter to carry or pack in the field than conventional knives. The replacement blades can also be resharpened if you want to take the time to do so after the hunt, which can extend time between buying more replacement blades. Finally, several companies have started making various styles of blades to tackle different jobs, making this style extremely versatile, while other knife styles may only have a single use per knife.
Cons: Replaceable blade knives are prone to collecting fat, hair, dirt, and dried blood in the blade holder, making them tough to clean and possibly dangerous when changing a blade out in the field. Changing blades can present a variety of hazards as well. You do have to be very careful when removing the old blade from the knife, especially if you run into the previous con of gunk build up, which makes it even more of a challenge to safely insert a new blade into the blade holder. You also need to keep track of your replacement blades in the field to prevent accidental injury when you are packing up or throwing out a trash bag if you use them for butchering. I actually put the new blade cover on my old blades and put them back in the carrying case for future use, and easy/safe disposal if I am throwing them out at home.
Fixed Blade Knives
Fixed blade knives liken themselves to the .30-06 in that you can simply never go wrong choosing one, and more animals have likely been gutted and butchered with them than any other knife style. Fixed blade knives are tried and true, however there are some considerations for this knife style that may or may not work for your particular needs.
Pros: Fixed blade knives come in a wide range of blade styles and lengths. Where some of your replaceable blade knives come up short, a fixed blade knife will be more versatile for field and home use depending on the length of the blade. These knives can also last a lifetime with proper care and sharpening, so your investment in your knife is safe. There are no moving parts which makes them easier to clean and have a longer lifespan. Several fixed blade knives are made with a single piece of steel, which makes them feel more balanced and can offer more control of the knife during the field dressing or butchering processes. The steel quality tends to be higher also, offering longer edge retention than the replaceable blade options that use scalpel style blades that bend and dull easier.
Cons: The biggest con with a fixed blade knife is that it is a fixed blade knife. This offers little for versatility, because you are stuck with the original blade and the features it has or does not have. For example, you may have a knife that is great for skinning but isn’t quite cut out for deboning meat on a big Iowa whitetail’s hind quarter. These knives also need sharpened regularly to keep a sharp edge. Sharpening kits are readily available, however if you aren’t sure what you are doing, it is easy to damage and dull a blades edge with unnecessary sharpening or in proper sharpening. For long field work, this may require you to also carry a field sharpening kit, which ads gear to your list and might not be convenient. Finally, fixed blade knives are less convenient to carry/store in your pack. They require a sheath to be safely carried and may add weight and bulk to your waistline or kill kit.
Folding Knives
Folding knives are a nice cross over and very popular for many outdoor uses. They offer longevity by using higher quality steel, while being able to store away the blade and offer a compact fit in your pocket or kill kit. But just like that do it all caliber, there are some pros and cons to folding knives.
Pros: Folding knives offer a more compact carrying option. They take up less space and can be lighter because the handle and blade aren’t a single piece of metal. Like a fixed blade knife, the blades are often made of higher quality steel than replaceable blade knives and can be resharpened over and over for a longer lifespan. Folding knives have a wider range of options for blade lengths, so it can be a nice crossover between longer fixed blade and shorter replaceable blade options.
Cons: Just like replaceable blade knives, the ability to fold results in moving parts and joints that can fill up with gunk from the tasks they perform. This can result in safety issues if fat and hair build up causes a knife to not fold or lock into place properly. Also, they require extra care in handling to ensure that pressure is not placed on the lock release or too much pressure causes the knife to close on the user unexpectedly. Finally, because most folding knives have a single style blade, there is less versatility in what the knife is ideally suited for, which can result in needing multiple knives to complete all the tasks you may want to tackle with it.
As with any tool a hunter brings into the field, there are pros and cons to different styles. I have personally used and love all of these styles for different reasons, however, if I had to pick one for my pack it would be a replaceable blade knife. I find these to be the most versatile and easiest to maintain option out of the three for field dressing, deboning, and even some at home butchering. Speaking of at home butchering, I actually prefer a series of short, medium, and long fixed blade knives to handle the repetitive cutting, slicing, chopping, and trimming. These blades can hold an edge longer than the other options and they also feel better in the hand to make the process more comfortable and efficient.
Whatever you choose, I hope this gives you some insight for deciding what knife is best for your use, even if it is a collection of all three for different uses.