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The Top 10 Best Hunting Knives for Any Game in 2023

submitted by Jonathan Tayag

The first everyday carry knife carried by someone in the field was likely a hunting knife. While the blades of old have fallen by the wayside, the venerable hunting knife still has a place in modern EDC usage. That’s especially the case if you hunt or fish regularly. But the practical and convenient design of hunting knives makes them a solid choice even if you don’t stalk down the food you put on your table. The best hunting knives have quality blade steel and a focus on design fundamentals that allow them to pull dual-duty as outdoor knives. And you can rely on these blades to get you through an emergency.

Most of the best hunting knives feature a reliable fixed-blade construction with a full tang that can take more abuse than a folder. Those hunting knives that opt to keep a folding design have an overbuilt locking mechanism that can keep up with rough use. Unlike most tactical and survival knives, the best hunting knives feature strong ergonomics because they’re built around you breaking down and preparing meat after a kill. Hunting knives are meant to be used and relied upon constantly. The best examples feature a quality steel stainless or tool steel blade with a sharp edge that can cut through hide and fillet freshly-caught fish. And some of the best modern hunting knives leverage premium materials to create lightweight knives that perform above their weight class.

Our Top Picks

The Best Overall Hunting Knife: Benchmade Altitude Carbon Fiber Hunting Knife [Buy]

The Best Hunting Knife on a Budget: KA-BAR Little Finn Hunter [Buy

The Best Hunting Knife for Skinning: TOPS Muley Skinner [Buy]

The Best Gut Hook Hunting Knife: Gerber Moment Gut Hook [Buy]

The Best Bushcraft Hunting Knife: ESEE-4 3D Hunting Knife [Buy]

The Best Hunting Knives

Hunting knives are an essential EDC companion out in the field. While you’re likely not hunting with only a hunting knife in hand, having one is critical to being successful while you hunt or fish. Aside from the more obvious tasks of cutting a deer open to dress it or preparing it for later, a hunting knife comes in handy when setting up baits or traps. The best hunting knives also work well for tasks an outdoor camping or survival knife can do. And even if you aren’t a hunter or outdoors enthusiast, a hunting knife’s unique design and aesthetic appeal can find a home in your EDC. As with other everyday carry knives, there are many options out there, and in this guide, we will introduce you to some of the best hunting knives you can buy right now.

The Best Overall Hunting Knife: Benchmade Altitude Carbon Fiber

Purchase

Key Features
Carbon fiber scales
Orange-coated drop point blade
Camo kydex sheath
Specifications
Blade Length
3.08″
Blade Steel
S90V
Handle/Scales
Carbon fiber
EDC Rating
Price
$$$
The Benchmade Altitude focuses on delivering full-tang reliability without the heft and bulk of a traditional hunting knife design. At 2.43 ounces, this is one of the lightest hunting knives you can carry today, and ounces genuinely matter when you’re out in the field. With its CPM-S90V premium stainless steel construction, this ultralight knife can keep a sharp edge for longer than older hunting knives.

The Best Hunting Knife on a Budget: KA-BAR Little Finn Hunter

Purchase

Key Features
Hollow ground blade
Polished stacked leather handle
Comes with leather sheath
Specifications
Blade Length
3.6″
Blade Steel
AUS-6
Handle/Scales
Leather
EDC Rating
Price
$
You’ve probably heard of KA-BAR from their military-issue combat fixed-blade knives. Still, the Little Finn Hunter is a slim hunting knife with a hollow ground edge that makes it great for skinning and slicing. While it’s less beefy than their namesake bayonets, the thinner profile makes it much lighter. It’s also easier to manipulate through rough material without ruining the meat you’re working with.

The Best Hunting Knife for Skinning: TOPS Muley Skinner

Purchase

Key Features
Stonewashed blade
G-10 handle scale
Black Kydex sheath
Specifications
Blade Length
4.50″
Blade Steel
154CM
Handle/Scales
G-10
EDC Rating
Price
$$$
The thin and ergonomic handle of the TOPS Muley Skinner knife gives you total control over the cut with this knife. The deep handle turns the deep choil of the 154CM stainless steel blade into a guard. That helps prevent you from cutting yourself if you encounter hard material like bone or sinew when cutting into game meat.

The Best Gut Hook Hunting Knife: Gerber Moment Gut Hook

Purchase

Key Features
Full tang construction
Glass bead blade finish
Gut hook edge
Specifications
Blade Length
3.625″
Blade Steel
5Cr15MoV
Handle/Scales
Rubber
EDC Rating
Price
$
A gut hook like that on the Gerber Moment is a handy feature on certain hunting and fishing knives. This particular feature works as its name implies: a sharp hook on the top of the blade cuts open the belly of downed game. It’s more convenient than using the primary edge all the time, and it helps that primary edge stay sharp for heavy-duty tasks down the line. You can also use that gut hook to cut fishing lines, rope, twine, and other thin, stranded materials.

The Best Bushcraft Hunting Knife: ESEE-4 3D

Purchase

Key Features
Rock-solid iconic design
Textured powder coat
Contoured 3D handle
Specifications
Blade Length
4.50″
Blade Steel
1095
Handle/Scales
G-10
EDC Rating
Price
$$
The ESEE-4 is one of the most venerable hunting and outdoor knives available today. ESEE excels at fashioning hard-use hunting knives out of 1095 high-carbon steel. 1095 is a tough steel that allows you to keep and maintain a sharp edge on the blade. While it’s not strictly stainless steel, ESEE’s designs can withstand abuse and wet conditions. Proper maintenance is recommended, with regular oiling and sharpening being the cornerstone of keeping this knife ready when needed. That highly-capable steel is mated with a beautiful layered G-10 handle scale which evokes a “3D” look after being fashioned into an ergonomic, grippy handle for you to hold on to.

Fallkniven F1 VGWOL Hunting Knife

Purchase

Key Features
Satin finished blade
Textured polymer handle
Black Zytel sheath
Specifications
Blade Length
3.75″
Blade Steel
VG10
Handle/Scales
Polymer
EDC Rating
Just released
Price
$$$
Fallkniven blades are made to precision European quality standards in Sweden. It features a shape reminiscent of traditional Scandinavian hunting knives but with a unique blend of VG10 stainless steel with 1.25% tungsten added into the mix, providing superior edge retention. This knife’s design is so rugged and capable that the Swedish Air Force issues the Fallkniven F1 to pilots as part of their survival outdoors kit.

Buck 113 Ranger Hunting Knife

Purchase

Key Features
Compact
Corrosion-resistant steel
Lifetime warranty
Specifications
Blade Length
‎2.38″
Blade Steel
420HC
Handle/Scales
Brass, ebony wood
EDC Rating
Price
$$
When you ask someone in the EDC community to visualize a hunting knife, they likely have a Buck knife in mind. That’s because they’ve been making high-quality hunting knives that the community has relied on for decades. The Buck 113 Ranger features a heritage design with an elegant ebony wood handle inlay and a brass bolster accompanying a capable 3 1/8″ 420HC stainless steel blade. While 420HC is softer than some of the blade steels on this list, it’s well known that Buck’s particular 420HC steel offers enhanced performance compared to similar knives offered by their competitors.

Spyderco Siren Hunting Knife

Purchase

Key Features
Rustproof steel
Integral guard
Reversible deep-pocket wire clip
Specifications
Blade Length
3.60″
Blade Steel
LC200N
Handle/Scales
G-10
EDC Rating
Price
$$$
The Spyderco Siren folding hunting knife was made entirely impervious to corrosion, even when exposed to salt water and the ocean for extended periods. But unlike other knives designed with this use case, the Spyderco Siren features high-end LC200N stainless steel. LC200N features high hardness and edge retention, making it a good cutting and filleting knife when fishing and hunting take you near the ocean. It’s also a folding knife with an effective lockback mechanism that won’t fail under pressure.

Morakniv Garberg Hunting Knife

Purchase

Key Features
DLC blade coating
Scandi grind
Leather sheath
Specifications
Blade Length
4.30″
Blade Steel
Carbon
Handle/Scales
Polyamide
EDC Rating
Price
$$
The Morakniv Garberg fixed-blade hunting knife features a wicked Scandi-ground edge on its full-tang carbon steel blade. The Scandi grind makes it very sharp but also easy to maintain because of the consistent angle of the knife edge, which makes it easy to touch up with a whetstone. The Morakniv Garberg also features a practical sheath for belt carry. That sheath provides positive retention on the hunting knife, ensuring it does not fall out even when running in the field.

Victorinox Hunter Pro Alox Hunting Knife

Purchase

Key Features
Ambidextrous
Lockback
Included lanyard
Specifications
Blade Length
4″
Blade Steel
Swiss stainless steel
Handle/Scales
Alox
EDC Rating
Price
$$
Victorinox designed the Hunter Pro Alox to let you carry an extra large 5.4” blade length without being too bulky. It does this by being a folding knife with attractive embossed aluminum scales with anodic oxidation. While most hunting knives rely on a full tang fixed blade construction to provide durability, this knife features a robust lockback that can handle it. The result is a capable folding hunting knife with a low overall length.

The Competition

Now that we’ve gone through and shown you our picks for the best hunting knives you can pick up today, it’s essential to mention some knives that deserve honorable mention. The following knives are highly regarded in the EDC community. For many, they are the best game animal knife you can EDC. They are great alternatives if you want something different from our favorite picks.

Gerber Vital Big Game Folder: The Gerber Vital features a razor-sharp replaceable blade system with a rubberized handle that makes it easy to keep a sharp edge by simply replacing it when needed.Benchmade Meatcrafter: The Benchmade Meatcrafter is a kitchen butchering knife that can handle being taken out in the field with its larger CPM-154 stainless steel blade.Buck Knives 656 Pursuit Pro: If you’re a fan of CPM-S35VN stainless steel, the Buck 656 Pursuit Pro is made for you.Benchmade 15006 Steep Country: The high-visibility Benchmade Steep Country features an S30V stainless steel blade and a Santoprene handle that’s easy to hold even when your hands are wet.KA-BAR Becker BK2 Campanion: The KA-BAR Becker BK2 is an overbuilt heavy-duty hunting knife that you can pack when your hunting knife also needs to be your survival and bushcraft knife.Buck Knives 110 Folding Hunter Knife: If hunting isn’t your primary use, but you want a pocket knife with the same heritage and inspiration, the folding Buck 110 is one of the community’s favorites.Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter: The Benchmade Hidden Canyon hunter features a handle that evokes the traditional wood grain of old while being more durable, with a USA-made S30V or a super-premium S90V stainless steel option available.Buck 192 BRS Vanguard: If you’re into traditional hunting knives, the Buck 192 has everything going for it, with the walnut wood grain handle and genuine leather sheath at a competitive price point.Spyderco Bill Moran Drop Point: This collaboration knife features a unique handle shape that’s easy to manipulate through rough material, even if you find yourself in a weird position with a large animal that’s hard to move.

Frequently Asked Questions

We know that finding the best knife can be an adventure in and of itself, and we’re here to answer any questions you might have about EDCing a hunting knife.

How do you sharpen a hunting knife?

While you can use a sharpening stone or whetstone to sharpen a hunting knife, a pull-through sharpener can work in a pinch. You can also opt for a machine sharpener like a Work Sharp if you’re looking for an easy option with versatility and highly-repeatable results regardless of the blade shape.

What is the best hunting knife brand?

Some of the best hunting knife company brands include Buck Knives, Spyderco, Morakniv, Gerber, KA-BAR, Benchmade, Kershaw, CRKT, and more. Be on the lookout for knife companies that stand behind their hunting gear with good lifetime warranties for peace of mind.

What makes a good hunting knife?

A good hunting knife has quality steel for a sharp blade and a design with good handle material that makes it easy to cut meat, poultry, and fish after a catch. Good hunting knives feature either a fixed blade construction with jimping. For a folding blade, a good camp knife comes with a quality locking and folding mechanism that you can rely on.

Can I carry a hunting knife on my belt?

You can carry a hunting knife on your belt with the right sheath. You can find a nylon sheath or one made of Kydex with good retention on your blade. If a traditional look is important to you, leather sheaths are great options too.

How should I care for or clean a hunting knife?

Because you tend to use a backcountry hunting and skinning knife for cutting through meat and small game, you will want to regularly wash your knife with soap and hot water to ensure it stays sanitary. This is especially the case near the handle, as you don’t want rotting food material in direct contact with your hands. You should also thoroughly dry your hunting knives to prevent rust and corrosion. Even if your blade says it’s stainless steel, you should assist its corrosion resistance by taking good care of it. Treating your hunting knife with food-safe oil is essential because you will end up eating the result of your work.

How we picked

Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.

What is Everyday Carry?

Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily lives. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.

Why you should trust us

Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise with the industry and familiarity in design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.

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