Topic: The Best Hunting Knives of 2022 (Read 39 times)
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Why It Made the Cut
A replaceable blade knife with a rigid blade that’s easy to replace.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
This year I found myself on the side of a mountain with five others trying to break down two elk on the side of the mountain as quickly as possible due to grizzly bears just a ridge over. Everyone had different replaceable blade knives, but about halfway through the first elk it was obvious, which of the knives was the best—the Razorlite. Its blades were the easiest to replace and the mounting system was trouble free. Other knives got gummed up and the blades came off, but the RazorLite chugged through deboning the two elk.
While the RazorLite isn’t the lightest replaceable blade knife—5.9 ounces heavier than a Tyto. It’s the most trouble-free design I’ve used. I don’t have blades pop off or break and can make it through an animal on one blade. When it’s time to swap a blade you just press the button, slide the blade out, and slide a new blade in. The rubberized group stays grippy when your hands are covered in blood. The 3.5-inch blade is a good length for balancing maneuverability and cutting efficiency. If weight isn’t a major concern and you want a replaceable blade knife, I’d reco*mend the Razorlite.
Spyderco is known for pioneering the modern pocket-clip, one-handed opening, EDC knives. However, the co*pany also produces impressive fixed blades, including the new Bow River. This is a straight-forward trailing point, skinner-style blade that is long enough to do double duty as a slicer on the processing table as well. The flat-ground blade, made from the budget friendly 8Cr13MoV stainless steel, should hold an edge reasonably well, it will be easy to sharpen, and should prove to have good corrosion resistance. A contoured black and white G10 handle is a co*fortable, pleasant surprise on a knife at this price point. Spyderco also did a nice job on the sheath, which is a leather pouch-style scabbard that securely holds the Bow River and is nicely finished. If I had anything to nitpick, it would be that I’d like to see some jimping on the blade and some texture carved into the G10 handle for some added grip because the smooth finish might get a little slick when it’s time to get down to business. That being said, the Bow River punches above its price point. MSRP is $60. Specs: Blade length 4.36 in.; Blade thickness 0.10 in.; Overall Length 8.14 in.; Weight 3.8 oz.
If you’re a hunter who thinks the best hunting knives should be in an EDC style, the Browning Primal Folder–Medium will be worth a look. The feature list reads like a solid, no-frills pocket clip folder, but with a few design elements that make it useful to hunters. To keep the knife at a price that won’t damage your wallet, the Primal Folder uses proven materials that are not exotic or lightweight: mainly stainless steel and polymer. A narrow, shallow drop point made from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel has ambidextrous thumbstuds for opening and is well suited for EDC or hunting. Stainless steel liners add a pleasant heft as well as strength. The liners are covered by polymer scales that are overmolded with a rubber material that provides excellent grip. The downside? The Primal Folder is somewhat difficult to get in and out of your pocket. Be prepared to have your pocket turned inside out if you remove the knife too quickly. On the positive side, the chance of this knife accidentally falling out is remote, which good thing. Overall, the Primal Folder–Medium is a nicely designed and executed knife that’s co*fortable to use, has a versatile blade shape and co*es in at an extremely affordable price. MSRP is $22.99. Specs: Blade length 3.5 in.; Blade thickness 0.09 in.; Open length 7 7/8 in.; Closed length 4.4 in.; Weight 3.25 oz.
I was so impressed with the pocket clip EDC knife Giant Mouse sent for a previous review that I was excited to check out one of their fixed blades for use as a hunting knife. Unfortunately, they’re out of stock, but given the features and price point it’s not surprising why. The GMF2 is an old-school style, full tang fixed blade with profiled green canvas micarta scales attached to the side with fasteners and spacers. It’s nothing fancy, it’s just a tried and true way of putting together a solid, no frills fixed blade. Made from Bohler N690 Cobalt steel, the shallow drop point blade will be a great general purpose field knife as well as hunting knife. The blade shape is well suited and could be used for a gutting knife, a skinning knife, and some processing. In keeping with the old-school motif, the sheath is a leather pouch style setup with an integral belt loop. With an MSRP of $195 it’s no wonder this knife was sold out at the time this was written. That’s okay though, we’ll wait. MSRP is $195. Specs: Blade length 3.62 in.; Blade thickness 0.157 in.; Overall length 8.12 in.; Weight 4.1 oz.
Another entrant in the change-a-blade genre, Gerber’s Randy Newber EBS has replaceable blades meant to be cared for like any other knife rather than discarded. The EBS setup is more like a kit than a knife. When not in use, the blades ride in a box cleverly designed to prevent rattling, and the handle nests into the back of the case. Toss the whole setup in your pack and you have three blades and a well-thought-out handle ready to go with minimal fuss. There’s no provision for strapping it to your belt or pack or putting it in your pocket, but why would you? This hunting knife set is meant for taking apart critters or for using around camp when rapid access isn’t necessary. The EBS co*es with three 440C stainless steel blades that are advertised for “backstrap, caping/breakdown, and multi-purpose.” Basically, there’s a serrated blade and two drop point blades, one about an inch longer than the other. Accessing the blades in the case is easy and installing the blades in the handle is simple once you stop over thinking it. The handle, made from a rigid polymer overmolded with a rubber-like coating, is narrow but surprisingly co*fortable. Hopefully Gerber will introduce some other blade shapes like a gut hook, and perhaps a “zipper” type blade. MSRP is $60. Specs: Blade length 3.25 -4.25 in.; Overall length 9.3 in.; Weight 4 1/8 oz.
The BIWA is one the smallest knives of the group, and certainly the most svelte (yes, “svelte”). This is a fixed blade harkening back to the “trout and bird” knife days when people occasionally kept trout without being called heathens. Designed to offer good performance and economics, The BIWA has a 8Cr13MoV stainless steel, slender profile, full tang blade with a thin handle profile and nicely contoured G10 scales. This helps keep the weight of the knife to a mere 1.6 ounces, which is nice if you’re watching your weight on a backcountry hunt. While not necessarily designed with survival-type knife tasks in mind, the 3-inch blade length any hunting tasks you throw at it. The hard plastic, molded sheath holds the BIWA securely and it even co*es with an optional belt loop that can be attached to the sheath if desired. Other than an included lanyard that’s too small to actually get over your hand, this is a great little knife. MSRP is $49.99. Specs: Blade length 3.02 in.; Blade thickness 0.11 in.; Overall length 6.63 in.; Weight 2 oz. (with sheath)
No, these are not duck hunting knives, they’re blades for big game with a “duck’s head” profile at the back of the handle. This co*bination knife set co*es with two full-tang, fixed blade knives, each with a safety orange rubberized non-slip TPR handle. The larger of the two knives is a skinner/guthook while the smaller knife of the set is a drop point suitable for fine cutting tasks as well as caping if desired. Both blades are made from 8Cr14MoV stainless steel heat treated to 57Hrc. The “beak” of the duck’s head design slips between your pinky and ring finger, with your middle digits curling around the rather slim handle. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it is co*fortable and provides plenty of control. It would be nice if the “beak” were not quite so pronounced, but that’s a minor gripe. For carrying the knives, Outdoor Edge provides a pouch style sheath lined with a safety insert that retains the knives well. This handle style might not be for everyone, but it’s worth handling one a bit to see if it works for you. MSRP is $54.96. Specs: Gut Hook Blade Length 3.7 in.; Drop Point Blade Length 3.2in.; Blade Thickness 0.112 in.; Gut Hook Blade Overall Length 7.2 in., Drop Point Blade Overall Length 6.8 in Total Weight 5 3/8 oz.
When Benchmade told us about the Meatcrafter, a high-end knife for processing game, did we want to include it in our round up of best hunting knives? Well yeah. The real work begins after the shot, right? And part of that hard, albeit rewarding work, is the final cutting required to put the meat on the table. This isn’t a rugged backcountry survival type fixed blade. It’s not supposed to be. Ultimately, this is a boning knife that has the right qualities to debone, trim, and break down primal cuts. Made from a new steel for Benchmade, powdered metal technology CMP-154, the 6-inch trailing point blade is relatively thin and somewhat flexible, which is why it lends itself so well to most meat processing tasks. Processing can be messy business. Fortunately, the handle is made from over-molded Santoprene, a rubber-like material which helps maintain a great grip even with wet or bloody hands. Even though this may not be something you strap to your hip or pack, the Meatcrafter still co*es with a molded Boltaron sheath worthy of a rugged field trip. This will be a great knife to have in camp, the kitchen, the shop or wherever you butcher your game. MSRP is $160. Specs: Blade length 6.08 in.; Blade thickness 0.09 in.; Overall length 11.06 in.; Weight 3.24 oz.