The Best Hunting Knives

For the past several years, I’ve used the Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner to clean whitetails, turkeys, and even small game in a pinch. The S30V steel is super durable and holds an edge well. While I don’t make it a habit of hacking through bones, I’ve had zero issues with chipping.

Aside from the Saddle Mountain Skinner’s durability, this knife is a beauty. The wood grips and leather sheath give it a classic hunting knife persona, but it’s not just for show. Contoured grips make it a joy to hold, as does the knife’s overall balance. The spacing on the spine’s jimping makes it easy to guide when you’re trying to make precise cuts or get every inch of backstrap. The drop point style blade also helps with punching through hide or carving along bones, though the blade has minimal flex. For butchering big or medium-sized game, this knife’s blade width makes it ideal for quick, close-quarter work.

While it’s not a large blade by most fixed blade standards, it’s a bit overkill for small game hunting, though I’ve used it in a pinch. The price feels right at home for a premium fixed-blade hunting knife, and Benchmade’s LifeSharp Services means you can send it in for free sharpening any time (though you are responsible for shipping costs). The Saddle Mountain Skinner is a mainstay in my hunting backpack, and it’s one of the best hunting knives available.

Specifications

• Steel: CPM-S30V
• Blade Length: 4.2 in.
• Overall Length: 8.7 in.
• Weight: 4.3 oz.
• Price: $200
• Pros: Versatile Size, Excellent edge retention, Feels smaller than actual size, Well Balanced
• Cons: Grip might feel small for larger hands

Originally designed in collaboration with Steven Rinella and Benchmade, the current Essential MeatCrafter is one of the best hunting knives for butchering wild game meat. The CPM-154 steel is plenty durable for the kitchen or campsite, and the 6-inch Trialing point style blade allows you to make clean, precise cuts when you’re deboning meat.

One of the best things about the Essential MeatCrafter is the flexible blade, which makes it easy to carve around bones. This style of knife is also super handy when it comes to breasting out a wild turkey, as opposed to traditional skinning knives with shorter, stiffer blades. I can’t think of a better knife for the home butcher who wants to savor every cut of meat.

Specifications

• Steel: CPM-154
• Blade Length: 6.08 in.
• Overall Length: 11.06 in.
• Weight: 3.24 oz.
• Price: $200
• Pros: Flexible blade, Grippy handles, Great for precise cuts, Versatile size for butchering
• Cons: Kitchen/butchering specific

Like the Case Trapper, the Buck Ranger 112 is another option that’s synonymous with pocket knives. Over the years, I’ve both given and received the Ranger 112 (with the finger grooves) as gifts, and it’s always a hit. There’s nothing fancy about the Ranger 112. It’s a standard, locking folder with a clip-style blade, though the ebony handles and brass bolsters give the Ranger its classic look (especially after the brass fades). There’s no jimping on the blade, but it does lock definitively in place.

The Ranger’s 3-inch, 420HC steel blade hits the sweet spot when it comes to size. It’s not a brick in your pocket, and the blade width and length make it a great EDC knife that small and big game hunters can appreciate. For less than $70, the Buck Ranger 112 is one of the best hunting knives for the money.

Specifications

• Steel: 420HC
• Blade Length: 3 in.
• Overall Length: 7.25 in.
• Weight: 5.6 oz.
• Price: $65
• Pros: Budget-friendly, Blade locks definitively, Sized for a variety of tasks
• Cons: No spine jimping, Slick handles

While most cheap knives can be disappointing (or dangerous), this Swedish-made fixed blade is an excellent budget or backup option. Like the name states, the Morakniv Basic 511 is a basic fixed-blade knife with, you guessed it, a basic plastic sheath. I’ve used several different models from Morakniv, and they’re always sharp out of the box and hold an edge surprisingly well.

The best and worst thing about the Basic 511 is that it’s a $10 knife. There’s some noticeable flex in the blade, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing depending on the task at hand. Still, I wouldn’t put this knife through any durability tests. For hunters who need a just-in-case option in the glove or toolbox, the Morakniv Basic 511 is more than capable if you’re in a pinch.

Specifications

• Steel: Carbon Steel
• Blade Length: 3.625 in.
• Overall Length: 8 in.
• Weight: 2.75 oz.
• Price: $10
• Pros: Budget-friendly, Great backup knife, Price makes it easily replaceable
• Cons: Not the most durable, Handle feels cheap

I have a few knives that, with proper care, will outlive me. They’re mostly handmade, fixed-blade knives that perform as well as they look. However, knives with replaceable blades are incredibly convenient and ingenious. Not only are fresh blades razor sharp, it doesn’t matter if you chip one on bone, you can simply replace it without the hassle of re-sharpening a knife. That’s the beauty of replaceable knives like the Havalon Piranta Edge Skinning Knife.

For around fifty bucks, the Piranta Edge Skinning Knife comes with twelve replaceable blades and tips the scale at just under two ounces. Its weight and utility alone should earn a spot in your hunting pack as a backup knife, but the razor-sharp stainless 60A steel replaceable blades make it a serious knife for big and small game cleaning alike.

Specifications

• Steel: Stainless 60A
• Blade Length: 2.75 in.
• Overall Length: 7.25 in.
• Weight: 1.52 oz.
• Price: $54.99
• Pros: Budget-friendly, Included replaceable blades, Great for tight, precise work
• Cons: Replaceable blades, Blades dull, chip easily

Co-designed by MeatEater’s Steven Rinella and Josh Smith of Montana Knife Company, the U.S. made Stubhorn features a premium handcrafted blade, made for years of hard use. The Magnacut stainless is a great all-around steel that won’t easily dull or chip when you inevitably hit bone. For a knife that’s almost 9 inches long, the Stubhorn has excellent balance that feels substantial yet nimble.

The G10 grips are some of my favorite things about the Stubhorn. They’re comfortable and textured enough that they won’t slip when you’re field dressing a deer or elk. While the blade has plenty of heft and durability, the width makes it less ideal for smaller work areas or precise cuts, as opposed to MKC’s Flattail.

Some might pause at the Stubhorn’s price, but when you consider that you’re paying for a handmade knife and MKC’s Generations Promise, this knife’s premium features earn its price. If you’re looking for a knife that will outlive you and probably your kids, the MKC X MeatEater Stubhorn is one of the best hunting knives available.

Specifications

• Steel: Magnacut Stainless
• Blade Length: 4.125 in.
• Overall Length: 8.875 in.
• Weight: 5.25 oz.
• Price: $325
• Pros: Durable steel, Grippy G10 handles, Free lifetime sharpening, Included Kydex sheath, Great balance
• Cons: Blade width not ideal for tight, precise work

I have fond memories of my grandfather standing at his tailgate or sitting on his cabin steps, cleaning rabbits or squirrels with a Case Trapper. He had several, some with one of the blades half-broken, that he left in various places, like his truck, the junk drawer, or a certain hunting jacket, just in case. So, it was only natural that he would give me one of his spares, which I toted and used to clean squirrels on some of my first solo small game hunts. This anecdote isn’t unique. In fact, I’m sure most die-hard Case fans have a similar story, and they’re not without warrant.

The Trapper’s dual blades make it a handy pocket knife for cleaning small game, and they’re more than capable of handling everyday tasks. It’s slim profile and closed length make it a quintessential knife that won’t overcrowd your pocket. Case’s Tru-Sharp surgical stainless steel is sharp out of the box and is easy to re-sharpen as long as you don’t neglect regular maintenance.

Remember those half-broken blades I mentioned earlier? Well, that’s one of the Trapper’s downsides. While those blades are nifty and excellent for tight, precise work, they’re not the best for hard-use tasks. Still, the Case Trapper is one of the best hunting knives for small game hunters.

Specifications

• Steel: Tru-Sharp Stainless
• Blade Length: (Clip) 3.25 in. (Spey) 3.27 in.
• Overall Length: 7.5 in.
• Weight: 4 oz.
• Price: $65
• Pros: Multiple blades for extra utility, Great for tight, precise work, Budget-friendly
• Cons: Not the best for hard use