After 12 hours of research evaluating 120 products, we picked Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife as our top choice.
When out hunting, you’ve always got to have a knife handy!
Hunting knives can be used for everything: gutting and skinning your prey, gutting fish, cutting wood for the fire, stripping bark for kindling, and so much more.
Heck, if it comes down to it, you can even use it to defend yourself from predators.
If you’re headed out into the woods to hunt, camp, or fish, you need a knife.
The best hunting knives will be a bit on the pricier side, but you’ll get high quality steel that holds an edge well and is designed specifically for hunting and processing animals.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best hunting knife choices on the market. After reading thousands of reviews on hundreds of products, we have a collection of knives that will suit your needs best.
Happy hunting!
High carbon steel, versatile utility knife, easy to sharpen, very tough, ergonomic handle, finger guard for added safety, lightweight, and comes with lifetime warranty.
Will rust if not maintained, and the grip is iffy.
The blade of this knife is made from high carbon steel, not stainless steel. If not well-maintained, it will rust and show signs of wear far faster than most stainless steel knives.
The good news is that the knife holds its edge very well and can be sharpened easily to a razor-fine point.
The knife is useful for just about anything: gutting, skinning, cutting food, slicing rope, stripping bark, and the list goes on. It’s lightweight, easy to maneuver, and is built for your safety. The finger guard built into the knife’s handle will protect your fingers as you slice and dice.
Not only does the knife come with its own sheath, but the sheath is designed with a clip that allows you to attach a second sheath for another knife. It’s handy and very reliable!
As mentioned above, carbon steel will rust if not maintained, so it’s not the most durable knife on the market. The TPE rubberized grip is durable, though it’s not the easiest to hold for more delicate work in wet and cold conditions.
The knife is Swedish-made and very high quality, and it comes with a limited lifetime warranty so it will be replaced if there are any defects. For the price, you won’t find better!
At $9, this is a total steal! A great knife to take on any hunting trip, or for teaching your child how to hunt and process their kills.
Gutting and skinning knife set, gut hook makes for quick gutting, 440 stainless steel blades, excellent edge retention, durable, lightweight, easy to carry, and features non-slip handles.
Knives become dull and require regular sharpening.
The two-knife set comes with a gutting knife (complete with ripping hook) and a skinning/hunting knife. At 6 ½ and 7 inches long, these knifes are compact enough for easy carrying and beautifully lightweight, yet built to last.
Users have complained that the 440 stainless steel knives arrive dull, so they’ll require sharpening to get them ready for use. But once you’ve got them nice and sharp, they’ll cut through any hide or pelt with no problem.
The fact that the combo comes with both a skinning and gutting knife means you’ll have an easy time processing any animal. The hook in the gutting knife will rip through skin and hide easily, and the skinning knife is small and light enough for the finest detail work.
The knives also come with their own carrying sheaths, as well as a lanyard hole included in the skinning knife.
The knives themselves are very durable—made of 440 stainless steel and a nylon handle, they’ll last for years to come. Sadly, the blades tend to lose their sharpness a bit faster than you might like, so it’ll take regular maintenance to keep them in good working condition.
At $16 for the pair, this is a total steal! You get two knives for less than you’d pay for one of its competition’s products, and the knives are reliable, fairly durable, and guaranteed to work well.
Very lightweight, easy to use for skinning, short blade, durable, saw-cut wooden handles, convenient to carry, comes with leather sheath, fits perfectly in even large hands, and includes lanyard hole.
Not the most versatile knife.
At 3.3 inches, this knife is definitely on the smaller side, and it’s wonderfully lightweight, so it’ll be easy to maneuver around delicately while skinning your kills. The clip point slides beautifully into even the smallest spaces, and you’ll love how quickly it can slice through even the toughest connective tissue.
The blade is made of 7Cr17MoV high carbon stainless steel, and it will hold an edge beautifully with regular maintenance.
When it comes to skinning, few knives will beat this one. However, for other camping activities, you’re better off with a more versatile knife than this one. It’s a one-trick knife that will guarantee faster skinning times, but not much else.
Thanks to the sheath and the hole for a lanyard, you’ve got lots of options for carrying it around safely and keeping it handy while you camp, hunt, or hike.
With its high carbon stainless steel blade and saw cut wooden handle, you know this is a knife that will last! It’s easy to grip in even large hands, and it’ll work like an extension of your forefinger as you skin your kills.
At less than $20, this is a knife that will be your best friend for skinning animals, so a handy addition to your hunting toolkit at a great price.
Great for EDC and hunting use, tanto-style blade, black-oxide finish reduces corrosion, SpeedSafe assisted opening, thumb studs included, four-position pocket clip, compact, lightweight, and very durable.
Opening spring tends to break with regular use.
This 3-inch blade is made of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel, which is highly durable and holds an edge very well. The blade is easy to sharpen, won’t go dull with regular use, and will provide you with years of reliable use.
The tanto-style point is great for skinning, processing, and cutting, and you’ll find the knife works well for first responders, hunters, backpackers, campers, even gardeners! Basically, it’s a hunting knife that is as useful around town as it is in the wild.
The fact that the knife folds down means it fits in any pocket, and you can clip it onto your belt using the four-position clip. The SpeedSafe assist opener makes it easy to flip the knife open in seconds, and the thumb studs makes it great for one-handed opening. It’s a knife you can take anywhere you go and use for anything!
The blade itself is highly durable, with a black oxide coating that makes the stainless steel even more resistant to rust. The nylon scales offer easy grip and longer durability, making sure you can use the knife in any wet or cold conditions.
However, be warned: the SpeedSafe assist spring tends to break within 6 to 12 months of regular use. Kershaw will replace it, but it’ll be a hassle if it does.
At less than $30, this knife is an amazing purchase, one that will work well for you in the city, at the campsite, and deep in the woods.
Serrated edge great for cutting rope and twine, comes with built-in fire starter, military-grade sheath, stainless steel pommel for hammering, texturized rubber grip, high carbon stainless steel blade, and, overall, very reliable.
Blade isn’t top-quality.
This high carbon stainless steel knife blade comes with a drop point that makes processing, skinning, and gutting animals easy. You’ll find it’s also suitable for chopping produce, stripping bark, and, thanks to the half-blade serration, slicing through rope.
Users have complained that the blade is “soft”, getting nicked and losing its edge easily. However, it’s only a fraction of users, so it could be due to quality control issues.
Overall, the blade, though short, has a good heft that makes it very useful for a variety of hunting and camping tasks. Best of all, it’s well-balanced and will be easy to sharpen and keep sharp with regular maintenance.
In addition to the blade itself, the knife comes with a number of additional features: a fire starter (rod and striker built into the knife), a stainless steel pommel suitable for hammering, and a nylon sheath with built-in sharpening system. Thanks to its half-blade serration, you’ll find it’s one of the most versatile fixed-blade knives on the market.
Though the knife blade may have issues, the knife overall is highly durable. The texturized rubber grip won’t slip in your hands even in the wettest, coldest environments, and the shape makes for easy holding. There’s even a pommel to protect your fingers and give you better grip.
The nylon sheath is also military-grade and very long-lasting, providing your knife with reliable protection that’ll keep it in good shape for years to come.
At $35, this knife is a bit on the pricier side, but a good option if you need something useful for hunting, camping, and outdoor survival. It also comes with a lifetime warranty!
Compact, fits in your pocket or hunting vest, durable blade, easy to open, classic American style, razor-sharp edge, narrows to a clip point, 420HC stainless steel, comes with sheath and belt loop, USA-made, features a lifetime warranty.
Quality control issues—some knives arrive dull, defective, chipped, or dirty.
Made of 420HC stainless steel, this American-made hunting knife is durable, reliable, and very easy to use. Thanks to its narrow clip point tip, you’ll find it’s very easy to use for skinning and processing animals, but the blade has more than enough heft to cut food and chop rope.
The stainless steel retains its edge beautifully, so once sharpened, it will stay sharp for a long time. You’ll find the narrow tip makes for easy slicing and detail work.
The fact that the knife folds up means you can carry it around in any pouch, pack, or pocket, even in your hunting vet. The knife also comes with a sheath for carrying on your belt, making it a handy tool to carry around at all times.
The blade comes with a nail notch that makes for easy opening, and locks firmly in place once open. It’s strong, safe, and highly versatile for any camping activity!
Not only is the stainless steel blade very durable, but it’ll hold its edge for a long time. The ebony handle and brass bolsters will keep the handle as balanced and tough as it is beautiful.
The knife comes with a lifetime warranty, and is built to last for a lifetime. Definitely a good option to consider if you’re a hunter!
At $40, it’s not the cheapest knife on the list, but definitely one of the best options if you want something tough, versatile, and suitable for any camping and hunting task.
Highly durable, versatile, short blade is very easy to use, exceptionally tough, long-lasting edge, lifetime warranty, sheath included, high-friction grip that’s easy to hold, rust-resistant, fits in any pack or pouch, and great price tag.
Some reviewers complain that it arrives dull and requires sharpening.
This fixed-blade knife has a 4.1-inch blade made out of Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel, high-quality Swedish-made steel that holds an edge very well and is incredibly durable. You’ll find the blade is fully rust-resistant and incredibly durable.
The high hardness rating (HRC 56-58) guarantees excellent toughness from this little blade. But, at just 2.5 mm thick, it’s light enough to carry with you everywhere you go!
Sadly, the knife often arrives dull, requiring sharpening before use.
This blade is shaped perfectly for cutting, skinning, and gutting, and you’ll find that it does every camping and hunting job that you’d need a smaller knife to do. It’s lightweight (just over 4 ounces) and compact, and will fit in any backpack or hunting pouch.
The knife comes with its own sheath that can clip onto your belt, making for a hands-free carry and easy access to the knife in case you need it.
Not only is the knife blade made of high-quality Swedish stainless steel, but the high-friction grip is made with a special rubberized pattern that is as durable as it is easy to grip. You’ll find that in even wet or cold weather, the grip is comfortable and solid.
Best of all, the knife comes with a limited lifetime warranty, so you can always get it replaced or repaired in case something happens.
At $17, this is an excellent knife at an amazing price tag. It’s a value purchase, indeed!
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