The Best Choices for a Traditional Fish Knife/Pocket Knife and Modern Fish Knife

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May 25, 2021

It is convenient to have one tool that does tons of tasks for you. If it’s portable and handy too, then that’s even better. All of this is everything a fishing pocket knife is. 

Imagine yourself on a boat in the middle of a stream, fly fishing. You do not need to bother moving from your comfortable position if you need a knife. Just grab your fly fishing pocket knife in your pocket or from around your belt.

If you need a fish pocket knife, we have identified two knife types you’ll see in the knife shops: vintage pocket fish knives and modern ones. We’ll discuss the highlights of each product and why they made it to this best fishing knife list. We will also review the blade and handle material used for these knives.

Case Pocket Knife

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What makes it the best

The Case folding fishing knife makes it to this list because it has a traditional design for a fisherman's knife. With just one knife, you will get everything a fisherman needs. These days, the kind of knife Case creates is already considered colonial and vintage. A company still manufacturing an old but gold design is rare these days. 

Blade

This knife has two 3.4-inch stainless steel blades that fulfill three functions. 

  1. Filleting: The first blade has a clip-point edge and is best used for filleting and slicing. 
  2. Scaling blade: The second blade has a scaling edge that will cover your fish scaling needs.
  3. Hook remover:  Also in the second blade is the V-shaped hook remover found at the tip.

Handle

The handle does more than just house the two superb blades. This handle has a sharpening stone stuck to its side for hook or blade sharpening. The handle is made of easy-to-clean synthetic material. 

Uncle Henry Traditional Fish Knife/Pocket Knife

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What makes it the best

Another brand that keeps traditional knives alive is Uncle Henry. Despite the different knife types this brand creates, it still brings to life a vintage-design knife while satisfying every angler’s needs, making it the best fishing utility knife.

Blade

The 3.31-inch high-carbon stainless steel blades fulfill four functions.

  1. Filleting: The first blade is meant for slicing and filleting because of its smooth and sharp edge. 
  2. Scaling blade: The second blade is meant for fish scaling because of its serrated edge. 
  3. Fish hook remover: Another handy inclusion in the second blade is the V-shaped end, which you can slide from the fishing line to the hook until the hook is removed.
  4. Bottle opener: Just when you think this knife couldn’t have any more nifty features, it still has another one to offer—the bottle opener. It is on the second blade too. Use it to conveniently open a well-deserved bottle of beer to reward yourself after a long day of fishing. 

Handle

You’ll love the visually pleasing design of the Staglon handle. The blades and the handle are joined together by durable nickel bolsters. You can slice and fillet without the blades getting loose. 

Rough Rider Vintage Fish Knife

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What makes it the best

These days, you can only find colonial fish knives in antique stores, garage sales, or a collector’s cabinet. Still, Rough Rider is the vintage fish knife of your dreams. The traditional design and usability are the reasons you should have this knife. 

Blade

As we progress in this round-up review, the blades of these vintage designs are getting better and better. Last but not least is the 440 stainless steel blades of the Rough Rider knife, which fulfills five functions.

  1. Filleting: The first blade is for filleting and slicing.
  2. Scaling blade: The second blade has a serrated edge perfect for scaling a fish.
  3. Fish hook remover: The second blade has a V-shaped end. You can slide it down the fishing line down to the hook for removal.
  4. Bottle opener: This knife also has a bottle opener at the opposite end of the second blade’s edge. 
  5. Ruler: Unique to this blade is the ruler on the spine of the second blade. You can measure your catch and use it for other purposes. 

Handle

The handle of this knife not only looks classy but is also helpful because of the sharpening stone attached to its side. Durable and robust copper bolsters connect the handle and the blades.

Buck Silver Creek Fillet Knife

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What makes it the best

The Buck fish pocket knife makes it to our list of the best knives because the brand is known for its hunting knives. You’ll get the best of both worlds—a hunting and fishing pocket knife—with Buck Silver Creek fillet knife. 

Blade

This pocket knife has three blade lengths you can choose from: 6 ⅜, 9 ⅝, and 6 ½ inches. All of them are made of 420J2 stainless steel. 

The titanium coating makes the blades extremely durable. You can cut through fish meat and bones with ease and without worrying that the edge will dull quickly. 

Handle

Lending durability to the blade is the handle made of polypropylene. The thermoplastic rubber, on the other hand, ensures that you will have an excellent grip on the handle despite the wet and slimy environment in which you’ll be using it. These two materials making up the handle are critical in keeping the design ergonomic and pleasing to the eye. 

Kershaw Fish Fillet Pocket Knife

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What makes it the best

Since Kershaw was founded in 1974, the company had been creating and selling hunting and fish knives. With years of experience in fish knife manufacturing, we can only expect the best from this company. That’s why it belongs to the list of the top pocket fish knives.

Blade

The 6-inch blade of the Kershaw knife is the best fishing/utility knife. You can use it for any kitchen slicing and fish filleting needs. No matter how wet and slimy the food you are preparing, the blade will remain rust-free because it is made of stainless steel. 

Handle

The handle has an easy-to-grip and straightforward design. Its unique K-Texture technology ensures that it won't slip your grip despite the wet environment when preparing fish and other ingredients. 

BUBBA Pocket Fish Knife

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What makes it the best

BUBBA is the go-to brand when it comes to fish knives. Classic fixed blade, pocket knife, electric, and cordless electric knives for fish—this brand has them all. You can trust it with your pocket fish knife too. 

Blade

The 7-inch blade is highly durable because it is made of stainless steel reinforced by the titanium nitride coating. Rust and corrosion will not find a way to form in your blade even when you use it for preparing wet fish and other ingredients. 

Handle

The handle is equally hard-wearing like the blades because it is also made of titanium. It has BUBBA’s signature orange color, so it will surely stand out in your knife rack. The handle has a guard that adds stability to your grip. 

Final Thoughts

Have you decided which among these fish pocket knives will be included in your fishing tool kit? It’s best if you start by getting one knife with a vintage design and another one that’s more modern. Having them all is a dream come true!

Whichever your choice is among these knives, we are sure that you will have the best. If you choose a colonial fish knife, you’ll have a handy knife in your pocket that you can use for three or more functions. The modern designs on this list all come from trusted brands in the fishing world. 

It isn't easy to choose the best among the best. We’d love to hear which one you chose and the reason behind it. Share your choice in the comment section below. 

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