Cutting tools are essential for hunting and fishing. The heart of these activities lies in making a good catch and processing it into something edible or useful. To successfully hunt or fish, you need the best hunting and fishing knives.
Finding a reliable hunting and fishing pocket knife to do the job will do the trick. Pocket knives are safe to carry, and as the name suggests, it fits into your pocket. In addition, these knives are iconic tools for their general-purpose, durable, and ergonomic structure.
Pocket knives have a long-standing reputation, making them a prominent tool for various tasks. However, this also makes the selection difficult as manufacturers produce so many models. But don’t worry and take it one step at a time. First things first, research pocket knife essentials. Then, for your next trip, keep these tips about the best pocket knives in mind.
Things to Consider When Choosing Hunting and Fishing Pocket Knives
Choosing gets easier when you understand what makes the best hunting knife, such as the blade type, handle material, durability, and purpose.
The Cut: Blade
A pocket knife can have more than one blade and different edges. Learn how to distinguish between each type to know what fits your needs.
Blade count
Single-blade pocket knives are suitable if you need a solid, all-purpose knife.
Multi-blade pocket knives are ideal for more than one task being done simultaneously.
Army Swiss Knives/Multi-tool knives have tweezers, saws, can openers, toothpicks, nail files, scissors, corkscrews, and magnifying glasses in one tool.
Blade Edge
A plain edge is easily sharpened and gives you more control when push cutting and slicing.
A serrated edge is designed for pull cuts on rigid materials. Unlike plain edge blades, they require specific sharpening tools and techniques.
A combination edge is a mixture of plain and serrated edges. It is suitable for push and pull cutting.
The Grip: Handle
Since pocket knives are exposed to harsh environments, they need to be robust and low maintenance.
Plastic and rubber handles are easier to clean than wood. For visuals, knives made of bone, plastic, or wood are classic. Meanwhile, handles made of metal make a modern look, while rubber handles resemble tactical visuals. It makes a difference when you’re working using cool hunting knives of your preferred style!
Open and Lock System
The open and lock mechanism is significant in keeping a knife safe and efficient. Choose whether you prefer a manual open, automatic, or assisted system for opening. Then choose among lockback, liner lock, slip joint, frame lock, ring lock, and lever lock for locking.
The Budget
The ideal range for a good entry-level knife is around $30 to $60. Knives less than $30 are not extremely bad, but they lack detail and are made of cheaper materials, so don’t expect too much.
The 5 Best Pocket Knives for Hunting and Fishing
There are plenty of pocket knives out there, but you only need one. So whether you’re looking for the best small hunting knife, best big game hunting knife, or best folding hunting knife in the market, we got it covered on the list.
Buck Knives 110 Folding Hunter Lock-back Knife
Manufacturer: Buck Knives
Blade type: clip-point blade, high-carbon stainless steel
Handle material: brass, ebony
Size/Weight: 6 x 1 x 1 in/7.02 oz
Pros
The Buck Knives Folding Hunter Knife is one of America’s best sellers when it comes to knives. The stainless steel blade offers excellent strength, edge retention, and corrosion resistance, which is perfect for the outdoors. In addition, the blade type is clip-point— an excellent choice for precise and small cutting work on animals and tight areas.
Because of its size, it is portable and easily packed without the need for an extra sheath. This compact pocket knife is designed with a classic touch and easy to grip handle made of polished brass bolsters and ebony. It is most suitable for small game hunting and fishing.
Cons Buck Knives don’t have the best durability and strength in the market. Its narrow tip, which helps make precise cuts, also makes it non-suitable for heavy-duty cutting because of its vulnerability.
Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter
Manufacturer: Benchmade
Blade type: American made COM-S30V Steel, drop-point
Handle material: Fiberglass
Size/Weight: 6.32 x 0.88 x 0.58 in/3.5 oz
Pros
The Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter pocket knife is your ultimate big game hunting buddy. The S30V steel drop-point fixed blade is well-rounded and makes the big game hunting and fishing tasks easy to conduct. Perfect for skinning or dressing animals, this hunting knife is highly durable with very sharp edges that stay for a long time. The handle material is made of fiberglass resin, making it durable and can withstand tough environments.
Cons
The downside of the Benchmade hunting knife is that the size may be too small for some, and the sheath that comes with it doesn’t have the best quality in the market.
Gerber Vital Pocket Folding Knife
Manufacturer: GERBER
Blade type: stainless steel, Exchange-A-Blade
Handle material: rubber
Size/Weight: 6.9 in/1.3 oz
Pros
Out for some deer hunting? The Gerber pocket folding knife has the superb sharpness you’re looking for. This folding knife is a good choice for skinning or field dressing and comes with a feature you can get excited with: an Exchange-A-Blade!
The knife contains six spare scalpel blades that can easily switch— no other tools are needed! The clip point blades make skinning and dressing easy and get desired precision cuts. What’s more is that it comes with a purposeful handle. It is orange-colored, so you can easily spot it when exposed to challenging environments.
Cons
Like most hunting and fishing pocket knives, this exchangeable knife has a size that might be too small for some. It also doesn’t stay sharp as long as other pocket knives, so you need to sharpen it more often.
Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Fishing Knife
Manufacturer: Morakniv
Blade type: fixed blade Sandvik 12C27 stainless-steel
Handle material: patterned, high-friction grip
Size/Weight: 8.6 in/4 oz
Pros
The Morakniv Companion fishing knife is a reliable companion in your hunting, fishing, and hiking adventures. The blade is made of Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel, which gives it an excellent cutting ability. In addition, it is incredibly sharp, robust, and corrosion-resistant. The knife is suitable for skinning and filleting tasks. It is also versatile and can switch from a fishing knife in the kitchen to a life and death compact tool.
The handle has a high-friction, comfortable patterned grip that allows you to have great control while cutting. The color of the hard plastic sheath reduces the risk of losing it in tough conditions. You can cut various materials such as nylon, cords, ropes, nets, lines, and fish using this all-around knife.
Cons
The Morakniv Companion is not the most corrosion-resistant tool when exposed to saltwater. While it is incredibly sharp, you need to sharpen it more if the desired sharpness is not attained. In addition, some customers demand a better sheath design, claiming that hanging it on the belt is not enough for security.
Spyderco Harpy Folding Fishing Knife
Manufacturer: Spyderco
Blade type: VG-10 hawkbill stainless steel
Handle material: Solid stainless steel
Size/Weight: 6 x 1 x 1 in/3.2 oz
Pros
Just by looking at this knife, the Spyderco Harpy is undoubtedly one of the unique folding fishing knives you’ve ever seen. The key to its design is the curved and serrated hollow-ground blade. It is entirely made of VG-10 stainless steel, which is known for its high quality, extremely sharp edge, easily sharpened, and durable properties.
The blade allows for smooth, precise cuts on ropes, nets, cords, and other related fishing material. The knife also features a drying vent in the handle to keep dry and avoid rust. For convenience, the knife has two options for carrying: either you use the pocket clip or fasten a rope through its lanyard hole.
Cons
Spyderco knives have a long-standing reputation for their excellent quality. Still, not one knife in this world has zero downsides. With the Spyderco Harpy, most of the downsides lie in the size and pricing. The opening might not be as swift as expected, and the steel handle doesn’t always stay firmly in your grip.
Final Word
There you have it! We compiled the best hunting and fishing pocket knives to make sure you are equipped with the right tools for your next hunting or fishing adventure. Have a safe and superior cutting experience!
August 4, 2022
