Old Hickory Hunting Knife: A Symbol of Superb Craftsmanship in the Knife Industry

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October 29, 2021

Humans are survivors, and hunting knives have been effective tools that helped the human race evolve and flourish. A hunting knife is small, but it packs a punch, and hunters love it because of its cutting edge and deadly point that can kill targets in just one blow.

The wild has many things to offer, such as deers, wild boars, birds, and fish—the perfect playing field for hunters. With a hunting knife, you can cut ropes, plants, and skin and even debone animals. And when you come face-to-face with threats like wild animals, you can easily wield this tool to protect yourself.

The Old Hickory hunting knife has been in the cutlery industry for so many years, and its pieces will give you an extraordinary hunting or outdoor experience. Does Old Hickory keep a plethora of hunting knives? Keep going and learn more about this industry-favored knife brand.

The Brief Evolution of Hunting Knives

The hunting knife has a vivid history, and its use can be dated back as far as the prehistoric era. Its primary purpose is to skin and cut animals, but you can use it for many other things. Hunters can also utilize it as a weapon in order to protect themselves against threats like wild animals. Before we enjoyed a hunting knife made of metal, the prototype was made of sharpened stone that allowed our ancestors to hunt and create other weapons.

The Bronze Age in 2,000 B.C. saw the very first metal hunting knives made of bronze. However, in 1,000 to 800 B.C.'s Iron Age, iron-made hunting knives were developed with much more precision and sharper blades than bronze counterparts. Today’s widely used standard hunting knife design was presented by the legendary pioneer, James Bowie, starting with the Bowie knife, a 10-15 inches long single-edged hunting knife made from steel with a concave tapered point.

The Birth of Old Hickory Knives

Old Hickory was born under the Ontario Knife Company, which was established more than a century ago. The company was founded in 1889 by William Ensworth, Charles Albert Brace, and William Maudsley in Naples, New York, Ontario County—hence, the company name. It was on a waterpower-run grindstone where the early knives were created and sold using a pushcart to the neighboring countryside.

Since the company's inception and smooth operations, Ontario Knife Company enjoyed success and moved to a bigger space. In 1904, Empire State Cutlery Company, a local knife manufacturer, bought a portion of Ontario Knife Company. Later on, the two knife companies merged, retaining the name of Ontario Knife Company. The merger meant expansion, and a new building was built in 1912. In 1923, the Old Hickory line began under the supervision of James Chrestensen.

Today, Ontario Knife Company, together with its superb product lines, is a force to reckon with in the knife industry and a member of the American Cutlery Manufacturers' Association.

Taking Care of Your Old Hickory Hunting Knife

It is important to keep your hunting knives clean, sanitized, and sharp if you want to use them for a long period. In maintaining your Hickory knife, you need the following supplies:

  • Mineral oil
  • Warm and soapy water
  • 2 clean dishcloths
  • Clean dish towel
  • Sharpening steel
  • Honing steel

Once you have everything mentioned above, you may begin with one of the best ways to sharpen Old hickory knives—using sharpening steel and then honing steel. Sharpening and honing are two different things. Sharpening a knife means removing the materials that make your knife dull to produce a new and sharp edge while honing is the process that maintains the sharpness of the knife’s edge.

Cleaning and Sanitizing Your Old Hickory Knives

Here are simple tips that you can do to keep your hunting knives clean and germ-free.

  1. Don't forget to wipe clean your knife after cutting acidic ingredients.
  2. Wash your knife with warm and soapy water and wipe it dry with a soft cloth.
  3. If you notice the formation of rust spots, apply a small amount of mineral oil to prevent them from growing.
  4. Always sheath your hunting knife after use and keep them in a safe place away from the reach of minors.

Old Hickory Knives for You

The Old Hickory knife is made of high-performance carbon steel. The product designer of Old Hickory ensures that all the hunting knives are sharp and perfect for hunting and outdoor activities. Here are the best-selling Old Hickory skinning knives that you might want to acquire:

old hickory hunting knife sample

Old Hickory® Outdoor Bird & Trout Knife

A compact and lightweight hunting knife with a fixed blade EDC option is designed for hunters and perfectly fits your hip. The blade is crafted from 1075 high-carbon steel and is 3.4 inches in length. Its hardness is 57 HRC, and the handle material is wood. The Outdoor Bird & Trout Knife has an overall length of 6.9 inches and comes with a leather sheath.

Old Hickory® Outdoor Hunting Knife

This Outdoor Hunting Knife instantly became a flagship and recognizable piece of the Old Hickory brand. It is designed to fit your hunting needs perfectly, and you can carry it anywhere tucked in its leather sheath. The blade's color and finish are satin and made of high-carbon steel with a length of 5.5 inches. For the hardness, the blade has an estimate of 55-57 HRC. The handle material is hardwood, and it gives the knife an overall length of 10.13 inches.

Old Hickory® Outdoor Mini Fillet

If you are looking for a much more travel-friendly knife, the Outdoor Mini Fillet knife is perfect for you! Its blade has a satin finish and is made from 1075 high-carbon steel with an estimated hardness of 57-59 HRC and 3.4 inches in length. The handle material is from hardwood which gives the Outdoor Mini Fillet Knife a total length of 6.9 inches. In addition, this piece comes with a leather sheath.

Old Hickory® Outdoor Fillet Knife

The Outdoor Fillet Knife is your absolute companion when hunting because it is lightweight and convenient. Its blade is crafted from 440C stainless steel giving the knife an estimated hardness of 53-58 HRC. The blade has a satin finish, and the length and thickness are 6.4 inches and 0.083, respectively. It also comes with a leather sheath, and the handle material is of hardwood, giving the knife 10.9 inches overall length.

Old Hickory® Outdoor Fish & Small Game Knife

Are you up for a brand new design? The Outdoor Fish and Small Game Knife is a new piece brought to you by Old Hickory. It is patterned after the classic Kephart-style knife with reliable construction and is highly trusted by many hunters around the globe.

Its blade is made of 1075 high-carbon steel with a total hardness of 59 HRC and a satin finish. The blade's length is 4 inches and also comes with a leather sheath. Hardwood is the handle material providing the Outdoor Fish and Small Game Knife a total of 8.7 inches in length.

Get One Today

Hunting knives can come in handy when you are having fun outdoors. Aside from hunting, you can also use hunting knives for various functions, like self-defense or forming hiking trails. Old Hickory hunting knives are one of the best, and they are more than a century old in providing top-notch pieces. So get your own Old Hickory hunting knife today!

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