Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Hunting knife preferences

I am always on the lookout for new hunting knives. I am curious as to what design features you guys prefer in a hunting knife? Things like blade length, blade shape, handle materials, etc. I consider my hunting knife the one I carry while actually hunting, its primary purpose is to field dress animals. I have separate skinning and boning knives.

I prefer a stainless drop point with a 3 to 3-1/4" blade with either g10 or micarta slabs.

I like a 2.75 to 3.35" blade, not too wide or too much belly very slight drop point. No bolster or guard. Stainless steel with jigged and or beaded G10 scales.


free screen capture software

The green and orange handled ones are about perfect IMHO.
The Nilla on top is my fave.

These days I like a SS folder with one blade serrated and the other straight.

Here is the one I used.

3-3.5 inch stainless, plastic handeled folder. Big enough, tough enough for gutting duty, hands do not freeze to handle, nice and light. My latest is the spyderco stretch2 I have been edcing for 2 years.

I agree. Ideal hunting knife imo, with d2 included also.

Coleman Western C102

3 in drop point with a little belly to it. Trip!e temper, double cryo and a thin grind on D2. G10 scales and a kydex sheath.

I also don't like my blade to be too wide or have too much belly. And I like a solid spot to put my index finger. Not just for a solid grip, but for a quick way to orient the knife while in a body cavity

This. What a joy to own.

That looks like it could field dress a few animals

Is the orange handled one a #7 drop point?

Played with, owned, and used more than a few customs. Honestly, a decent production blade does all that is necessary and then some.

It's a Lite hunter.

It's not much of a pic, I had a pard that wanted to see a couple side by side for comparison so I snapped a quickie with the phone.

The Nilla is my favorite for EDC and gutting of game, but the lite hunter dresses deer just as well and does a better job quartering and breaking one down IMO

Sean, you are 100% correct. I'm just a knife slut

You ain't the only one...

Hell, I'm finalizing another order/buy as we speak.

Can't put that out there and not share..... What did you order dude?

of the many knives I have, only a few are dedicated 'hunters'. The top one was my Dad's. Made in the thirties, it's a Clauss. Next, is an old Randall #11. It has gotten more use than all the others combined.
Menefee's Little Dumpling, and one of his drop point blades. Both are excellent performers.
After that, is one of Tim Olt's great drop points, in CM154. I can't say enough good things about it. Recently, I gifted my Olt 'Good News Hunter" to my brother in law.
Gene Ingrams "Big Boy Sodbuster" in D2, and last, a little beauty by Larry Rosi.
There are a few more, probably over in my Son's safe, but these are the ones that process the meat, that goes on my table.

Nice collection! I have recently started thinking about a Randall.

Love that Westy, super nice Woodson

Very nice.

My Dowell's are quickly growing on me.