An assortment of hunting knivesA 1975 prototype of d'Alton Holder's iconic hunting knife, with a ram-horn handle
Ahunting knife is aknife used duringhunting for preparing the game to be used as food byskinning the animal and cutting up itsmeat. It is different from thehunting dagger which was traditionally used to kill wild game.[1]
Some hunting knives are adapted for other uses in thewild, such as a camp knife, which hunters may use asmachetes orhatchets when those specific tools are not available. In this case, their function is similar to asurvival knife.
Hunting knives are traditionally designed for cutting rather than stabbing, and usually have a single sharpened edge. The blade is slightly curved on most models, and some hunting knives may have a blade that has both a curved portion forskinning, and a straight portion for cutting slices ofmeat. Some blades incorporate a gut hook. Most hunting knives designed as "skinners" have a rounded point as to not damage the skin as it is being removed.[2]
Fixed-Blade Knife – Fixed-blade knives have the practical advantage of their simple design. If the game you hunt is large and the terrain more rugged, a fixed-blade knife is often a better option for its strength and dependability.
Folding Knife – Folding knives have the advantage of being easier to carry and to conceal. They are also considered safer. They can be kept in a pocket easily.
Out the Front Knife – OTF knives are usually used by military personnel.[3]
Replaceable Blade Knives – Knives having interchangeable blades or ones with a handle that may carry a separate blade are known as replaceable blade knives.[4]
Clip Point – The clip point knife blade is thin with a well-defined point. The blade itself is relatively flat. This type of blade is used for dressing and skinning.
Drop Point – The blade of a drop point knife is thick and curved. It is used for dressing and skinning.
Skinning Blade – This type of blade is specially designed forskinning. The blade quickly and neatly separates skin from meat.
^Marrone, Teresa (1999).Dressing & Cooking Wild Game: From Field to Table: Big Game, Small Game, Upland Birds & Waterfowl the. Complete Hunter. pp. 8–11.ISBN978-0-86573-108-0.
^abPacella, Gerard (2002).100 Legendary Knives. Krause Publications. pp. 88–94.ISBN0-87349-417-2.