The Best Hunting Knives To Take Afield This Season 2022

With a tough-as-nails chromium-vanadium drop point blade, full tang, and imposing profile, the Ka-Bar Becker BK2 Campanion hunting knife is a beast of a tool you’ll be reaching for constantly whether you’re on the trail or setting up camp. It’s a full 10 ½” in length and yet remarkably light and well balanced and it will make short work of even the biggest game.

The blade itself is a hair over 5 ½ inch long, full tang, and enclosed on the butt end by a Grivory handle that provides a firm, slip-proof grip regardless of the weather or the task. The pommel will also get you through a car window in a hurry if you’ve had an accident. The cro-van 1095 steel blade is less susceptible to common abrasions and more corrosion resistant than other types of carbon steel. The 20-degree angle is perfect for cutting but may require more frequent sharpening than blades sporting a lesser angle. This easy to sharpen knife is great not only for skinning big game, but for camping and bushcraft chores as well. You’ll love the way this hunting Ka-Bar knife looks and feels in your hand and the fact that’s it’s available for under $100. Considering its construction and durability, this is definitely one of the best hunting knives in this price range.

A good hunting knife should be versatile and ideally budget-friendly. That’s exactly what MOSSY OAK 2-Piece Bowie Knife set is. Both knives are the same, except for the blade length – they have razor-sharp clip point blades (a six-inch and a four-inch), full tang stacked leather handles, and come with impact nylon sheaths. If you’re looking for an affordable way to complete your hunting kit, this pack of two knives is ideal.

This multi-purpose knife set is suitable for a wide variety of jobs and chores in the great outdoors: from cutting to skinning, to gutting to slicing, it can do all of it and more. However, this knife set is not ideal for batoning firewood – for that, you’ll want a more robust knife. Still, this one will get the job done, whether you’re using them for camping chores or dressing game. The handle is stacked leather and ergonomically shaped, providing a firm grip to make your work more comfortable. Both knives come with their own nylon sheaths with bell loops. For more amazing blades like this, be sure to browse our list of the best Benchmade pocket knives.

Buck hunting knives are as iconic as Harley-Davidson. They’ve been around forever and consistently produce high-quality, durable hunting knives for everyone, from outdoor novices to grizzled veterans of the hunt. The 124 Frontiersman is a big, bold, limited edition hunting knife with a 6 ¼ inch blade forged from high carbon 420 stainless steel.

From the classic straight spine blade with its hollow grind profile, to the black Micarta handles and full tang, this is a knife after every (EDC knife guide) hunter’s heart. You’ll use it to break down that 12 point buck or for any and all tasks around the camp. It’s extremely well balanced and razor-sharp on arrival, and equally important, it has excellent edge retention. The aluminum cross guards keep your hand where it should be while spearing, and the pommel presents a fine blunt instrument for self-defense. The knife comes with a genuine leather sheath that’s a cut above the standard, factory-issue afterthoughts you get with many hunting knives and that’s the way it should be. Because this excellent hunting knife deserves an excellent ride. Overall, a fantastic hunting knife and certainly one of the best at this price point.

ESEE makes some of the most distinctive hunting knives on the market and the 5P-E is no exception. With its carbon steel blade, satisfying heft, and ultra-comfortable tan Micarta canvas handle – with jimping on the blade spine for improved grip – you’ll be looking for excuses to use this hunting knife.

The 5P-E tactical knife by ESEE is a knife that looks every bit as good as it feels. It’s ideal for skinning or dressing large game but like just about every ESEE outdoor knife, it’s also commonly used for a variety of survival applications. The 5 ¼ inch blade has a black powder coat and does a great job retaining its edge regardless of how hard you work it. The pommel is designed specifically to break glass in emergency situations but you’d best believe it will also come in handy if you need to defend yourself. Like all quality knives, this one too comes with a polymer sheath for easy carrying. You’ll pay a bit more for the 5P than you will for some other hunting knives, but we promise you, you won’t regret it. This is a top-quality knife that will come in handy in various situations – from camping nd hunting, to survival and self-defence. Be sure to also check out our list of the top Karambit knives for more great items like this.

The 119 is another limited edition hunting knife from Buck with the occasion this time being the 75th anniversary of the 119 model (each knife comes with a commemorative anniversary medallion on the handle.) You can see why it’s lasted so long. It’s a beautiful knife with a 6 inch clip blade and full tang, with excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance.

The 6i inch clip point blade is forged from 420 high carbon steel that’s especially corrosion-resistant and durable – basically, it’s ideal for all sorts of outdoor jobs. The narrow point makes it perfect for all types of detail work, cutting, and piercing. Overall it’s extremely well balanced, has a phenolic resin grip that lets you retain a nice firm hold in any conditions, and weighs a surprisingly light 7 ½ ounces. Some guys will want to pick this up for the collectability of it but no one should lose sight of the more important fact that the 119 has been around so long because it’s such an excellent hunting and survival knife. It is not a pocket knife, no, but you will want to carry it handy at all times. If you’re going to carry just one knife into the woods, carry this one.

Havalon is our choice for the deep skinning knife as it’s a real pocket-sized beauty with a retractable 2 ¾” blade made specifically for dressing and skinning in the field. You’re not going to impress your buddies with the way this hunting knife looks but eyebrows will raise when they see how effective it is.

The unassuming blade of the Piranta Edge is literally razor-sharp. It slices through material with incredible ease and the virtually flat profile lets you peel the skin away with great precision, producing little waste and wasting little time. Cleaning fish has also never been so easy. When the blade on the Piranta Edge becomes dull you don’t sharpen it – you replace it with one of the 12 extra blades that come with the knife. Those that want a traditional hunting knife experience aren’t going to be impressed by this Havalon knife, but for anyone simply interested in dressing their deer in the most efficient manner possible it’s a dream come true. Our handy guide to the best-selling tactical knives features more great products like this.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: ESEE makes some of the best-looking hunting and survival knives on the market. The Laser Strike hunting knife is just the latest example of this. With a 4.5 inch 1095 high carbon stainless steel blade that’s honed to perfection and a Ferro fire-starting flint tucked into the handle, you’ll enjoy relaxing evenings by the campfire after bagging and field dressing your game.

The ESEE LSP Laser is actually a fairly large hunting knife at 10 inches overall. But curiously enough, it doesn’t feel big at all. The outstanding design and distribution of weight mean force can be delivered effortlessly so it feels like you’re using a smaller knife. The canvas micarta handle won’t irritate your skin or start to wear on you regardless of weather conditions or how long you hold it. The Kydex sheath is beautifully conceived and crafted and locks your knife down nice and snug. If you’re looking for a first-class hunting and bushcraft knife and don’t mind paying just a bit more, definitely consider the ESEE LS-P-E Laser Strike Knife.

If you’re looking for an ultra-tough, modern clip-point hunting knife, you can stop searching now. The SOG Seal Strike Hunting Knife takes its design inspiration from the knives used by the Navy Seals. The clip-point blade is made from stainless steel and has a black titanium nitride coating for corrosion resistance. It’s a full-tang blade, meaning the metal runs down into the handle. That makes it considerably stronger than your average bushcraft or bowie knife. The blade is also partially serrated for quick and clean edge cuts.

The handle itself is designed for both comfort and control. It’s also made from stainless steel, and has an ergonomic design and a non-slip grip pattern – this means you’ll never drop it, even when your hands are drenched in sweat or water. It also comes with one of the greatest sheaths in the business in this price range. Not only does it keep your knife safe and protected, but it also features a line cutter, a ferrochromium fire starter, and a sharpener. This is a great-looking, great-performing hunting and survival knife that will come in handy in all kinds of your outdoor adventure situations.

When you think of the name Smith & Wesson, your mind probably goes straight to antique revolvers. That’s certainly what they’re most famous for, but they also make an impressive range of knives. We decided to include the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S Folding Knife in this list as a bit of a wildcard. This knife is much smaller than your average hunting knife but we think it still holds some value as a hunting companion.

While this is not a gut hook, the small 3.1-inch blade will make quick work of any skinning and gutting work that you need to do while out on the hunt. It has an ergonomically designed handle, complete with thumb knobs and a convenient pocket clip. Plus, the blade folds away, making it possible to carry this knife in any situation. The blade is also partially serrated, and even on that portion it’s still ultra-sharp. We’re big fans of its price tag as well – if you’re looking for a cheap but reliable little knife for small game, this one is a great option. Our guide to the most popular boot knives offers more compact options like this. Check them out.