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Hunting knife

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An assortment of hunting knives
A 1975 prototype of d'Alton Holder's iconic hunting knife, with a ram-horn handle

A hunting knife is a knife used during hunting for preparing the game to be used as food: skinning the animal and cutting up the meat. It is different from the hunting dagger which was traditionally used to kill wild game.[1]

Some hunting knives are adapted for other uses in the wild, such as a camp knife, which hunters may use as machetes or hatchets when those specific tools are not available. In this case, their function is similar to a survival knife.

Design

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A hunting knife with a deer-antler handle

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 for skinning, and a straight portion for cutting slices of meat. 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]

Types of knife

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  • 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]

Type of blade

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  • 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 for skinning. The blade quickly and neatly separates skin from meat.

Examples

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Hunting knives include the puukko, the Yakutian knife, and the Sharpfinger. Most American designs are based on a smaller version of the Bowie knife. Knifemaker Bob Loveless popularized the drop point hunting knife and William Scagel popularized the Camp knife.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Marrone, Teresa (1999). Dressing & Cooking Wild Game: From Field to Table: Big Game, Small Game, Upland Birds & Waterfowl the. Complete Hunter. pp. 8–11. ISBN 978-0-86573-108-0.
  2. ^ a b Pacella, Gerard (2002). 100 Legendary Knives. Krause Publications. pp. 88–94. ISBN 0-87349-417-2.
  3. ^ Daniel (2023-02-06). "Details About OTF Knives - Hunting Knives News, Reviews & Specifications". Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  4. ^ "Replaceable Blade Knifes - Must Have Hunting Knives Type".