When it comes to hunting knives among customized tools, the best hunting knives should have the features discussed here.

 

Countless articles have been written about hunting knives. First of all, the stories discuss which knife is most suitable for which needs.

 

The most mentioned are the blade material, shape, and length. A knife called a hunting knife is usually defined as a utility knife matter where you are, if you use a hunting knife (hunting or fishing), then it should have the following characteristics.

 

The custom multi-purpose hunting knife is equipped with a 5-inch forged C105 carbon steel blade with an ornate double-edged grain. Handle sand iron—total length: 10 inches. 

 

Cutlery Steel

 

If you ask 100 people what is the best steel to make a hunting knife， you may get at least 50 different answers. Why? Because there are too many customers who have proven the advantages of cutting tool steel in their own fields. They are loyal to their own experience, but each person's experience is so different.

 

Works of Karis Fisher， The 4-inch blade is 1084 carbon steel and the handle is vintage Micarta®. Total length: 8.5 inches.

 

Steel is mainly used for commercial purposes and is specifically used for cutting tools. The blade is made of a saw blade, file, and even a railway spike. If steel contains enough carbon and can be hardened to hold the edges, then somewhere in the last few hundred years, someone has made a blade out of it.

 

The two main options for blade steel are carbon and stainless steel. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The biggest advantage of stainless steel is that it is rust-proof, requiring less maintenance. Stainless steel is not coded as "maintenance-free." Yes, stainless steel will rust.

 

Carbon steel needs maintenance. Many things can rust carbon steel, such as blood being processed, and certain types of plants, including vegetables. However, rust can be kept to a minimum or eliminated by cleaning and oiling after use. Keep in mind that storing carbon steel knives in leather jackets can also cause rust, especially when the blades are wet because tannins used to process leather can cause rust spots.

 

Best Practical Hunting Knife at the BLADE Show 2018, made by ABS Master Josh Fisher. a 4.25-inch 1084 carbon steel blade.Overall length: 8.75 inches.

 

Although carbon steel will rust, it does have advantages over stainless steel. If the blade is forged, it has two advantages. First, many knife makers forge distal tapers on their carbon steel blades. The taper reduces the weight of the blade, making it lighter and easier to carry and operate. Secondly, carbon steel blades can be subjected to different heat treatments to make them have sharp hard edges and soft back surfaces to improve ductility. The latter makes the blades more flexible and more prone to bending rather than breaking under high stress.

 

The steel you choose for the multi-functional hunting knife should be a kind of steel that can be sharpened on-site and meets the requirements you want your knife to complete. Remember is better to sharpen the knife before it becomes dull.

 

Handle Material

 

If you are looking for a group of customized knives with different handle materials, practical hunting knives will lead the trend. Synthetic materials, wood, ivory, bones, antlers, mother pearl shells, and other materials you can imagine, practical hunting knives are available.

 

5-inch W2 practical hunting knife with Hammond, by Jim Crowell. Total length: 10 inches

 

When many outfitters talk about their impression of a hunting knife, it's often the handle of a stag antler.

 

Unfortunately, the stag is experiencing two things at the same time, and neither is good. In short supply, quality is falling and prices are rising, so much so that mammoth ivory is becoming a substitute. After talking to knife maker Mike Malosh at the 2021 BLADE Show, I started ordering some hunting knives with elk handles. While not as popular as the stag, it is a good material for handles, and it looks beautiful.

 

My experience in this field has made me a faithful believer in synthetic handle materials. The two most popular are Micarta ® And G-10. Canvas Micarta is my personal favorite. As the name implies, Micarta includes some canvases when making. This gives the handle more grip when wet. Westinghouse Mikata is becoming more and more popular. Since most of them were made before 1960, they are usually called antiques.

 

Mike Malosh chose Micarta with black and maroon ® The antlers of the elk serve as the handle of his multi-functional hunting knife. The 6-inch blade is W2 tool steel.

 

The strength of carbon fiber is five times that of steel, the hardness is twice that of steel, and the weight is lighter. This led to a number of commercial applications that eventually entered the custom cutting tool market. A patch originally used by custom manufacturers for folding knives. Now you can also find them for securing blade handles.

 

Compared with natural handle materials, synthetic materials have the advantage that they will not shrink and will not be affected by the weather in most cases.

 

Armguard

 

In most cases, integral guards are a faster and cheaper method of tool manufacturing. Most simply straighten out to give the illusion that they protect your index finger/hand in some way. I learned the hard way that such defenders are not suited to hard work. If you want to use a knife with this protective device, please wear a glove.

 

Ben Breda won the Best Practical Hunter Award on BLADE Show in 2019 with his model, which uses a 4-inch W2 tool steel blade and hamon.

 

Most custom practical hunting knives have a hand guard to provide you with a better ergonomic handle. In addition, it will provide some protection for your index finger and hand. The main metals used for such protective devices are brass, nickel silver, and stainless steel. Although brass is the favorite of factories and new customized knife makers, the biggest problem is that it is very soft, easy to scratch or cut, and can cut your bare hands by giving the shield a sharp edge. Stainless steel handguards provide the best protection and the least maintenance for your knives.

 

Ideal Size

 

It has been more than 20 years since I judged practical hunting knives on the BLADE Show (page 42). I can tell you that there is no ideal size. In other words, most of the winners have 3 7/8 to 5-inch blades. (For knife makers who read this article, please do not submit your 10-inch Bowie or 2-inch mini model for evaluation in this category.) In the picture attached to this story, there are three winners in this category who have won the prize on the BLADE Show in the past. Note the differences and similarities. In addition to size, the importance of handle ergonomics cannot be overemphasized. Most handles will have some profile, usually between 4.5 and 5 inches in length.

 

Sage Advice

 

Custom practical hunting knives will become the main force in this field. Consider the factors I listed before you buy. What will you mainly use for? What size handle is best for your hand? Can you do the maintenance required for blade steel? Can you sharpen a knife in the field? If not, can you practice sharpening a knife before you get there?

 

1I prefer 5-inch blades because my experience tells me that large blades can do some knife work, but not vice versa. As my 7th grade teacher used to say, "Use the right tools to get the job done."