Best Fixed Blade Hunting Knife - Guide and Review
For most hunters, there are only a few pieces of gear that are supremely important out in the field. One piece that you will never find a true hunter without is his trusty knife. Whether it’s there to finish off a wounded target or to skin your prey, a good knife is practically indispensable on the hunt. Today I’ll be talking about the best fixed blade knives, as well as show you what to look for so you can bring the best with you on your next outing.
Why are Fixed Blade Knives So Popular?
When talking about hunting knives, there are two primary types: fixed and folding. While a folding knife can be beneficial in a pinch, nothing compares to a fixed blade. If you're a serious hunter, then you cannot go out into the field with subpar equipment, and a fixed blade knife is simply the best. Why? Namely, because it is stronger, can withstand much more abuse, and will last for much longer than a folding knife. I know hunters who have used the same knife for decades, passing it down through generations. You just can’t get that same quality with a folder.
5 Best Fixed Blade Hunting Knife on the Market
Picture | Name | Editor Rating | Price |
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| Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner Fixed Blade Hunting Knife | ||
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| Schrade SCHF36 Frontier Full Tang Drop Point Fixed Blade Knife |
How to Choose the Best Fixed Blade Hunting Knife
If you’ve never compared knives before, you may think that it’s a pretty straightforward process. However, there is a lot more to choosing the right knife than you know. Here are the top considerations to look at when making your decision.
Blade Style
The most important aspect of your knife is the style of the blade. Avid hunters will go out with multiple knives, each one designed for a specific purpose. When it comes to hunting knives in particular, these are the most common styles from which to choose.
Clip Point: this is the style of knife that most people think of when they picture a hunting knife. The spine (back) is straight but then curves upwards to make a fine point at the tip. The belly (cutting edge) is long and sharp. Clip point knives are best for piercing, cutting, and sometimes skinning.
Drop Point: this knife has a curved spine and a long, sharp, belly. The spine curves downward to make a point, but this style is more used for cutting, skinning, and multi-purpose use.
Sheepsfoot: if you want a knife that is best suited for skinning, a
Spear Point: sometimes, your prey needs a final stab to end its misery. If stabbing is all you’re after, then a spear point is the way to go. This knife resembles a dagger since it has two sharp, curved edges and is made for piercing.
Straight Edge: this knife is similar to a drop point, but the spine is perfectly straight instead of curved. These models are suited for cutting, chopping, and skinning.
Gut Hook: if you are serious about skinning your prey, then a gut hook knife is the best way to go. This style has a long, sharp belly, but at the tip, it has a hook with a blade in the craw so you can make your primary incision to your prey. Simply make a cut and then drag the hook until you reach the end. The hook style will help prevent accidental piercing of guts and other undesirables.
Handle
In addition to the blade itself, the handle of your knife can be just as important. There are three things to consider when choosing a handle:
Texture: if your handle is smooth, then you run the risk of it slipping while you’re working. Especially if you expect a lot of blood, you may be best with a textured handle for better grip.
Contouring: many handles are either straight or curved, but some knives have contouring to match your fingers. This shape will help you keep a stranglehold on the knife while you work.
Material: comfort is another big factor when choosing a handle, and many of them are made of wood, plastic, or some sort of composite material. Personally, I love a smooth wood handle, but other materials can be more durable under extreme conditions.
Steel
Once you’ve decided on the shape of the blade, you need to know what it’s made of. Three types of steel are used in hunting knives.
Stainless: I would highly suggest getting stainless steel since it requires less maintenance and will last a lot longer than other metals.
Carbon: if the price of the knife is a factor, then you may have to settle for high-carbon steel. This material is usually the cheapest, but it’s not weatherproof and can rust over time.
Carbon Stainless: if you want the durability of stainless and the raw power of carbon and don’t mind the price, then carbon stainless steel knives are the best of the best.
Length
If you’re buying a knife online, it can be hard to gauge how big it is, especially compared to your hand. I would recommend feeling different size knives in person so you can get a sense of the length and weight of the piece before making your decision. The right length can be crucial. Too long and you risk cutting something you shouldn’t. Too short, and you have to work harder to get the job done.
Recommended Best Fixed Blade Hunting Knife Reviews
Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner Fixed Blade Hunting Knife
Editor Rating:
First on our list is the Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner. Benchmade is a company with a long history of making quality knives, and the Saddle Mountain Skinner is no exception. What I like about this knife is that it knows exactly what it needs to be, and does the job admirably.
As the name would suggest, this knife is designed for one thing: skinning. This is actually a modified clip point style blade with a gut hook at the tip for better control. The blade is made of CPM-S30V steel and is four inches long, making it ideal for most kills. The width of the blade is also super thin so that you can cut through almost anything with ease.
The handle is made of beautiful Dymondwood, which not only looks divine but can withstand almost any weather and repels moisture naturally. Overall, the handle can take whatever you dish out and keep on trucking. With the handle, the overall length of this knife is almost nine inches.
Finally, this knife comes with a leather sheath that also has a belt loop so you can keep the blade close to you at all times.
Highlighted Features
- Gut Hook style blade
- CPM-S30V Steel
- Four-inch blade
- .14-inch thick
- 8.7-inch overall length
- Dymondwood handle
- Leather Sheath with belt loop
Buck 192BR Vanguard Fixed Blade Knife
Editor Rating:
Even though Benchmade is one of my top brands for hunting gear, I would have to say that Buck Knives is an even better company, due to the commitment to excellence shown in all of the brand’s materials. In this case, the 192BR Vanguard is a shining example of Buck’s quality and performance, making it one of the best knives on this list.
The Vanguard has a drop point style blade, making it ideal for almost any situation you may encounter in the field. The blade is four inches long and made of high-quality 420HC steel, which will last for years with minimal maintenance required.
What sets the Vanguard apart from the other knives on this list is the beautiful attention to detail. The handle is made of pristine walnut and comes with a shining brass butt which is sure to make you the envy of all the other hunters. I mentioned before that I love a wood handle, and walnut is one of my favorite woods, so this is definitely a top pick. What I also like about the handle is that the top brass fitting comes with a finger guard so you can work without any risk of cutting.
To complement the Vanguard’s quality furnishings is a genuine leather sheath, a limited lifetime warranty, and the guarantee that this knife is made in the US.
Highlighted Features
- Drop point style blade
- Four-inch blade
- 420HC Steel
- Polished walnut handle w/ brass butt
- Weighs 6.3 oz
- Brass guard to protect while skinning
- Genuine leather fitted sheath
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Made in the USA
Spyderco FB09GP2 Hunting Fixed Blade Knives
Editor Rating:
Next, we have the Spyderco FB09GP2 Hunting Knife. One thing that I don’t necessarily like about Spyderco is the naming system for its gear, but regardless of the name the FB09GP2 is still a quality piece of hunting equipment.
Unlike the other knives on this list, the Spyderco knife has a unique, tanto-style blade design. Tanto blades are specifically made for piercing and absorbing impact, so this knife can be ideal for finishing your kill or punching holes into wood. The spine is thick, and the belly is thin, so you can steady the knife with your finger and get precise cuts every time. Overall, this knife is best suited for piercing, stabbing, and cutting. I would not recommend it for skinning, however.
The blade itself is made of CTS BD1 stainless steel, so it will require minimal maintenance and care, and it should be resistant to rust. To match the quality of the blade, the handle is made of G-10 textured material, so you can cut, stab, and slice without worrying about losing your grip or having the knife slip in your hand. The handle is also contoured to fit your fingers, so you have complete control.
Highlighted Features
- Tanto style blade
- CTS BD1 Stainless Steel
- G-10 scales on handle
- Contoured handle
- Skeleton full tang blade
- Boltaron Sheath
BlizeTec Survival Fixed Blade Knife
Editor Rating:
If you’re more of a survivalist than a hunter, then the BlizeTec Survival Knife is the ideal option for you. In addition to the knife itself, you get several other components that can help you stay comfortable if you spend the night out in the wild.
The blade on this knife is a drop point, so it’s perfect for almost any situation. The blade is also made of high-quality 420A stainless steel, so you won’t have to worry about rust or any extra maintenance. Overall, this knife should be able to tackle most jobs out in the field. To help you along as well, there is a serrated portion along the spine so you can cut through tough material such as bone if necessary.
Along with the knife itself, this unit comes with a LED flashlight and a flint to help you get a fire started in the wilderness. The flashlight comes with a battery, and the flint is rated to spark up to 12,000 times. Depending on how well you can build a fire, that can translate into a lot of campfires.
Finally, this knife set comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Highlighted Features
- Drop point style blade
- 420A stainless steel
- Serrated edge on spine
- Four-inch blade
- 8.5-inch overall length
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Contoured Pakkawood handle
- Extras included
- LED Flashlight (battery included)
- Fire starter flint (12,000 strikes)
Schrade SCHF36 Frontier Full Tang Drop Point Fixed Blade Knife
Editor Rating:
Finally, we come to another survival knife, the Schrade Frontier. Much like the BlizeTec knife, this model is designed for multi-purpose use, not just for hunting.
The blade on the Frontier is a drop point style, and it’s made of powder coated 1095 high carbon steel. That means that this knife will last with minimal maintenance, although you do have to watch out for rusting. The blade is also five inches long, making it ideal for many different jobs and duties.
To help you out in the wild, the Frontier comes with a sturdy black nylon sheath and a Ferro rod inside the textured TPE handle. When it comes to starting a fire, nothing compares to a Ferro rod, so you’re sure to be warming yourself in no time. Additionally, this knife comes with a sharpener so you can keep it in pristine shape all the time.
Highlighted Features
- Drop point style blade
- Powder coated 1095 High Carbon Steel
- Five-inch blade
- Textured TPE Handle
- 5.3-inch handle
- 10.5-inch overall length
- Black nylon sheath
- Ferro rod included
- Sharpener included
Final Verdict
When it comes to picking the best hunting knife, I can never narrow it down to just one. The biggest reason for that is that I usually bring two or three knives with me, so I know the importance of having multiple blades for different jobs. That being said, my top picks from this list would easily be the Buck Vanguard for overall use, the Benchmade Skinner for, well, skinning, and the Schrade Frontier for survival situations, since it has the extras you need for the outdoors safely stored in the handle.
No matter what, though, whichever knife you choose is sure to be high-quality and beyond satisfactory. Happy hunting!
