Wes Littlefield 10.25.24
For many new hunters purchasing a quality hunting knife is an afterthought or even an “oh crap” moment after they harvest their first animal. But when they finally search for the best hunting knife brands, they become overwhelmed by all the options.
There are many excellent hunting knife brands that I didn’t have room to list below, and trying to decipher between them all can get a little frustrating because one must understand the type of steel, grip, folding vs fixed blade, length of the blade, and many other factors.
However, in this article, I’ll keep things simple by giving an overview of the top hunting knife brands I’ve used to process deer, ducks, geese, and dove in the field.
Buck Knives – Best Hunting Knife Brand Overall
Maybe I’m a little sentimental about Buck Knives because my granny got me a fixed blade with a gut hook for Christmas one year. Since then, I’ve used it to field dress and process several deer. My Buck knife has lasted several seasons and still looks relatively new. It also holds a decent edge, but I have to sharpen it about once a season, depending on how many deer I process with it.
I love Buck Knives as a brand because it offers hunters various options. Whether you’re an upland or big game hunter, they have a high-quality knife that will suit your needs. Speaking of high quality, they also have the option to build a custom knife so that you can craft your dream hunting knife and not get stuck with a run-of-the-mill production knife.
Even though Buck uses quality materials, its prices aren’t outrageous. They have knives within every hunter’s price point, so I consider Buck Knives the best hunting knife brand overall. You can’t go wrong with a Buck Knife!
Kershaw – Budget-Friendly Hunting Knife Brand
My first pocket knife was a Kershaw. I was so proud that I showed it to anyone willing to listen to a 10-year-old boy bragging about his pocket knife. I carried that knife until I graduated high school and eventually lost it. The clip had a bad habit of catching on my clothing and pulling itself out of my pocket. While I couldn’t replace the memories I’d made cleaning ducks and carving sticks, it wasn’t tough to replace, even on a college student’s budget.
I love that Kershaw has a solid lineup of reasonably priced hunting knives. Just because they’re reasonably priced doesn’t mean Kershaw uses crappy materials; as I mentioned, my pocket knife lasted several years without breaking or chipping, and my parents weren’t the ones to buy a kid an expensive pocket knife.
Even though Kershaw has budget-friendly options, they also have knives that the experienced outdoorsman can appreciate. Whether you’re looking for your first hunting knife or don’t feel like spending hundreds of dollars on a knife you’ll use, and abuse, Kershaw has a knife within your budget.
Gerber – Best Hunting Knife Brand For Beginners
My dad is a huge Bear Grylls fan, so when Bear Grylls and Gerber Gear partnered, my dad purchased a large portion of the series. While I used to make fun of him for it, I no longer can because his Gerber purchases saved my butt on my first elk hunt.
Gerber is the best hunting knife brand for beginners because the knives are reasonably priced, use quality materials, and offer hunters’ kits, so you’re sure to get the right tools for the job. As I mentioned, this was a lifesaver on my first elk hunt when we packed my elk out. My dad wisely purchased a kit with everything we needed to get that delicious elk meat out of the field and into the freezer. On the other hand, I only brought a couple of my deer processing knives, which would have worked but required much more effort.
I’ve watched my dad sharpen his Gerber knives year after year, and he still uses them to gut and process deer. They don’t hold an edge forever, but he purchased an electric knife sharpener to quickly get back in the game when his blade dulls.
When he chips or breaks a blade, as he is tough on knives, he doesn’t have to worry about busting the budget because Gerber has reasonable pricing across their product line. Regardless of your target species, Gerber Gear has a reasonably priced, durable blade for your hunting needs.
Benchmade – Best Hunting Knife Brand For Experts
Benchmade knives are incredibly customizable and only use high-quality materials, which is why they come at a steep price, but if you want the best, you better be prepared to pay for the best.
No matter what style of hunting knife you’re looking for, Benchmade has you covered. From folding to fixed blades, they all feel great in your hand and will remain sharp thanks to the high-quality stainless steel. Plus, when you purchase a knife from Benchmade, you can send it back for free sharpening and cleaning!
Benchmade also offers the option to create a custom knife, so you can create the exact knife you need. This is why Benchmade knives are the best hunting knife brand for serious hunters.
Parting Shots: Best Hunting Knife Brands
There are many excellent knife brands on the market, and a new custom knife maker seems to pop up every day. In addition to these well-known brands, I own several custom hunting knives made by local craftsmen. However, these are the most expensive knives I own and are genuinely one of a kind, so it’s tough to recommend them over a popular hunting knife company.
As I said, there are so many more great brands out there, so feel free to let me know which brands are your favorite in the comments so I can check them out!
