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WILD GAME WITH HUNTING KNIVES: FROM FIELD TO FREEZER
Acquiring your own meat for the table requires lots of work, from preseason prep to the hunt itself, and, of course, care of the animal in the field. The knife you choose to carry has to be capable of handling many chores in harsh environments. The hunting knives we’ve selected for this section have what it takes.
Let’ have a look at Hunting Knives Buyer’s Guide 2023:
TOPS Knives: TOPS MULEY SAW
Overall Length: 9.13 inches
Blade Length: 4.25 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.13 inch
Blade Steel: 154CM with tumble finish
Handle Material: Tan/black G10 w/orange G10 liners
Sheath Material: Leather combo or black Kydex individual
Weight: 4.8 ounces, 8.1 ounces w/sheath
Origin: USA
Other: Part of the Muley Combo
MSRP: $210 (saw only)
TOPS Knives: TOPS MULEY SKINNER
Overall Length: 8.75 inches
Blade Length: 4.50 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.13 inch
Blade Steel: 154cm with tumble finish
Handle Material: Tan/black G10 w/orange G10 liners
Sheath Material: Leather combo or black Kydex individual
Weight: 5.2 ounces, 8.2 ounces w/sheath
Origin: USA
Other: Part of the Muley Combo
MSRP: $210 (skinner only)
Bradford Knives: BRADFORD GUARDIAN 4 SHEEPSFOOT
Overall Length: 9.125 inches
Blade Length: 4.625 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.165 inch
Blade Steel: Böhler M390
Handle Material: G10, Micarta or carbon fiber
Sheath Material: Leather or Kydex
Weight: 6.8 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: Stonewash, Nimbus, Black DLC Blade Finish
MSRP: $249
Ontario Knife Company: ONTARIO RAT-3 SKINNER
Overall Length: 7.75 inches
Blade Length: 3.75 inches
Blade Steel: 1075 carbon steel w/phosphate coating
Handle Material: Micarta
Sheath Material: Leather
Origin: USA
MSRP: $91.95
Half Face Blades: HALF FACE SKINNER JR
Overall Length: 7.6 inches
Blade Length: 3.75 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.1 inch
Blade Steel: S35VN w/armor black Cerakote finish
Handle Material: Black and brown G10
Sheath Material: Kydex
Weight: 3.8 ounces
Origin: USA
MSRP: $550
Gerber Gear: GERBER DOWNWIND ULU
Overall Length: 6.54 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.11 inch
Blade Steel: 7Cr17MoV
Handle Material: G10, GFN
Sheath Material: Canvas
Weight: 5.04 ounces
Origin: China
Other: Part of Downwind series w/ drop point and caper available
MSRP: $62
Hogue Knives: HOGUE EXTRAK
Overall Length: 7.375 inches
Blade Length: 3.3 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.094 inch
Blade Steel: CPM M4 tool steel
Handle Material: G10 scales w/ Peel Ply texture
Sheath Material: Nylon blade guard
Weight: 1.9 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: Orange or black Cerakote options
MSRP: $189.95
Hogue Knives: HOGUE EXPEL SCALPEL
Overall Length: 7 inches
Blade Length: 2.5 inches
Blade Steel: Stainless steel
Handle Material: 440C stainless steel and G10 scales with Peel Ply texture
Locking Mechanism: Dual-action switch that serves as ejector and lock
Sheath Material: Nylon blade guard
Weight: 1.4 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: Includes five replaceable blades: three 60A and two 70A; accepts Havalon replaceable blades
MSRP: $114.95
Kershaw/KAI USA: KERSHAW DESCHUTES CAPER
Overall Length: 7 inches
Blade Length: 3.3 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.11 inch
Blade Steel: D2
Handle Material: Polypropylene, rubber overlay
Sheath Material: Molded glass-filled nylon
Weight: 1.7 ounces, 3 ounces w/sheath
Origin: China
MSRP: $59.99
Puma Knife Company USA: PUMA PIG STICKER 15
Overall Length: 15 inches
Blade Length: 9.8 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.157 inch
Blade Steel: 5Cr15
Handle Material: Orange G10
Sheath Material: Kydex
Weight: 11 ounces
Origin: China
MSRP: $145.99
Randall Made Knives: RANDALL MADE DENMARK SPECIAL
Overall Length: 9 inches
Blade Length: 4.5 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.188 inch
Blade Steel: O1 tool steel
Handle Material: Stag
Sheath Material: Leather
Weight: 5.5 ounces
Origin: USA
MSRP: $420
Spyderco, Inc: SPYDERCO BOW RIVER
Overall Length: 8.14 inches
Blade Length: 4.36 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.108 inch
Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV
Handle Material: G10
Sheath Material: Leather
Weight: 3.8 inches w/sheath
Origin: China
MSRP: $66
Fällkniven AB: FALLKNIVEN R2z
Overall Length: 7.13 inches
Blade Length: 3.15 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.19 inch
Blade Steel: Elmax
Handle Material: Thermorun
Sheath Material: Zytel
Weight: 4.66 ounces
Origin: Japan
MSRP: $215
Buck Knives: BUCK 110 HUNTER SPORT
Overall Length: 8.75 inches
Closed Length: 4.88 inches
Blade Length: 3.75 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.120 inch
Blade Material: S30V
Handle Material: Black anodized aluminum with green Micarta inlay
Locking Mechanism: Back lock
Weight: 4.6 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: Pro EDC version of the popular 110 Folding Hunter knife
MSRP: $144.99
Benchmade: BENCHMADE RAGHORN
Overall Length: 8.88 inches
Blade Length: 4.64 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.09 inch
Blade Steel: CPM-CruWear w/orange Cerakote finish
Handle Material: Carbon fiber
Sheath Material: Boltaron
Weight: 3.65 ounces
Origin: USA
MSRP: $420
Benchmade: BENCHMADE TAGGEDOUT
Overall Length: 8.13 inches
Closed Length: 4.63 inches
Blade Length: 3.5 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.09 inch
Blade Material: CPM-154
Handle Material: Orange Grivory
Locking Mechanism: AXIS lock
Weight: 2.1 ounces
Origin: USA
MSRP: $200
A version of this article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2023 print issue of Knives Illustrated Buyer’s Guide.