Contrary to popular belief, a hunting knife is by no means a universal thing that can be used both for skinning a hunted animal, and for slicing bread or opening canned food at a halt. It must be remembered that, first of all, a hunting knife is a serious weapon, which means that you need to treat this thing with care, using it only for its intended purpose.
A hunting knife is not only a beautiful toy, but also a serious weapon that, depending on the situation, can be useful to every hunter. That is why the choice of a hunting knife should be taken as responsibly as possible, taking into account such parameters as the length and shape of the blade, the quality of the material and the shape of the handle. You also need not to really trust the advertising of world famous brands, but to adopt the principle: "the simpler, the better."
Blade
As a rule, the main purpose of a hunting knife on a hike is to cut game, so it is better to give preference to a knife with a relatively short blade. The optimal length of the blade does not exceed 10 cm; it should have a sharp bend and a point that is located above the butt.
When choosing a knife, do not trust the manufacturers who trumpet the whole world that their blades are of the highest quality, since the famous Damascus steel or other fashionable, ultra-strong material was used in their production. The blade of a good hunting knife should be made of ordinary high quality steel with a high carbon content. If you click your finger on such a blade, you will hear a ringing and long sound.
The importance of shaping a part of the blade in the form of sawtooth teeth is greatly exaggerated. A hundred years ago, hunters actually used knives with teeth to saw off deer antlers, but the quality of modern metal is unlikely to allow such a laborious procedure. In any case, it is better and more practical to choose a knife with a curved, flat blade rather than a sawtooth one.
About the handle
The best material for making a hunting knife handle is, of course, wood. The wooden handle is durable and lightweight, it does not slip in the hand and is good at absorbing sweat. If you have to butcher game in the cold, such a handle will not get wet in blood and freeze.
It is advisable to choose the shape of the handle based on the anatomical features of the palm, but you can not get too hung up on this point and buy a knife with an ordinary, straight handle. It is this form that is universal and most convenient.
Tip: don't buy a hunting knife with a bone or mother-of-pearl handle. Such knives are interesting only in the form of a beautiful souvenir or a gift for the boss, but on a hunt they will be completely impractical.
