A Buyer's Guide to Hunting Knives

Hunting knives are an important part of any hunter's set up. Contrary to what some people think, a knife is not a good place to scrimp. Your knife will be the most valuable tool that you have once your game is on the ground. There are many different kinds of knives available, and they span many price ranges. You can get a good knife for around $40, or you can get an excellent knife for $200. Look at Cabela's website, and you will find knives that push $1000! Most people will not want to spend that much on a hunting knife, because the extra expense is often brought on by "flash" rather than "function". When you are looking for a hunting knife, here are a few things to consider:

1. Price. Unless you are particularly hard on your hunting equipment, or prone to losing things such as knives, you should think of your hunting knife as an investment. This is not a yearly purchase. In fact, if you buy a good quality knife, you will be using it for many years to come. I used my first knife, a Case Mako, for about 16 years, before the wood grip separated from the handle. I am currently on year number 5 for my current knife, and I expect to use it for another 15 at least. If you care for your knife, and you have bought a good quality knife, it will last you for many years of service. I recommend Buck knives, as they are of good quality, and reasonably priced. You can look at their website to get an idea of what different models will sell for. Make sure to shop around, as most places will sell these knives for a considerable discount off of retail. I currently use the Buck Woodsman, and I upgraded to the Cocobolo handle. It currently retails on Buck's website for $82. You can find it for around $50 online. Once you have found the knife that you like, be sure to shop around for the best price. This is an item that is safe to buy online, as it will never need adjusting, and will be warranted from the factory if you have any problems.