Tip 1: Good vs. Perfect.

It’s impossible to find a perfect knife that will work everywhere, every time, for every task. While most knives will work most of the time, every knife will have limitations. An ideal knife for the grouse hunter will fall far short when field dressing an elk. That big, heavy knife that has a blade ideal for cutting through a deer’s chest, may also have a smooth handle that gets slippery when it’s wet – like when you have blood on your hands from gutting that deer. You will find you need different knives for different purposes, so determine your needs and look for good options.

Tip 2: Larger Isn’t Better.
There may be times when a large blade is needed, but generally the smallest knife that will do the job is better. The closer the tip or working section of the blade is to your hand, the more precise and efficient the cut will be. Think of writing with a golf course pencil, as opposed to a pencil eight inches long when you are holding the eraser end. Your fingers are capable of incredibly fine movements, but the farther away the tool is, the less precise the cut will be.

Tip 3: Function Over Form.
I like real wood, and shiny brass – both of which can get slippery when wet. I love pretty knives, but a slippery knife is dangerous for the user, and wet is a common occurrence in the field. Wear your pretty knife on your belt in camp, but put your checkered, rubber grip, beat up, workhorse knife in your pack to use in the field.

Tip 4: So Many Choices.
If you are looking for a new knife, for any knife type or price point there will be hundreds of choices. Simplify your decision by determining what type of knife you need (folder or fixed blade), length of blade, and type of point (clip, drop, skinner, etc.). Then start looking. If possible, hold the knife to see how it feels and balances in your hand. Think of problems you’ve had in the past and what could fix it. Don’t worry about the exact type of steel used in the knife; a good company will use good steel and it will meet your needs. Talk to other hunters to see what they think, but remember that this is a personal preference situation and one hunter’s perfect knife may not work for you.

Tip 5: If it Sounds Too Good …
Good knives are not cheap, but with knives you pretty much get what you pay for. Which brings us to counterfeiting. Yes, there are counterfeit knives out there, and they drive the real knife makers crazy. Someone buys a name-brand knife on the web for 70% off, and when it breaks or falls apart they return it for warranty work. Well, the real knife maker refuses to fix it, because they didn’t make it, and the cheapskate is mad at the real knife maker. I always look for sales to save some money, but if your name-brand knife is a too-good-to-believe bargain, comes in a plain white box, has shoddy workmanship, or comes from somewhere you’ve never heard of off the internet – don’t be mad when the legitimate knife maker tells you it is a counterfeit.

Tip 6: Some Free Advice …
My recommendation: When deer hunting, I always have several knives. Typically, a tiny Swiss Army knife in my pocket, a sturdy lockback folder with a 3- to 4-inch clip point blade, a fixed-blade drop point (3- to 6-inch blade) in a sheath on my belt, and a fixed-blade 6-inch skinner in a sheath in my pack. This lineup will change if I’m hunting birds, hiking, on a boat, or camping, but I always have an ancient tool available to help with a modern task.

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