Best Hunting Knives of 2025, Tested

Perhaps the most important task for hunting knives is processing game in the field and on the meat pole. For that a hunter needs a knife that slices and holds an edge. However, it also has to hold up to daily tasks and camp chores. The Outdoor Life team selected several of the best hunting knives with those qualities. Here are our top picks.

How We Chose the Best Hunting Knives

The Outdoor Life editors and staff writers are spread throughout the country from North Carolina to Alaska. We hunt whitetails, ducks, turkeys, sheep, bear, elk, and moose every year. Here are the contributors who provided picks for the top hunting knives.

Scott Einsmann, Gear Editor

I’m a hobbyist knife maker and compulsive knife buyer. Over the last ten years, I’ve used an assortment of blades to field dress and butcher deer, elk, and small game. I’ve used that experience and my time with each of my selections to write the following reviews.

Alice Jones Webb, Staff Writer

I’m an avid hunter with a sincere appreciation for affordable knives, which I’ve used  to field dress and butcher whitetails, wild turkeys, waterfowl, and an assortment of small game animals. I’m also a woman with narrow palms and limited grip strength, which influences how well a knife works in my hands. With a hunting background that spans almost four decades, I’ve developed strong opinions about blades. That personal experience shaped my recommendations.

Best Hunting Knives: Reviews & Recommendations

Key Features

• Blade Length: 3.5 inches
• Blade Steel: Japanese 420J2 Stainless
• Nylon pouch
• Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Price: $40

A few years ago I found myself on the side of a mountain with five others trying to break down two elk on the side of the mountain as quickly as possible due to grizzly bears just a ridge over. Everyone had different replaceable blade knives, but about halfway through the first elk it was obvious, which of the knives was the best — the Razorlite. Its blades were the easiest to replace and the mounting system was trouble free. Other knives got gummed up and the blades came off, but the RazorLite chugged through deboning the two elk.

While the RazorLite isn’t the lightest replaceable blade knife — 5.9 ounces heavier than a Tyto. It’s the most trouble-free design I’ve used. I don’t have blades pop off or break and can make it through an animal on one blade. When it’s time to swap a blade you just press the button, slide the blade out, and slide a new blade in. The rubberized handle stays grippy when your hands are covered in blood. The 3.5-inch blade is a good length for balancing maneuverability and cutting efficiency. If weight isn’t a major concern and you want a replaceable blade knife, I’d recommend the Razorlite. — Scott Einsmann

Best for Skinning: ESEE Sencillo

Key Features

• Blade Steel: MagnaCut or A2 
• Handle Materials: Brown Burlap Micarta
• Overall Length: 7.25 inches
• Blade Length: 3 inches
• Blade Thickness: 0.12 inch 
• Grind: Flat
• Kydex sheath with belt loop 
• Unconditional lifetime warranty
• Made in USA
• Price: $150 (A2) or $175 (MagnaCut)

The ESSEE Sencillo costs well under $200, is made in the USA, uses a great steel, and its handle is comfortable no matter how you grip it. Its tall, fully-flat-ground blade is a slicing machine that effortless moves through meat, rope, and cardboard. The ergonomics are very secure when you’re using it for hard cutting tasks or your hands are slicked up with water or blood. I especially like that there’s a secure finger stop for making blind cuts deep inside a chest cavity. In addition to being one of the best hunting knives, the Sencillo is a great camp knife and works well for food prep.

For field dressing and deboning I typically like knives with a thinner profile, but for skinning, a wide knife with a lot of belly, like the Sencillo, is perfect. This knife does more than skin though, the Sencillo pierces quite well for such a wide blade and works well for breaking down a deer from start to finish. This knife comes in an A2 or MagnaCut blade, and I think the MagnaCut is worth the extra $25. You’ll get excellent corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention with MagnaCut.

The main downside is that the sheath is just OK and it works fine for belt carry, but I wish it was more refined. I’d recommend getting an Armatus sheath if you want to carry it horizontally on your belt or Roac sheath for pocket carry.  — Scott Einsmann

Key Features

• Steel: CPM-154 at 58-61 HRC
• Blade Length: 2.7 inches
• Blade Thickness: 3/32 inches
• Weight: 2.1 ounces
• G10 Handles 
• 14-degree bevel
• Kydex sheath
• Price: $180

I’ve put this little knife to work got on whitetails and birds over the last few seasons. It’s one of my favorite hunting knife designs and while it excels at quickly dressing birds, it works equally well as a field dressing knife.

According to Knife Steel Nerds, CPM 154 is tougher than S30V and known for its good edge retention. That toughness makes it a great steel choice for a thin knife. In one weekend I used it to field dress and butcher the entire deer without touching up the blade. Then two days later, I used it to butcher pheasants and quail. After my weekend of butchering, the knife could still push cut thin paper. 

The blade has a slight drop and plenty of belly for skinning. While field dressing, the fine point and slight drop were perfect for making the initial cut up the deer’s body. It’s also great for making skinning cuts where the knife edge is facing out as you slide the knife under the skin. The length makes it easy to control and when you’re reaching into a chest cavity, it’s easy to know where your knife is. For such a small blade it has a lot of belly, which is great for skinning and deboning. 

I rarely hold a skinning knife like a hammer or as I would a survival knife when making a feather stick. I use a pinch grip with my index finger on the knife’s spine. The Flyway’s sculpted G10 grip and spine jimping work well for that method. Especially the jimping that’s three quarters of the way down the blade. It serves not only to prevent slipping, but as an index point so you know where your finger is in relation to the point, even in the dark. — Scott Einsmann

Best Handmade: Montana Knife Company Blackfoot 2.0

Key Features

• Weight: 3.6 ounces
• G10 Handle
• 52100 Steel
• Blade Length: 3.5 inches
• Overall Length: 7.75 inches
• Free sharpening 
• Made in Montana 
• Price: $300

The ergonomics on the Blackfoot 2.0 are ideal, and it comfortably puts your hand into a natural position without forcing you into a specific grip. That means whether you’re whittling by the fire or making that delicate initial cut while field dressing, you’ll have a comfortable and controllable grip. Adding to the good grip are the sculpted G10 scales, which are a step above the standard flat scales on mass produced knives. 

From the factory, the Blackfoot is very sharp and I’ve only needed to occasionally strop mine to keep it that way. It’s worth noting that Montana Knife Company offers lifetime sharpening. The full flat grind slices through meat like butter, and I think the blade shape is perfect for taking an animal from the field to a vacuum sealed bag. 

The Blackfoot 2.0 used to only be available in 52100 steel, but it’s now available in MagnaCut. That’s a huge upgrade in knife steel and good on MKC for not pumping up the price when they made the switch.

A $300 knife isn’t a small purchase, but consider that if you care for this blade, your grandchildren will use it to field dress their first deer. That heirloom quality shifts the value proposition for me. If you want a handmade knife and are capable of maintaining your tools, then the Montana Knife Company Blackfoot 2.0 is an excellent option. 

Best Fixed Blade: White River Small Game Hunter

Key Features

• Blade Steel: S35VN (58-60 HRC) or MagnaCut (62-64 HRC)
• Handle Materials: Micarta 
• Overall Length: 7.25 inches
• Blade Length: 2.62 inches
• Blade Thickness: .130 inch
• Grind: Flat
• Kydex Sheath
• Made in USA
• Price: $160 (S35VN) or $180 (MagnaCut)

This is a mullet knife: party in the back and business up front. The big handle allows a full grip and its coke-bottle shape makes for comfortable ergonomics. Its sculpted grip conforms to your hand with a hammer grip, thumb on the spine, or index finger on the spine. I like the ledge at the front of the handle, which is the perfect spot to place your thumb when using an index-finger-on-the-spine grip.

While this knife is called the Small Game Hunter, it by no means is limited to squirrels and rabbits. The 2.6-inch blade is all I need for field dressing and quartering a deer. This year, I lent it to a professional deer butcher who cuts up hundreds of animals per year and he was impressed with this knife’s cutting ability and ergonomics. If you like the overall design, but want a larger blade I recommend looking at the 3.5-inch White River Hunter. — Scott Einsmann

Best Ultralight Replaceable: Tyto 1.1

Key Features 

• Weight: 1.5 ounces (handle, one blade, and sheath)
• Overall Length: 7.5 inches
• Width: 1 inch
• Thickness: 0.120 inch
• Uses size 60 replacement blades
• Made in the USA
• Price: $104 

A Tyto and spare blades ride in my bino harness and only come out when it’s time to put them to work. When the knife isn’t in use, I don’t even notice it, and that’s where the Tyto shines. It’s a minimalist knife that’s exceptionally light and slim. 

The blades pop into place easily, and one blade will stay sharp throughout the field dressing. But you’ll eventually need to replace your blade if you’re deboning and skinning. That’s best done with a pair of pliers, the Havalon Blade Remover, or by sticking the blade into a piece of wood. 

The sharp jimping on the spine provides a non-slip grip and an index point. While I’ve never felt the need to wrap mine in paracord or add scales, you have that option for even more grip traction. — Scott Einsmann

Most Versatile: White River M1 Caper

Key Features 

• Blade Length: 3 inches
• Overall Length: 7 inches
• Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Includes a Kydex sheath 
• Blade Material: S35VN
• Micarta or G10 handles 
• Made in USA
• Price: $175

If you want a knife that can double as a daily carry and backcountry companion the Whiter River Knives M1 is one of my top recommendations.

The handle is Croc comfortable and hiking boot secure. It strikes the right balance of being small enough for easy carry, while still allowing a full grip. During testing, the deep choil gave me a lot of control over cuts and while I appreciated the sharp jimping, it was painfully sharp while cutting with a lot of force into wood. However, that sharp jimping is also what you want for a secure grip with bloody hands. It’s among the best slicers I’ve tested, so it’ll cut cardboard or quarter an elk with ease.

It comes with a Kydex sheath of good quality, but I would upgrade to an Armatus sheath for daily carry.  — Scott Einsmann

Read my test of the best EDC fixed blades for more options.

Best Butchering Knife: Benchmade Meatcrafter

Key Features

• Blade Length: 6.08 inches
• Blade Thickness: 0.09 inches
• Overall Length: 11.06 inches
• Weight: 3.24 ounces
• MSRP: $160

The real work begins after the shot. And part of that hard, albeit rewarding work, is the final cutting required to put the meat on the table. This isn’t a rugged backcountry survival type fixed blade. It’s not supposed to be. Ultimately, this is a boning knife that has the right qualities to debone, trim, and break down primal cuts. The 6-inch trailing point blade is relatively thin and somewhat flexible, which is why it lends itself so well to most meat processing tasks.

Processing can be messy business. Fortunately, the handle is made from over-molded Santoprene, a rubber-like material which helps maintain a great grip even with wet or bloody hands. Even though this may not be something you strap to your hip or pack, the Meatcrafter still comes with a molded Boltaron sheath worthy of a rugged field trip. This will be a great knife to have in camp, the kitchen, the shop or wherever you butcher your game. — Matt Foster

Read Next: The Best Camping Knives

Best Budget Butchering Knife: Dexter Boning and 7-inch Fillet Knife

Key Features

• Blade Length: 7-inches
• Made in USA
• Price: $13
• Plastic grip

I love expensive knives, but my butchering knives are all inexpensive because they work and I don’t have to be precious with them. The Dexter knives are a staple for professional butchers and I’ve adopted them as my preferred boning and fillet knives. They come sharp out of the package and are easy to touch up on a honing rod.

Once I have a deer skinned and deboned, I use the boning knife to get meat off a deer and then the fillet knife to trim up silver skin and cut portions. The boning knife has just the right amount of flex to get close to bones, but not too much flex that you lose control. For $13 you get a USA-made knife that’s practically perfect for the job it was designed for. — Scott Einsmann, gear editor

Read Next: Best Knife Sharpeners

Gear Editor’s Pick: TRC Classic Freedom 

Key Features

• Blade Steel: M390
• Handle Materials: Micarta 
• Overall Length: 8.08 inches
• Blade Length: 3.63 inches
• Blade Thickness: .107 inch
• Grind: Flat
• Price: $280
• Made in Lithuania 

I bought a stupid number of knives last year and by far my favorite new fixed blade for hunting was the TRC Classic Freedom. The only problem is these awesome knives are so hard to come by, but if you can find one, I recommend picking it up. The blade is the right blade shape and grind for processing any game animal from start to finish. The grind on this knife is thin, but it’s still very durable. I’ve used the knife to sever squirrel bones by placing the knife on the bone and whacking the spine. The edge took no damage. It’s also fully capable for camp tasks like processing tinder, making feather sticks, striking a ferro rod, food prep, cutting cordage, and whittling tent stakes.

The grip has a ledge near the ricasso where your thumb can get leverage while using a finger-on-spine grip — my most common grip while breaking down a deer. The handle area is skeletonized to reduce weight and it puts the balance point where your ring finger sits. The spine is rounded and very comfortable when putting hard pressure on it. 

The blade came insanely sharp and it’s one of the best cutters I’ve tested. The sheath has perfect retention and comes configured for horizontal belt carry. You could remove the belt strap and add a pocket clip if you’d like.

Another reason the Classic Freedom is one of my favorite hunting knives is its incredible build quality. The spine and all hand contact points are polished and rounded. — Scott Einsmann

Kershaw Cryo

Key Features

• Blade length: 2.75 inches
• Overall length: 6.5 inches
• Weight: 4 ounces
• Blade material: 8Cr13MoV steel
• Handle material: steel with titanium carbo-nitride coating
• Price: $40

It’s difficult for me to justify dropping a couple of Benjamins on a slab of steel that I am highly likely to leave somewhere in the woods. Thankfully, there are some decent-quality knives with enough quality to hold an edge and endure some abuse, but are affordable enough to prevent tears if I accidentally drop it from a treestand or leave it in a gut pile.

My son gave me the Kershaw Cryo for Christmas in 2021 after watching me fumble with a much larger folder when I was trying to field-dress a deer. Since then, I’ve used this one to breast ducks, clean turkeys, and dressed plenty of other critters. It has earned a permanent place in my hunting pack.

I was initially skeptical about how well this hunting knife would work. It is definitely a petite knife, with only a 2 ¾-inch blade and a relatively pint-sized handle. While the blade doesn’t offer a lot of cutting surface, it is easier for me to control than a big blade, and the handle fits nicely in the palm of my hand. 

The blade and handle are both made from 8Cr13MoV steel with a titanium carbo-nitride coating that helps prevent corrosion from blood, moisture, and other gunk. It also gives the knife a sleek, modern look that is easy on the eyes. I also appreciate the knife’s rock-solid lock engagement. Doing dirty work with a folding knife can sometimes feel like gambling in Vegas, but the framelock design on this one is satisfyingly solid with zero blade play in either direction. — Alice Jones Webb

How to Choose a Hunting Knife

Steel

We could nerd out on metallurgy, but that’s a topic for another day. Instead, let’s focus on the two main types of steel: carbon and stainless. A carbon steel blade is easier to heat treat, it sharpens quickly, it’s less brittle, and it will rust if kept wet. Stainless steel takes more work to sharpen, won’t rust as easily, holds an edge longer, and is typically harder and, therefore, more brittle. 

Size

A 2- to 4-inch knife is ideal for hunting because it’s long enough to efficiently cut while being controllable. The benefits of a longer blade are that it’s more surface area to use, and your blade won’t get dull as quickly as a result. The downsides of a longer blade are that it’ll be heavier and harder to make precise cuts with. 

Blade Shape

Clip and drop points are my favorite style for hunting knives because the tip runs in line with the center of the blade, which makes it easy to know where it is. They also have enough belly for slicing cuts. I’d avoid anything with a trailing point because they can easily poke holes in organs while making your entry cut. 

Replaceable or Fixed Blade

I used to exclusively use replaceable blade knives and I still use them on occasion. But, I find myself leaning toward a sturdy fixed blade. The reliability of a fixed blade is bonus, and they’re much easier to clean after a long night of butchering. Fat and bits of meat end up in every crevice of a replaceable blade, even the Tyto, and it makes them a pain to clean out. The positives of a replaceable blade knife are that you can go from a dull to a razor edge in seconds. That’s especially beneficial when you need to work quickly due to warm temperatures. 

FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Hunting Knives

A hunting knife can be much more than a tool, it can be an heirloom that passes through the generations. Choose your next knife with longevity and practicality in mind and the next user will thank you for it.