Best Survival Hunting Knives 2024

The wilderness can be a place of breathtaking beauty and exhilarating adventure. But it also demands respect and preparedness. A reliable survival hunting knife is an essential tool for anyone venturing off the beaten path. It can be the difference between a minor inconvenience and a serious situation.

Survival knives prioritize durability and versatility, allowing you to tackle tasks like building shelters, batoning wood, and potentially defending yourself. Hunting knives, on the other hand, excel at cleaning and dressing game, with features like pointed tips and belly profiles for precise cuts.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Survival Hunting Knife:

Before diving into specific knives, let's explore some key factors to consider when making your choice:

• Blade Type: The shape of the blade significantly impacts its functionality. Popular choices include:
  • Drop Point: This versatile blade offers a good balance between a pointed tip for piercing and a curved belly for slicing. Ideal for all-around survival and hunting tasks.
  • Clip Point: Similar to a drop point but with a slightly upward-sloping spine near the tip. Offers good piercing ability and improved control for finer cutting tasks.
  • Tanto: Features a strong, pointed tip ideal for piercing and self-defense. May not be the best for intricate slicing tasks like skinning game.
• Blade Steel: The type of steel used in the blade determines its edge retention, durability, and corrosion resistance. Here's a quick breakdown:
  • High Carbon Steel: Holds an excellent edge but requires more maintenance to prevent rust.
  • Stainless Steel: Offers good durability and corrosion resistance, with lower maintenance needs. May not hold an edge quite as well as high carbon steel.
• Handle Material: The handle should provide a secure and comfortable grip in various conditions, including wet or bloody hands. Common materials include:
  • Micarta: A composite material known for its excellent grip and durability.
  • G10: A fiberglass laminate offering good grip, strength, and weather resistance.
  • Leather: Provides a classic feel and good grip when dry, but may lose traction when wet.
• Full Tang vs. Partial Tang: A full tang knife has the blade steel extending the full length of the handle, creating a stronger and more durable construction. This is a crucial feature for heavy-duty survival tasks.

Truth North Survival Knife - Compartment Handle, Survival Kit

This affordable option features a versatile drop point blade and a built-in sharpening stone. The handle compartment stores a basic survival kit, making it a practical choice for beginner backpackers or campers.

Key Features:

• Blade Style: Drop Point - This versatile blade shape offers a good balance between piercing and slicing capabilities, making it suitable for various survival and hunting tasks.
• Blade Construction: Stainless Steel - This provides a balance of sharpness and corrosion resistance, requiring less maintenance than high carbon steel.
• Handle Construction: Zinc - Zinc is a lightweight and affordable material. However, it may not be as durable or grippy as some other options like micarta or G10.
• Includes:
  • Sharpening Stone: A built-in sharpening stone allows you to maintain the knife's edge in the field.
  • Survival Kit: The handle compartment stores a basic survival kit
  • Black Nylon Sheath: The sheath provides secure and convenient carrying for your knife.

Pros & Cons:

• Pros:
  • Versatile drop point blade.
  • Includes a sharpening stone and basic survival kit, offering additional functionality.
  • Affordable option for beginners.
• Cons:
  • Zinc handle might not be as grippy or durable as some other materials.

Heavily Wooded Tanto Survival Hunting Knife with Compass

This knife prioritizes a strong point with its tanto blade, ideal for piercing tasks and self-defense. The integrated compass in the handle adds valuable navigational functionality, making it a good choice for survival scenarios.

Key Features:

• Blade Style: Tanto: This blade features a strong, pointed tip ideal for piercing tasks and self-defense. It may not be the most versatile for slicing activities like cleaning game.
• Blade Construction: 440 Stainless Steel: A common choice offering a good balance of sharpness, durability, and corrosion resistance. It requires less maintenance than high carbon steel.
• Handle Construction: ABS: ABS plastic is a lightweight and affordable handle material. However, it might not be the grippiest option when wet or bloody compared to materials like micarta or G10.
• Includes:
  • Forest Green Nylon Sheath: Provides secure and convenient carrying for your knife.
  • Compass in Handle: An integrated compass can be a valuable tool for navigation in the wilderness.

Pros & Cons:

Pros:

• Tanto blade excels at piercing and offers a strong tip for self-defense situations.
• 440 stainless steel offers a good balance of sharpness, durability, and corrosion resistance.
• Built-in compass adds valuable navigational functionality.
• Affordable option.

Cons:

• A different blade style might be a better option if you require a blade for more intricate slicing tasks, like skinning a game.

Bond Unbroken Hunting Knives - Full Tang, Stainless Steel, Wood Handle

This set offers two knives with complementary blade styles: a drop point for him and a clip point for her. Both feature stainless steel blades and comfortable wood handles, making them a great option for couples who hunt together.

Key Features:

• Blade Style: This set offers two knives, each with a distinct blade style:
  • His: Drop Point - This 7.5-inch blade offers a good balance between a pointed tip for piercing and a curved belly for slicing, making it suitable for various hunting tasks.
  • Hers: Clip Point - This 7.25-inch blade offers good piercing ability and improved control for finer cutting tasks like skinning and dressing game.
• Blade Construction: Stainless Steel - This provides a balance of sharpness and corrosion resistance, requiring less maintenance than high carbon steel.
• Handle Construction: Wood - Wood handles offer a classic aesthetic and can be comfortable to hold. However, the specific type of wood will impact its durability and weather resistance. Look for hardwoods like oak or walnut for better longevity.
• Includes: Heavy Duty Nylon Sheath - The included sheath provides secure and convenient carrying for both knives.

Pros & Cons:

• Pros:
  • Offers two knives with complementary blade styles, catering to both hunters' needs: drop point for all-around tasks (His) and clip point for finer cutting (Hers).
  • Stainless steel blades offer a good balance of sharpness, durability, and corrosion resistance.
  • Wood handles provide a classic look and comfortable grip (depending on the specific wood type).
  • Ideal for couples who hunt together.
• Cons:
  • Wood handles might require more maintenance

Rain In The Mountains Knife for Outdoor Hunting - Micarta, Hardwood Handle

This larger knife boasts a comfortable micarta handle for excellent grip and a stainless steel blade for a good balance of sharpness and ease of maintenance. The spiral grooves on the blade add a decorative touch and potentially aid with blood removal while cutting.

Key Features:

• Overall Length: 14.85 Inches: This knife falls on the larger side, offering good reach for chopping and control during use.
• Blade Construction: Stainless Steel: A common choice offering a good balance of sharpness, durability, and corrosion resistance. It requires less maintenance than high carbon steel.
• Handle Construction: Micarta Composite and Hardwood:
  • Micarta: This composite material is known for its excellent grip, strength, and weather resistance, making it a great choice for outdoor use.
  • Hardwood: The specific type of hardwood used can impact the handle's aesthetics, weight, and durability. Look for information about the wood type (e.g., oak, walnut) to get a better understanding of its properties.
• Spiral Grooves in Blade at Base of Spine: These grooves can add a decorative touch and potentially aid with blood removal while cutting.
• Includes: Genuine Leather Sheath: A high-quality leather sheath provides secure and convenient carrying for your knife.

Pros & Cons:

• Pros:
  • Larger size offers good reach and control for various tasks.
  • Stainless steel blade provides a good balance of sharpness, durability, and corrosion resistance.
  • Micarta handle offers excellent grip, strength, and weather resistance.
  • Genuine leather sheath provides a classic look and secure carrying.
  • Spiral grooves add a decorative touch and potentially aid with blood removal.
• Cons:
  • Larger size might be less comfortable for all users, especially those who prefer a more compact knife.

Last Phase - Tanto Blade, 440c Steel and Aluminium Handle

This knife features a fusion tanto blade, offering a strong point for piercing and some slicing ability. The full tang construction ensures durability, while the lightweight aluminum handle keeps the weight down. This option might be ideal for those prioritizing a strong point for self-defense scenarios.

Key Features:

• Blade Style: Fusion Tanto: This blade combines elements of the classic tanto with a slightly curved belly. It offers a strong point for piercing and some ability for slicing tasks compared to a traditional tanto.
• Blade Construction: 440c Stainless Steel: A common choice offering a good balance of sharpness, durability, and corrosion resistance. It requires less maintenance than high carbon steel but may not hold an edge quite as well.
• Handle Construction: Aluminum, ABS:
  • Aluminum: This material keeps the knife lightweight but may not be the grippiest option, especially when wet or bloody.
  • ABS: ABS plastic is another lightweight and affordable material
  • Full Tang: The blade steel extends the full length of the handle, creating a strong and durable construction suitable for heavy-duty use.
  • Corrosion Resistant: 440c stainless steel offers good resistance to rust.
  • Includes: Brown Genuine Leather Sheath: A high-quality leather sheath provides secure and convenient carrying for your knife.

Pros & Cons:

• Pros:
  • Fusion tanto blade offers a strong point for piercing and some slicing ability.
  • Full tang construction provides excellent durability.
  • 440c stainless steel offers a good balance of sharpness, durability, and corrosion resistance.
  • Lightweight due to the aluminum handle construction.
  • Includes a classic brown genuine leather sheath.
• Cons:

Fusion tanto blade design might not be as versatile for slicing tasks as a drop point or clip point blade.

Ready to charge into the wild? With Swordsswords Hunt For Life hunting knives, you are ready to tackle any obstacle in the wild! 

Find these knives and best outdoor gear only at swordsswords.com!