What is the best knife to use for hunting?

[Zachary Varney]

What is the best knife to use for hunting?

[Sourdough Dave]

I prefer a fixed blade over a folder. I find the typical 3 1/2" blade a bit small for cutting an elk's throat to bleed it and a 6" a little too big and clumsy. A 4 1/2" is just about right and I can still lay a finger along the spine to protect the belly cavity while gutting. A clip point skinner blade is the best all around design for my purposes. I prefer carbon steel over stainless for the way it takes and holds an edge. For asthetics damascus steel is nice. I think I just described the custom knife I'm building. I'll post a pic when its done.

[FlHuntress]

A Sharp One LOL, When you say hunting do you mean, Jumping on its back and cutting killing it or are you talking about one to prepare your animal for packing it out? I have used a Puma for most of my life, and it has never let me down.

[FlHuntress]

I ment cutting or killing it, sorry

[deerhunterrick]

I'm a little different , I like L-6,A-1 or BG34 for a blade. 4.5" or 5" seems to be good length though. But depending on what I want to use it for in the field too. I am pretty partial to the Drop point so I can push instead of pull when cutting. Any high carbon stainless works,just harder to sharpen if you let them dull.

[DSMbirddog]

I like a drop point knife with a 3.5 to 4.5 inch blade. I also like carbon steel. I did recently buy a Cold Steel Pendleton Lite Hunter with a stainless blade. It seems like it will be a good knife.

[870 wingmaster 101]

A sharp one!

[007]

I like a heavy fixed blade (Buck Vanguard) that will split a deer pelvis or bear joints.

[.300winmag]

I have a nice fixed blade (about 5.5inch) Schrade RMEF edition that holds its edge and splits a deers ribcage like butter for easy gutting.

[WVOtter]

I've downsized over the years, from "larger" fixed blades to a Case XX folding hunter pattern. My dad also just gave me a Buck folder (not sure of pattern) that has only has about a 3" blade w/ gut hook and small saw blade on opposite side. That worked very well on my doe this year. Of course, I still like to carry a fixed blade in the "always be prepared" philosophy, I just rarely use it.

[Treestand]

Down here the boys like walking around with belt knivs
most are K-Bars some Bucks,its a southern thing!
my every day knife is a Case-XX folder single blade!

[Hobob]

I like the Buck#(119?) sheath knife or a kershaw folding knife. The pendelton lite hunter I bought as per this websites advice is perfect too for most everything

[rocky d bashaw]

that varies for each person,i like fixed blade knives with carbon steal blades.use what works best for you,try diff knives.

[DakotaMan]

I prefer a fixed blade for field dressing because it has a sharp point and enough strength/leverage to cut through breast bone and pelvis if necessary. I use a Buck for that. I prefer an easy to manipulate knife that stays razor SHARP for skinning and trimming. I use an Old Timer 4 1/2" folding blade for that. It is easy to pack and I just haven't found anything that holds an edge that long. I could probably skin a dozen deer before needing to hone it although I usually run it over a steel every 10 minutes of so. They are hard to find anymore since they are no longer manufactured.

[Sourdough Dave]

Well I've finished the knife described above and as promised the pic is posted on my profile