Damascus Steel Hunting Knives Sale For The Outdoors Camping
If you speak to any man who enjoys hunting, they will tell you that their hunting knives are of primary importance. From taking down game to preparing their lunch, hunting knives are one of the oldest tools that have been crafted by humans. What many people don’t know however is that there are a number of different styles and uses of hunting knives, so in today’s article, we are going to be sharing with you all of the information you need with a helpful guide to the key things you need to know.
Hunting Knife History
Although we cannot say for certain the exact time when the first hunting knife was made, we do know that they have been around for hundreds of years, being one of the very first tools invented by cavemen.
Hunting knives have evolved with time. In the Stone Age, humans made the blades from stone or bone, giving them the edge when hunting, but today, hunting knives have evolved to meet very specific needs, with modern day examples optimised for cutting and slicing rather than stabbing. This gives modern knives a range of utility, which we will cover in this article.
Uses and Types of Hunting Knives
Gutting
In the modern day, one of the primary uses of a hunting knife is for something known as “field dressing”. This describes the process of gutting an animal, by removing its internal organs, which helps preserve the meat.
Whatever hunting knife you choose, the chances are high that it will be designed to optimise this task.The process of gutting your catch must be done rapidly to ensure that the meat does not spoil, and therefore a sharp and agile hunting knife really shines in getting this done.
Gutting knives regularly feature stocky blades with a gut hook, and are both sturdy and provide a good grip.
Skinning
If gutting an animal is considered a hunting knife’s primary task, then skinning is closely behind in the number 2 spot. Skinning an animal requires more precision than gutting, and a hunting knife provides just the tool for the job as it can carefully cut through the animal’s skin without tearing muscles or abdominal tissues.
Although skinning can be achieved with any sharp hunting knife, it may help to invest in a specific knife that has been designed for skinning. Routinely a knife with a thin and small blade that is slightly curved will allow a hunter to more easily get under the skin of the animal. This allows you to make more precise cuts that will prevent you from cutting holes in the hides which can decrease the aesthetic quality of any skin removed. It is also useful for skinning knives to have a quality non-slip handle that allows the hunter to maintain control over their cuts.
Deboning
Carrying a heavy kill back to your vehicle or camp can be heavy work. In many cases, a hunter will decide that in order to save weight, the best way forward is to debone the animal, useful for when needing to move the carcass long distances.
Hunting knives are perfect for the animal deboning process, and all you need to ensure that your hunting knife is up to the task is to keep it nice and sharp. A knife with a slender and thin blade will also be useful, as this allows you to manoeuvre the blade easily, proving it an effective tool in removing the meat from the bone. The flexible blades seen on deboning knives are designed for deboning mammals, but can also be utilised as a fillet knife for fish. Using a knife specifically designed for deboning or filleting will prove much easier to accomplish the task.
Butchering
The final task a hunter regularly needs to carry out when preparing his kill is to butcher the animal. The key here is to select a knife that is the right size for the job. Butchering an animal can be a long, hard, and labor-intensive task, and having a good and sharp hunting knife makes the process easier.
The classic camp knife is often used for this task, as they are designed in a way to be a stellar all round hunting knife, and are designed to carry out all the tasks a hunter needs and as such is a highly versatile knife that can be used for dozens of tasks around camp.
Camp knives can be either with a fixed blade or with a foldable blade. Fixed blade hunting knives usually have a larger and heavier blade that may prove more suitable for more serious tasks, while folding pocket knives offer more convenience and are better utilised for delicate and precision work.
Types of blade
Although there are different types of hunting knives, there are 2 styles of blade that are used most commonly. The type of blade style you choose is also a matter of preference, but there are two main types of blade points you’ll find on a hunting knife, called either clip point or drop point.
Clip point blade
The first of the 2 main types of blade seen on hunting knives is known as a clip point blade. These are extremely versatile tools, with blades that are able to be utilised for a variety of different tasks. The main feature of clip point blades is that they are thin and have a well-defined tip, which is distinctive as it looks to have been “clipped” off, which is where the clip point blades take its name. Benefits of using clip point blades is that it allows for quicker and deeper punctures, along with a faster withdrawal time.
Drop Point
The second type of blade most commonly seen in hunting knives is known as a drop point blade. Knives utilising a drop point blade are often said to offer the hunter greater control, as they feature a blade that is thick and curved along the cutting edge. Drop point blades are often preferred by hunters, as the thicker spine of the blade allows for a slower insertion due and provides greater control which is beneficial, when for example, skinning an animal.
Materials
Whatever style of knife or blade you prefer, both are most regularly crafted from carbon steel or stainless steel, with both materials having their own benefits. For example, carbon steel blades are perceived to be easier to sharpen and keep sharp, however, they are also prone to rust. On the other hand, stainless steel blades are more expensive and need a little more effort to maintain their sharpness, but they also have the benefit of not rusting so easily.
In our opinion, carbon steel is the best steel utilised for hunting knives. This is due to the fact that they are extremely strong and durable. This can be mitigated against by opting for a carbon steel blade that has been given a stainless coating, which although more expensive, does help protect your investment in the long term.
When talking about materials, we should also not forget the material used in the handle. A good knife will never be useful without a good handle, and the knife could have the very best blade in the world, but if the handle material is poor, it will be much harder to use the knife.
Wood
Wood is the earliest material used for hunting knives, and is still a popular choice today. They are attractive and will adapt to the shape of your hand over time. Many people also find wood more comfortable and enjoy the way that wood can patina and be carved into unique patterns.
The majority of wood hunting knife handles are from natural deciduous hardwoods, including walnut, birch, oak, rosewood, ebony, and burl. These woods are recognizable for their strength, hardness, and attractive natural appearance and coloring. The downside to wooden handles is that they are porous and readily absorb moisture, and even if using a strong wood type they will still likely be weaker than the materials.
Rubber
Rubber is a useful material due to its strength, flexibility and insulation properties and the fact that rubber is also cheap to manufacture.
The most common type of rubber used on hunting knife handles is neoprene rubber. Neoprene is made from a material called “chloroprene” and has a good ratio of tensile strength to density and hardness. Neoprene rubber is also non-reactive, so it’s resistant to corrosion and degradation. The downside to rubber handles is that they are vulnerable to tearing and cuts which can bring down the life expectancy of the knife.
G10
G-10 is a modern material used in hunting knives. It is a composite material that consists of fiberglass laminate and is manufactured through bathing layers of glass cloth in epoxy resin and compressing until the epoxy hardens. As with Rubber handles, G10 is very cheap to manufacture and has high tensile strength. As such, it is often used as a handle in cheaper hunting knives.
Metal
Stainless steel, Aluminium and Titanium are all popular materials to use because of their durability and resistance to rust and corrosion. Metal handled hunting knives are also resistant to scratching and do not flex much, allowing the handle to remain firmly in your grip.
The main drawback to using metal in knife handles is that it is typically heavy, often giving the knife an unbalanced feel.
Carbon
Another popular material used in the handles of hunting knives is Carbon fiber, which has an extremely high tensile strength and as such, is significantly stronger than most other options. Carbon fiber is also a good insulator, so it does not conduct heat or electricity.
The downsides of a carbon handle are that although strong, it is also relatively brittle and can crack and shatter if subjected to the right kinds of forces.
Whatever style, blade type or material you chose, a good quality hunting knife is key, providing a hunter a versatile tool to use. We hope that you have found this article informative in helping you make the perfect decision about the hunting knife for you.
Damascus Steel
Damascus steel, as well as 1095 high carbon steel knives, are different than some other common steel knives, because of their high carbon content they can be rusted if not care for properly. If you have seen rust accidentally then use WD40 to remove it.