The Blade

The blade is responsible for cutting, skinning, stabbing and slicing. There are a myriad of different styles and sizes of blades and hunting knife blades are composed of a number of different types of alloys and steels as well. These alloys are created by adding elements to steel in order to produce different characteristics. By adding materials like chromium, carbon, silicone, molybdenum and manganese to steel, hardness, flexibility and other characteristics can be created.

The Knife Guard

The knife guard is designed to prevent the hand from sliding onto the blade during its use. The guard is most commonly made out of metal, or sometimes it is part of a molded handle. The knife guard is only deigned to prevent injury from contact with the blade.

The Handle

The handle is used to hold the hunting knife in the desired position. Hunting knife handles are especially important because you are going to need to have a firm grip on the knife in order for its use to be safe as well as accurate. The composition of the knife handle will address a number of different needs including visual appeal, shape, utilitarian use as well as durability. There are a number of different materials that knife handles can be comprised of, including bone, stag, wood, fiberglass, micarta, zytel, carbon fiber, titanium, leather, aluminum and many others.

The Shank

The shank is the extension of the blade. The shank is usually composed of the same material as the blade itself. In more modern hunting knives, the blade and the shank are both stamped, hammered or laser cut from the same piece of steel, giving both pieces more strength together. The handle and the knife guard are connected by rivets to the shank. This allows for the guard, the handle and the blade to become a single solitary unit that is much stronger, much more durable and also much safer for use in hunting situations.

The Pummel

Also known as the butt, the pummel is attached to the end of the handle and is most commonly comprised of metal. The primary use for the pummel is to prevent the handle edge of the knife from being damaged. Sometimes you will find a storage compartment in the pummel of the knife, and other hunting knives have a compass built it.

Once you understand what goes into the composition of a hunting knife, you can better choose the right hunting knife for your needs. Knowing what features are responsible for what purposes will help you better make the most out of the safety features and functional characteristics of your hunting equipment.

Photo Credits: cooling

Originally posted 2009-06-14 11:49:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Having the right knives with you can also help you in an emergency. If you get stranded in bad weather or need to make shelter, having a quality knife can make it easier for you to do that. Anyone who hunts realizes the importance having a sturdy and sharp knife. You don’t want to be the type of hunter who always has a dull blade and is frustrated when it comes time to use a knife. Just like someone who has flashlights in their car, truck and garage but finds them perpetually with dead batteries, you can ruin your hunts and end up frustrated if every time you need a knife you’re struggling with a dull blade.

Understanding the different types of knife blades can help you in choosing the right one for the right job. There are three general types of hunting knife blades: clip point, drop point and skinning blades.

A clip point blade is a fairl thin blade that’s flat with a sharp point. This type of blade can be used for skinning some game but it can also be used for cutting through thick things like small branches in row. Many hunters will carry at least one knife with a clip point blade when they venture out. The most popular type of hunting blade people carry is called the drop point blade. This is a curved blade that’s thick and sturdy. It’s a very sharp edge that ends in a sharp point.

Then there are skinning knives that have a special type of blades. These are best used just for skinning while clip point and drop point blades can be used for a variety of purposes. The skinning knives are specially designed to remove the skin and hide without damaging the meat. If you find yourself field dressing an animal and losing a lot of the meat along with the skin, either your knife is not sharp enough or you don’t have the proper type of skinning blade. Invest in a knife just for skinning and don’t use it for anything else to keep it sharp and ready.

While clip point and drop point blades can also be used for skinning, someone new to hunting and field dressing animals will do a much better job with a dedicated skinning knife because of the sharper and thinner blade. Don’t be lured by a pretty handle or a shaped handle. Those are just for appearance’s sake. What you’ll be concerned with is the type of hunting knife blade that you’re after. Choose one that’s right for you to avoid frustration at the end of each hunt.

Photo Credits: DrBacchus

Originally posted 2010-03-30 03:22:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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First and foremost, what is the purpose for the knife that you are intending to buy? Are you hunting to feed your family, or to put a trophy on your wall?

Knife Styles – You have two main styles to choose from, folding knives and fixed blade knives for the purpose of hunting. Folding knives are generally strong enough for camping, hunting and fishing needs and they come in two different styles, lockback and pocket. Because pocket knives are capable of closing while you are working, lockback knives are the preferred style if you decide that you want to work with a folding knife. Lockback knives have a release mechanism, keeping the knife in the open position. They are reliable and strong enough to help you with cleaning fish and dressing game. Fixed blade knives do not open and close, they simply have a single straight rigid blade. They are easier to clean and also more rugged than folding knives, and they are also generally significantly easier for you to access them. What you do need to consider, however, is that fixed blade knives are capable of being heavier, bulkier and also more potentially dangerous if you do not handle them correctly.

Blade Styles – There are significantly more choices for you to think about when it comes to the style of blade that you need for your hunting knife. Some of the choices that you have to consider include drop point blade style, clip point blade style, skinning blade style and gut hook blade style. The drop point blade style is the most popular when it comes to types of hunting knives. The blade is curved and drops to a point which gives the tip added strength. Rather than simply using the point for the purpose of cutting, you can leverage the knife’s entire edge. Clip point blades are thinner and flatter, offering more control for cutting and slicing. Skinning blades have round and blunt shapes which are most suitable when it comes to gutting and skinning your game. The gut hook blade offers greater control when cutting into the animal’s abdomen so that you do not cut into the bladder, intestines, stomach or other organs. Another blade worth considering is the fillet blade, which is long, thin and flexible, making it ideal for fish.

Photo Credits: andrewb823

Originally posted 2009-06-18 16:18:22. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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