Knives
Short version: for deer season, start with a skinning knife or a replaceable blade knife and a sharpener for the pack. For everyday carry, pick an opening style first: manual folder, spring assisted, automatic or OTF. We stock over a thousand knives from Case, Ka-Bar, Old Timer, Outdoor Edge, Cold Steel, CRKT, CIVIVI, Hogue, SOG and more, sorted by type below.
Shop knives by type
skinning and caping knives · replaceable blade knives · OTF knives · automatic knives · spring assisted knives · neck and boot knives · machetes · throwing knives and axes · knife sharpeners
Hunting knives for field dressing and skinning
The knife that matters most in November is the one that opens a deer cleanly and skins it without nicking the meat. Look for a short blade with a curved belly, around three inches, on a handle that stays put when it is wet. Fixed blades clean up easier after the work. Folders ride lighter on a long sit.
Our skinning and caping knives include the Old Timer Sharpfinger, Outdoor Edge Wild Skin, Ruko and Browning skinners, and dedicated caping knives for mount work. If you would rather not sharpen mid-deer, our replaceable blade knives let you swap in a fresh edge. Outdoor Edge's Razor line is the deepest selection there.
Everyday carry: choose how it opens
Most of the folding knives on this page sort by one question: how does the blade come out?
A manual folder opens with a thumb stud, a flipper or a nail nick, and covers everything from a Case trapper to a CIVIVI flipper. Spring assisted knives need you to start the blade, then a spring finishes the job. Automatic knives swing open from the side at the press of a button. OTF knives fire the blade straight out the front of the handle. Cobratec and Templar make up most of that page.
Knife laws vary by state and city, especially for automatics and OTFs. Check yours before you buy or carry.
Traditional pocket knives
Slipjoint pocket knives with multiple blades and bone, stag or synthetic handles are still the most carried knives in rural America. We stock Case in a long list of handle materials, plus Old Timer, Uncle Henry and American Buffalo Knife and Tool's Roper series.
Fixed blades, tactical and backup knives
For a full-size fixed blade, the Ka-Bar USMC fighting and utility knife has been the reference point for generations, and Ka-Bar's Becker line covers heavier camp and utility work. Cold Steel and SOG round out the bigger blades. For a small knife that is always on you, see our neck and boot knives.
Clearing brush and backyard practice
Shooting lanes and blind work call for a machete. We carry Cold Steel, SOG, Hooyman and Camillus in 13 to 18 inch blades and up. For target practice, our throwing knives and axes come in matched sets from Cold Steel, Rite Edge and Ruko, plus the Smith & Wesson Bullseye throwing axe.
Keep it sharp
A dull knife slips, and a slipping knife is the one that cuts you. Carry a pull-through in the pack and keep a stone set at home. Our knife sharpeners are mostly AccuSharp, from pocket pull-throughs to Arkansas whetstones and multi-stone kits.
Hunting knife FAQs
What is the best knife for field dressing a deer?
A fixed blade or locking folder with a curved, three-inch-range blade. A gut hook helps open the belly cleanly. Browse our skinning knives.
Fixed blade or folding knife for hunting?
A fixed blade is stronger and easier to clean after a deer. A folder is lighter and pockets easily. Many hunters carry a folder for the sit and keep a fixed blade in the pack for the work.
What is the difference between OTF, automatic and spring assisted knives?
An OTF slides out the front of the handle. An automatic swings out from the side on a button. A spring assisted knife needs you to start the blade before the spring takes over. Each has its own page linked above.
Are automatic and OTF knives legal?
That depends on your state and city, and the rules for owning and carrying often differ. Check your state statute and local ordinance before you buy or carry.