Welcome to Masculine Pursuits, where we test and publish the very latest, honest reviews & guides for the products & pursuits that matter to men in 2021.
You will find a variety of articles on hunting strategies, tools, equipment, food recipes, fishing tips and much more!
Today, we’re reviewing the best field dressing knife for those times in the field when you need to skin, gut or hunt!
Our Top Rated Product: The Outdoor Edge Razorlite!
Our review articles are pretty in depth so if you’re in a hurry and just want to know the field knife that we believe is best in class then look no further than the Outdoor Edge Knife – This beast scored 9.3/10 in our MP Score.
Now we’ve got our favourite out of the way let’s jump into an explanation on how we write our reviews now…
So, What Is The Best Field Dressing Knife?
| # | Brand | MP Score | Blade Material | Handle Material | Price | |
| 1 | 9/10 | Stainless steel | Rubber | Check Price | ||
| 2 | 8.8/10 | Stainless steel | Rubber | Check Price | ||
| 3 | 9.3/10 | Stainless steel | Nylon/Fiberglass | Check Price | ||
| 4 | 9.2/10 | Stainless steel | Rubber | Check Price | ||
| 5 | 9.1/10 | 8Cr13MoV Steel | Stainless steel | Check Price | ||
| 6 | 9/10 | Chromium Vanadium Steel | Leather | Check Price | ||
| 7 | 9.2/10 | Stainless steel | Thermoplastic Elastomers, Horn, Bone | Check Price | ||
| 8 | 9.1/10 | 420HC steel | Rubber | Check Price |
How We Review:
To be honest, the main reason that we have created this website and this review is that we’re tired of reading bullshit reviews from people who have never used the product before, so our goal is to give you the very best information (whether that’s our own opinion or the opinion of experts) allowing you to make the best possible decision when out hunting or buying a product.
Our aim is to make Masculine Pursuits the most trustworthy website online. So we will guarantee that every one of our reviews or guides will feature:
1 – 100% honest opinions from people who have used the product in question, has visited the location etc.
2 – Reviewing products or locations that experts consider ‘the best’
3 – Where possible we will include personal reviews from multiple sources.
4 – Turn these rankings and reviews into a definitive guide on the subject!
Masculine Pursuits - Best Field Dressing Knife Reviews
If you are in search of the best field dressing knife, you’re in the right place! By the end of this in-depth review, you’ll have a list of great dress knives to choose from.
The best hunting knife in the world is the one that suits your needs. The buying guide at the end of the reviews will help you land on the right one.
Just make sure the knife you go with checks all the required boxes for you. Let’s get into the best hunting knives review.
The Gerber Myth field dressing kit is for you if you are looking for a portable dress knife. The kit comes with two knives with different-style blades for efficient dressing.
One of the reasons why we think this is an ideal choice for a modern hunter is its compact and user-friendly design.
The textured rubber handle provides the essential grip that every hunter needs for effective dressing.
Plus, you won’t be worrying about the knife getting blunt either. The built-in carbide sharpener is there to keep the blade as sharp as you want. So, you can sharpen your blade as you go.
Moreover, the blade material is stainless steel, so you won’t have to worry about rust spoiling your knife’s blade.
A puncture-proof sheath provides additional protection to the knife set. You can either attach this kit to your belt loop or place it in your pack.
You also won’t be paying through the nose to get a perfectly sharp hunting knife. The skinning knife set is cost-effective and well-built.
However, locking the smaller knife into place can be a bit cumbersome at first. But, you can easily do it by applying a little more pressure.
Specifications
Brand: GERBER
Blade: Stainless steel
Handle: Rubber
Weight: 0.85 pounds
You can find the Gerber Myth Kit via Amazon US.
The Havalon Piranta is probably the best deer skinning knife on our list. It’s more like a scalpel than a knife. If skinning deer is something you are going to do, this knife would make a great companion.
There are a total of 13 scalpel-sharp blades, so it’s a complete dressing kit. Each blade is made of durable stainless steel material, which is highly resistant to rust and corrosion.
Moreover, you won’t be losing the knife set in the woods as the orange color is easy to spot. It’d be easy to grip as well, courtesy of the rubber grip.
The handle is made of ABS plastic, making it durable as well as lightweight. Also, it’s hollow, so you can clean it with a knuckle brush.
As there is a total of 13 sharp blades in the kit, you’d need to remove the existing blade to use another one.
Fortunately, the kit comes with a blade remover, making the task safer and easier for you. You can, however, remove a blade without using the remover if you want, but that isn’t recommended.
Read the manual even when you are trying to remove a blade with the help of the blade remover.
Plus, the Havalon hunting knife is easy to carry in your backpack. You can also attach it to your belt clip and access it on the go in the woods.
However, it’s not a jack-of-all-trades. It’s a great tool for tissue cutting.
Specifications
Brand: Havalon
Blade: Stainless steel
Handle: Rubber
Weight: 0.39 Pounds
You can find the Havalon Piranta-Edge Knife via Amazon US.
This one comes with 6 blades, so you have plenty of sharpness packed in one tool. As a hunter, this means you don’t have to sharpen your knife every time it goes dull in the middle of dressing.
On top of that, the blades are pretty easy to replace. You just have to push the lock release button to release the blade and then place a new one with razor-sharp edges.
All 6 blades are made of corrosion- and rust-resistant stainless steel material. This makes the blades effective for a long time.
The blade holder features a jimping that provides a convenient grip for easy handling. Moreover, the handle is made of lightweight and durable nylon/fiberglass material, providing a perfect non-slip grip.
There is a pocket clip with this knife, which makes it accessible to you all the time. This helps you reach for the knife instantly.
Moreover, you’ll be able to easily lock and unlock the blade of the knife with the simple back lock mechanism.
The overall build of the knife is durable and lightweight. The blades are sharp enough to cut through meat with ease.
Plus, the company is backing its product by offering service for life. So, you can get back to them at any point; they offer all services and replacements.
Specifications
Brand: OUTDOOR EDGE
Blade: Stainless steel
Handle: Nylon/fiberglass
Weight: 0.3 Pounds
You can find the Outdoor Edge Knife via Amazon US.
The Gerber hunting knife kit comes with a plastic container with 6 replaceable blades. These razor-sharp blades are made of reliable stainless steel material.
With just a push of a button, you’ll be able to replace your blade because of the patented push-button release.
Moreover, the handle is crafted with soft rubber material, making the grip comfortable and adding virtually no weight to the knife. On top of that, the 3 jimping on the rubber handle makes it more gripping and easier to maneuver.
And, it’s a folding knife, so you need a convenient way to lock and unlock the blade. Fortunately, the lock back mechanism makes the process pretty smooth for the user.
It’s also super lightweight and compact, so you won’t even feel it in your pocket. The blades are also super-thin and sharp; so much so that, it’s easy to cut yourself with them. You do need to be a little experienced with knives to safely use this one though.
You might find this knife a little tricky to clean, however, there is a perfectly effective solution for that. Use a bristled toothbrush to clean it.
Moreover, although the blades are ideal for skinning, you shouldn’t expect them to do more than that. And, while you can easily swap the blades, it won’t be easy with slippery hands.
All in all, it’s an effective folding knife for field dressing, with just a couple of tiny drawbacks.
Specifications
Brand: Gerber Gear
Blade: Stainless steel
Handle: Rubber
Weight: 0.2 Pounds
You can find the Gerber Gear Folding Knife via Amazon US.
This one is a little different than carbon steel hunting knives. The blade material doesn’t only have carbon in it; it’s an alloy where other elements like nickel and chromium add their individual properties.
On top of that, the blade has a protective covering of Titanium Carbonitride, which keeps it safe from erosion. Not only that, but the spine of the blade has jimping, allowing the user to handle it better.
The handle of the Kershaw Cryo also has a protective coating of Titanium carbon, keeping it safe from wear and abrasion.
Moreover, 2 jimping on the handle ensures effective grip while you work on your game animal. And, there is a lanyard hole on the handle that makes handling easy.
You also won’t face a problem deploying the blade; it’s fast and safe. You’ll just have to use the torsion bar to let the blade out of the handle.
You can easily open the blade with one hand. But, closing might take a little effort.
Plus, the versatile and convenient 4-position pocketclip enables tip-up as well as tip-down carry. And, you can carry it on both side pockets.
Considering the premium base material and protective coating on the knife, and the value offered, it’s pretty inexpensive.
Not only that, but you also get a limited lifetime warranty with this one. And, the all-metal build makes it suitable for rough-and-tough use.
Specifications
Brand: Kershaw
Blade: 8Cr13MoV Steel
Handle: Stainless steel
Weight: 0.1 Pounds
You can find the Kershaw Cryo via Amazon US.
The KA-BAR US army knife isn’t any hunting knife. It’s built with ultra-strong materials, which makes it one of the most valuable tools for hunters.
Moreover, it’s a fixed blade knife, so you get the sturdiness that you always want for your hunting tasks. It’s tried and tested for durability and effectiveness, so you don’t have to worry about that.
Handling a hunting knife can be tricky. After all, it’s built to cut through the meat. The most important aspect, after the blade, of a hunting knife is its handle. Without a comfortable and effective grip, it’s tricky to get the job done safely.
Fortunately, the KA-BAR US Army all-around knife comes with a comfortable and durable leather handle. So, you’d be able to handle the sharp blade safely and conveniently.
Before buying a knife, it’s important to know what its blade is capable of. And, the material it’s made of tells a lot about it.
The KA-BAR US Army knife’s blade is made of Chrome Vanadium Steel, making it strong, hard, effective, and long-lasting.
The real test of a dress knife is when you need to pierce and skin your game animal. And, not all knives can provide the piercing power a hunter needs.
Impressively, the KA-BAR US Army knife has serrated edges on its blade. This design further adds to the ease with which you can cut your meat.
Not only that, but a serrated knife is pretty easy to maintain as well. You won’t be needing to sharpen the blade very often.
Specifications
Brand: KA-BAR
Blade: Chrome Vanadium Steel
Handle: Leather
Weight: 1 Pound
You can find the KA-BAR US Army Knife via Amazon US.
If you are looking for an A – Z solution for your game hunting tasks, this one would be the right option for you.
See, it’s a complete kit, so from field dressing to freezer processing, you can take care of everything with the kit.
Here is what’s included in the kit:
– Caping knife
– Boning knife
– Gut-hook skinner
– Ribcage spreader
– Wood/bone saw
– Game cleaning gloves
– Sharpener to keep the knives razor-sharp
You won’t have to sharpen these knives very often though. Every knife in the kit is perfectly balanced and features a tang extended into the handle. And, these stainless steel blades are heat treated and hand-finished for optimum performance.
Plus, these knives also won’t disappoint you when it comes to handling. The rubberized handles don’t only provide a comfortable grip, but because they are orange, the knives would be easy to spot as well.
The material of the handle isn’t the only factor that makes your knife comfortable; the shape matters a lot. Thankfully, the ergonomic design of the handle of this knife will minimize hand fatigue, letting you work for a long time with comfort.
Above all, Outdoor Edge offers a lifetime warranty with this hunting knife set. So, you can get in touch with the company for service and replacements.
It’s probably the best hunting knife if you need a complete set of tools to take care of your hunting tasks.
Probably the only gripe with the knives could be that the plastic gets a little smelly even after cleaning.
Specifications
Brand: Outdoor Edge
Blade: Stainless steel
Handle: Thermoplastic Elastomers, Horn, Bone
Weight: 2.4 Pounds (Complete kit)
You can find the Outdoor Edge Skinning Knife via Amazon US.
If you are looking for a non-folding knife with a sturdy build, this buck knife could be it. It is probably one of the best buck hunting knives out there. And, the guthook is a unique feature that makes it an effective deer skinning knife.
The knife features a brass finger guard, so you’d be able to use it safely and conveniently. Plus, a full-tang construction makes it a pretty sturdy tool.
You’ll also be able to comfortably field dress your game animal thanks to the anti-slip and ergonomically designed handle.
In addition, you won’t have to worry about hurting yourself while carrying this knife. It comes with a protective polyester sheath featuring a snap fastener, keeping you and the knife safe.
Polyester is a lightweight and durable fabric, so in addition to being easy to carry, it effectively isolates the blade.
Moreover, there is an integrated belt loop with the sheath that not only makes carrying the knife easy but also makes it easy to access.
However, probably the only drawback is that the pommel is prone to tarnishing. But, nothing a little oil can’t fix.
Overall, the Buck knife is one of the best hunting knives in the market.
Specifications
Brand: Buck Knives
Blade: 420HC steel
Handle: Rubber
Weight: 0.6 pounds
You can find the Buck Knives: Fixed Blade Knife via Amazon US.
Best Field Dressing Knife - A Buyers Guide
If you are hunting for clean meat, a field dressing knife is a necessity for you. If you think any knife could do the job, think again.
It’s not easy gutting an animal. You need a specialized knife that can do the job easily and efficiently. After all, you don’t want the meat to go bad.
But, before jumping into the features to look in a field dressing knife, let’s talk about its different types.
Types of Hunting Knives
Fixed Blade Knife: Fixed blade knives, as their name suggests, don’t fold into their handles. These knives are generally more reliable and strong as there are virtually no moving parts in them.
The majority of hunters use fixed blade knives.
Folding Hunting Knife: This one folds into its handle, takes less space, and is safer to carry, which is why it’s probably the best all-around hunting knife.
Pocket Hunting Knife: A pocket hunting knife fits into your pocket, so you don’t have to keep it in a separate compartment in your backpack. This makes it easy and quick to access. It’s foldable and generally comes with scissors and files as well.
Let’s talk about the features a hunter should be aware of before purchasing a hunting knife.
Blade: The blade of your hunting knife is without a doubt the most important part of it. A strong and sharp blade is what you need to cut through the meat of any game animal.
These blades come in different shapes and forms, so you have a choice there too. A couple of the most popular blade types are clip point and drop point blades.
The clip point blade is “clipped” from the non-sharpened side (the spine). So, it appears to be clipped off from one side.
The front edge of the blade is rounded as well as pointy, making this blade type a more versatile one. So, you are able to pierce as well as cut your meat with them.
Whereas drop point blades’ spine runs all the way till the tip of the knife, without any contours. Drop point knives are generally deemed strong and have a simple and effective design.
Blade Material: Make sure the knife you go with has a strong and durable blade material. Normal steel can easily corrode over time, whereas, an alloyed material prolongs the life of the blade.
So, the blade material should be strong as well as resistant to elements. It should at least be made of rust-resistant stainless steel material, if not an alloy.
Handle and Grip: The handle of your knife is important because it determines the ease with which you gut your game. It should be comfortable enough to let you work for long hours.
You also don’t want your knife’s grip to have low friction. Good friction will help you maneuver the knife with ease, helping you be more efficient.
Manufacturers these days use durable and comfortable materials like the G10, natural wood, and Micarta to provide the best experience.
Tang: You also want to see if the knife has a tang or not. A tang is just an extension of the blade into the handle. A handle with a hole doesn’t have a tang. Knife handles with a tang offer more durability and easier handling.
Without it, a knife can easily loosen up and eventually disassemble.
Pommel: The pommel or butt of a knife is a rounded part at the end of its handle. It provides the stability a user needs to operate a knife effectively.
While it will depend on personal preference, we’d suggest you get a knife with a pommel for user-friendliness as well as aesthetics.
Sheath: A sheath is the cover of your knife. The main purpose of a knife sheath is to protect the user from the blade. It also keeps the knife protected. A fully covered metal blade will be less prone to rust and corrosion than a naked blade.
Conclusion
While there is a plethora of hunting knives out there, it’s important that you pick the one with the right features.
Make sure the knife you invest in has everything you would need for hunting work. This means the blade material, sharpness, handle grip, sheath, and more.
Plus, ask yourself, do you want a folding knife or a non-folding one? Should your knife be an all-in-one tool for all your hunting needs or do you need it for a specific purpose?
You also want to buy a knife from a company that stands behind their product. So, a knife with a limited warranty is what you’d need for peace of mind.
No Comments