Written By John VanDerLaan
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Are you looking for the best deer hunting knife?
Well you've come to the right place!
We have reviews of all of the top deer hunting knives as well as where you can find the best prices.
Here's the deal...
As deer hunters, we are looking a knife that can do many different things.
We need a knife that can gut a deer, then skin the deer and process the deer.
This may sometimes require different knives, like a boning knife, but we have put together an awesome collection of our favorite deer hunting knives based on our years of experience.
Best Hunting Knives For Deer
- Outdoor Edge Razor Pro
- Best Overall
- Replaceable Razor Sharp Blade
- Gut Hook Blade
- User rating: 4.8 of 5 stars
- Buck Knives 0691BKG Zipper
- Best Fixed Blade
- Made in the USA - Forever Warranty
- Zipper Gut Hook Blade
- User rating: 4.7 of 5 stars
- Havalon Piranta Z
- Best For Skinning
- Razor Sharp Replaceable Blade
- Small, Light weight
- User rating: 4.8 of 5 stars
- Buck Knives 110
- Best For The Money
- Made in the USA - Forever Warranty
- Genuine Leather Sheath
- User rating: 4.8 of 5 stars
The biggest surprise in this year's reviews are the extraordinary performance of the replaceable blade knives.
I put my Outdoor Edge Razor to work in Ohio last November and was amazed at how easy it made skinning and processing my deer. As soon as the blade started to dull, I replaced it in less than 30 seconds and was off and running with a new, razor sharp blade.
I used the same knife to field dress and skin my buck, then break down all the cuts and cut into small pieces for grinding.
My preference for hunting are folding knives, but I know that there are many of you that prefer fixed blades for hunting, so we have included the best fixed blade knife in our reviews.
We also reached out to our readers and asked the question:
"What is your favorite deer hunting knife and why?"
We will share their answers with you in the testimonials below.
6 Best Hunting Knives For Deer At A Glance
Best Deer Hunting Knife Reviews
Let's get into the features of each knife and why you should consider adding one of these to your hunting arsenal.
1. Outdoor Edge Razor Pro
Editor's Choice
The Outdoor Edge Razor Pro is our Editor's Choice for deer hunting knife of the year. We first used this knife last year and we were very impressed with its durability and functionality.
The Razor Pro weighs in at 8.3 ounces, giving it a solid feel in your hand. The knife blade is 3.5 inches and the gut blade is 3.1 inches.
The handle is made from Rubberized TPR with 420J2 stainless steel liners and feels great in your hand.
The flip out gutting blade makes this an ideal deer gutting knife, but it can take your venison all the way to the table.
I used this knife to skin a buck outside with temperatures in the 30s and the handle material was a pleasure to hold. My hunting partner was skinning his buck next to me and he couldn't believe how warm my handle on the Razor Pro was compared to his wood handle on his Buck knife.
After skinning the buck, I went on to quarter and debone the deer, all with the Razor Pro and it was flawless.
I have read reviews that claim the knife is a bit flimsy. Obviously those reviewers have not used the Razor Pro and are simply trying to sell other knives. The Razor Pro is as strong and rugged a knife as we have ever used.
The Outdoor Edge Razor Pro comes with six replaceable blades, which means you always have a razor sharp knife at your disposal.
It comes in black or orange and I have to tell you, I love the orange because it is so easy to find when you set it down in the leaves while field dressing a deer.
Here's my video showing the features of the Razor Pro, how to change the blade and why you should consider adding it to your arsenal.
Below is a Outdoor Edge testimonial from one of our readers.
The Outdoor Edge cuts better than any blade I've ever used and it feels comfortable in my hand and it's Orange so it is easy to see if I misplace it.
Click here for our full Outdoor Edge Razor Pro Review.
2. Buck Zipper Knife
Top Pick - Fixed Blade
We encourage you to support Buck Knives by buying direct from this great American company!
After consulting with our readers, we found that a fairly large percentage like to carry a fixed blade knife for hunting and this knife was the choice of many.
It is called the Zipper because of the gut hook blade that makes field dressing a deer a breeze.
The 0691 BKG features a 4 1/8" blade of 420HC steel for superior Strength, and Corrosion Resistance. The blade is also known for holding it's edge.
The knife weighs in at a very comfortable 6.6 ounces and features a texturized rubber handle with brass butt and guard.
The best part is it is made in the USA and comes with the Buck Forever Lifetime Warranty.
A knife like this will require some maintenance to keep it performing well and razor sharp.
Visit our picks for the best hunting knife sharpener.
My name is Roger Kester and I have been a hunter for 50 years and always carry a Buck knife. I own two bucks that are over 35 years old and I find they are made with of a good quality steel, and hold an edge for a long time
We encourage you to support Buck Knives by buying direct from this great American company!
Click here for our full Buck Zipper Knife Review
3. Havalon Piranta Z
Best Deer Skinning Knife
While we have found the Havalon to be the best deer skinning knife, we also found it to be a very good knife for field dressing as well.
It's small size, lightweight design and incredible razor sharp blade make it ideal for maneuvering inside the chest and abdominal cavity.
The reason that this knife did not fare better in the overall category is that it is just not sturdy enough to make quick work of quartering and breaking down an animal.
It's light weight and razor sharpness make it the perfect knife for skinning deer.
The only downside to this knife is that you need to use a tool to change the blade, unlike the Outdoor Edge Razor Pro.
Here's a great video that shows the features and more about the best knife for skinning deer!
I used the Havalon Piranta for the first time last year to skin my buck taken in Ohio. I was impressed with the razor sharpness which made skinning a breeze. I would definitely recommend the Havalon as the best deer skinning knife.
Click here for our full Havalon Piranta Review.
Best for the Money
We encourage you to support Buck Knives by buying direct from this great American company!
The Buck 110 Folding Hunter is our top pick for the best knife for the money.
One of the top reasons is that Buck Knives are made to last a lifetime and hand down to the next generation.
The 110 was originally created in 1963 because Al Buck believed that a lock blade knife was needed by hunters that wanted a sturdy knife, but did not want to carry the length of a fixed blade knife.
Hence, the Buck 110 was born!
The 110 is 4 7/8 inches long when closed and weighs in at 7.2 ounces.
It is a very versatile hunting knife that can be used as a field dressing knife, skinning knife, and even a processing knife.
The sturdy, made in the USA construction, reasonable price, and long lasting useful life make the Buck 110 our top choice for best knife for the money!
I personally like the small folding Buck like the 110. They fit in your pocket and get the job done. After all it is a hunting knife and not a meat cutting knife. I am just trying to clean the deer to make it lighter to get out of the woods. It also works perfectly for skinning. I use a different set of tools for meat cutting. When you hike back in the woods; less is more. I like to keep the weight down and still have everything I need to get the job done. I have used my small pocket knife to clean everything from Fish to Deer. When kept sharp, I have yet to find something I wouldn’t tackle.
My grandfather gave me a Buck 110 as a gift when I was 12. I am now 65 and getting ready to pass the knife down to my grandson. I can say without hesitation that the Buck 110 is the my favorite deer hunting knife for the money available today.
We encourage you to support Buck Knives by buying direct from this great American company!
Click here for our full Buck 110 Review.
Best Cheap Hunting Knife
We set out to bring you the best hunting knife and while we have done that, many of you have asked: "What is the best cheap hunting knife?"
While best and cheap are two words that don't usually go together, we wanted to give you an answer to your question, so we took a look at all of the less expensive knives to see what we could find.
I have to say, I was surprised at the sheer number of cheap hunting knives on the market, so the challenge was to find a cheap knife for deer hunting in terms of quality for the price.
And I think we did a really good job of that when we found the Tac Force TF 469.
This knife is pretty good quality with an amazingly low price.
Keep in mind that you are not going to get a lifetime of use out of this knife, like you will with the other knives in our reviews, but we are fairly confident that you will get your money's worth.
Let's take a little deeper look at the Tac Force TF 469
The Tac Force TF 469 has a spring assisted opening that allows for easy one hand operation.
It measures 4 inches closed and has a 3 inch blade.
It has a surprising comfortable pakkawood handle making it easy to maneuver inside the body cavity when gutting a deer.
If you are looking for the an inexpensive hunting knife, you won't be disappointed with the Tac Force TF 469.
I must say that I was a little skeptical that a knife that cost less than ten dollars could be any good. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and it is the best cheap knife for deer hunting that we could find on the market today.
Click here for our full Tac Force TF 469 Review.
6. Gerber Assert Custom Knife
Best Custom Hunting Knife
What we love about this knife is that it can be completely customized, so that you have a one of a kind piece of artwork that you can carry with you on every hunting trip.
You can add laser etchings to the blade on both sides. The etchings can be images, like a deer, or patterns, or even text.
Very cool!
You can also change the blade color, as seen in the image below.
Aside from the blade color and different etchings you can add, you can also customize the knife handle and the hardware as seen below.
Here are the features that we love about the Gerber Assert hunting knife.
Features:
- S30V stainless steel blade
- Adjustable thumb stud, fuller deployment, ambidextrous pivot lock and clip
- Easy one hand operation
- Textured nylon handle for a non slip grip
- Overall length of 6.95 inches
- Blade length of 2.98 inches
- Super lightweight at 1.87 ounces
- Lifetime warranty
We love that Gerber stands behind this knife with a lifetime warranty.
If you are looking for the best hunting knife that gets the job done, is truly unique, and will be handed down to family members for generations to come, then the Gerber Assert custom hunting knife is the choice for you.
I love my replaceable blade hunting knife, but this new Gerber custom knife has found a place in my hunting gear. I love the customizations and it feels great in my hand. It is the perfect size for field dressing and the non slip grip is great when your hands are covered in blood.
What Is The Best Deer Skinning Knife?
The best deer skinning knife is the Havalon Piranta. Its razor sharp replaceable blade makes skinning so easy. When the blade begins to dull, you put a new blade on in less than 10 seconds.
If you are looking for the best deer gutting and skinning knife, that would be the Outdoor Edge Razor Pro.
What Is The Best Deer Gutting Knife?
The best deer gutting knife is the Outdoor Edge Razor Pro, with its flip out gutting blade for making the initial cut and the surgically sharp replaceable blade for finishing the job.
If you prefer a fixed blade knife for gutting deer, then our favorite is the Buck Zipper from Buck Knives. It is the perfect size and weight to get the job done.
Final Thoughts
After thorough testing and field use, we have our editors picks in each category.
I think you will be well served and happy with any of the knives above.
If you are looking for one knife to satisfy all of your hunting needs, the Outdoor Edge Razor Pro is without a doubt, the best knife for you.
According to Wikipedia, the a good deer hunting knife should be capable of completing all of the tasks associated with hunting, from field dressing to skinning, processing and cutting up venison for the meat grinder, and the Razor Pro does that.
Some hunters like to use a boning knife for breaking down your deer into manageable pieces when processing.
Please keep in mind that these are real reviews written by real hunters.
We actually buy and use each of these knives in order to test and evaluate them before we review them.
There are many articles out there that are clearly written by non hunters and are only recommending the knives that pay them the most money.
Don't be fooled by these articles.
From all of us here at Deer Hunting Guide, we thank you for your support and thank you for buying American made hunting gear!
We'd love to hear what you think!
Please leave your comments below.
The best knife for field dressing a deer is a drop point flat ground blade, 3-4″, with a smooth simple handle that can be gripped in different ways. The blade cannot fold up on the user, the interior doesn’t exist to collect blood, hide, fat or fur. It cleans up easily. The drop point acts as enough “gut hook” when held edge up with the unsharpened spine against the muscle, helping retain the gut pouch in one piece instead of spilling the contents and contaminating the meat. It also stays sharper cutting from the inside out, away from hair. The tip is stronger as it has no major slot ground in to weaken it, making it a tougher blade and more useful for other camp chores – which is often what it’s used for, too.
The newer replaceable blade folding deer knives offer a sharp edge if you need it – and carry spares – which aren’t usually stocked locally and have to be ordered, as the are proprietary to the Brand and rarely shared. A fixed blade with a sharpener is no more trouble than them and is a good skill to acquire.
Hey Tirod,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
The best knife for any task is the one that the user is most comfortable with. Clearly, you are most comfortable with a fixed blade drop point knife and that is a great tool.
I love my Outdoor Edge, for all of the reasons listed above, but I am open to other suggestions and I respect other opinions as well.
Perhaps your insight will hit home with another reader and help them to find the right knife for them.
Thanks again Tirod!
Best,
John
Sorry but very experienced hunters and guides find your recommendations laughable. Replaceable blades are fine if ya don’t mind replacing the dull or broken blade every 6 minutes. The knives preferred by PH guys are the Dozier Pro Guide (4 3/4″ blade), the Roselli UHC Hunter (3 3/4″ blade), and the very unique and time-honored D. H. Russell Canadian belt from Grohmann Knives (4″ blade). Hard carbon holds an edge and when the need for speed is essential (hot day or late in the day and losing light) you don’t have time to fiddle with cheap replaceable blades. These 3 knives can handle any big game in No. America including bison. I know this firsthand.
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for the recommendations.
While I agree with you that those knives are great hunting knives, our recommendations are more for the casual hunter that may kill a deer or two a year. your recommendations are more for the professional hunter or guide that uses their knife on a daily basis.
Again, those are all great knives that you recommend, but for someone like myself that kills a couple deer every year, the replaceable blade Outdoor Edge was a game changer.
Thanks again Bruce!
Best,
John
Most Buck Knives have a wide blade yet from your review it varies as the width so not sure how they compare I found a thinner width blade works on a fixed blade knife like a Morakniv “Companion. Never can figure out why a Buck 110 is narrow bladed and their others are much wide if they all d the same thing? I won’t use a folding knife had one close while using it and caught a finger. So Only fixed knives for me Now!