A favorite of early American frontiersman Colonel Jim Bowie, the Bowie knife is a serious piece of pioneer cutlery that has been the trusted knife of many a back country woodsman for nearly two centuries. With a blade ranging from 6 to 12 inches and designed as much for combat as for hunting, the Bowie knifehearkens to a time when a man was often left to protect himself and his rights with his own two hands. Today, the design of the Bowie knife makes it an ideal tool for hunting, fishing and camping, while other knife enthusiasts keep a prized Bowie knife or two in their collection to simply appreciate the impressive aesthetics of the knife and its historical significance.

Bowie Hunting Knife Owners

Understanding a little bit about the history of the Bowie knife will shed a little light on the type of person who owns and uses a tool like this. After being shot at and loosing a brawl in which he attempted to defend himself with his bare hands, Jim Bowie resolved to never again walk without a knife at his side. This turned out to save his skin at the famous Sandbar fight in which he took on several men and was shot, stabbed and beaten severely before emerging triumphant through using this large knife. A few years later, blacksmith James Black presented Bowie with an improved model of the knife andsuccessfully marketing the design to other pioneers based on its connection with the legendary Jim Bowie. While Bowie knife owners are hardly looking for or expecting such trouble in modern society, the same pioneer spirit of self reliance continues to fuel the popularity of the Bowie knife.

Bowie Hunting Knife Uses

Today, the Bowie design is primarily used as a hunting knife. The curved portion near the tip of the blade make it particularly useful for removing the skin of a carcass, while the size of a Bowie knife make it a great knife for cleaning and butchering large game. However, a Bowie knife is designed for nearly all back country uses. As enthusiast Russell Johnson puts it, a Bowie knife is “long enough to use as a sword, sharp enough to use as a razor, wide enough to use as a paddle, and heavy enough to use as a hatchet.”

Bowie Hunting Knife Care

Like all tools, Bowie knives require proper care in order to ensure that they will pass the test of time. Regardless of how often a particular knife is used, all hunting knives require a little tender loving care from time to time with some fresh oil and polishing in order to retain their luster and avoid oxidation. However, the most important step in hunting knife care is to be sure that the owner understand how to properly sharpen a Bowie knife blade, as improper sharpening can greatly damage both the sharpness and the lifespan of the blade. So long as the owner treats his tool with the respect and care that it deserves, a good, solid Bowie knife will easily last the owner a lifetime and perhaps even be passed down for generations to come.

Why a Special Knife?

Unlike a skinning knife, which is meant simply to separate the hide layer from the underlying meat, a caping knife is designed not just to slice, but also to cut neck muscle and other tissues. A regular skinning knife can be fragile and doesn’t require a long handle to generate force at the cutting edge. The caping knife, on the other hand, is required to not only do a decent job skinning around the shoulders, but also has to be robust enough to handle cutting off the head of the animal. The blade is a balance between a heavier cutting/chopping style and the thinner, slicing style of a skinning knife.

The dual function of a caping knife is met by having a thicker, short blade with a drop point end. Most of the actual skinning is accomplished with the curved tip of the knife blade. Blades are short (because there is often delicate work) but long enough to reach deeper when necessary. The handle is also longer than you might expect because a strong grip is needed for deeper cuts. There is no need for a blade guard on these knives.

Primary Uses

Caping hunting knives can be carried as a general purpose knife, and their smaller size makes them a nice belt knife. They are smaller than normal hunting knives and for this reason are popular with backpackers as an all around camp knife. Primarily, they are meant for use in the field when hunting bigger game.

A key consideration is whether or not a cape can be obtained without having to resharpen the knife. Caping hunting knives use an excellent quality steel for this reason. The blade has to be thicker, to handle the higher stress (higher than a skinning knife) and it has to hold a good edge long enough to cape a large animal.

Experienced hunters understand the lesson above and will cape by first skinning the shoulders of the animal, while the blade is at its sharpest, and only afterward attempt to cut underlying flesh.

A gut hook knife is a knife with a specially designed hunting blade that makes it perfect for gutting wild game without running the risk of damaging the meat in the process. A gut hook blade has a deep, sharp hook along the back ridge of the blade’s tip that allows a hunter to puncture and cleanly rip open the belly of an animal without puncturing any organs. While many hunters swear by the utility of a gut hook blade on their hunting knife, some hunters prefer to use a separate tool such as a Wyoming knife to open up the gut of their game. Others find that the hook end of the blade makes the knife less pragmatic for general duty applications. Still, the gut hook blade is an excellent knife for the frequent hunter who is looking for a knife that will only be used for hunting and fishing applications.

Gut Hook Hunting Knife Uses

A gut hook hunting knife is really only designed to be used for back country applications such as hunting and fishing. Other than cleaning wild game, a gut hook knife can also be a welcome addition to a tackle box. The hook of the blade can be used for cleaning fish and quickly cutting fishing line, and the rest of the knife can be used for applications such as cutting bait. However, a gut hook hunting knife is a less ideal choice for a general use camping tool. Because the gut hook is exposed on the back end of the blade, it can be dangerous to use this style of knife for precision work such as woodcraft and other campground uses.

Gut Hook Sharpening

Serious hunters who are considering purchasing a gut hook hunting knife should be aware that this blade requires a little extra care than a standard hunting knife. Because the sharpened edge of the hook is located on the inside of the hook’s curve, this portion of the knife can not be sharpened with a regular wet stone when it becomes dull after regular use. Sharpening a gut hook blade is not difficult; it simply requires the purchase of an addition round knife sharpener that can reach this inside of the hook’s blade.

Its design also allows the drop point hunting knife to be used for other tasks that generally are not considered to be in the realm of knives. For instance, other field cleaning tasks that are typically left to a hatchet or saw, such as the gutting of the animal as well as the splitting of the rib cage. Although the drop point hunting knife may not be the best tool for this purpose, the fact that it can be used in this manner makes it very useful in situations where all the best tools may not be available.

A clip point hunting knife is fairly similar to a drop point hunting knife. The easiest way to tell the difference is that the curve at the top of drop point knives will always be convex.

This type of knife is not only useful as a hunting knife. In fact, though the stated type of knife often only becomes of consequence when in the context of hunting knives, many general purpose pocket knives also have a drop point construction.

Clip point hunting knives are the perfect knife for the dedicated sportsman who is looking for a solid knife that can be used both for hunting and general tasks. While the design of the clip point blade gets the job done when it comes to skinning, cleaning and butchering wild game, it is also designed with a fatter blade than some hunting knives. This thicker blade makes it a little less efficient than a truly dedicated hunting knife, but the same feature lends it to being easier to handle for other outdoor tasks, making ideal for the occasional hunter.

Clip Point vs. Drop Point

There are two primary blade designs when it comes to hunting knives: drop point and clip point. A drop point knife is specifically designed with a curved blade for efficient skinning that makes it a perfect knife if it is only going to be used for hunting. The clip point design, on the other hand, only is only curved right near the tip of the blade, leaving the rest of the blade similar to a typical, general duty tool. Both blade designs are curved to make skinning game easier, but the clip point design is otherwise a basic work knife with an otherwise traditional blade. Drop point knives, on the other hand, are a little better for most hunting tasks but not as useful for more general tasks.

Clip Point Uses

Due to this hybrid design, clip point hunting knives are useful for just about every back country task. While they are a great knife, a clip point hunting knife is also very useful for fishing tasks such as filleting fish or cutting bait, as well as all camping and backpacking tasks. If you are looking for a single knife to use for all of your outdoors adventures and plan on squeezing in the occasional hunting trip, a clip point blade is almost always the best choice. Clip point blades can be found on both fixed blade hunting knives as well as folding hunting knives, but a fixed blade knife is considerably more robust and easier to use on big game.

Later in the movie we get to see the knife in action. Rambo uses the accessories in the handle to sew up a wound and find his way (with the compass) — he even kills a deer with the knife (tied to a shaft to make a spear). After all this great exposure, who wouldn’t want one?

The Three Rambo Style Hunting Knives

After three movies, there are actually three different hunting knives that could properly be called Rambo style. The first movie features a stainless steel, 9 inch blade (14 inch overall), full guard, saw-back knife with a corded, hollow handle (for all the goodies). Not really shown in the movie (and a bit of Rambo knife trivia) is the phillips and flat-headed screwdriver blades — one on each end of the blade guard.

The second movie (Rambo, First Blood part 2) used a very similar knife with a blackened carbon steel blade. The blade is another inch longer than the first (at 10 inches sharpened), making this Rambo style knife 15 2/8 inch overall.

The last movie in the series features a much more radical design. This Rambo style hunting knife leaves off the hollow handle with the survival stuff and replaces the corded grip with solid wood. Gone too are the screwdriver points on the guard. The blade is stainless steel, thicker and wider than before, with a blood channel. The saw back is toned down. Of course, the trend for a longer blade continues with a now 13 inch blade (18 inches overall).

Utility

So, are these Rambo style hunting knives actually usable? Yes, mostly. The one feature that seems less than choice is the saw back. The sharp edged teeth aren’t really practical for cutting much of anything. A knife isn’t a saw. The proper way to cut a small branch with a knife is to chop, or, cut out chunks of wood by placing the knife edge against the branch and hitting the backside with a rock, driving it in. None of these are robust enough for that little job.

Pricing

Officially licensed Rambo Style hunting knives are costly. For fans, this isn’t a problem. For anyone interested in simply a functional hunting/survival knife, it would be wise to shop around based on features instead of movie credentials.

What is the knife used for? Skinning hunting knives are designed to skin large animals with minimum effort while minimizing the damage to the flesh. The knife is specifically designed for the job of skinning, so it is easy to use. However, it is not as multipurpose as other knives you can buy. It can do most of the other game cleaning chores as well as the clip point and drop point designs, but it is not meant to go between the bones or cut the bones. So this is a knife that certainly has a specific purpose.

Design
Skinning knives have blades and points that are designed to effortlessly separate the flesh from the skin. The blade on these knives is extremely curved; some skinning knives even have semi-circular blades. This makes it easier to cut the tissues that attach to the hide. The skinning blade is easy to use in a wide sweeping motion to remove flesh from skin. The blade of the skinning knife is thin, allowing the knife to bend while working the hide. Blades are usually around 4″-7″. The blade must be kept sharp in order to achieve maximum effectiveness. You can find skinning knives in both the folding and fixed variety; it is s a matter of personal preference. The handle should have a good grip and something that protects you from the blade whether you pick wood, bone, leather, rubber or composite material.

Price
Skinning knives are available starting as low as $19.99. You can find a good quality knife in the $30-150 range. Look for high quality stainless steel.

When you are ready to purchase a hunting knife know what you need the knife to do and what you are hunting. Having the correct knife to work with is essential to a good hunting trip.

There are two types of folding hunting knives. These are the lock-back folding knife and the traditional pocket knife. A beneficial feature of the lock-back knife is that they are as strong as a fixed blade knife, and, they are safer and easier to carry. Lock-back folding hunting knives also allow the user to use just one hand if the other hand is busy performing another task. The lock blade mechanism ensures that the blade does not flip out and injure the user.

The folding hunting pocket knife is a more versatile type of knife. They are the most compact, and, if a quality brand is purchased, the folding pocket knife can easily clean game.

There are many uses for folding hunting knives as well as several benefits. There are not limited to the sport of hunting. Many people who fish, camp, and hike use these types of knives as well. Not only are the folding knives good at cleaning, skinning game, and cutting back tree limbs, but many fishermen use them to clean fish and cut fishing line.

Another advantage of using a folding hunting knife is that many have a variety of different blades on them for different purposes. Types of hunting knife blades include: Clip point, drop point, and skinning blades. The clip point blade has a well-defined point and is thin. The drop point is used to skin and field dress game. It should not be used to cut twigs or for any other non-hunting related chores. Skinning knives are used primarily to skin big game. Most hunters do not need more than a four to five inch blade on their folding knife.

The stability and reliability of the folding hunting knives can make your next hunting, fishing, or camping trip easier and convenient for the task at hand.

Sturdy and Dependable
The newest fixed blade hunting knife offers a rubber handle, which provides for a better grip making it easier to work with in various types of weather or under different hunting circumstances. Most fixed blade knives have blades that can be changed, so even though you can only use one blade at a time, you can carry a variety of blades with you. For example, if you are hunting larger animals, a heavier blade may be desirable in order to cut though a thick hide. A serrated edged blade may help say through an animal’s bones, and other special blades may help in removing the skin.

Made For the Serious Hunter
The fixed blade hunting knife is made for the serious hunter who wants to own a hunting blade that is strong and serves a variety of purposes. The fixed blade is a straight forward knife with no bells or whistles, and can be found for very reasonable prices. The blade usually runs about six inches, and the knife usually weighs somewhere around seven to eight ounces, measuring between 10 to 11 inches in overall length. The most popular choice in fixed blade knives are the drop point, because they are made of stainless steel with a curve to the blade that js quite efficient when it comes to skinning hides. It works on almost all hunted game, which does make it one of the more expensive fixed blade hunting knives on the market.

Internet Deals and Fixed Blade Relics
Searching the Internet for fixed blade hunting knives is the best way to find the various types, styles and prices available. Look for knives that have stainless steel blades and a non-slip grip handle made in the USA. There are also website that deal with antique fixed blade hunting knives. These sites have have fixed blade relics that go back hundreds of years and have intricately carved handles and unique blades. There is usually a story that goes with each antique fixed blade hunting knife making for interesting research and reading.

Overview: Large Bowie Knife, Three Blade Knife, Hunting Knife (Gut Hook), Hunting Knife (Drop Point)
The blade length of the Large Bowie knife is 8.75 inches. The knife has an overall length of 14.25 inches. The cost is $21.00.

The Winchester Three Blade Folding knife can be purchased for $28.97. Two of the blades measure 3.5 inches and the third is 3.375 inches long. When the knife is closed it is 4.625 inches long.

Two Winchester hunting knives with gut hook blades are 4.75 and 4.74 inches and run $15.97 and $19.97. The blades of the two drop point hunting knives measure 4.83 and 2.66 inches. Their costs are $15.97 and $14.97.

Features
All Winchester knives are made from surgical-grade stainless steel and feature the Winchester name etched into the blade. Each fixed-blade knife has what is known as “full tang” construction. The tang is the part of the blade that reaches into and through the knife’s grip giving the knife more strength. The handles of all Winchester knives are either wood or imitation Micarta. Micarta is a composite of linen or paper fabric that is cured in plastic.

The Large Bowie knife features the standard Bowie blade. Two of the Winchester hunting knives feature a gut hook blade. Two others have drop point blades. The blades of the Three Blade Folding knife are a clip point, a gut hook, and a saw blade.

Knife Type
The Three Blade hunting knife features three different folding blades. One of the blades is a clip point. The Winchester Large Bowie knife and the four other models of hunting knife are all fixed-blade knives.