10 Best Fishing Knives In 2023

How To Choose The Best Fishing Knife – Buying Guide

A fishing knife is an extremely important tool for every fisherman, no matter where their trip takes them. Fishermen need a sturdy and handy tool at their disposal for any of the tasks they may face. If they need to cut line, rope, or dice up bait, they’ll need a fishing knife to get the job done. The best fishing knife will be sharp enough and versatile enough for any task at hand, leaving the focus on the fish and not on struggling with a dull blade.

When it comes down to choosing which blade to invest in, several factors can help you decide which tool is the best option. The most important factors to consider when purchasing a fishing knife is the blade and its size, flexibility, as well as material. Along with the blade, the handle’s size, flexibility, and material is also an important factor. You want a durable, dependable blade and that will allow you to do your work efficiently and without struggling.

This guide is here to help you discover these different factors and to help you consider what features you may need for your fishing knife. A great fishing knife can help you tackle any task at hand without interfering with your focus.

Blade Size, Flexibility, and Material

When it comes to choosing a knife, one of the most important elements of the design is the blade. After all, this is what you will be using to cut with. In order to choose which knife is best for your needs, you need to consider how often you will be using the knife and in what elements you will be using the knife.

If you are going to be fishing once in a while and will not use your fishing knife often, you can probably get by with a lower quality blade and still complete all the tasks you need. This can save you money, as you don’t need to invest in a top-quality blade. On the other hand, if you go fishing frequently you will want to invest in a high-quality blade. It can quickly become a money drain if you are buying a new knife every time you go fishing, just to ensure quality and sharpness. Rather, it is better to invest more in a one-time purchase and have a fishing knife that will last through countless trips.

The best fishing knife design will feature a stainless-steel material for the blade. Knives that are made of aluminum or hard plastic are not as durable and will not last as long. While other materials may save you an ounce on weight, a stainless-steel blade is worth that fraction more of weight. The lighter weight a blade is, the more likely you are to break it when cutting through tough material, such as fish scales. Fish scales may not seem that tough, but they are actually hard to cut into. Therefore, it is best to have a fishing knife that can cut through or pierce the fish scales with ease. This will allow you to properly fillet your fish. A proper high-quality fishing knife will not have an uneven edge, but a smooth or perfectly cut serrated edge for its entire length.

There are lots of different blades that all feature unique edging. Here is a breakdown of some of the more common blade edges. With this list, you can see the strengths and weaknesses of each blade design and choose which will best suit your fishing needs.

Hollow Grind – A blade that features a hollow grind has edges, on both sides, that curve into the middle until they meet. This means the blade’s edge is razor-sharp. One downfall to a hollow grind blade is that they tend to dull faster than other blades.

Asymmetrical Grind – A blade with an asymmetrical grind means each side of the blade can have a different style. An example of this would be a blade that has an edge with a curve on one side, while the other side could feature an angled bevel. A knife with different edges can offer multiple uses, but a downfall is you can only use one half of the knife at one time.

Flat Grind – A blade that features a flat grind is a knife with a grind that starts at the spine. This means that your knife will have an extremely sharp edge, but there are two downfalls. A flat grind is not as durable, and it is harder to sharpen.

Compound Bevel Grind – A blade with a compound bevel grind features a combination of a hollow grind with a concave design. As a result of this, the blade will not break or chip easily because the base of the knife is strong. However, while its strength as a benefit, the drawback is that the blade is not as sharp.

V Grind – A knife that has a V grind means that the grind of the blade starts close to its edge. A V grind allows for faster sharpening and molding to keep its shape. However, knives with a V grind tend to dull quickly and require maintenance to keep its shape. You will most likely have to sharpen and reshape this knife frequently.

Convex Grind – A convex grind means the blade has a curve to it or is convex. A blade with a convex edge can offer more sharpness and durability than other blades with different grinds. This blade will start closer to its edge and give durability to the knife. Furthermore, a convex grind will hold its shape for a long time, which is a major benefit. On the other hand, a major drawback is that a convex grind is very difficult to sharpen because of its curved and convex shape.

Chisel Grind – A knife with a chisel grind has blade edges with two specific and different designs. One blade edge, on one side, will be flat, while on the other side, the blade edge will be angled. On most blades, the angle will start in its middle and is extremely similar in appearance to that of a chisel, which is where it gets its name from. These two angles make for a very sharp blade, but it does dull faster than other blade grinds.

While there are many different grinds available to choose from when purchasing a knife, it is important to note the details and characteristics of each one. Matching your blade grind to the task you wish to complete, can save you time and money. On top of the grind of a blade, there are other important considerations to think about.

When it comes to what type of fishing you will do and where you will do it, the factors of fresh versus saltwater will heavily affect your choice of which blade to purchase. For the most part, freshwater will do minimal damage to a fishing knife because it is not as corrosive. You can easily rinse or wash your fishing knife with freshwater, allow it to dry, and still keep a sharp blade. Saltwater, on the other hand, can do a lot of damage to a blade. Saltwater is extremely corrosive and can quickly dull and rust a blade. It is best if you will be doing the majority of your fishing in the ocean, to buy a blade that is resistant to corrosion. The price of the knife does not necessarily reflect the quality of its anti-corrosiveness. If you do use your knife in saltwater, no matter how infrequently or frequently, it is best to wash your knife with freshwater after each exposure to saltwater and then allow it to fully dry. This will ensure you wash away any leftover salt residue that over time, if left on too long, can be corrosive to a blade. Keep in mind that even the best fishing blades made of stainless steel can succumb to corrosion over time due to exposure to saltwater.

The size, flexibility, and material of the blade can affect how well it performs a task. If you are looking to catch large fish, a larger blade would be a better choice for you. If you are looking to cut smaller fish or your fishing line, you may only want a small and compact knife to carry around with ease.

In addition to these factors, flexibility can be an important consideration when choosing a fishing knife. The flexibility of a blade is usually unique to each knife’s design and you should determine what level of flexibility you need based on what type of fish you are looking to catch. If a fish has tougher scales and skin, you want the blade to be less flexible so it doesn’t bend out of shape when you are attempting to cut through the skin and scale surface. If you are cleaning a smaller fish, greater flexibility will allow you to make delicate cuts. On average, most blades have a flexibility of 1-2 inches. Shorter blades will have more flexibility, whereas larger blades will have less to make them sturdier. The general rule to follow is: the thinner the blade the more flexible it will be.

The material of a blade can also determine its strength and durability. For long-lasting blades, look at investing in a knife made of stainless steel.

Handle Size, Flexibility, and Material

While the blade is the most important part of a fishing knife, the second most important part of the design is the handle. The handle is, after all, what you will use to hold and guide your knife. There are many different handle designs and many different materials that can be used to make the handle. While the handle design may not be the most important aspect of a fishing knife, it can certainly affect the durability and quality of your knife overall. It is not only the blade which needs to offer durability and longevity, the handle too must withstand multiple uses, while also feeling secure in your grip.

The good part about most handle materials is that they are durable and suited to most climates and conditions. Handles that are made of wood, hard plastic, rubber, or metal can all usually withstand sun, freshwater, saltwater, and most weather conditions. However, some may prefer a specific material for their knife handle, depending on how it feels to the touch.

It is best to buy a knife that you feel secure and confident holding. You need a steady grip to cut and many handles have different designs to aid your grip. Smooth knife handles may feel good to the touch, but if you want a little assistance with grip, a textured handled would be a better choice. Some people will prefer a handle not only to have texture but have ridges in the handle design to fit your fingers. This can assure a firm grasp of your knife and as a result safer use.

The width of the handle can also affect your motions when cutting and slicing with the knife. A wider handle may be too awkward for some to use and hold. While on the other hand, a knife with too skinny a handle may feel too flimsy for others. The ratio of the blade to the knife may also be an important factor. Do you prefer a knife that has a shorter handle or one with a longer handle? The choice is up to you.

Durability

Durability is the third most important factor when it comes to choosing your knife. As already mentioned, a strong blade and reliable handle can each affect the durability of a fishing knife, but to really get the best cuts, the knife needs to be durable in its overall design. The blade and the handle have to co-exist to work through tough conditions to consistently make sharp and accurate cuts.

Most fishing knives are durable and can complete the task at hand in various working conditions. However, a knife’s durability is also greatly affected by the material of which it is made. The majority of fishing knives are made of metal with the best choice being stainless-steel. There are various steels that have been given various treatments, but that does not mean that all steel is equal. Soft steel will not keep a sharp edge very well, even if it is constantly maintained, but offers more flexibility. Hard steel may hold its sharp edge better, but you will lose flexibility.

On top of the knife itself, a big factor in a knife’s durability is its user. The durability of a fishing knife can be greatly boosted if it is properly taken care of. A knife that is properly cared for will last longer and need to be sharpened less. If a knife is not properly cared for it will be more prone to rust, breakage, and it will dull faster. To extend the durability of your fishing knife, it is best to make a ritual out of cleaning and drying your blade after every use. If you take the steps to maintain the blade, the life of your knife will extend further, and you will get much better use out of it each time you take it on a fishing trip.

Use

It is important to establish the use of your knife before you make a choice and purchase one. The product description of each knife will offer information about its design and what needs it suits best. It is important to keep in mind where you will use your knife, how often you will use it, and what fish you will use your knife for. A fishing knife normally needs to be versatile in its use. Most fishermen want the ability to cut their fishing line and fillet a fish, without having to change their blades.

Where you will use your blade is also important because it can dictate what type of material you need a knife to be made of. Most fishing knives are made of stainless steel and for those who will be fishing in saltwater, it is a must-have. Saltwater is extremely corrosive and a strong metal with an anti-corrosive layer is best for the open ocean. It is also extremely important to factor in how often you will be taking your knife out on fishing trips. If you only occasionally go fishing, you probably don’t need to invest in the highest quality blade. But, if you are going fishing every week or even every day, you’ll want the best fishing knife available on the market. The kind of fish you will be cutting can also determine the type of knife you need. Smaller fish need smaller knives for delicate cuts. Whereas larger fish need larger knives to cut through the scales.

It is up to you to determine the use of your blade. Most blades can be used for a variety of tasks, but some may feature designs that cater specifically to a task you will be performing often.

FAQs

Globo Surf Overview

When it comes to choosing the best fishing knife, the task can seem daunting. With so many factors, designs, abilities, and preferences, one can feel lost at sea while deciding which fishing knife to choose. We wrote this list and buying guide to break down the factors of choosing a knife into an easy-to-follow guide and help you in the selection process. You don’t have to feel overwhelmed when choosing a knife because here read through all the factors that will help you determine which blade is the best choice for you.

It is important to choose a knife that you feel confident and comfortable using because you will most likely be using it multiple times. Whether you fish only a couple times a year or go every day, a fishing knife will be your companion and you want it to be reliable. The best fishing knife will ensure that you are easily readying your fishing line or cleaning your fish in a stress-free environment. The best fisherman’s knife will also last you for years to come, consistently providing sharp cuts throughout multiple fishing trips.

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