The Best Fixed Blade Hunting Knives
Made in the USA
Welcome to the outdoorsman’s most practical hunting tool: the fixed blade knife. A folding knife will never be as strong nor reliable as a fixed blade. Thankfully, American craftsmen and women forge many of the finest knives available. My enjoyable task is to narrow down the best fixed blades you can buy. Ultimately, what knife is best for you will depend on its intended use, your local environment (wet or dry), hand size, and yes, on your personal preference.
I grew up in the Rockies carrying knives while hunting, horsepacking, and backpacking since childhood. I’ve gone through every knife nut phase from carrying large heavy choppers like the Ontario Kukri to practical lightweights like the Buck 102 Woodsman. I’ve gone from affordable and easy to sharpen carbon steels like 1095 or stainless 420HC to the so called “super steels” with higher edge retention like S30V, S35VN, S90V, 3V, and Magnacut. I’ve learned that blade geometry, heat treatment, and ultimately your personal preference in blade design are all around more important factors than the steel composition. None of these steels suck regardless of what the armchair warriors claim.
To cut through the marketing BS and subjective bias of forums to truly learn about steels, I suggest taking a look at the ONLY resource I trust on steels which is supported by data: KnifeSteelNerds.com. The site is run by the PhD steel metallurgist and fellow knife nut from Pittsburgh, Larrin Thomas. Don’t allow anyone to persuade you that this or that blade steel sucks, all steels are a compromise between edge retention, toughness, and rust resistance… unless it’s a cheap import with a poor treatment, those really do suck. Rather than collect a bunch of cheap knives, I prefer to save my money for the nest American made knives I can afford, knives that I will truly be proud to own and use for decades.
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Why Trust Me?
I know how hard it is to find honest recommendations and to narrow down American made gear. This is why I started American Gear Guide. I take my recommendations seriously and only recommend the best of the best. Here are a few reasons to trust me.
- I make independent recommendations based on personal experience (not paid to endorse a product).
- I’ve hunted, fished, gathered, and gardened since childhood. I fill my freezer with meat via bow, rifle, and rod.
- As an avid outdoorsman that reviews gear for a living, I also actually own and use all American made gear.
- My background includes 10 yrs working with the Forest Service as a Hotshot Wildland Firefighter, Ranger, Wildlife Crew-leader, and Forest Ecologist. I’ve certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). I’ve backpacked extensively throughout the USA and 45 countries including in the Middle East, Central & South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. See About page for more.
- I attend industry trade shows like Outdoor Retailer to stay informed on the latest innovative equipment.
- This guide receives regular updates with the newest gear.
- Continuous learning & self improvement are encouraged, so I welcome your criticism. If you think I missed anything then please leave some helpful suggestions.
Best Fixed Blade Hunting Knives at a Glance
- Benchmade Steep Country: Best Value Hunting Knife
- Bark River EXT-1: Editor’s Choice Best Hunting Knife
- Argali Sawtooth: Best Ultralight Hunting Knife
- Buck 119 S35VN: Best Large Classic Hunting Knife
- Buck 102 Woodsman: Best Value Small Classic Hunting Knife
Top Recommended American Made
Fixed Blade Hunting Knives
A deeper look into my favorite knife designs and why I recommend them.
Benchmade Steep Country
Best Buy for Value Hunting Knife
I’m a practical man that appreciates practical tools which is where the Steep Country shines. This knife earns our Best Buy Award for offering a Goldilocks knife experience at a fair price. First off, the ergonomic santoprene handle is comfortable to grip wet or dry. The no-frills 3.5″ drop point stainless blade in S30V provides a long lasting edge before sharpening. For sharpening blades like S30V with high carbide content, I recommend using quality diamond sharpeners like the DMT Diafold. On this latest version of the Steep Country, Benchmade thinned out the blade to .12″ for even more efficient slicing. Lastly, the Steep Country comes with a nice Boltaron (like Kydex) retention sheath.
Specs –
Length: 7.76″
Blade Length: 3.54″
Blade Steel: CPM-S30V
Blade Hardness: 58-60 HRC
Blade Thickness: .12″
Weight: 3 oz
Last observed price: $180
Editor's Choice Hunting Knife
I’ve now owned multiple knives from Bark River and appreciate what they are, well made semi-custom production knives. They’re hand finished in limited run batches, so pick the design you like with the materials you prefer and there’s little doubt you’ll have a mighty fine knife. However, it should be said that I’ve seen a couple Bark River knives with faults like an extremely thin tip or slightly mismatched handle scales. If you get a knife with any perceived fault, send it back to the retailer for a different one as I have done. There’s no reason to spend hard earned money on a knife you don’t love. That said, I like my Bark River knives more than any other production knife.
As far as the EXT-1 goes, the contoured handle fills my hand just right (I wear L size gloves) and the micarta handle actually gets tackier and grippier when wet while remaining smooth and comfortable when whittling and wood working. The 4.1″ convex blade has a good belly for skinning and is sufficient length to quarter large game including elk and moose while remaining agile enough for fine detail work. The Magnacut steel has excellent edge retention, toughness, and hasn’t rusted on me, even with being wet for multiple days at a time (which I did to test it’s claims). This steel is ideal for wet and salty environments. Bark River provides a superb leather sheath. I like to form fit my leather sheaths as shown in this video.
Specs –
Length: 8.625″
Blade Length: 4.125″
Blade Steel: Magnacut
Blade Hardness: 60 HRC
Blade Thickness: .125″
Weight: 5 oz
Last observed price: $262 +
Best Ultralight Hunting Knife
The ultralight Argali Sawtooth minimizes weight to maximize physical performance. I like to keep things light as I tend to hunt deep into rugged terrain where other hunters won’t go. The Argali Sawtooth achieves an ultralight 2.3 oz while its 3.75″ blade remains plenty stout enough for breaking down elk and moose. The blade consists of all-American CPM-Magnacut steel with great toughness, edge retention, and next level rust resistance. The top of the blade features jimping for control on fine detail work and a groove for sparking fire steels. The 4″ long skeletonized handle is big enough for a sure hold with grippy G10 handle scales. Argali includes a high quality Kydex sheath with good knife retention.
Specs –
Length: 8″
Blade Length: 3.75″
Blade Steel: Magnacut
Blade Hardness: 60-63 HRC
Blade Thickness: .100″
Weight: 2.3 oz
Last observed price: $235
Best Large Classic Hunting Knife
The Buck 119 is as classic as they come, having been introduced back in 1942! Never losing style points for its clip point blade nor functionality, the 119 Special is likely the most popular American hunting knife ever produced. This latest 119 release sports upgraded S35VN “super steel” and high quality canvas micarta handles. S35VN is one of my favorite stainless steels as it tends to hold an edge for a longtime without chipping (good toughness) while remaining fairly easy to sharpen on DMT diamond stones. Buck is a master at hollow grinds which provides a thin shaving sharp edge that excels at slicing effortlessly. Some hunters prefer a large knife like the 119 for processing big game though it may be overkill on smaller deer. I love the solid feel of the 119 though I’ll admit that I tend to pack smaller knives deep into the backcountry. Last but not least, Buck provides a high quality leather sheath. Also note that you can get the original Buck 119 with 420HC steel for a great value.
Specs –
Length: 10.25″
Blade Length: 5.75″
Blade Steel: CPM-S35VN
Blade Hardness: 59-61 HRC
Blade Thickness: .145″
Weight: 7.62 oz
Last observed price: ~ $180
Best Iconic Lightweight Hunting Knife on a Budget
Like the venerable Buck 119, the classic little brother Buck 102 has been around for over 70 years! Some foolish folks might overlook the woodsman for being small but those with more sense will recognize the merits of a nimble 4″ blade that only weighs 2.5 oz for carving up elk in the deep backcountry. I think of the Woodsman as a budget ultralight hunting knife whose value exceeds its price. The original version of this knife comes with BOSS properly heat treated 420HC stainless steel which holds a good edge, is easy to sharpen and tough (not brittle). If you prefer a really long lasting edge then go with the pricier Buck 102 Pro S35VN version. I wouldn’t complain with either version as I like stropping and maintaining my edges. The guards of the smallish 3.75″ handle lock my (L size) hand into place comfortably. Note, if you have meaty hands or prefer a bigger handle then this may be small for you. If that’s the case or you just want a little bigger knife then go with the excellent 4.5″ Buck 117 or thicker 4″ Buck 103 Skinner. A good thick leather sheath is included with these knives.
Specs –
Length: 7.75″
Blade Length: 4″
Blade Steel: 420HC or S35VN with Pro
Blade Hardness: 58 HRC
Blade Thickness: .12″
Weight: 2.5 oz
Last observed price: ~ $74.99
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