Best blade length for fixed blade hunter

[tlbrooks53]

Looking for every ones ##ea of the ##eal blade length for a general purpose hunting knife like a drop point hunter.

[jmccustomknives]

4 1/2" seems to be the consensus of those guys who have me make them for actual use.

[Ray Rogers]

Same here. Either 4" or 4.5" ...

[TexasJack]

For grins I checked my favorite hunting knife that I've used for at least 3 decades and it is slightly over 4 1/2".

[Ed of all trade]

I have always liked a knife that is a little under 4" and above 3 1/2". But I might be sort of odd when it comes to hunting knives. Ed

[Darren12]

For me, 3 1/2" to 4 1/2".

[tlbrooks53]

I find most of your answers to be quite surprising. I checked all of my hunters and with the exception of one Mora Knife, (which is right at 4"and I've never used on game), most of the others are between 3" & 3-1/2" with a few shorter then that. My two favorites are a custom made by Paul Geortz which is based on a Loveless semi skinner. It comes in at exactly 3-1/2". The other is a copy of a Loveless drop point hunter and it is just over 3-1/4". With these two knives I've gutted and skinned a dozen or so deer and one elk and never felt I needed anything longer. The reason I asked the question to begin with was because I have a couple hunting buddy's who's knives are in that 4-1/2" to 5" range and the felt really big in my hand. Plus I'm going to be building one of the Jantz, USA made blades and was trying to dec##e between their pattern 21 at 3-1/8" and pattern 22 at 3-1/2". I never thought of going that much bigger. I guess it's the old blonde versus brunette, chocolate versus vanilla.

[jmccustomknives]

Originally Posted by tlbrooks53

I find most of your answers to be quite surprising. I checked all of my hunters and with the exception of one Mora Knife, (which is right at 4"and I've never used on game), most of the others are between 3" & 3-1/2" with a few shorter then that. My two favorites are a custom made by Paul Geortz which is based on a Loveless semi skinner. It comes in at exactly 3-1/2". The other is a copy of a Loveless drop point hunter and it is just over 3-1/4". With these two knives I've gutted and skinned a dozen or so deer and one elk and never felt I needed anything longer. The reason I asked the question to begin with was because I have a couple hunting buddy's who's knives are in that 4-1/2" to 5" range and the felt really big in my hand. Plus I'm going to be building one of the Jantz, USA made blades and was trying to dec##e between their pattern 21 at 3-1/8" and pattern 22 at 3-1/2". I never thought of going that much bigger. I guess it's the old blonde versus brunette, chocolate versus vanilla.

I think the question was for a general hunter. For skinners, 3 - 3 1/2" seems to be what is preferred. Certainly the game you are after and the knifes intended use has an effect. What we can all agree on, a 8" Bowie isn't the best tool for cleaning game.

[Ed of all trade]

I used to use smaller knives but One day I killed a monster, 13 points and a very big body. I just clipped his back and broke it so I needed to finish him quick. I never cut a throat and I was NOT going to start with this one I was hopping to mount. The knife I had In my pocket was a 2 3/4 in lock blade and it was to short. I went in right behind the right shoulder and was holding the knife by the end of the handle and almost lost it in the rib cage. I have carried a little larger knife ever sense. But I agree a 2 3/4 in blade is plenty for field dressing a deer. Ed

He is on my wall and the k##s named him Frankie.

[Colonel666]

To finish off quick is what the Germanic Saufanger designed for. Here in my blog I explain about it:

http://colonel666.blogspot.com/2014/...d19affa166d2c4