| Almost every hunter and outdoorsman needs a knife | | | | You might use one of these to clear a camping site. |
| to handle tasks while out in the woods. These tasks | | | | Depending on the intended use, select the correct |
| include everything from knives used for cutting | | | | type of knife. For instance, if you need a knife for |
| twine, field dressing and even cutting down small | | | | field dressing deer you would likely select a fixed |
| trees. | | | | blade knife with the length of blade you think is |
| But how do you choose the right knife? First, | | | | necessary. There are also folding knives that can be |
| let’s define some major types of knives. | | | | used for this purpose. It comes down to size, |
| Folding and Lockback – These are knives that | | | | sharpness and rigidity in this case. |
| fold into a compact size when not in use. These are | | | | Also, be aware of the type of grip on any knife you |
| specifically designed to be compact and portable. | | | | are considering. Fixed blade knives typically come with |
| Fixed Blade – These are knives that are made to | | | | a grip that is designed for strong gripping pressure. |
| be rigid with no moving parts (in most cases). These | | | | Folding knives come in many variations and |
| are typically used for more demanding tasks. They | | | | incorporate a grip type handle into the folding |
| are larger and less compact usually requiring a sheath | | | | mechanism. |
| for your protection and carrying when not in use. | | | | In a follow-up article, I’ll discuss the very |
| Saw Blade – These are general purpose utility | | | | important aspect of knife ownership - knife |
| knives used for cutting down small trees and brush. | | | | sharpening systems. |