Buyer's Guides

Understand how and why custom hunting knives cost what they do.

When I attend shows, one of my main goals is to talk with knifemakers and check the prices of various custom knives. One of the best shows to do that is the BLADE Show. This past June my goal in the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta was to talk with 50 custom makers to get their takes on trends, material prices, overall demand, etc., regarding the knives they make and sell.

The custom knife that dominates the fixed-blade market is the hunter. This is due primarily to the fact that there seems to be an endless variety of hunting knives that can be made, and they usually have a lower price point than many other custom knives. Unlike other customs, hunting knives are often bought for use. Consequently, they are frequently tested by many users, from the casual outdoorsman to the professional hunting guide. The firearm may dispatch the game, but the knife provides the meat and potentially the trophy the taxidermist creates.

Over the years, thousands of articles have been written on and about hunting knives, including a few by this writer. In this article, I want to discuss not types or designs but pricing on knives in the hunter category.

Custom Hunting Knives Cost

Several factors go into the cost of building or making anything. Most makers need a place to make the knives, usually a garage or a shop. Next comes the equipment, which varies from maker to maker. Belts for grinding, polishing and putting an edge on the blade can be one of the more costly items a maker utilizes. Electricity, propane or wood provide the energy to work the materials that become the knife. No matter how the knife is built, these are typical costs shared by most makers. The costs vary depending on the prices of the materials to make the knife. Steel, guard/bolster material, handle material and leather if a sheath is required all impact the finished knife’s price, as will the maker’s skill at using these materials.

Custom Hunting Knives Blade Steel

The majority of makers use either stainless or carbon steel. Each offers advantages and disadvantages. Because of the diversity of steel, hunters can select a knife with the steel that best suits their needs.

Some hunters prefer patterned damascus steel, such as the ladder pattern of the damascus hunter by ABS master smith Russ Andrews (see accompanying image). Some hunters indicate the damascus blade’s distal tapering and differential heat treatment give the knife a better edge-holding capability. Others prefer steel of a san-mai construction as in the knife of ABS journeyman smith Dan Lewis. By forge welding more malleable steel onto either side of a harder steel, san-mai provides the blade with more structural integrity without sacrificing its ability to hold an edge.

As you can imagine, creating these steels takes additional time and is an added expense. The steels can add anywhere from $150 to $400 to the knife’s cost.

Custom Hunting Knives Handle

The handle material varies from natural to such synthetic(s) as G-10, carbon fiber and Micarta®. Natural handle materials are even more diverse, including ivory, antler/horn, wood, mother-of-pearl and bone. The advantage of synthetics is they are not subject to the effects of weather and temperature and so do not shrink and/or expand. Also, Micarta and G-10 are less expensive than some natural handle materials.

Natural handle materials can give your knife a unique look, making it stand out from other knives. Ivory, predominantly mammoth or ancient walrus ivory, is among the most distinctive and expensive handle materials used on hunting knives. Mammoth ivory comes in the form of scales and can cost anywhere from $100 to $250. Ancient walrus ivory costs are largely determined by the color(s) and condition. Prices generally range from $200 to $400.

Antlers and horns of all types have been used as knife handles from the onset of knives being built. The most commonly used antler on custom hunting knives is Sambar stag. In addition to its classic look, the natural lands* and grooves of the antler will contour to your hand, giving you a better grip when using the knife. Stag’s demand and lack of supply over the past 15 years have driven the price up considerably. You can expect to add $125 to $175 to the cost of the knife for an excellent piece of stag.

Watching the price of stag increase encouraged me to look at other members of the deer family. One such member is the elk. It has many of the same characteristics as the stag antler, such as the natural lands, grooves and coloring. However, the price is considerably less than stag—around $50. The Elk Hunter (see accompanying image) by Mike Malosh gives you an idea of what an elk antler looks like on a custom hunting knife.

Wood is also a favorite handle material for both makers and collectors. Talk about diversity—wood offers just about any color you could want. Now, with the wood stabilization process commonplace, you eliminate most of the adverse effects of weather on the natural handle material. The price point for wood ranges from $5 to $50 to $75 for scales or a block of desert ironwood or koa. The damascus hunter by ABS journeyman smith Wess Barnhill features a beautiful set of desert ironwood scales. Its range of colors helps ironwood find its way to many knife handles.

Walnut is a hardwood favored by makers such as ABS journeyman smith Luke Dellmyer. It is a very stable, attractive wood that costs $30 a block. Another natural handle material I like, but you don’t see much, is stacked leather washers, as on the Mike Malosh Bear Hunter. One advantage I found with stacked leather is that, over time, the handle material will conform to your hand, providing you with a custom grip. You can expect stacked leather to add about $30 to the knife’s cost.

What Makes A True Value

As a professional custom knife purveyor, I offer prices based on my conversations with suppliers and makers and the materials I have bought over the years. As you know, everything gets more expensive, so prices may vary. The makers’ ability to combine the materials to create functional and aesthetically pleasing knives comes from years of honing their skills in their shops. Once you understand material pricing and can differentiate the skill levels of the different makers, you will realize that this is where the true value lies.

*Like on the inside of the barrel of a firearm, lands are the raised part of the antler and the grooves are the recessed part.

Check Out More Outdoor Knives:

• NESSMUK KNIFE: OPTIONS IN THE ALL-AMERICAN OUTDOOR KNIFE
• BEST TOMAHAWKS: OUR TOP HAWKS FOR BACKWOODS TO BATTLEFIELDS
• BEST BUSHCRAFT KNIFE: WHEN STEEL MEETS THE WOODS
• BEST EDC FIXED BLADE KNIFE: A CUT ABOVE THE REST
• BEST CAMP KNIVES: OUTDOORS DO-ALLS

The latest hunting knife combos will exalt your outdoor experience.

When choosing a hunting set of cutting tools, consider the quality of the tools and how they complement each other. Before you do that, though, be sure the set is properly outfitted.

A good set should include a gut hook, knife, saw and small hatchet for field dressing and processing game. Each tool serves a specific purpose:

• Gut hook: makes opening the animal’s abdomen easier,
• Sharp knife: essential for skinning and butchering
• Saw: helps cut through bone or branches
• Small hatchet: helps split bone or cut wood.

Consider durability and ease of use, as well as how the tools can be packed for transport.

Gut Hook Knives

A gut hook hunting knife serves multiple purposes in the field. Its primary function is to assist in the field dressing process by opening the animal’s abdomen with minimal damage to the internal organs. The hook feature helps prevent puncturing the organs while skinning and reduces the risk of cutting into the stomach or intestines. A gut hook can be used for cutting through tough connective tissues, tendons and cartilage, too. Its precision and specialized design make it an essential tool for hunters, allowing for efficient and safe processing of game in the field. It also works great for hooking under a bail and lifting hot pots and other items off a camp stove, etc.

Caping Knives

A caping knife in a hunting set serves various purposes, making it an essential tool for hunters. Its precision and maneuverability render it ideal for delicate tasks such as skinning around trophy areas, making intricate cuts, and separating hide from the meat. Also known as a caper, it is great for creating shoulder mounts or European mounts of game animals, preserving the hide for taxidermy purposes. The fine point and sharp blade allow for detailed, careful work without damaging the hide or underlying tissue. A caper is a versatile tool that adds value to any hunting tool set, especially for hunters looking to preserve trophies.

Boker Arbolito Guides Combo

The Boker Arbolito Manufactory in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is known for crafting high-quality knives using premium materials, with an emphasis on hunting and outdoor models featuring handles of wood and stag. These traditional knives are designed to cater to a variety of needs and tasks, whether for professional use, sports, everyday carry or collectors with a keen interest.

A notable offering is the Arbolito Guides Combo set in satin blades and stag handles. It includes a 4.25-inch gut hook skinning blade and a 2.25-inch drop point hunter. The gut hook prevents accidental punctures during skinning and is designed with a large forward finger choil for enhanced control. The little drop point is suitable for small, detailed cutting tasks, providing precision cuts. It is an excellent utility blade for cutting cord, fishing line and packaging, and it can act as a small skinner. Both knives sport stag handles for a secure grip and a rustic appearance.

The set includes a brown leather piggyback belt sheath for easy carry. The gut hook pouch boasts a solid snap to ensure retention. The small drop point comes with a simple drop-in friction-fit pouch, which is easy to access and is held on the main sheath via a rivet. This set presents function and style for processing your next trophy animal or other outdoor tasks.

Arbolito Guides Combo Set Specs
Blade Lengths: Gut hook skinner 4.25”, drop point 2.25”
Blade Steel: Bohler N695 stainless
Blade Grinds: Skinner hollow, drop point flat
Blades @ Thickest: .125”
Blade Finish: Satin
Handle Material: White/brown stag
Overall Lengths: Skinner 8.6”, drop point 4.8”
Sheath: Leather piggyback
Country of Origin: Argentina
MSRP: $291 at press-time exchange rate

Knives of Alaska Caribou Combo

The Knives of Alaska Caribou Combo offers a slimmer alternative to the company’s Light Hunter Combo. The Caribou Combo features the same gut hook skinner design as the Light Hunter Combo but with a thinner blade for a sharper, longer-lasting cutting edge. The Caribou is ideal for those seeking a complete field dressing kit for whitetail deer and other medium-sized game.

The Caribou Combo includes two knives—a gut hook skinner and Cub Bear—in a side-by-side sheath. The skinner is a full-tang knife 7.5 inches overall. It has a .1-inch-thick D2 tool steel blade and a 4.25-inch cutting edge. It features thumb notches and a large-capacity gut hook.

The Cub Bear is a fine-detail-work knife of D2 with a blade 3/32 inch thick at the thickest. Both models feature black SureGrip handles with large, lined lanyard holes. For hunting deer, sheep and mountain goats, the Caribou Combo is an excellent choice.

The two knives work perfectly together. The skinner has a deep belly for slicing and enough weight to be a light cleaver. Besides the obvious skinning qualities and gut hook that opens the abdomen safely, it’s an excellent butcher knife. Using it to slice and chop up meat chunks for a rustic, slow-cooked meal was a breeze. The Cub Bear, meanwhile, is a tremendous caper that pulls triple duty as a fine carver and paring knife.

In my humble opinion, of the test group this set was by far the best buy for the money.

Caribou Combo Specs
Blade Lengths: Gut hook skinner 3.5”, Cub Bear 2.75”
Blade Material: D2 tool steel
Blade Grind: Saber
Blades @ Thickest: Skinner .1”, Cub Bear .09”
Blade Finish: Bead blast
Handle Material: Black SureGrip
Overall Lengths: Skinner 7.5”, Cub Bear 6.75”
Sheath: Brown leather double pouch
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $189.99

Diamond Blade Knives Summit Combo

The Summit Combo from Diamond Blade Knives is a pro hunter’s set meticulously crafted with the benefit of decades of hunting and field dressing expertise. It includes the Summit drop point and the Pinnacle II, both highly efficient field tools.

The Summit has a long skinning radius, making it the perfect tool for swiftly and effectively breaking down game. A scalpel-like knife, the Pinnacle II is ideal for caping and initial incisions, sporting finger gimping and cutouts for optimal leverage.

Designed for professional hunters, this versatile kit provides reliable and efficient tools for most aspects of field dressing. The set includes an American-made dual leather sheath with a Kydex insert for secure retention and easy access while preventing damage to the knives.

The substantial Summit proved ideal for effortlessly carving meat for a hearty stew or canning. The large handle gave ample space for various grips or when wearing gloves. The Pinnacle II did an excellent job on small detailed work, especially slicing herbs and peeling garlic.

The double sheath was my favorite of the test bunch because it held the knives perfectly in place, even with the snaps open, due to the Kydex insert. The attractive outer leather provides the best of both worlds.

Knives Summit Combo Specs
Blade Lengths: Pinnacle II Scalpel 2.55”, Summit Drop Point 3.75”
Blade Material: Friction Forged® D2 tool steel
Blade Grind: Flat
Blades @ Thickest: Pinnacle II Scalpel .09”, Summit Drop Point .125”
Blade Finish: Satin
Handle Material: Stag
Overall Lengths: Pinnacle II Scalpel 7”, Summit Drop Point 8.75”
Sheath: Leather double model w/Kydex insert
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $799

TOPS Knives Muley Skinner/Saw Combo

Winner of Best Hunting Knife at BLADE Show West 2023, the TOPS Knives Muley Skinner/Saw Combo is a game changer. The Muley Skinner is a solid fixed blade for outdoor jobs. The long, deep-bellied blade is well-suited for skinning game and performing campsite tasks such as prepping, kindling and food processing. The Muley Saw is a bone saw tailored for efficient game processing and can serve as a wood saw in emergencies. The saw blade sports a razor-sharp gut hook for added function.

Due to in no small part to its flat grind, the skinner excelled at slicing meat. It also deboned chicken thighs, as the belly fit nicely between the joints while roll cutting. The robust build instills confidence for using the knife for baton cuts. The saw was aggressive and did equally well on bone as on branches. It was the most diverse tool of all those in the test sets.

Muley Combo Specs
Designer: Leo Espinoza
Blade Lengths: Skinner 4.5”, Saw 4.25”
Blade Steel: 154CM stainless
Rockwell Hardness: 58-60 HRC, cryo-treated
Blade Grind: Flat
Blades @ Thickest: .13”
Blade Finish: Tumble
Handle Material: Tan/Black G-10 w/orange G-10 liners
Overall Lengths: Skinner 8.75”, Saw 9”
Sheath: Brown leather double model
Knife to know: Winner of Best Hunting Knife at BLADE Show West 2023
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $550

Final Cut

The reviewed sets ensure you have everything you need for field dressing and processing game efficiently. A good hunting knife set can make the process quicker and more manageable, especially when dealing with larger game. Lastly, having a set of dedicated hunting tools helps preserve the sharpness and integrity of your everyday carry knife, as it won’t be subjected to the same level of wear and tear that field dressing often involves.

Check Out More Outdoor Knives And Tools:

• Best Bushcraft Knife: When Steel Meets Woods
• Best Camp Knives: Outdoor Do-Alls
• Best Hatchets And Axes For Survival And Camping
• Best Gut Hook Hunting Knives