How to choose the right hunting knife?

Choosing the right hunting knife

No hunter is fully prepared without a hunting knife. From skinning an animal to cutting up the meat, the hunting knife is one of the most important tools anyone can carry with them out in the field. And even after centuries of use, hunting knives continue to be a part of our society. But for many like us at Roselli, the hunting knife also has a value beyond just usability. A knife has a symbolic value and is made to be carried through from one generation to another.

Something we at Roselli are sure of are our knives, and in order for you to be able to choose the perfect hunting knife, we have gathered everything you need to know about the hunting knife's uses, shapes and functions.

The history of the hunting knife

The hunting knife is an old tool that has almost survived completely unchanged to this day. The first metal hunting knives were made of bronze, during the Bronze Age around 2000 BC. With the arrival of the Iron Age during the period 1000 to 800 BC. developed the use of iron for the manufacture of knives. Iron allowed a sharper, more durable cutting edge than bronze. The big problem with iron knives was that they were easily bent. The Vikings solved this problem by adding carbon, or "charring" the iron. This hardened the iron blade and improved its stiffness and sharpness.

In early American history, a special design, the Bowie knife (named after the pioneer James Bowie (1796-1836), became a standard that others followed - a single-edged knife inspired by Spanish and Finnish hunting and butcher knives. In the 20th century, Bowie became The knife is becoming increasingly popular with hunters because of its ability to skin and slaughter game, and many hunting knives are still inspired by the Bowie knife.

The next development in the history of the hunting knife was the Swiss Army knife. It helped to popularize folding knives for hunters - and instead of only serving as a multi-tool, the hunting knives were also used for skinning game. In the middle of the 20th century came the "Drop Point" model. It got its name from the fact that the blade of the knife slopes from the handle to the tip. The model has even today remained standard on many hunting knives.

Today, the modern hunting knife is a traditional tool used by the active outdoor person as well as the hunter - and there is everything from full tang models where the uncut part of the blade, or pliers, extends through the entire grip area for strength - to folding knives, locking knives and specialized skinning and reindeer knives.

In Roselli's selection of handmade Finnish hunting knives, you will find models for several different purposes and although the names can sometimes be seen as misleading, all Roselli's knives suit the hunter. Our hunting knives are manufactured in two different types of steel, carbon steel and Roselli's own UHC (Ultra High Carbon) steel.

Learn more about soft and hard steel and chipping here. 

The different uses of the hunting knife

A hunting knife must be able to serve several purposes and number of areas of use - such as field dressing, skinning and caring for game. Below are which of Roselli's knives we recommend for what.

Field dressing
When you are field dressing, it is important to be quick to preserve the best quality of the meat. It is therefore important to have a sharp hunting knife close to hand. When you field dressing, you cut through the skin and abdomen of your animal - here we recommend that you use one of our carbon steel knives as they are best suited for getting through bones and other hardnesses. Explore Roselli's opening knife with rounded tip:

Read more about field dressing here.

Read more about skinning game here.

Caring for game
After you have separated the skin from the animal, it is time to cut and divide the animal into manageable parts. Many people prefer a butcher knife - we recommend you take a look at our carbon steel collection as it is perfectly suited for this.

Read more about slaughter game here.

Roselli's hunting knives in UHC steel (Ultra High Carbon)

This sophisticated collection of handmade Finnish hunting knives in Roselli's own UHC steel has taken Heimo Roselli decades to develop. The secret behind Roselli's UHC steel's superior cutting performance and sharpness lies in the small carbides formed in the steel. The carbides themselves are almost as hard as a diamond and make the hunting knife blades extremely sharp. Roselli's UHC steel knives retain their sharpness much longer and better than other hunting knives - which means that you do not have to sharpen your hunting knife at all as often. In Roselli's UHC steel collection, you will find everything from the perfect hunting knife, sharp skinning knife to the optimal outdoor knife.

Every hunting knife Roselli manufactures is made by hand and will last a lifetime, and hopefully be the only hunting knife you will ever need to own - your own #oneknifeforlife. That is why we offer a lifetime guarantee and free sharpening service for life on all our handmade hunting knives.

Remember that the UHC steel gives you an extremely sharp knife that keeps the sharpness for a very long time - butkeep in mind that the hard UHC steel is not suitable for penetrating bones or other hard materials. 

Hunting knife UHC

The "first" Roselli, with a minimalist design dating back to 1976. For over 45 years, it has performed in the wilderness and takes on hunting, fishing and outdoor life with ease.

This Finnish handmade hunting knife and outdoor knife was originally developed as a hunting knife for moose hunters in Finland and quickly became the perfect companion for handling larger game such as moose, wild boar and larger deer. The design and profile of the blade are excellent for skinning game. The hunting knife is especially popular among wild boar hunters as the hard UHC steel keeps its sharpness for a very long time even when the knife's edge has to endure fierce resistance through the game boar's coarse fur.

Carpenter knife

This Finnish handmade knife is Roselli's version of the ultimate outdoor knife. With its handy size, you always have it with you. The design is inspired by a traditional carving knife. But the knife also works excellent as a hunting knife as the size of the blade makes it suitable for the hunter who prefers hunting for a little smaller game.

Bear claw knife

A compact, smaller all-round knife and outdoor knife that fits in any space – and therefore a very popular and loyal companion for those who always want a knife with them out in the woods. Many hunters choose this as their only hunting knife as its size means that it is always with them. The advantage of the short blade is that you get a good control of the hunting knife when fitting game. Its short blades also makes it a perfect skinning knife for when you need extra precision.

Grandfather knife

This handmade hunting knife is a shorter version of our classic "Hunting Knife" - and is extremely popular due to its manageable size that makes it easy to carry everywhere. Suitable for larger game such as wild boar, moose and larger deer. For the hunter who wants a hunting knife that gives more control - the slightly curved and short blade makes it easy to use your finger over the tip when fitting wild. The blade's profile makes the knife excellent for skinning game.

Hunting knife - long blade

A longer version of our "Hunting Knife". This handmade hunting knife is for the hunter who wants to be able to kill an injured game with the help of the knife's long blade. The size makes it optimal for handling larger game such as moose, wild boar and larger deer. This hunting knife has become popular among dog handlers who often need a hunting knife to kill injured game in a fast and gentle way.

Roselli Hunting knives in Carbon Steel:

Since 1976, Heimo Roselli has manufactured what we believe are some of the best handmade Finnish carbon steel knives in the world. Roselli's hunting knives in carbon steel are sustainable, reliable and reliable - the hard carbon steel contributes to that the hunting knives keep their sharpness longer than normal stainless steel hunting knives. In Roselli's carbon steel collection, you will find everything from the perfect hunting knife and opening knife to the optimal outdoor knife.

Every hunting knife Roselli manufactures is made by hand and will last a lifetime, and hopefully be the only hunting knife you will ever need to own - your own #oneknifeforlife. That is why we offer a lifetime guarantee and free sharpening service for life on all our handmade hunting knives.

These models in our "standard" carbon steel are slightly more durable and suitable for tougher grips - compared to our knives in UHC steel. The slightly softer steel makes it a little easier to grind on its own for those who are not used to grinding.

Hunting knife

The "first" Roselli, with a minimalist design dating back to 1976. For over 45 years, it has performed in the wilderness and takes on hunting, fishing and outdoor life with ease. This Finnish handmade hunting knife and outdoor knife was originally developed as a hunting knife for moose hunters in Finland and quickly became the perfect companion for handling larger game such as moose, wild boar and larger deer. The design and profile of the blade makes it excellent for skinning game.

Hunting knife - full tang

Roselli's "hunting knife", but this one in a full-tang model with hidden steel (where the blade goes through the entire handle) that gives you better support and balance when you put it to hard work. Our full tang knives are hard-wearing, durable and perfect for all different types of power grabs. This Finnish handmade hunting and outdoor knife was originally developed as a hunting knife for the moose hunters in Finland and quickly became the perfect companion for handling larger game such as moose, wild boar and larger deer. The design and profile of the blade is excellent for skinning game.

Carpenter knife

This Finnish handmade knife is Roselli's version of the ultimate outdoor knife. The design is inspired from traditional carving knives and due to its handy size, you can fit it everywhere. The knife also works well as a hunting knife and the size of the blade makes it suitable for hunters who prefer hunting for smaller game.

Grandmother knife

Roselli's handmade Finnish Grandmother’s knife is a smaller all-round knife and outdoor knife that can fit in any space–and therefore a very popular and loyal companion to take with you out in the woods. Maybe this knife is a complement to a larger hunting knife when you need to handle things with a little more precision. With its short blades, it becomes the perfect skinning knife where you need extra accuracy.

Grandfather knife

This handmade Finnish hunting knife is a shorter version of our classic Hunting knife - and is extremely popular due to its manageable size which makes it easy to carry everywhere. Suitable for larger game such as wild boar, moose and larger deer. For the hunter who wants a hunting knife that gives more control - the slightly curved and short blade makes it easy to use your finger over the tip when fitting game. The blade's profile also makes the hunting knife excellent for skinning game.

Opening knife - Round tip

Roselli’s handmade opening knife with its rounded tip is a reliable favorite hunting knife among hunters – used for fitting game in a safe and hygienic way. The advantage of Roselli's opening knife in carbon steel is that you have a knife that keeps the sharpness longer than opening knives in ordinary stainless steel. 

Care for your hunting knife

A hunting knife should always be sharp, it reduces the risk of injury and makes the task you encounter with the hunting knife a good experience. We at Roselli believe that caring for your hunting knife should be as natural as when caring for your hunting weapon, if not even easier. Remember to always be careful to keep your hunting knife clean so that bacteria do not form on it. After each use and washing, do not leave your hunting knife wet. With a little love, you get a hunting knife that lasts a lifetime and that carries your hunting memories on for generations - because of course it is something special to inherit a hunting knife that gives you that extra hunting happiness!

We at Roselli have carefully selected sharpening tools for your hunting knife that are easy to use both at home and in the field. Take care of your hunting knife so it remains your #oneknifeforlife. 

Keep your Roselli in great condition, for life - explore our products and services:

• Sharpening tools & Care
• Service & Maintenance

Explore Roselli's selection of hunting knives >